I have been gluten free for 3 and a half months and my symptoms have gone away. My celiac blood tests were negative along with the blood tests for food allergies but I tested positive for the HLA DQ2 gene. My oldest daughter (15) is starting to have digestive symptoms similar to what mine were at her age so we had her tested and her celiac blood tests were also negative and, with the exception of a dairy allergy, her other food allergies were negative too. My youngest daugher (11) isn't having digestive symptoms but has a weird rash on her neck that won't go away so I had them test her too. Same thing..... no food allergies, negatiive celiac tests. Well they both have the HLA D2 gene too. The older one is gonna stick to the diet because she wants to feel better but what should I do about the younger one? My husband along with my ex (their dad) asked why put her on the diet if she isn't having symptoms. Other than the rash, she has some concentration issues and learning problems and I think it might help her her with that. Plus I didn't have any symptms at her age and why wait until she is sick to make her better why not prevent it? It would be nice to have a gluten-free household but thats not gonna happen here. We are a blended family and my husband would never agree to it. So, his kids will be eating normal foods and I am afraid that I will be wasting my time trying to get my youngest to be gluten-free. I also have a son (13) who has severe speech delays and ADD who would benefit too (haven't had him tested yet) but without the support is this possible to do? Their dad did agree to try it if I think he could possibly get off his meds. So its a start.

What should I do? Any advice? I think I am beginning to sound like a gluten obssessed freak! Do I think everyone has it? Do I think gluten-free is the cure for everything?

The blood tests have a lot of false negatives. I would have them tested through Enterolabs for gluten intolerance. Intolerance can reak havoc on our bodies even in the absence of celiac. It is a stool test.

I chuckled a little at this, because I've been the exact same way. I'm actually not celiac, but I'm convinced my DH and his mother are. Some of DH's symptoms have gotten better eating gluten-lite, since I won't cook a gluten meal. My feeling is it doesn't hurt to try the diet. You have the gene tests that show your family is susceptible. I'm trying to get DH to try the diet, but he isn't quite ready yet.

In our household, I still buy DH bread, cereal etc... but dinner is gluten-free. DH doesn't mind this. (Though sometimes, he'll make himself a piece of toast to eat with dinner.) I'm discovering there are so many "normal" meals that are naturally gluten-free. I bet you could cook some for a few days without saying anything, and your husband wouldn't even notice. Eventually, though, he'll want some bread with dinner, and you can easily oblige and just not let the gluten-free eaters have it.

Just a guess here, but if you have only one DQ2 your other gene could be DQ1, which is gluten intolernace gene, which is really just worse than plain celiac which mainly just affects the gut. With the DQ1 gene it always seems to go along with the neurological problems, ADD, ADHD, Migraines, depression, temper tantrums in children. Also, the people that I know that have DQ1 are very sensitive to gluten & most will test negative on the blood test, but not always. My double DQ1 sister tested positive via blood test, & I have a double DQ1 friend that tested positive via endoscopy.

So yes, gluten-free diet should help all your kids live productive, happy, healthy, energetic lives, what more could we want for our kids. This gluten-free diet will give your kids a great advantage in life.

Personally, I would have a gluten-free house, if my hubby could not hack it, he would find himself packing...