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Celiac if you have Type 1 Diabetes and Hashimoto's thyroiditis

HeatherDawn82

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HeatherDawn82 Newbie
HeatherDawn82
Posted

Hello Everyone!

 

My name is Heather and I am a 35 year old woman living in West Virginia.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6 and then diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis at the age of 28.

Around Thanksgiving I noticed that I had a few hives on the trunk of my body.  I assumed I was allergic to something and tried changing both my detergent and shower gel.  That didn't work and the hives got worse.  Much worse.  When I finally went to the doctor during Christmas break (I'm a teacher) there were hives all over my body.  The doctor referred me to an allergist.  When I went to the allergist I was given the battery of allergy tests.  He was able to determine that I was allergic to some things, but they were mostly seasonal allergies that would not occur until spring/summer.  He then had blood tests done.  Upon returning to him, I was informed that my thyroid was causing my hives.  I am on a battery of medicine (Allegra, Zyrtec, Singulair, and Plaquenil), and am seeing no relief of my hives.  They aren't any worse, but they aren't getting any better either. 

The other day a friend mentioned to me that maybe I should look into Celiac Disease.  I did, and while I don't have many classic symptoms, I do have some other symptoms that aren't considered "classic," such as slight fatigue, joint and bone pain, tingling hands and feet, major acid reflux, vitamin deficiency, and of course,  chronic hives.  I also am dealing with gas, and occasional diarrhea and constipation.

Should I be asking my doctor to begin the process to check me for Celiac?  I've never put any of these symptoms together to mean anything before.  Some of them I've blamed on my diabetes in the past, especially my tingling hands and feet.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi HeatherDawn,

Welcome to the forum! :-)

I think you should have yourself tested for celiac disease.  There is a genetic aspect of celiac disease that also makes it more likely to have some other AI (auto-immune) conditions.  T-1 diabetes and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis are associated conditions to celiac disease.  Another possible link is your hives, which might be DH (dermatitis herpetiformis).  DH is another condition that is related to celiac disease and only people with celiac disease get it.  DH causes blisters on the skin which are very itchy.

Your digestive issues are also symptoms of possible celiac disease. 

One issue to be aware of is that celiacs with DH sometimes don't test positive on the celiac antibodies.  So an alternate test is a skin biopsy from adjacent to a blister.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
6 hours ago, HeatherDawn82 said:

Hello Everyone!

 

My name is Heather and I am a 35 year old woman living in West Virginia.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6 and then diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis at the age of 28.

Around Thanksgiving I noticed that I had a few hives on the trunk of my body.  I assumed I was allergic to something and tried changing both my detergent and shower gel.  That didn't work and the hives got worse.  Much worse.  When I finally went to the doctor during Christmas break (I'm a teacher) there were hives all over my body.  The doctor referred me to an allergist.  When I went to the allergist I was given the battery of allergy tests.  He was able to determine that I was allergic to some things, but they were mostly seasonal allergies that would not occur until spring/summer.  He then had blood tests done.  Upon returning to him, I was informed that my thyroid was causing my hives.  I am on a battery of medicine (Allegra, Zyrtec, Singulair, and Plaquenil), and am seeing no relief of my hives.  They aren't any worse, but they aren't getting any better either. 

The other day a friend mentioned to me that maybe I should look into Celiac Disease.  I did, and while I don't have many classic symptoms, I do have some other symptoms that aren't considered "classic," such as slight fatigue, joint and bone pain, tingling hands and feet, major acid reflux, vitamin deficiency, and of course,  chronic hives.  I also am dealing with gas, and occasional diarrhea and constipation.

Should I be asking my doctor to begin the process to check me for Celiac?  I've never put any of these symptoms together to mean anything before.  Some of them I've blamed on my diabetes in the past, especially my tingling hands and feet.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Get tested!  

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I have celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, and Hashimoto’s, but I am a TD2.  Some 10% of TD1s have celiac disease.  Hives?  I have them.  My Doctors all think they are either thyroid-related or another autoimmune issue.  I think they might even be a stand-alone autoimmune issue because I never had hives until well after Hashimoto’s (20 years) or celiac disease (five years) were diagnosed, just the last year or so).  My hives worsen after a gluten exposure, but can be triggered by heat, cold, medications, insect bite, etc.    They can literally cover my body within minutes, but I always wake up in the morning hive free.   Antihistamines seem to control them a bit, but eventually my immune system calms down and I no longer need to take them unless I am re-triggered.  

I do not have the DH rash which is extremely itchy and scars from scratching take weeks to heal.  My hives leave no marks.  

My last serious bout with hives lasted for about six months, so hang in there!  

 

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