Need help... trying to avoid a wheat allergy.

[SingingMama]

I don't know very much about Celiac Disease, but my Dad has it so we haven't given dd (now over 11 months) any wheat or gluten products at all yet. Her pediatrician recommended that we introduce wheat to her shortly before her 12-month appointment, so that we could discuss any concerns if necessary. Does this sound like good advice to you, or should I wait longer? Also, what kinds of allergic reactions am I looking for? I know diarrhea is one, but what else? TIA!

[my2girlz]

We have a wheat intolerance, not celiacs. Well, not me, dh and ds do. I'm wheat free since ds is still nursing. ds symptoms were bad congestion and snotty nose all the time, since birth. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but a wheat allergy and celiacs are different. If you are nursing chances are she's getting them through you if you aren't avoiding them too. It's hidden under a bunch of other names. We did muscle testing to find out. I guess I would rather know than not know. Good Luck!

[Chanley]

Yes,

an allergy and celiacs is very different. An allergy will produce hives, swelling etc... an allergic reaction.

celiacs will cause her immune system to attack any part of her body that has gluten in it or on it. Gluten includes, wheat, rye, barely and oats.

You either have the genes for celiacs or you do not. If you have the genes, they CAN lay dormant until a major stressor and then they can get "turned on".

It is very important that you educate yourself on this disease as you may get it in some point during your life or your daughter might since it is genetic.

There are over 150 different symptoms of celiacs. What I think YOU want to look for are any of the following: Bloated belly

dark circles around the eyes

allergy ring around the anus

hyperactivity or severe irritability

rash that is Dermatitis herpetiformis
diarrhea
vomiting

tooth problems, like pitting of the teeth


www.celiac.com is a good place to start. Do this for your family. Noncompliant celiacs often have a very bad end full of pain and disease. The earlier to catch it, the healthier you are.

Shannon, mom to daughter with celiacs.

[SingingMama]

Thank you for the info! My Dad developed the symptoms for Celiac 8 years ago, when my Mom was diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer. He is still dealing with a host of problems, including hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing, even though he keeps to a strict gluten-free diet. He has gone to several allergy specialists, and all they can say is he has an immuno-deficiency disorder (they're not sure what he's reacting to, just that it may or may not have to do with the Celiac). I'm going to pass this website along to him, too.

I guess my phrasing in my original post was incorrect. We just usually refer to my Dad's Celiac as an allergy to gluten/wheat when we describe it to people. I should have been more correct (it's just that most people don't have any idea what Celiac is, and so I often oversimplify it).

Thanks again!

[Chanley]

He may want to cut dairy out too. It often goes hand in hand with celiacs because the enzyme which breaks down the dairy proteins are located at the very tip of the villi in the intestine. A celiac has damaged villi which are often incapable of producing that enzyme and cannot properly digest dairy.

Find some good recipes and do what you can to support him. It will prolong his life and it means SOOOO much to a celiac when others go out of thier way to make this difficult lifestyle a little easier.

[SingingMama]

Wow, I didn't know about the dairy issue. I just passed the info along to him. He has tried eliminating eggs and peanuts, but neither of those were the culprit. I don't believe that he's tried eliminating dairy yet. Thank you so much for the information!

My family and I all try to support him by finding him new things to try that he can eat. I know that it must be a very difficult way to live. Thanks again for the info, Shannon!

[CraftyMommaOf2]

there's a cookbook called _The Kid-Friendly Allergy Cookbook_. it has fantastic recipes for everyday foods that you miss when on the diet. we love it!

[mpeel]

They can do a gene test to determine if the celiac was passed from your dad to you and from you do your child. I would get it done. If it is there, then work on a gluten-free diet. If not, you do not need to bother.

[Satori]

Originally Posted by SingingMama

Thank you for the info! My Dad developed the symptoms for Celiac 8 years ago, when my Mom was diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer. He is still dealing with a host of problems, including hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing, even though he keeps to a strict gluten-free diet. He has gone to several allergy specialists, and all they can say is he has an immuno-deficiency disorder (they're not sure what he's reacting to, just that it may or may not have to do with the Celiac). I'm going to pass this website along to him, too.

I guess my phrasing in my original post was incorrect. We just usually refer to my Dad's Celiac as an allergy to gluten/wheat when we describe it to people. I should have been more correct (it's just that most people don't have any idea what Celiac is, and so I often oversimplify it).

Thanks again!

IgA deficiency is common in those with Celiac and it causes a lot of allergy issues. Its a simple blood test to check for it but there's nothing they can do about it but its good to know because if he has a severe deficiency he can go into ana shock if he's ever given IVIG transfusions for any reasons.

[Satori]

Originally Posted by mpeel

They can do a gene test to determine if the celiac was passed from your dad to you and from you do your child. I would get it done. If it is there, then work on a gluten-free diet. If not, you do not need to bother.

ditto, i'm getting the test done finally this month becasue i've been GF for almost 5 years for Celiac and haven't been able to stay on gluten long enough to get a positive test and there are several biopsy dx'd celiacs in the family so I have a good chance of having the gene. dd and the baby will also get tested rather then submit them to a gluten trial first.