Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 , Alec had alopecia that began a few years ago. (CIndy- you were very helpful to me that the time of alec's diagnosis). Last year, as part of his yearly blood test, i asked his pediatician to test for celiac. He told me that Alec did not have any of the classic symptoms so he did not suggest testing for it. I told him that i had checked out the celiac web site and children do not always have the typical symptoms. I further told him that it is now part of the suggested screenings done at 3 for children who have DS. My pediatrician added it to the blood tests done for alec last sept. Well, guess what, his levels were very highly positive. we followed with another blood test, which also had high levels. In Nov, we did the biopsy on alec which showed that he does in fact have celiac. Since alec began the gluten free diet, all of his hair has grown back!!!! He is also a happier child. THe difference is amazing. , I would suggest that you have the blood screening for celiac done the next time that you need to draw blood. good luck Lori mom to Alec (11DS) and le (15-teenager) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Hi all! I don't post often but I have a question for those of you with children with celiac or alopecia. Ben has had alopecia since he was about 2 1/2. A girlfriend sent me some websites about children whom have had asymptomatic celiac and that it was the reason for their alopecia. The children were put on gluten free diets and their hair grew back. I guess the ratio was 1/85 who were diagnosed with celiac. Ben has never had any symptoms of celiac but does have alopecia. Has anyone else ever heard of this happening? When we were at the endocronologist for his thyroid this past week she commented that there is really no reason to check for celiac as there are no symptoms at all. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Hi , just had her anual physical this past week, I requested a celiac test, just so I can find out if her stomach problems are related to that or her crappy diet. (who knows, maybe it's both) Because she doesn't really have any sypmtoms except constipation her dr. said it was probably the crappy diet, but that we'd test just to rule it out. hehe. I love this dr. she really listens to what I'm saying....if you know what I mean. LOL Actually all the drs I've been in contact here have always listened and tested if I asked. Oh and they are now using the ds growth chart. is average in height and around 70 % in weight. had a couple of times when she was younger where she had alopeicia, this is the first time I've heard the two linked. Will be interesting to see if that was caused by celiac or the stress her body was under at that time. The more I read and hear about celiac diesease the more I think, maybe it's more widespread then is really thought.....I'm tempted to have hubby checked for it. hehe. We'll get the results of the testing tomorrow afternoon. I'm not really sure what to think, I'm just making sure I rule it out. Then I'll keep working on the crappy diet. sigh..it's so hard when a kid only wants to eat certain foods. Joy When we were at the endocronologist for his thyroid this past week she commented that there is really no reason to check for celiac as there are no symptoms at all. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Hi We have a lot of books on celiac and I'll check this out. I know one of them says that celiac affects the skin in many ways and 's psoraisis on his head, elbowes, and knees may be coming from it. celiac and alopecia > Hi all! I don't post often but I have a question for those of you with children with celiac or alopecia. > Ben has had alopecia since he was about 2 1/2. A girlfriend sent me some websites about children whom have had asymptomatic celiac and that it was the reason for their alopecia. The children were put on gluten free diets and their hair grew back. I guess the ratio was 1/85 who were diagnosed with celiac. > Ben has never had any symptoms of celiac but does have alopecia. Has anyone else ever heard of this happening? When we were at the endocronologist for his thyroid this past week she commented that there is really no reason to check for celiac as there are no symptoms at all. > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Lori, That's great that his hair grew back! A friend of mine has a son that was recently diagnosed with celiac and sent me several websites where they talk about celiac and and the instances were about 1/85 that tested positive for celiac. Ben has no symptoms either. I think I am going to call the endo dr. and ask her if they can do just the blood test. After all the blood test may come back with normal levels. Did Alec (ben is also 11) have alopecia totalis or just his head. Ben has always had his eyebrows and eyelashes. He is also going through puberty and has quite the hair down below too. I'm wondering if he will get arm and leg hair. My friend also suggested that I try a gluten free diet for a few weeks and see what happens with his hair. How long did it take for Alec to grow his hair back. Good to hear from you again, Take Care, Re: celiac and alopecia , Alec had alopecia that began a few years ago. (CIndy- you were very helpful to me that the time of alec's diagnosis). Last year, as part of his yearly blood test, i asked his pediatician to test for celiac. He told me that Alec did not have any of the classic symptoms so he did not suggest testing for it. I told him that i had checked out the celiac web site and children do not always have the typical symptoms. I further told him that it is now part of the suggested screenings done at 3 for children who have DS. My pediatrician added it to the blood tests done for alec last sept. Well, guess what, his levels were very highly positive. we followed with another blood test, which also had high levels. In Nov, we did the biopsy on alec which showed that he does in fact have celiac. Since alec began the gluten free diet, all of his hair has grown back!!!! He is also a happier child. THe difference is amazing. , I would suggest that you have the blood screening for celiac done the next time that you need to draw blood. good luck Lori mom to Alec (11DS) and le (15-teenager) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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