ending our gluten trial--questions

[calynde]

We decided to do a 3 month gluten free trial for a couple of reasons:

1) My older ds grows and gains weight VERY slowly
2)My toddler and I were having digestive problems...mine got worse after pregnancy with him

We first did a dairy trial. My older son never reacted negatively to dairy, my toddler and I both reacted big time. No more dairy for us.

Now we are at the end of our 3 month gluten trial. I'd like to reintroduce it to see if anyone reacts. Is there a specific way to go about this? In your experience, does one react right away in an obvious way? Do we have to consume a certain amount or is it better to start with a small amount?

I haven't had stomach problems since starting the trial so I'm very curious to see if I react! my older ds (the slow grower) never did have digestive issues or symptoms. However, he has grown around an inch and has gained around 5 pounds since starting the trial 3 months ago. This is a lot for him! Not so much that I question whether or not it's only a coincidence/growth spurt unrelated to diet. Always wondering and doubting and reading into every little thing. There isn't a lot written about gluten and growth in the absence of digestive problems. Only the odd anecdote.

Since we're doing well generally, dh thinks we should keep it going longer. I'm wavering, as I think having more *proof* of an intolerance would give a bit of much needed inspiration to keep on with it. Any thoughts on this? What would you do?

thanks...learning all the time. :-)

[tanyalynn]

One way to do this would be just to trial it with you. You have digestive issues, so it's possible you'd have a very noticeable, fairly quick (within a day or two) reaction. My kids' intolerances are fairly similar to mine, though the symptoms we have are different. When I found out *I* did much better w/o gluten and dairy, I cut it for all of us.

If you have a definite reaction, and you've seen good things that may be related, would you be willing to keep it out for all of you?

I think I react less to small amounts, so if you want to trial it, you could get a loaf some night and make some toast, eat a few slices. For us, I worry about slow, insidious problems. Like butter--I'm not sure we'd react immediately, but I suspect that it could cause issues over time, so I'm just not willing to go there yet. So for us, I'd do all or nothing big trials.

[dannic]

We trialled after three months or so and thought it was going great--it wasn't til another three months or so that I realized that the symptoms had changed/ and or slowly crept back in. Some people call it the "honeymoon" period. I also learned that many rec waiting longer to trial. Just a few things to keep in mind!

[calynde]

Thanks. So many layers to this...

I think it's a good idea if I trial it first and see what happens.

Other things I've noticed on our trial:

DS has a bigger appetite now and eats much more. DH thinks it's because the GF food is less filling somehow. I don't know. DS also goes to the bathroom more.

We eat a much more diversified diet now. Which is a good thing!

Being GF is easier than I was expecting at home, but not so much fun for DS socially.

We eat many more varieties of brown rice now and a lot of rice generally! Some of us are finding it to be borderline constipating. Upping the raw food percentage now.

[dannic]

Originally Posted by calynde

DS has a bigger appetite now and eats much more. DH thinks it's because the GF food is less filling somehow. I don't know. DS also goes to the bathroom more.

A big YUP to this. gluten is very filling. And when we went gf, we began to use even more fruits and veggies than ever--faster digestion phase? I liken it to formula fed vs breastfed babies...breastfed tend to eat more often.

[calynde]

that's a great analogy! makes you wonder whether anyone should really be eating it.

I wonder if this alone accounts for ds's weight gain over the course of the trial...hmmmm.

[Koalamom]

We recently trial gluten after 4 months of being gluten free and I felt great the whole day I had some bread. But the next morning after having more, the rest of the day I felt sick and my stomach was sore and my mouth hurt. I guess no gluten for me. I am going to go gluten free for a bit more and then trial something like spelt and see if it is just wheat that is an issue.