GI symptoms-ds10. Ideas please.

[teachma]

My ten-year old son is an emotionally intense, anxious child who has been a very selective eater since experimenting with his first foods. He has some sensory issues which cause him to reject many foods based on texture but has not previously demonstrated intolerances to any foods. No rashes, no digestive troubles, gas, stomachaches...that said, he is a skinny kid (average height but 64 lbs at 10.5 yrs) who has eaten small meals and few snacks his whole life. He's a busy guy who claims to have "no time" to eat much lunch at school, "no time" to eat at all during afternoon snack...From my observation, he has always had little patience for sitting still at a table or ceasing conversation long enough to eat more than half a sandwich for lunch, one egg and a bit of toast for breakfast, a small yogurt a's a quick snack. Despite eating much less than his younger sister, he always has plenty of energy, does not sleep much and never rests.

Recently, we've had school vacation, numerous days of bad weather, snow days and other low-motivation winter days of hanging around the house and doing, well, very little. I think he's had occasion to pause and be mellow and realize that he actually does have time to eat what I'd consider a more typical meal for a boy his age: two eggs and a whole piece of toast, or a whole sandwich and a half piece of fruit, or a larger yogurt. Essentially, he has been wasting larger portions of the same foods he usually eats. And suddenly, he's complaining of "gas pains" (his words) diarrhea shortly after finishing a meals, reflux-type symptoms in his throat. These seem to happen as soon as he's eaten a slightly larger meal than usual. He's not eating what I'd ever imagine to be too much, but is it too much for him? Why? Suggestions/ideas?

[sbgrace]

Well, I've seen those symptoms for two causes (in two different kids) here at my house.

1. It could be he's caught something. Those symptoms are consistent with some bacterias and common parasites. That was the case with one of mine. A metametrix comprehensive stool test (a doctor can order it if willing--I can link you--you'll probably have to pay upfront but for us it was worth every penny and insurance did reimburse us at out of network rates) will tell you if anything is living in there. They use DNA technology so one sample (from all parts--especially the end and beginning) will let you know if this is your culprit. He's not eating new foods and he's 10 and the symptoms are new so this would be my top thought actually so if you can do the lab I'd do that first.

2. It could be a food intolerance that's showing up with his increased intake. I think this less likely given he's not eating new stuff and his age but it's certainly possible. The best way to figure that out is with a four day food rotation (he eats things from certain food families only once every four days). This is going to be really hard given his food restrictions and sensitivities. It wasn't until I rotated I could identify my son's issue. You could try pulling particular things (start with dairy) for a week and see if that food was the issue. That might be easier. If there is one culprit you'll find it this way likely. Most of what he's eating (dairy, wheat, egg) are top suspects for food allergies and intolerance. Celiac stuff would be another thought. You could test for that if the symptoms don't resolve with this and nothing is living in him with the testing.