Worried about son's digestion

[DarkDarkNight]

He is coming up three and has had intermittent diarrhoea and constipation since he got past the baby stage. I assumed this was just normal, maybe it was toddler diarrhoea at the most.

It's got a bit more severe recently. My mum had to collect him from my Child Minder the other week as he was crying with stomach pain. She said he was very distressed though by the time I got home half an hour later he had been to the toilet twice and had settled. I took him to the GP who didn't really offer any advice just referred us to a Paediatrician. He has started to eat less and he can't really afford to lose any weight.

Tonight he has had more problems and I'm worried it's something like IBS.

Could it be that a particular type of food is triggering it?

I would keep a food diary from now on with symptoms to see if there is a pattern.

Keep a food diary for a week
Up the probiotics or live yogurt pain prob constipation
Ask for coeliac test

I don't know. It happens randomly and can be quite a while after a meal. It's not always after he's had milk or gluten, and it's got a lot worse recently but his diet hasn't changed.

A food/symptom diary is a good idea though. I can see them asking at his appointment (which isn't until July) so if would be good to have one prepared.

Bread used to do this to my son.

His tummy would bloat right up and he wouldn't be able to go to the toilet

Bananas too. He is 6 now and still can't eat more than a couple of bananas a week or too much white bread.

Hope you can suss out what's causing it poor little toot

cestlavie are there any specific probiotics or should I use tablets? I looked up the symptoms of Coeliac disease a while back and lots fitted. I hope they will run some tests.

He is a toast and pasta monster so I have worried about bread/gluten before purplehonesty. He likes bananas too. His stomach does get swollen and hard.

The biocare powder is good from health food shops keep in fridge they do a kids version ask in a good health food shop

Don't cut out gluten until he been tested this is v impprtannt

Exactly the same with my son

Swollen hard tummy that we took
Photos of to show the consultant. He couldn't believe the size of it!

In the end he tested negative for coeliac but we cut out bread anyway and noticed the banana thing so stopped those for about two years too.

Then gradually reintroduced both but keep an eye on limits.

Pasta was fine, he ate loads of it in place of sandwiches

Pasta was fine, he ate loads of it in place of sandwiches

I will have a look for the powder, thank you. I can remember reading not to alter diet prior to testing, it's just a long time for him to suffer with it, and it's making potty training really difficult.

He has started asking for bananas with peanut butter on toast so I may swerve the bananas for a while. Good to know pasta was ok for your son, I'd be stuck without pasta, although he isn't eating much of anything at the moment.

Coeliac disease sounds a real possibility. Ask your GP to run blood tests, specifically requesting the coeliac test. Proper diagnosis can only be done with a biopsy, which your DS would be referred for if his blood test indicates signs of coeliac. But he must continue eating gluten until the tests are completed or you won't get a true result.

My three DDs are all coeliac and your DS' symptoms are very similar to DD1's before she was diagnosed - I'd be happy to give you more info if you want to PM me.