My 4-year old sometimes gets sick after eating pastas or things like that (dumplings, breads, other noodles). She throws up several times over two days or so and during that time can't eat anything without throwing up. It happens maybe once every two to three months, so definitely not every time she eats pasta.
We have asked the pediatrician about this, but she said that it doesn't happen often enough to to test her for a gluten allergy or anything like that. (And made me feel kind of stupid for asking about it.) However, my sister in law pointed out that celiac disease runs in my husband's family and thinks I need to insist on a test.
What do you guys think? Are these symptoms, with the family history, strong enough to insist she be tested? Are there other things it could be?
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I would ask for the blood test, but it's notoriously inacurrate. I'm not sure I'd put a kid through a biopsy for so little. I think I'd start by pulling all gluten and seeing how she feels.
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I would definitely say it's worth looking in to. I would talk her to a pediatric GI and skip the pediatrician who won't be as familiar with food intolerance issues.
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@Torchwood: yeesh! I didn't even know a biopsy could be involved.
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As a celiac I recommend not cutting out gluten until you have had tests done/or at least talked to a GI doctor.
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@MrsH: Why is that? Makes it harder to test for it?
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Do you know much about your DH's relatives who have CD? Were they diagnosed at a young age or as adults? I have CD and as a child had sporadic vomiting episodes, joint problems, and skin rashes. I also was chronically bloated and constipated. I was diagnosed with IBS and it continued for years until my doctor finally did the IgA test when I was 30, and it was positive. I went on to have the genetic test and that was enough for me to go GF until I did a challenge and endoscopy about a year later. My mom had similar problems and it turns out she also has it. I think if your DD has a compelling family history coupled with any gastrointestinal issues it's worth a visit to a ped GI just to be sure!
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@Mrs Panda: My nephew has CD, so our whole family got tested and it turns out my brother has it. He never had stomach issues...CD can manifest itself in SO SO many different ways. You can't cut out gluten before the test because it has to be in your system to get an accurate reading. I just called my GP and they called in a rx to get tested.
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@Mrs Panda: correct!
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@MoreCoffee: don't know much...my niece was diagnosed at 7 yrs old. She was tested at 4 yrs (age of my daughter now) and was negative then.
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@Mrs Panda: I might be remembering wrong, could just be the endoscopy. But my point stands. It'd be rough on a kid.
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Ditto to what @MrsH: said. Don't cut gluten until tested. Start with the blood test. I have celiac and did the biopsy (via endoscopy/upper gi) to confirm, but they didn't have the blood test back then. My main symptom was anemia, among others. And I had occasional stomach issues, but not all the time. My sister has it too, lots of autoimmune in our family.
Is your LO growing? Losing weight? I know they look for that with kids and celiac.
Good luck!!
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@hellobeeboston: thanks for sharing! She is growing taller, and is tall for her age...but she is very, very skinny....
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I think the past decade or so has taught the medical field that not everyone with celiac shows the same symptoms. So I think it's kinda ridiculous for her ped to react that way. I would maybe ask for a referral to a GI and see what they think. I hope you get some answers!
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@Pirouette: for some reason it still seems so many doctors are misinformed about celiac!! Ugh.
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@hellobeeboston: no kidding!
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Thanks for all the info! It sounds like I should at least follow up with a specialist to be sure and not just take her pediatrician's word!
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@Mrs Panda: DS was tested for celiac this year. Did the blood test first, then had an upper gi endoscopy because the blood test is often wrong. But we weren't just looking for celiac, so it was worth it to us to do the biopsy. The endoscopy was super simple and quick and he did just fine. It was his second sedation, though, so it wasn't as scary as the first time. I'd ask to get referred to a gi specialist if you're concerned. I felt so awful that it took 3 years to find out he was lactose intolerant and had GERD, and here we were feeding him a constant stream of dairy. He must have felt like crap. If you think something's bothering her, push to get her tested.
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