DS (3y) just been diagnosed with wheat intolerance :O(

[wangle99]

DS has had diarrhoea since he was born, presumably when I breastfed him I passed it through to him. GP and HV didn't want to know so have just paid to have him privately tested.

It appears he is intolerant to wheat and eggs (eggs we had an idea about). I'm so relieved we have found an answer hopefully but I'm feeling totally overwhelmed by the amount of every day food he no longer can eat.

Please tell me it's not as bad as I think it is!

Thank you!

[ComeOVeneer]

Good news that you finally have an answer. Most supermarkets have a pretty good wheat free section these days. I'm sure you can get some recipe books too to help you out. Good luck.

[hennipenni]

Honestly, once you know what you are looking for with regards to what he can and can't eat, it will become second nature. DD2 has just been on a wheat/gluten free diet.

[pamplemousse]

Its definately not that bad It'll take adjusting to for sure and planning when you go out (ie no sandwiches, pasta salad, pastries, etc - the only take away I can eat is sushi which i'm sure 3yo's aren't into!). A recipe book is a good head start for example The Child-friendly Food Allergy Cookbook: More Than 150 Wheat-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free and Egg-free Recipes That Are Also Low in Sugar on amazon.co.uk?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21. But you do just get the hang of what to avoid. A couple of things I didn't realise wheat was in are sauces (for thickening), crisps(for flavouring), sausages (rusk or something?) MSG etc.
This is a useful page www.ehow.com/how_3797_live-with-allergies.html
Good luck and hope your son is feeling better now you all know what it is

[wangle99]

Thanks for your comments, I think the enormity of it just made me feel overwhelmed. Have been to Tesco and stocked up on some bits to keep us going over next few days while I suss out what he can/can't eat.

Its so expensive though £1.99 for about 12 biscuits! Better make my own I think!

Will check out that recipe book - thank you.

[pigsinmud]

Hi Wangle99 - don't panic. I too recommend that book. I also have an Antoinette Savill book called "Allergy -Free cooking for kids". My ds2 is now gluten free - he has been wheat free for 2 years since he was 4.5. We don't have the eggs problem, but we are all veggie which adds another complication! As the others said it soon seems normal. One thing I have had no success with is bread - he hates them all. Will just about eat the Ener-G one at the moment. As for the prices. I'm still shocked - you'll have to get baking!

[bundle]

what kind of test was it wangle?

[Dottydot]

Wangle - if your son has been diagnosed as having Coeliac disease you can get gluten-free food on prescription, including pizza bases, biscuits, pasta, crackers and bread, so give your GP a ring to see if they'll do you a prescription for you.

[wangle99]

schilke - had come across that book on Amazon, will definately get it! Not afraid of a bit of baking!

Bundle - it was a test done by a lady who visits local health food shop - Food test

My GP and HV didn't want to know so we went to these people. My son has had diarrhoea all his life (3.5 years) and apparently that doesn't warrant looking in to.

Dottydot - he's only got a wheat intolerance rather than coeliac (at the moment anyway). Thank you for information.


Well, DS wasn't impressed with the oat biscuits however the expensive chocolate ones went down a treat lol!!!

[katelyle]

I really don't want to tread on anyone's toes, but I would have concerns about the test you mention. There doesn't seem to be anything about the qualifications of the people doing the testing - and it doesn't say anything about the test itself. I would be very careful about significantly restricting a child's diet based on this. Have you asked to be referred to a paediatrician? If you think he's wheat intolerant, wouldn't it be a good idea to categorically rule out coeliac disease? What does the Dr say about his diarrhoea?

[wangle99]

Katelyle - I agree with you but I am desperate, my GP and HV didn't want to know said it was undiagnosed toddler diarrhoea. Yesterday DS didn't make it to the toilet quite in time again but even when I tell the doctor this he still says 'we'll wait till he's older'.

The reason I was convinced the test was right is because we know that DS can't eat egg without getting an upset tummy - pains and the most foul smelling poo you've ever come across. When it picked up on egg as well that is why I believed the wheat bit.

I can completely see where you are coming from but I hope you can feel my desperation as to sort something out for DS as nobody else wants to help!!! And I didn't think one month wheat free to see if there is a difference will hurt him nutrition-wise. Will it?

[wangle99]

Ok am now even more confused, have just found loads of info online against the testing DS had done (why I didn't find this before I booked the test ) some people saying its a farce and some saying its excellent.

Now I'm so confused. Just so desperately want DS to be better

[bundle]

wangle An allergy specialist I heard interviewed said he'd be very, very wary of people who do these kinds of tests. Please try and get a proper 2nd opinion, from a medically trained person.

[pigsinmud]

I don't see that a month on a wheat free diet will do any harm at all. That is exactly what my GP recommended when I took ds2. He had fluctuations between constipation and diarrhoea, awful poos, no energy ... GP suggested dairy or wheat - tried wheat free and seemed loads better. We're now trying gluten free (been back on wheat for a few weeks and symptoms came back)to see if that gets rid of his bloated tummy.

As for the testing I was out with friends last night and they were talking about that test - I personally wouldn't trust it, but I don't know much about it really. Try wheat free for a month and see what happens - had a huge effect very quickly on my ds2.

[bundle]

wangle, he may still have those allergies/intolerances but you do need to sort out a proper test. whereabouts do you live?

[wangle99]

Bundle I am in Cornwall.

Got a GP appt this morning, saw a very experienced GP in our surgery but felt he saw me as a neurotic mother.

He said if DS had an issue which was causing diarrhoea he would poo himself in the night and wake up with pain therefore as he doesn't there is nothing particularly wrong.

When I said we were going to try wheat free for a month I felt he was almost laughing at me. I did demand an appt with the paediatric dept and have one for DS on the 15th August.

I really don't feel I am over reacting - its not as if this has been happening for a month or so we are talking over 3.5 years!

[bundle]

I'm glad you're getting somewhere