My toddler is in the process of being tested for CF, among other things. Celiac's came back as negative (I know a false negative could still be a possibility) and aside from the absorbsion test which came back as abnormal everything else has come back as normal. The CF is still not back.

Since birth he has had multiple food allergy issues, SEVERE eczema (food related), asthma and pneumonia. He stopped gaining weight about 7 months ago and has only grown less than an inch in that time. Not always but several times a week he will eat foods that go through him completely in less than 3 hours. This is what started me worrying the most.

My question is with CF digestive problems. In June when I noticed he wasn't gaining weight and because he gets no milk fat which they tell you is essential for brain development I started to add olive oil to his food. I believe that is when the worst of his digestion problems started. As of two weeks ago I stopped giving him the extra olive oil but also stopped almost all fiber foods and have been giving him only jarred pureed baby foods. In the last 3 weeks he has gained 1 1/2 lbs for the first time in 8 months. Now at 23 months he weighs 22 lbs. But aside from some fat in the baby food meat he gets virtually no fat or oil in his diet.

So - could the oil have caused the digestive problems or were the digestive problems brought on by the oil caused by another underlying problem?

TIA

Colleen

With CF, the vast majority are unable to properly digest fats and protein because of pancreatic insufficiency. DS has to take digestive enzymes right before he eats to properly digest his food -- otherwise it comes out in liquid form. I do add olive oil to his meals to increase calories. I also put cream in his breakast drink -- actually he gets carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk and cream for about every meal. When he eats fattier foods, he sometimes requires more enzymes. Once in a while he'll eat a bunch of chips without enzymes and the next diaper change is pretty wicked

He doesn't require digestive enzymes with easy to digest foods such as fruit, fruit juice, popscicles -- clear candy 'cuz they don't have any fat in them.

DS had a sweat test when he was a newborn to determine if he had CF and he passed with flying colors. However, his genetic blood tests showed he had two copies of the gene mutation which causes cystic fibrosis.

Has he been teated for Fatty Acid Oxidation disorders? Mitocondrial disorders? Metabolic panel?
C-GA

Ratatosk - his poops aren't liquidy and chips or fries don't seem to make it worse. Complex carbs seem to be the worst for his system. So maybe it isn't CF which could be a blessing.

Rids - I am not sure, I will ask the doctor at the next visit. I have a list of questions to ask him. He is having the genetic CF test done but DH is part central American so the test is not guaranteed. After that they will try the sweat test.

Thank you both for your responses

I do know of some people with CF who don't have loose stools, but actually have constipation issues. Some have failure to thrive. Some have more sinus and respiratory problems.

Hopefully they can figure your son's symptoms out.

DS#2 has the lung issues - he has had pneumonia twice and two asthma attacks that land him in the hospital, and the failure to thrive issue.

His digestive problems are from "rapid dumping" for lack of a better term. Food will sometimes go through his system (mouth to diaper) in 1 1/2 to 3 hours. Not the sign of a digestive system doing its job. It doesn't happen all the time but often enough to be worrisome.

I hope also we figure it out. The 'not knowing' is the worst. Tell me anything so I can work to fix my baby!

I'd insist your child be tested for CF -- genetic blood test. Not sweat test. Does he taste salty when you kiss him?

In any event is there a children's hospital near you -- I'd suggest a pediatric gastro and pulmo expert, possibly even at a CF clinic even though you don't know for sure if your child has cf. A friend of mine's daughter had interstitial lung disease and while she never tested postive for CF, she had a lot of the same problems and was treated similarly.

Your child needs to get nutrition. A couple of times when DS was malapsorbing, when we were trying to figure out his enzyme dosage -- he would have frequent loose stools right after eating. A lot of times they smelled like feta cheese 'cuz he was on formula at the time.

has he had the fecal fat test done?

I would say do genetic AND sweat testing. Just as sweat testing is inconclusive for some,genetic testing is for others. I was positive via sweat test. had a lot of clinical symptoms and 1 DF508 came up on genetics testing...I was diagnosed with CF. This was before Ambry and Quest came out with their tests but since there is little question of my diagnosis we haven't pursued testing through them. BUT I do know people, diagnosed with CF for years, positive sweat test and one or none mutations found on DNA testing, had the ambry test and still couldn't locate the one or both mutations...rare but it does happen as there are so many mutations out there and probably 1000s more not know yet