Entero Lab

[evie]

Hi,

 

Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of Entero, a lab that specializes in testing for gluten allergies or sensitivities.

They have a very informative website (www.enterolab.com).

 

My seven year old is a PANDAS kid. I posted a couple of times and have been following this forum over the past few months without being active, but at this point I am not really sure which direction to take.

 

I have been to a top accupunturist in Ft. Lauderdale twice this winter with my son. After the first visit, I can definitely say that there was significant improvement in my son - the main reason being that we were finally able to take him off the antibiotics that were controlling the severity of his ticcing (which, in general, is fairly mild) and also, his impossible (whiny, cranky, irritable) behavior had improved without being on medicine.

 

After his second visit in February, he has basically gone downhill. I think it may have been due to a strep infection that he MUST have had (the whole family tested positive to the throat culture except for him.)

Unfortunately, he is back on antibiotics (keflex) for that past month, and he is under control (minimal ticcing and very well behaved).

 

I just don't feel that being on medicine is an OK long term solution (he has diarrhea from it). I don't know if I should go back to FL or begin with all of this testing...

 

I guess I am just truly afraid of what the results may be and how it will effect his (and my?) life to be allergic to gluten...etc.

Something tells me, after reading so many of the posts on this forum, and all of the information that everyone has shared, that there must be an underlying problem that's causing the PANDAS to occur.

 

I guess I'm just looking for a push in the right direction....Anyone?

[ad_ccl]

Hi Evie,

 

As a PANDAS mom myself - I would highly recommend you do the test. It is very true that if you find out your child is allergic to gluten it SUCKS...but ultimately it is info that is so important. My son tested positive for gluten, casein, eggs, and soy. We went off all the foods and I have to say we saw dramatic improvements within days, and not just related to tics, but mood, focus etc. We continue to be 100% off casein, but started re-introducing gluten after about 6 months, we would allow one bread product once a week. He now eats bread daily with his lunch with no reaction. I still bake cookies, muffins etc with rice flour. I have started to introduce eggs when baking - also with no reaction. During our experience we have had 3 significant times where we have seem dramatic improvements. The first when he went on the antibiotics after the sudden onset of symptoms, the second was when we started on vitamins and went off dairy - then gluten, eggs, soy ( all around the same time) and the final one was when we started to treat the yeast overgrowth. My feeling on my son's situation is that the food allergies were a symptom of the yeast overgrowth. And the yeast was due to the use of antibiotics - tons as an infant, and then for 5 months straight after the PANDAS diagnosis, with no probiotic. We continue to use proplylactic antibiotics - and our son is pretty much symptom free. I think you have to get to the root cause - which is the immune system and figure out what is bothering the immune system, if one of the things is gluten - then getting him off it will allow him body to heal faster. It is so worth the time and hassle - and your son is old enough to understand - and identify any differences on and off gluten or whatever other foods.

I am the last person who would have ever believed that dairy, gluten etc. was contributing to our son's illness - but there is no doubt in my mind that it was.

Good Luck.

[evie]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I am really leaning towards going ahead with all of the testing, I just needed to hear it from those who have been through similar experiences that we are up against.

 

I am happy to hear that your son is doing well. It's interesting that you are able to go back on to the gluten products. I was under the impression that a gluten allergy is a life-long problem. I guess that makes is a bit more tolerable if there is a chance that the diet may be temporary.

 

Of course I am willing to do whatever it takes to help my child along the road to a healthy body and immune system. It gives me such strength and hope to read about all of you who are out there going ahead with all of the testing and doctors visits..etc., putting all of your energy into your children... I wish you all positive results!

 

Thanks for being out there!