Hi Fireworks Mum, I am a new poster too, lurking for coeliac info for my 20 month old! She has recently been diagnosed as coeliac (at around 17 months old) and your post resonated with me.
Your daughters symptoms when eating gluten sound similar to my daughter's, smelly pale loose stools and 'volumous' (?) ie. about 3 full nappies before lunchtime on a bad day.
I had her investigated because both my kids get loose stools when eating even small amounts of fruit. The paediatrician observed she was pale and also asked for her blood to be tested for coeliac disease. No one in our family has been diagnosed with CD. Because she is under 2 it is not conclusive, but highly likely she is. Within 3 hours of putting her on a gluten free diet she had her first normal poo. I don't need a biopsy to confirm she is a coeliac! She sleeps better at night, is generally happier and her cry is no longer a high pitched scream.
I am not sure, but I don't think they consider a biopsy until they are older than 2. The blood test has been enough to get me GF food on prescription.
The blood test was a bit difficult at the time, but with hindsight worth every minute for getting the diagnosis. We aborted the first attempt because she was very distressed before we had even tried to roll her sleeve up. I was then re-booked for a later date with a 'play therapist' also in attendance, who had toys and musical instruments and blew bubbles to distract her. Having said that, she was still upset whilst they drew the blood, because it does take a good minute to do, but the staff were all focusing on her and suggested I hold her facing me, (partly to keep her still and to keep her head turned away from them and towards the play therapist.) Under the circumstances it was as good as it could be! This was in the Royal Surrey Guildford. If you are not happy with the way the appointment is heading, then you can say so and re book. The staff aren't keen to force your child to go through undue trauma either!
Re: breakfast cereal. My daughter has a problem with normal oats, so I switched to GF Oats, but the dietician told me that all newly diagnosed coeliacs should stop even gluten free oats for the first 6 moths after diagnosis, to give their stomach a chance to heal.
As mentioned before the Coeliac food & drink directory lists lots of supermarket own brands that are much cheaper than some of the GF 'health food' cereals. eg. Waitrose Cornflakes, Tesco's Rice Snaps & Cornflakes. I agree that I am not keen on most cereals as a 'healthy option' either and will go back to GF oats in a few months. I don't know where I picked this up, but remember reading Kellogg's aren't on the list because they can't confirm there is no cross contamination between their cereals.
You are advised to use a separate toaster to avoid cross contamination and I bought this one recently which has made making eggs and toast for breakfast a pleasure, I highly recommend it if you have to go down that route too. www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-Toast-TT550015-Toaster-Slice/dp/B0013KEDKY
It is expensive, but I found it on offer for about £38. at Curry's. I have used it loads though and rediscovered poached eggs! :o
She also tolerates Genius Gluten free brown bread toasted, but generally doesn't like much GF bread. (This is on prescription.)
Best of luck with the blood tests.
I am really here looking for advice from other Mums for day to day living with a coeliac toddler. I can't believe the Coeliac society doesn't have it's own forums, we must surely all be asking the same questions as each other, but there is no central place I can find to search for this info. without trawling through lots of irrelevant stuff too, (eg Coeliac Facebook page) Any help would be appreciated!