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My 2 1/2 year old son just got diagnosed with celiac disease.
I have been trying to read everything but still have a lot to
learn.  I also have some questions that I can't find the answers:
  1)  Since it is an inherited disorder -- does that mean that my
      husband or myself have it and 1) don't know it (ie. symptoms
      are mild) or 2) haven't been exposed to the trigger yet?
      Should we all get tested or will the antibodies not be present
      unless the celiac is active?  Is there a way of telling if
      we are prone to developing this disease?
  2)  Are there varying degrees of being celiac?  What I mean is
      could something like toaster crumbs affect one person and
      not another?  My son doesn't have any the classic symptoms.
      In fact, his diagnosis was a result of trying to rule out
      what he did not have -- the doctors were trying to figure
      out why he hadn't gained any weight for over a year.  Anyway
      it is very hard for me to tell if I have inadvertently fed
      him something with gluton.
  3)  How harmful to the villi is it if he slips occasionally,
      like me allowing him to eat McDonald's french fries once or
      twice a month?
 
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
Michele Kratzmeier -- [log in to unmask]
 
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  Michele L. Kratzmeier     861/4B40    Phone (301) 640-3079
              email [log in to unmask]
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