Itchy skin

[Jenni Hanks]

July 3rd, 2019. I broke out both legs knee to ankle in a rash. Very itchy from the inside. Came and went in same location for 3 weeks. After that, it came and never left. Slowly creeping onto my arms, hands and up my thighs. Went to a family doctor who gave me steroids. Finished the steroids and it didn’t help. Went to a dermatologist who performed a biopsy of my rash. Results were: eczema and hives. Sent to an allergy specialist. Allergy specialist has ordered me blood work. 

Now, rewind to 2 years ago. I got a horrible headache and low grade fever that lasted 3 months. Went to the doctor and tested positive for Epstein Barr Virus, Hoshimotos, and Hypothyroidism. I am currently on thyroid medication and being treated my an Endocrinologist but previous to that I had a large panel of bloodwork done that determined I had leaky gut, and MANY inflammatory foods that I eliminated for 6 months. My liver numbers were elevated. I am low in Vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin A. As time goes on, I have more migraines, more stomach issues. After seeing the allergy specialist, I decided to cut gluten and the rash went away.  It’s been 2 weeks. However, last night I woke up with severe itching on my hands on top, my neck, and my face. Both my neck and face were slightly swollen. HELP.

 

 

[squirmingitch]

How did the dermatologist take the biopsy of the rash? ON a lesion or on CLEAR skin ADJACENT to a fresh lesion? What did the term write down for the pathologist? Did the derm say he/she wanted to rule out dh?

IF you have dh, be aware that it can come & go whether you're eating gluten or not. You see, the antibodies get deposited under the skin & they don't just go poof & disappear the moment you stop eating gluten or even in a week or even 2 weeks. You can have outbreaks long after quitting gluten. Some people stop having outbreaks fairly quickly & some don't. 

For any & all celiac testing including the dh biopsy, you have to be eating a gluten diet or you will test false negative. For the dh biopsy & the celiac serum panel you must have been eating gluten every day for 12 weeks prior to the testing. For an endoscopic biopsy, you have to have been eating gluten every day for 2 weeks prior. 

Your thyroid problems, your vitamin deficiencies are common with celiac but you would need to be properly tested. What was the bloodwork, ordered by whom, that determined you have leaky gut & these many inflammatory foods?

[cyclinglady]

You might try ruling out Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) which is the hellish rash version of celiac disease.    It is commonly linked to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.  Another rash or skin disorder that is also commonly linked to Hashimoto’s  or celiac disease is autoimmune hives (urticaria).  Usually your doctor can prescribe antihistamines for those.  It calms down the hives,  itching and swelling.      DH, though requires a strict gluten free diet for treatment.  

I get hives daily for six months after a gluten exposure and I have both Hashimoto’s and celiac disease.  Consider getting back on gluten and getting tested for celiac disease.  Start with a simple blood test.