...to suggest our GP is being dismissive?

[notthatcommon]

Our toddler has been struggling with digestive issues for months - regularly has a distended tummy like a beach ball and it can feel rock hard; sometimes can be sick, daily diarrhoea, bad smelling wind and bowel movements; and tells us his tummy hurts.

I'm concerned he's intolerant to something and we're missing it. We're keeping a food diary and he has gaviscon for reflux; we've cut out dairy for the moment to see if that helps.

If we call GP, I can almost hear her rolling her eyes down the phone and she seems to think this is all normal for a toddler.

Is it?

No, not normal. Shouts coeliac disease to me

Oh my these posts are just so wrong.... Please just ignore the previous posters. It’s v important to get the blood test done ASAP whilst eating gluten. Advise against this is totally wrong.

Porcupineintherough eliminating gluten for 30 days is "terrible advice?" Really? What's the downside? An elimination diet is often recommended for potential food issues
🙄

"Toddler diarrhoea" is a diagnosis of exclusion- that's to say other concerns should have been ruled out first. I would ask to see another GP at your practice and let them know you are still concerned x

You have to be eating a gluten diet for the blood test. Blood tests are a good way of diagnosis. I don't believe they recommend endoscopy for children anymore.

Make sure he is not having any sweeteners. Cut out the juice/squash and only offer water or milk( or dairy free milk alternative)

@steff13 the isdue is that 30 days of no gluten will render any blood test for coeliacs null and void and - if you then have to add gluten back in so he can get tested - he will be even more sensitive and be even sicker.

Coeliac disease is not like other food allergies or intolerances. The rule is always blood test first, then eliminate.

Toddler diarrhoea is a thing. But this doesn't sound like that. Just keep getting the appointments and keep on telling them you think there's something wrong.

Not normal.

Start restricting certain foods for a period of time, not all at once obviously, and try and work out through process of elimination if it's an intolerance. It sounds like it probably is.

I'd suggest gluten or dairy first as they're the most obvious,

the distended stomach makes me think coeliac.
a friend's child was starving herself as the the gluten was ruining her digestive system... basically the stomach looked like the ethiopian kids from the 80s
do get him tested

@Winniemarysarah

This is not normal and don’t let them fob you off. One of our children in nursery nearly died yesterday after slipping into a diabetic coma. The doctors had fobbed the parents off for nearly 3 months putting it down to a virus 😡

That's horrific. Living with diabetes myself I know what a close shave that little one had. I have no faith in our GP at all, and I think this means I'm going to have to change surgeries.

We were treated exactly the same over repeated visits and it was miserable. Eventually a private doctor immediately suggested food intolerances (Dd was wheat and dairy intolerant). It honestly feels like food intolerances Aren’t covered at medical school or something, as it’s the only time I felt not listened to.