Sarah

by Sarah
(Christchurch, NZ)

My 6 year old son is gluten sensitive. He had always had bowel irregularities and we were desperate to get this sorted before he went to school. We had tried all the obvious diet changes, adding/reducing fibre, upping eggs, cutting dairy but no change, and we began to suspect gluten. He was growing normally and a blood test for coeliac was negative, so it was suggested that we try gluten free living. Within 3 days his symptoms improved and he has been able to tolerate small levels of gluten in his diet since, with no serious side effects. But no pasta, bread, biscuits or cakes containing gluten. Our GP suggested reintroducing gluten at age 6 to see if his bowel had matured. What a disaster! We are now back to a GF diet and he is HATING it! He now refuses to eat GF bread of any kind, shop bought or home-made and we are having to become more inventive with his packed lunches. I am experimenting like mad with different recipes but have just made some pretty indifferent GF scones with bacon and cheese. Then I found this site! I hope it will prove helpful.
I wish that those people with Gluten Sensitivity were given some assistance as it is proving increasingly expensive - surely stopping these kids doing damage to their intestines is beneficial to the health service in later years!
My 3 year old son also displays similar symptoms to his brother so we will be embarking on a GF diet with him too. He already eats far less gluten as he shares meals with his brother (but he is addicted to cheese sandwiches!). I am dreading feeding 2 active, sporty GF teenagers!!!!!!!
At the age of 39 I too am now seeing a gasto-enterologist for an ongoing problem possibly related to gluten sensitivity. I hope I can spare my boys from this sort of problem in their futures! Come on NZ, give those that are Gluten Sensitive, (not just coeliacs) a bit of a helping hand!