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Going To The Dermatologist

little d

By little d
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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little d Enthusiast
little d
Posted

Hello all

I am going to the Dermatologist on 6/29 for a possible case of DH. I do have some blisters which Im sure that they will go away by then and they do itch sometimes really bad. I do have potential spots acting up as well so I guess we will see. I have had this for 2 weeks going on my 3rd week I have had this before too many times to count at least once a year sometime twice, for as long as I can remember. I am going to the Derma office because since I work with babies, I have to make sure that it is not contagious and so I can cover my butt when someone sees like the employee health that I have to deal with, they freak when something like this, they will automatically will asume that it is MRSA something that I don't want to have by any means, thats an automatic cause to go on Leave, can't afford that. BUt anyway what should I ask when I go, Im afraid that they will say that it is exzama and send me on my way, I will be seeing the phycian assistant instead of the Doctor because it will be on Friday and docs dont see on Fridays, I chose friday because that is payday. I know that they are capable and all but will she be able to know what she is looking at not saying that she is dumb or anything well maybe I just hope she knows what Celiac is when I tell her that I could possibly have celiac disease

Donna

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DebNC84 Apprentice
DebNC84
Posted
Hello all

I am going to the Dermatologist on 6/29 for a possible case of DH. I do have some blisters which Im sure that they will go away by then and they do itch sometimes really bad. I do have potential spots acting up as well so I guess we will see. I have had this for 2 weeks going on my 3rd week I have had this before too many times to count at least once a year sometime twice, for as long as I can remember. I am going to the Derma office because since I work with babies, I have to make sure that it is not contagious and so I can cover my butt when someone sees like the employee health that I have to deal with, they freak when something like this, they will automatically will asume that it is MRSA something that I don't want to have by any means, thats an automatic cause to go on Leave, can't afford that. BUt anyway what should I ask when I go, Im afraid that they will say that it is exzama and send me on my way, I will be seeing the phycian assistant instead of the Doctor because it will be on Friday and docs dont see on Fridays, I chose friday because that is payday. I know that they are capable and all but will she be able to know what she is looking at not saying that she is dumb or anything well maybe I just hope she knows what Celiac is when I tell her that I could possibly have celiac disease

Donna

Donna,

I have what I suspect as DH - I've not any positive blood screenings and have not had a biopsy yet - BUT I did go gluten free and the symptoms went away - But mine was chronic - all over - and for about 8mos I was in and out of a dermatologist office - allergy specialist - general practioner... no one could figure it out and then I found a site on the internet about Celiacs - just so you know a PA at the last dermatologist was searching very aggressively for the cause - after a long time Derma doc gave me an ecxema diagnosis... telling me "bathe less - use dove unscented" and "sorry - this is something you'll have to live with" I was going nuts!! I've been gluten free mostly for the last 3 weeks and have slipped up once by accident and the other time because I got weak ( I had to have the brownie) both times the rash came back and took about 2 days for the itching to stop. My advice to you is to go gluten free and see - then the people on here would probably tell you to go to a GI specialist -

may I add that since I've been gluten free other things that I didn't know at the time were related have gone away as well - gas, bloating, facial acne, joint pain and swelling, leg cramps, it has made me feel great!!

little d Enthusiast
little d
Posted
  • Author

DebNC84

Hi i have been biopsyed negative, blood work negative, Pillcam Negative, but because I work in healthcare and if the employee health knows that I have any kind of rash I have to get it looked at so if I have to get it looked at I might as well go to a dermatolgist, my family doc didn't know what it was except for eczama.

donna

little d Enthusiast
little d
Posted
  • Author

Ok so I went to the Dermatologist friday, She barely looked at my wrist and said that I could be DH but she did not see any blisters and said if it was DH it would have blisters I told her that it did have and then she procedded to tell me that the irriatates in my daily life because I wash my hands alot that will dry out out skin and can't keep any moister in your skin, I already know all that because I have to keep loation on hand because of that. She gave me a prescription for something that was a topical cream clobox so something like that and a sample of some kind of wash kit to use instead of work soap. I used the stuff twice and put it up and I lost the prescriptions somewhere in my car. told me to come back in 1 - 2 weeks I don't think that I will, I just might I don't know. After my appointment I went to Whole foods and meet the lovely lady sorry I don't remeber her name, but we talk for a little because she had her hands on the Gluten free stuff that was made and put into the frezzer section, asked her if all that was good and she said yes, anyway we started talking and she asked me this and that and asked me if I any any blisters DH I said yes I just came from the Derma office she looked at it and said yes that looks like DH, so went talked alittle more until my daughter had to go potty and we left her, this wonderful lady is from Utah she was down her for some medical stuff and so I hope that she does well and hope that I run into her again.

Donna

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      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine).  So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts! 
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