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- JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms9Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge
Thank you so much for the clarification! Yes to these questions: Have you consulted dietician? Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies? Osteoporosis? Thyroid? Anemia? Do you take any supplements, or vitamins? I’m within healthy range for nutritional tests, thyroid and am not anemic. I do have osteopenia. I don’t take any medications, and the... -
- knitty kitty replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms9Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge
@JudyLou, I have dermatitis herpetiformis, too! And...big drum roll... Niacin improves dermatitis herpetiformis! Niacin is very important to skin health and intestinal health. You're correct. dermatitis herpetiformis usually occurs on extensor muscles, but dermatitis herpetiformis is also pressure sensitive, so blisters can form... -
- trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms5Have I got coeliac disease
And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest... -
- trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms5
Have I got coeliac disease
@Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In... -
- JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms9
Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge
Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covere...
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Thank you so much for the clarification! Yes to these questions: Have you consulted dietician? Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies? Osteoporosis? Thyroid? Anemia? Do you take any supplements, or vitamins? I’m within healthy range for nutritional tests, thyroid and am not anemic. I do have osteopenia. I don’t take any medications, and the dietician was actually a nutritionist (not sure if that is the same thing) recommended by my physician at the time to better understand gluten free eating. I almost wish the gluten exposure had triggered something, so at least I’d know what’s going on. So confusing! Many thanks! -
By knitty kitty · Posted
@JudyLou, I have dermatitis herpetiformis, too! And...big drum roll... Niacin improves dermatitis herpetiformis! Niacin is very important to skin health and intestinal health. You're correct. dermatitis herpetiformis usually occurs on extensor muscles, but dermatitis herpetiformis is also pressure sensitive, so blisters can form where clothing puts pressure on the skin. Elastic waist bands, bulky seams on clothing, watch bands, hats. Rolled up sleeves or my purse hanging on my arm would make me break out on the insides of my elbows. I have had a blister on my finger where my pen rested as I write. Foods high in Iodine can cause an outbreak and exacerbate dermatitis herpetiformis. You've been on the gluten free diet for a long time. Our gluten free diet can be low in vitamins and minerals, especially if processed gluten free foods are consumed. Those aren't fortified with vitamins like gluten containing products are. Have you consulted dietician? Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies? Osteoporosis? Thyroid? Anemia? Do you take any supplements, medicine, or vitamins? Niacin deficiency is connected to anemia. Anemia can cause false negatives on tTg IgA tests. A person can be on that borderline where symptoms wax and wane for years, surviving, but not thriving. We have a higher metabolic need for more nutrients when we're sick or emotionally stressed which can deplete the small amount of vitamins we can store in our bodies and symptoms reappear. Exposure to gluten (and casein in those sensitive to it) can cause an increased immune response and inflammation for months afterwards. The immune cells that make tTg IgA antibodies which are triggered today are going to live for about two years. During that time, inflammation is heightened. Those immune cells only replicate when triggered. If those immune cells don't get triggered again for about two years, they die without leaving any descendents programmed to trigger on gluten and casein. The immune system forgets gluten and casein need to be attacked. The Celiac genes turn off. This is remission. Some people in remission report being able to consume gluten again without consequence. However, another triggering event can turn the Celiac genes on again. Celiac genes are turned on by a triggering event (physical or emotional stress). There's some evidence that thiamine insufficiency contributes to the turning on of autoimmune genes. There is an increased biological need for thiamine when we are physically or emotionally stressed. Thiamine cannot be stored for more than twenty-one days and may be depleted in as little as three during physical and emotional stresses. Mitochondria without sufficient thiamine become damaged and don't function properly. This gets relayed to the genes and autoimmune disease genes turn on. Thiamine and other B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed to replace the dysfunctional mitochondria and repair the damage to the body. I recommend getting checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. More than just Vitamin D and B12. A gluten challenge would definitely be a stressor capable of precipitating further vitamin deficiencies and health consequences. Best wishes! -
And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest you look for another physician who is more up to date in this area and is willing to work with you to get an accurate diagnosis. If, in fact, you do not have celiac disease but you know that gluten causes you problems, you might have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). There is no test available yet for NCGS. Celiac must first be ruled out. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the small bowel. NCGS we is not autoimmune and we know less about it's true nature. But we do know it is considerably more common than celiac disease.
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@Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In addition to IGA tests there are IGG tests which are particularly useful in the case of IGA deficiency.
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Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine). So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts!
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