Gluten, Celiac?, Again! :)

[sraplayas]

DD is almost six and living GF (nut, yeast, etc.) since November.  She has eczema on her back, her arms and face and so does DS (who also has wheat, corn, etc.). 

I have tried to keep a food diary (emphasis on tried) and they eat 99% of food from home and when we go out we are very careful and ask alot of questions.  I am 99% sure that their supplements are safe, but I feel that some allergens may be slippin in.

The homeopath told us that since eczema is often the first symptom to appear it will be the last to disappear. 

Also, DD still (after many, many months) has stomach aches everyday.  It is sad for us, and we are trying to isolate the cause but it has been difficult.  (It usually is after she eats or at bedtime--after pm snack).  A friend recommended doing a safe cleanse: drink fresh coconut water on an empty stomach each morning for two weeks. 

My maternal aunt has celiac d. and I am wondering whether there is any point in getting DD tested for this (showed up on IgG but no other test has been done).   Any thoughts?

Thank you!

[scsigrl]

Trust your Mama gut.  If you are suspecting it could be Celiac's, it is very important that she stay off it for good.  Eating a small amount (x-con and the like) is worse for a Celiac patient than it would be to sit down and eat a big plate of pasta!  

IF you do want to get her tested, it is very important to know she needs to be consuming large amounts (I have read 1-3 slices of bread) a day for up to 6 weeks prior (some say longer than that even) for the test to be accurate.  Also, if the blood work is +, she will also need a scope to confirm dx and will have to be on gluten till that is done as well.

[sraplayas]

scigrl--thank you so much for your comments.  I am still trying to get my head around this whole allergy thing.  How is it that a small amount (x-con) can be worse than a large dose?

Wow!  I don't thing I could have DD eat gluten for that long in order to test.  I will just go with my gut feelings on this.

The x-con is the worst.  Is this true with all of the other allergens as well (a little is worse)?  B/c, for instance TJ's has some convenient products but the x-con issue is huge with them and to find really good products is work and $$.  I'm not just talking packaged food, I'm talking about allergen-free flour, etc.  I know I'm not saying anything new! 

[scsigrl]

Sorry, I didn't finish that thought!  (Kids, ya know ;) )

A small amount CONSISTENTLY is worse than an entire plate of pasta is what I wanted to say.  Why- small daily damage on a continuous basis keeps the immune system ramped up, doesn't allow for healing and continues to cause damage.  Eating a large helping of gluten will most likely make someone with Celiac's feel like junk but once it is processed, they will start to heal.

As for is that the case with all allergens... hard to say.  There are Dr's who think small doses help overcome an allergy where others say staying totally away from an allergen give the body a better chance of overcoming it.

Has your DD been dx with food allergies? I saw you mention nuts and yeast, are those allergies?  Again, some people are comfortable with things labeled "Made in a facility" where others are not.  It all depends on comfort lever.  

[mntnmom]

Is she eating dairy? A lot of Celiacs have secondary lactose intolerance, which can cause awful stomachaches.

[sraplayas]

scsigrl--We had an IgG test done on DD and they came back (+) on gluten, some nuts (we eliminate all), moldy cheese, yeast, cantaloupe, chicken & turkey. 

mntnmom--She does consume dairy on a regular basis but was (-)on the IgG for that. ?  Maybe a false - (like DS had for Quinoa, of all things)...

We just took DD to the Ped. who ordered a stool test that we'll do next week.  She wants to rule out parasites since the stomach aches have persisted since the early fall and only lessened in intensity a bit since we've started the ED.  This is good, and of course, we'll keep trying things on our own.