All Communities > Bitchin Ladies > Malabsorption

Malabsorption

Michelle - posted on 03/22/2012 ( 5 moms have responded )

1,606

10

My youngest may have it. She eats all the time and does not gain weight. Last month we had her thyroid tested, which broke my heart because the nurse blew her vein trying to draw blood. Her thyroid is fine. We've been in constant contact with her ped trying to figure this out. Yesterday she passed her Cheerios undigested and we finally got a clue as to what to do next. Now we're looking at stool and blood tests for malabsorption. Does anyone know what we can expect if this is the case? Just gathering info. I already have a kid with SPD who has food issues so we need to try to be prepared. Any experience you have to share would be helpful.

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

5 Comments

View replies by

Amanda - posted on 07/18/2012

13

0

Also her stools are never solid but not quite diahreaa but very soft

Amanda - posted on 07/18/2012

13

0

I have been trying to find info too. Have you had any new info? My daughter eats or wants to eat ALL the time. It is exhausting, its like she doesnt get full. She is constantly bloated and when i dont give in to her wanting food she eats other things like paper, chalk, random little things on the floor. We did lab work and the only thing outstanding were her ALP levels. They were 770, when standard range is 38-270. Her AST level was a little high too. Nobody seems to be concerned. and she has actually lost weight. I know there is something off and the dr is trying to say she is emotional eating. I think its bullcrap. All of my hunches that there is something wrong with my child have been spot on. She looks healthy but her behavior is not normal.

Michelle - posted on 03/23/2012

1,606

10

My husband and I are feeling super guilty about this because there have been signs of problems for months but we all passed it off as teething etc. What I don't know about the whole thing is what the treatment is going to be if it is or what we're going to do if it's not it.

Katherine - posted on 03/23/2012

65,414

232

Wow, hope everything turns out ok Michelle!

Brittney - posted on 03/22/2012

1,463

49

malabsorption



Signs and symptoms:

Bloating, cramping, and gas

Bulky stools

Chronic diarrhea (may not occur with vitamin malabsorption)

Failure to thrive

Fatty stools (steatorrhea)

Muscle wasting

Weight loss

Malabsorption can affect growth and development, or it can lead to specific illnesses.



Exams and Tests:

CT scan of the abdomen

Hydrogen breath test

Schilling test for vitamin B12 deficiency

Secretin stimulation test

Small bowel biopsy

Stool culture or culture of small intestine aspirate

Stool fat testing (See: Quantitative stool fat test)

X-rays of the small bowel or other imaging tests



Treatment:

Vitamin and nutrient replacement is often necessary.



Outlook (Prognosis):

The outlook depends on the condition causing malabsorption.



Possible Complications

Long-term malabsorption can result in:



Anemia

Gallstones

Kidney stones

Osteoporosis and bone disease

Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies

Powered by RESPECT not THUMPS

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll