New to this

[Karyn Neves]

I’ve just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease… I’m 68 I’ve had stomach issues ALL my life.. all the gastrointestinal over the years as I’ve moved a bit said it was IBS but I just went to a new gastroenterologist and he tested me for Celiac and low and behold I was positive. Now I’m learning my new lifestyle. I have a lot of skin issues just wondering how long it took to clear up! 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Karyn!

Did the GI doc do the blood test and the endoscopy with biopsy to arrive at a celiac diagnosis? Normally, they first test for celiac antibodies in the blood and if there is a positive from that they will seek confirmation via an endoscopy/biopsy to microscopically examine the small bowel lining for damage. I'm asking in case you are still scheduled for that second stage of testing as you don't want to begin the gluten free diet until all testing is done.

Concerning your skin issue, can you describe what it looks like. There is a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis that some celiacs experience.

How can we help you? This article might be of aid in getting off on the right foot with gluten free eating:

 

[Karyn Neves]

Yes bloodwork’s and biopsy were done…my skin condition is little blisters they are on my legs trunk area sometimes on my arms near my elbow. 

[trents]

One of the defining characteristics of dermatitis herpetiformis ("DH") is little blisters. Since you've already been diagnosed with celiac disease, there's not much point in getting a skin biopsy to confirm DH but having DH is considered definitive for a celiac disease diagnosis. There is no other known cause for DH besides celiac disease. DH can be painful and frustrating to get a handle on. It can flare up with even a very small amount of gluten ingestion. There is a medication called Dapsone which some folks who have DH take which is known to be about the only thing that can successfully address it. Keeping your iodine consumption low is reported to help as well and you may find that sea food exacerbates it since seafood is often rich in iodine.

[Wheatwacked]

Hi Karyn and welcome. 

First question. Did you cut way back on liver, eggs and beef back when they told us it was the reason we are all getting fat and sick from it?  Bad information. You can get choline from vegies. You can eat 10 cups of cooked brocolli a day. It only takes 3 eggs a day for the minimum RDA. A 2 ounce egg has about 175 mg of choline.    Estimates are less than 10% of us in the developed countries eat enough choline. 450 mg to 3500 mg a day is the safe range. That's 180 grams to a kilogram a day of eggs. At 60 grams an egg the safe upper limit for choline  is 18 eggs a day.  Actually the side effects of too much choline (low BP) doesn't start until around 7000 mg.

Choline is essential for nerve transmission (acetylcholine) brain fog and memory, 80% of mitochondria membrane is made of phosphatidylcholine. Mitochondria is where we make ATP energy packets from glucose), Gall bladder and bile requires choline for fat digestion. People on parenteral feeding get Non alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease because in the US choline is not included.

Choline is an essential nutrient whose deficiency is involved in cardiovascular diseases, irritable and inflammatory bowel diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease. 

NIH Choline Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
 

Quote

 

Could we be overlooking a potential choline crisis in the United Kingdom?

Choline can be likened to omega-3 fatty acids in that it is an ‘essential’ nutrient that cannot be produced by the body in amounts needed for human requirements... The present article discusses the current choline situation and explains why more needs to be done to include and monitor this essential nutrient in the UK.

 

Here is a nice overview of the vitamins and minerals often deficient in Celiac Disease:

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Wheatwacked
typos

[Karyn Neves]

Thank you so

much… learning so much… I’ll keep in touch and let you know… my Dr said it’s not a fast process it’s going to take time… he said to be vigilant and eat as clean as possible. So I’m on my was because I seriously was dying over this… I feel like I have a light at the end of my tunnel. 

[Guest 648]

Karyn Neves   Blistering and bilateral rash could be a hint of DH.  Do you itch?  If you want to be absolutely sure then see a dermatologist and get a biopsy.  The dermatologist can also prescribe dapsone tablets or a steroid cream.  There are also anti-itch tablets that help.  I was prescribed Hydroxyzine tablets and they have helped me quite a bit.

[Karyn Neves]

5 minutes ago, 648 said:

Karyn Neves   Blistering and bilateral rash could be a hint of DH.  Do you itch?  If you want to be absolutely sure then see a dermatologist and get a biopsy.  The dermatologist can also prescribe dapsone tablets or a steroid cream.  There are also anti-itch tablets that help.  I was prescribed Hydroxyzine tablets and they have helped me quite a bit.

Thank you so very much… my gastro and I are meeting in another week to go over all my questions and more of his findings. I will definitely add this to my list!