Help, need advice on testing

May 4, 2010

Laurie:.

I know that many people get tested for food intolerances; others on the list

have more experience in this. But I would say, if his symptoms are better

without gluten (or any other food), what could test results add to that

knowledge? A negative test result wouldn't change things, nor would a positive

test result for that matter. A test is only as good as its predictive ability.

(And the only medical treatment is what you're doing anyway.) Friends and

family should be happy that Austin's feeling better. It seems to me that you're

doing just the right thing here - adjusting his diet and seeing how he responds.

Hang in there!

Nancy

On May 3, 2010, at 6:47 PM, gnlcover wrote:

> Hi!

> I don't post often, but I have a question about what anyone's experiences with

diagnosing gluten-intolerance has been.

>

> Our son is seven, and we had him tested through Enterolab for gluten

antibodies, which came back positive. This is a stool test which someone from

this list recommended. Ok, that was really good enough info for us, and as we

had suspected. But, going to the pediatrician and telling him our results didn't

go over too well. He said he thinks we are barking up the wrong tree, and

doesn't believe Austin is gluten intolerant. Doesn't trust non-FDA( or whoever

oversees the official labs). labs. So, he did blood work, a whole battery of

tests, all of which came back norlam, negative for gluten. Here is my

frustration: Austin has been on a GF diet, strict since Christmas, and before

that GF except for oats for 4 or so months. So, what antibodies WOULD he have? I

asked the nurse prior to the lab draw about this, and she told me (erroneously,

I believe) that the antibodies will show up if you have ever consumed gluten, if

you are sensitive. I didn't buy that then and I don't now either, because it is

contrary to what I have read. When the labs came back neg, the Dr. Told me

everything is fine. I discussed my above concerns, and he admitted that some

types of the antibodies will clear after being GF, but that he didn't know which

ones did that. He said he could follow-up with a gastroenterologist if I wanted

and he would support us.

>

> That is my question, whether to go that route. Austin doesn't have gastro

symptoms. He has ADHD symptoms, and rage/aggression issues, as well as skin

rashes when we have tried to introduce the gluten back in. He gets in a fog

mentally for about a week after he's had gluten. I don't know whether to pursue

this, basically for a diagnosis, to appear more credible in the family and

friends, or just to keep him GF because of what we have seen. We don't really

want to put Austin through a lot of invasive tests, and don't want him or

ourselves to have to suffer through a gluten challenge, but family and friends

think we're off the deep end a bit.

>

> What would you do?

>

> Laurie

>

May 4, 2010

I know how you're feeling. I never bothered to get the testing done on my

daughter b/c I saw that when she was off gluten, she's better. My family is big

into dr diagnosis too. The fact remains it's YOUR child and if your family

doesn't get it, too bad. To be honest, if your family doesn't get it, they

won't get it even with a diagnosis. They'll feel that surely food can't be the

reason for behavior. Dr's don't completely get it either. Drs get NO

nutritional training in medical school unless they chose an elective. You are

doing a great job, obviously. Give the kid a break, feed him how you feel is

best and IF in the future you feel there are other foods he may have issues

with, you can worry about testing then.

Peace,

Reggie

, " gnlcover " <gnlcover wrote:

>

> Hi!

> I don't post often, but I have a question about what anyone's experiences with

diagnosing gluten-intolerance has been.

>

> Our son is seven, and we had him tested through Enterolab for gluten

antibodies, which came back positive. This is a stool test which someone from

this list recommended. Ok, that was really good enough info for us, and as we

had suspected. But, going to the pediatrician and telling him our results

didn't go over too well. He said he thinks we are barking up the wrong tree,

and doesn't believe Austin is gluten intolerant. Doesn't trust non-FDA( or

whoever oversees the official labs). labs. So, he did blood work, a whole

battery of tests, all of which came back norlam, negative for gluten. Here is

my frustration: Austin has been on a GF diet, strict since Christmas, and

before that GF except for oats for 4 or so months. So, what antibodies WOULD he

have? I asked the nurse prior to the lab draw about this, and she told me

(erroneously, I believe) that the antibodies will show up if you have ever

consumed gluten, if you are sensitive. I didn't buy that then and I don't now

either, because it is contrary to what I have read. When the labs came back

neg, the Dr. Told me everything is fine. I discussed my above concerns, and he

admitted that some types of the antibodies will clear after being GF, but that

he didn't know which ones did that. He said he could follow-up with a

gastroenterologist if I wanted and he would support us.