How soon on an elimination diet should you see an improvement?

[ChristmasIsAllPackedUp]

DS has just turned 3 and we have had an awful few months with him suffering tummy ache and really awful diarrhoea. I took him to the drs a few times and they just said he had a bug but now that it has been going on for months they finally told me to avoid all dairy. How long does it take to see a difference when you cut something out? He has been avoiding dairy for about 6 days now and the diarrhoea has not gone away, today its been worse
I just don't know what to do, he seems so poorly and the drs just seem dismissive. He has dark circles under his eyes, he looks exhausted, he doesn't want to eat anything really, he won't get out of bed in the morning saying he is just too tired. What can I do I'm starting to get quite worried about him.

it can take up to 4 weeks for dairy to be out of system but you should see slight improvement by now can i ask what does he eat the most of there is a reason in me asking

He likes fruit and veg a lot but I don't give him much soft fruit because of the diarrhoea. Lots of broccolli and carrots and peas. He'll eat rice but won't eat pasta, will eat bread, will eat small amounts of potato. Will eat minced beef in a chilli, sausage casserole and things like that.
Most days he has cereal and soya milk for breakfast and some fruit and lunch chili and rice and then dinner something like beans on toast. Snacks are breadsticks or rice cakes.

i am not saying it is but his symptoms are very much like a gluten intolerance or better known as coeliac disease. if you have products with gluten/wheat in you suffer with the runs lack of energy stomach pains etc..

what do I do then?

have a look at the coeliac website www.coeliac.org.uk and have a look at what is coeliac disease then see if symptoms are similar if they are come back and i will help you further it might not be but i will help if i can

Thanks I'll go and have a look now.

On the list of symptoms the only ones he has are the diarrhoea, tummy aches and tiredness. He is small for his age just under the 25th centile but its never been mentioned as an issue with drs or hv. I don't know what to do really I know he isn't right but was hoping I'd see some improvement after nearly a week without dairy. I'll keep dairy free for another week and then go back to see the dr again we could do a gluten free diet next and see if that helps.

i would as lack of energy does not fit in with dairy intolerance keep a food diary and see if you can pinpoint what food reacts worse to him this would also help doc

I know the dr will just say he has a bug though if I go back, they just seem to think its nothing but he is my son and I know its not normal for him.

a bug lasts 24 to 48 hours not months you know your child better than anyone else you know what is normal for him and what is not normal. is there another doc you can see. If not ask doctor for a second opinon they cant refuse you. it is so hard to see them suffer i know. if i can offer you any help let me know

Thanks worried, I hope your LO is better soon too, I saw your other thread about neocate. I'll go back to the drs and try to see a different one and see if I can get more of a response. Its not like I want them to really do anything really I just want to feel like they have listened to me and offered some advice based on what I have told them rather than just saying that its a bug again.
Off to bed now, happy new year!