Anyone had a connection with celiac and cellulitis?

[may75]

Hi there,  I've newly been diagnosed with celiac disease (three days ago) and for last three years before this I've been getting infections in my left leg which was cellulitis. It always makes me very ill and floors me and I often need more than one lot of antibiotic to get rid of the infection.  I just started to think could this be a connection with being celiac and not knowing?  Anyone else had any issues with cellulitis and celiac?  Thank you   

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, may75!

Years ago I had cellulitis on my leg but I can't remember if it was before or after my celiac diagnosis and going gluten free. I haven't been troubled with it since.

Does your cellulitis reappear in the same spot every time? If so, I would wonder if it ever gets completely eradicated when you go on an antibiotic regimen.

The other thing I would make you aware of is the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are almost inevitable when you have had celiac disease for years before diagnosis and going gluten free. Celiac disease damages the villous lining of the small bowel which is where all our nutrition is absorbed. Consequently, we routinely recommend to newly diagnosed celiacs on this forum to address this with vitamin and mineral supplementation. We recommend B-complex, B12, D3 (5000-10,000IU daily), magnesium glycinate (as opposed to magnesium oxide), and zinc. All vitamins and minerals should be confirmed to be gluten free. wheat starch is sometimes used as a filler in pills.

So, what I'm saying is that your propensity to develop cellulitis may be tied to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are preventing your immune system from functioning normally.

[may75]

10 minutes ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, may75!

Years ago I had cellulitis on my leg but I can't remember if it was before or after my celiac diagnosis and going gluten free. I haven't been troubled with it since.

Does your cellulitis reappear in the same spot every time? If so, I would wonder if it ever gets completely eradicated when you go on an antibiotic regimen.

The other thing I would make you aware of is the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are almost inevitable when you have had celiac disease for years before diagnosis and going gluten free. Celiac disease damages the villous lining of the small bowel which is where all our nutrition is absorbed. Consequently, we routinely recommend to newly diagnosed celiacs on this forum to address this with vitamin and mineral supplementation. We recommend B-complex, B12, D3 (5000-10,000IU daily), magnesium glycinate (as opposed to magnesium oxide), and zinc. All vitamins and minerals should be confirmed to be gluten free. wheat starch is sometimes used as a filler in pills.

So, what I'm saying is that your propensity to develop cellulitis may be tied to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are preventing your immune system from functioning normally.

Hi Trents.

Thank you for your reply.  I was told a few weeks ago I had a vit D deficiency and I've been taking supplements since. My b12,  iron and others were  ok.  However thanks, I will check this and that my vit d supplements are wheat free with my gp.  

Yes my cellulitis is always on the same leg, usually the same area. I have eczema on my feet, hands and face but only get cellulitis on my left leg.  Since I was told on Friday that I have celiac I've just came down with cellulitis on Saturday night and had to go to our local hospital for antibiotics and they have prescribed a different kind to see if they clear it up quicker than the usual kind.  

Thanks again 

 

[trents]

Keep in mind that when they check vitamin and mineral levels in the blood that's not the same as what is getting to the cells that make up the muscles and organs of the body. Monitoring symptoms can be more helpful in addressing nutritional deficiencies than blood work. The body will rob things from storage in order to keep serum levels adequate for metabolic purposes. A classic example is calcium where the body will take it from bones to keep serum levels adequate. B vitamins are non toxic so that it is okay to take them in high doses. Any extra is excreted in the urine.

[Wheatwacked]

3 hours ago, may75 said:

I have eczema on my feet, hands and face

Has your eczema been extremely itchy? Has it been biopsied for possible Dermititis Herpetiforis? DH is caused by the same gluten antibodies as Celiac Disease. Treatment is the same: Gluten Free.

 

Quote

The Role of Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of Infection   While there is still much progress to be made, the balance of evidence continues to support vitamin D supplementation as a promising intervention for infection. 

I would suggest that you also have low iodine intake in your diet. Iodine is the hitman for our immune system, which is essentially moderated by vitamin D.

Quote

    What is the history of iodine in wound healing?   The antimicrobial properties of iodine were first demonstrated in 1882 by Davaine. In the First World War, iodine was found by Alexander Fleming to reduce the incidence of gas gangrene in the wounds of soldiers when compared to carbolic acid. Since the mid-19th century, iodine-based preparations have also had an important role in the prevention of surgical site infections. Povidone iodine preparations are popularly used as an antiseptic to prepare the patient’s skin before surgery

I have a sebaceous cyst that is taking forever to heal. When I eat a sheet of nori (certified organic) with my morning coffee it heals faster and dries it out from the inside.  Have they tried topical iodine as a wound dressing for you? It is still the gold star for preventing wound infection although since the beginning of the atomic age it has become of national security interest for radiation poisoning. Starting with the Wolff-Chaikoff studies an effort has been made discretic all the medical treatments successfully used prior to 1940 and to limit public use; freeing up iodine to stockpile it in case of nuclear disaster.

A final thought. Antibiotics kill off the beneficial bacteria in our gut in addition to its intended target.  Eat lots of fermented (not vinegar based quick pickled) foods and soluable fiber to feed and replenish the good guys. Probiotics are bacteria found in certain foods. Prebiotics are soluble fibers that contribute to gut health. They essentially act like fertilizer,