Got My Biopsy Results From Dermatologist

[Ursa Major]

Well, after waiting five weeks for the results, I got told I don't have DH. Which I don't think is accurate at all. When I finally got in to see the dermatologist five weeks ago, the bad outbreak of DH I had on my left elbow in January was almost healed (no blisters, just still red, swollen and very itchy). He took a chunk of skin out of me (with a punch of some sort, left a deep, round hole) right in the middle of the rash. From what I have read since, that is a definite no-no, he should have taken the biopsy BESIDE the outbreak. Plus, he should have just let me go home and come back when I would have actual blisters.

He claims that I definitely don't have DH (based on a negative biopsy from only one site, done the wrong way), since it should come back positive if I really have it, no matter where he takes the biopsy from even totally normal looking skin, since the deposits should be everywhere under the skin. I have never heard that before, has anybody else?

I showed him the outbreak of little itchy, water-filled blisters on my fingers I just got again since yesterday (and it's spreading). He claims that DH can occur ONLY on the elbows, knees, small of the back and scalp, and if I get rashes anywhere else it's obviously eczema. Right, he's a jerk, and it's about what I expected.

He said to come back if I get a rash on my knees or elbows, and he'll look at that. Fat chance I will EVER go back to him! He simply doesn't know what the heck he is talking about.

Today I waited 'only' 2 1/2 hours to see him, I won't waste any more time on him, that's for sure.

There, I am done, had to let off some steam, what a waste of time! Oh well. I'll just go on my merry gluten-free way, I know what I know.

[CarlaB]

Don't know much about dh, but docs can be frustrating. Sorry you didn't get any answers.

[Pegster]

Well the good news is that you're committed to be gluten free with or without the official diagnosis, right? You may know in your heart that you have dh, but the doctor disagrees. Since the treatment for dh is to be on a gluten free diet, I guess it doesn't reallly matter if it's official or not. I have the opposite dilemma in that I have the dh diagnosis, but the GI dr I saw said I would need the intestinal biopsy to "officially" have celiac disease. Now you and I both know that's not true since I have the dh diagnosis. But enough about ME....So you can 1.continue to be gluten free which I know you have to do anyway and 2. Find a new doctor!

[mouse]

If it was me, the next time you get an outbreak, I would see a different doctor and insist that he take several biopsies from the area next to the outbreak. Ask him to humor you. Dr. Green's book addresses this. But the only cure for DH is going totally gluten-free.

[Lillyth]

Pardon my language, but I heard the same poop.

ONLY on the elbows, obviously eczema, only official dx being an internal biopsy...

doggone doctors.

My doc said (I don't have the results on the biopsy yet, though at this point, I am NOT hopeful) that the likelyhood of it being DH when on the arms (not elbows) is slim to none. What I want to know then, is what about all those pics of DH on poeple's ARMS I saw - NOT on the elbows, just the arms...

Uuuuuuurgh.

Frickin' doctors....

[Ursa Major]

Right, I saw pictures of DH on any place on the body, including the face, hands, feet, legs, stomach, chest........well, any place at all. The places that are the most COMMON sites for DH are the ones he claims are the ONLY ones. He is very ignorant and very behind the times in his knowledge of DH (he is probably about the same age as me).

The problem with trying to see another doctor when I have another outbreak is, that here in Canada the waiting period between being referred to a specialist and actually seeing him can be up to two years long. So, there isn't much of a chance of seeing somebody before the blisters go away again.

I think I'll just forget about it, as I know I have celiac disease anyway. It was a good try, but so frustrating that I have no intentions of repeating this experience.

[nikki-uk]

Ursula,sorry you didn't get the dx of dh you were hoping for-but hey-nothing's changed,you'll only continue being G.F,and what do them doctors know anyway!

You know,I've seen pics of dh absolutely on everypart of the body

BTW-love your new avatar,your daughter & new granddaughter are beautiful.