To put my DS on a gluten free diet?

[SoCockneyItHurts]

I'm desperate! He's 7 and has been having diarrhoea daily for the last 4-5 months. And it's explosive, very smelly and causing him to get sores around his anus.

We went to the paediatrician at the hospital on 1st September. After lots of questions and prodding of his tummy she concluded that he had a short gut transit time whatever that is. That basically his food passes through him at a much faster rate than others. She wanted a blood test to check absorbtion of vitamins etc. We found out on weds that's he's anaemic and the hospital have started him on Sytron iron liquid for 3 months. The diarrhoea is continuing and I'm so stressed with it. He went 5 times yesterday. A gluten free diet is the only thing I haven't tried. The paediatrician did ask about diet but didn't think it was that.

I'm hesitant to try it because it says you shouldn't without a proper diagnosis. Plus it's quite restricted from what I've read and DS is fussy enough as it is! But I really am desperate.... the fact that he's now anaemic has stressed me further and I can't stop worrying. AIBU to try gluten free without diagnosis?

Thank you....I'm so worried about him :(

Only through asking me questions about him.

He only ever drinks water. No history of ibs/ibd

You could request a test called fecal calprotectin, which is from a stool sample. This can quickly rule out ibd, and could suggest ibs without the need for any invasive tests. Your description of running to loo as soon as he ate his soup is how I feel when i am having a flare up (although would go to the loo a lot more than 5 times a day. )
I would suggest pushing for this test to give a better indication of what is the matter.

I'm lactose intolerant (but not dairy allergic) and this is exactly what happens to me if I eat something with dairy in it. That said, lactose intolerance is usually something you're either born with, or develop in later adulthood as your production of lactase enzyme drops, so it's unlikely to just suddenly start. I'd be very wary indeed of cutting out gluten until he's been tested for coeliac/crohns. I hope your dr comes up with something soon.

I would cut out gluten and dairy and push for a colonoscopy.

I was diagnosed with crohns at 13 and my DD has food allergies.

No, no, no! Don't cut out gluten until he's been tested for coeliac disease and push for him to be tested asap. He also needs to be assessed for Crohns disease. Poor little lad

I have seriously bad IBS and dairy makes me worse.
It appears I can only eat dust as everything makes me poorly, just varying degrees of speed and bloating.
I have been going to the doctors for years and they are not that bothered. They don't see the psychological issues that this illness causes.
The FODMAP diet is also next to useless for me.

Sorry, not very helpful. Poor little chap must be so fed up and you must be so worried. Keep pushing the doctors or they will just fob you off.

My son had exactly this. I read up on glyphosate and instead of going gluten free, we went entirely with organic cereals (including wheat), and the problem went. Also to add, he doesn't have dairy (we're vegan).

Sorry my phone autocorrected, it should have said diarrhea with no gut pain is usually a lactose thing.
My son developed it with no warning, but as a teen. I also saw it come up quick with my neighbour's dd at 3 years old, although she also got runny nose with hers.
Worth checking at least

iron medicine gives me black diarrhoea, it is a known side effect.

There is a link between low iron and undiagnosed coeliac as the condition stops the body absorbing nutrients properly. Once the villi heal, the body is able to absorb iron again. Is he falling down the growth percentiles? From memory, iron supplements tend to cause constipation but I might have that wrong. Hope you get it sorted.

Lentils would be a fodmap no no lol I do this for myself everyday so if you need any help in the mean time pm me.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that if the villi in the stomach have been destroyed by coeliac then the enzyme lactase lives on these and this can render you lactose intolerant. The same reason you can become lactose intolerant after gastroenteritis I believe.

How long has he been okay at school but not home?

Any chance it could be IBS? I was in my early teens when it started and had very similar symptoms at first (inc anemia). It got worse with stress , dairy and changes in temperature.

Oops Just saw your ibs comment

You are correct Misty

My son was told he had fast transit time he had diahorrea running down his legs, it had its own unique smell. I threw my toys out at the hospital and they did tests and low and behold he's coeliac

Do not cut any food groups out keep a diary of what he's eating and what happens

I thought it was tomato but with hindsight all the tomato products where on gluten ....... I'd try cutting out gluten for it to have no effect but now know I hadn't cut out the hidden gluten

I didn't have the same as your son, but when I was much younger, I used to get dreadful nausea. I'd constantly have my head down a loo thinking I was going to vomit (I did a few times)

I was tested for absolutely everything and it all came back clear. I even had this nausea in school - as soon as I ate/drank anything, i'd go pale, sweaty and feel sick. My GP sent us to see a child psychologist, thinking it was anxiety.
My mum nipped to the shop to get some milk. They didn't have our usual full fat milk, so she got semi skimmed. I had it on my cereal and was fine. We spoke to GP and sorted my diet so I was only having semi skimmed milk (milk is in a fair few foods) and I've been fine ever since!
I tried full fat milk a few months back and sure enough, the nausea, sweating, pale appearance was back!

I haven't a clue what could be causing your sons problems, but I know how miserable it can be. I also understand the worry as my parents were so stressed by it all.
I hope you get this sorted soon

Coeliac is a blood test, I'd be surprised if it hasn't been done.

I would request a change to the iron supplements, request screening for bacteria, and request a test for coeliac disease. As the diarrhea only started 5 months ago, it may well be temporary which exclusion and reintroduction should resolve. Unfortunately, it may have caused temporary sensitivity to a large number of food types.

If he is unable to absorb nutrients he will not be able to heal and recover.

Fatty acids, probiotics, vitamin D, vitamin C will all help the gut recover from whatever happened to cause this. Once you have ruled out coeliac disease, I would exclude all grains, red meat, lentils, beans, dairy, soya, sugar, nuts, deep sea fish and deadly nightshade vegetables until things improve then gradually reintroduce. Find a plant based multinutrient ensure the best possible chance that nutrients are absorbed.

I would seek the help of a qualified nutritionist.

I agree, probiotics would be a good idea. You can get dairy free ones in Holland and Barrett if you're looking to try excluding that.
Also keep a close eye on his weight. Losing weight is a red flag and something the doctors will definitely need to know about.
There are so many things it could be from dairy, gluten, even fructose to ibs, coeliac, etc.
Make sure you get copies of all test results for yourself so you know what they have tested for and can do some research yourself. Unfortunately stomach/bowel issues can be hard to get diagnosed and the more you can learn yourself the better position you are in to request tests, ask the right questions etc.
Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

Has he been tested for celiac. Ring your GP and ask for test. He needs to have had two gluten based meals daily for 6 weeks for the results to be reliable.

I'm gluten sensitive rather then celiac. My poo is only normal when I don't eat gluten.

Write a food diary for a week or two

Poor little mite. Was going to say politics might help.

That should say probiotics!