TerryJ2
Well-Known Member
I had difficult child tested for celiac's disease this wk. The dr's ofc called and said the blood test came back positive. They are referring us to the local children's hospital for further testing by a GI specialist. After doing an online search, I'm thinking they'll do some kind of a procedure to take tissue from the small intestine to see if the villi are flattened, which is going to be very uncomfortable for difficult child.
Despite the fact that, unchecked, celiac's can lead to intestinal cancer, dementia, and type I diabetes, (isn't the Internet fun?!) the good news is that it probably explains where his skin allergies came from (with-the exception of grass), and where his anemia came from a cpl yrs ago (we supplemented with-a tsp of iron for a yr and his levels evened out). It also explains at least some of his irritability, where all or part of his ADHD comes from (we already knew that wheat made him hyper), and is connected to his lactose intolerance. (It's hypothetical if it causes it, just that there is a link.) Since it's connected to so many of his health issues, I'm even wondering if it's connected to his glaucoma. It wouldn't surprise me, since glaucoma is often an outcome of diabetes..
His maternal bio-grandmother has diabetes, and his bmom is overweight and has been hospitalized for unspecified digestive issues, too, so I'll call and tell them that they should be tested for celiac's. (How ironic that the adopted kid is the one telling the rest of the family what they may have. Ain't science grand?)
The other good news is that from what I've read, within a yr, with a very strict non-gluten diet, his body should be "normal" and be able to absorb all the nutrients he needs with-o supplements.
Of course, he will be on a gluten-free diet for life.
He took the news relatively well. I didn't tell him that more tests will tell us definitively ... I just know we have not been strict enough with-his diet, and that he will pay attention to blood tests and doctors b4 he will listen to Mom or Dad. He was very concerned about out fave Italian restaurant, and I told him that I'd talk to the owner and discuss the menu and that he'd probably keep rice pasta on the shelf just for us. He was worried he'd never see the owner's son again (they play video games in the ofc while we eat) and I said of course he'd see him again.
I found a place online that explained how the extra cost of specialized dietary foods is tax deductible. I actually found the codes in case the IRS balks! Still, it remains to be seen until we actually try it.
It is going to be a struggle with-the diet but I am so glad I had the test done. Lots of people don't find out until they're adults.