<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

About my son: he is 3, in diapers, and partially verbal.  He is celiac
and autistic, and is gluten and casein free.

Question:

How long should a gluten reaction last?  Last month he had a reaction
that lasted a few weeks, after having eaten cookies that contained
gluten, or something that upset his tummy, for about a week.  This
month, he is having another reaction, after about a week of ALMOST
normal-for-him bm's (which are a couple of mushy, pasty, non-formed,
light-colored stools per day), after eating suspect cookies for only two
days.  His reaction, both times has been many ( I stopped counting at
5)  large-volume, noisily-expelled, horrific smelling, pure liquid,
DARK, stools, which often contain bits of undigested food, per day, with
bloating.  I can tell when he is about to have a movement because it is
the only time of the day when his pants don't fall down without a belt
(he is really thin) - the bloating is enough to keep his pants up.
Immediately after having the movement, his pants start to fall down
again.

Another question:

How can you differentiate btwn a gluten reaction and another food
intolerance?  My son has had classic gluten reactions both this month
and last month.  Last month it was after I made cookies with quinoa
flakes that I got from a bulk bin at Wild Oats, and this month after
using amaranth flour in cookies that I got form a bulk bin at Wild
Oats.  Yes, I know bulk bins are bad, and I won't use them again,
because it is possible that this is cross-contamination from the bins or
scoops.  And I know that the CSA is extremely conservative in warning
away celiacs from amaranth and quinoa.  But is it possible that more
sensitive celiacs can't handle these grains as well, perhaps the protein
in them is similar to that of wheat gliadin?  I'd like to hear from any
celiacs out there that also have intolerances to either of these grains,
in order to ascertain if the reaction is the same as the reaction to
gluten.

Thanks!

Catherine in AZ