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I have several questions, so I will try to stay as brief as possible.  My
first question regards the results of a biopsy on a five year old boy.  This
particular five year old has had years of abdominal bloating, intermittent
diarrhea, and recently went from the 95th percentile in weight to the fifth
percentile.  His father is from Ireland.  He was recently found to be
lactose intolerant.  After his biopsy, the results showed abnormality but
not clear cut Celiac Disease.  Instead of the villi being completely
flattened, they are "hammered".  His doctor does not feel his results are
conclusive CD so he wants to put him on 5 Tblsp. of King Arthur's Flour
daily for the next six weeks and rebiopsy him.  His mother, a personal
friend, is beside herself.  I offered to try to get some ideas for her.  My
questions would be, does anyone have info to share on hammered villi?  Is
six weeks long enough to rebiopsy to see a dramatic change in the villi?
How does one incorporate 5 Tblsp. of flour into the diet?  Has anyone been
through this sort of thing before?
 
My next question is that my family will be spending the week of the 18th in
Punta Gorda, Florida.  Does anyone have suggestions for dining out with a
two year old and obtaining great service for a gluten-free diet in the Punta
Gorda area?
 
My last point, is I apologize for my reference to Kellogg's Corn Pops and
Temptations Honey Roasted Pecan being manufactured the same.  My first
telephone call to Kellogg's several months ago provided me with the
indication that the two cereals were indeed manufactured the same.  When I
called back after seeing Jim Lyles' response, the Kellogg's representative
told me that the Corn Pops are manufactured on a seperate line and are
therefore, completely gluten-free.  Temptations is manufactured on a line
where other cereals are manufactured posing the threat of contamination.
All of the ingredients are gluten-free and the lines are thoroughly cleaned
down in between productions, but there is a risk, although the
representative thought it was minimal, of cross-contamination.  I apologize
for not stating this more clearly, but I was not informed thoroughly when I
first called.
 
Because we will be heading to Florida on Sunday evening, please email me
privately with any answers to my questions that you may have.  Hopefully, I
will be able to shed some light on my five year old friends  dilemna before
I leave and I hope to have lots of recommendations for gluten-free dining in
the Punta Gorda area.  Thanks for you help.
 
Tanis E. Collard, President Ma & RI Celiac Support Group for Children
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