Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Dermographia - Myelin Sheath

steve45fla

By steve45fla
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

steve45fla Newbie
steve45fla
Posted

Hi...this is my first post and hope to find answers to a problem I have suffered thru for 17+ years. It is called dermographia. Basically, I can write on myself but touching my skin and it itches terribly. The itch is generally felt below the surface of the skin. I take antihistamines to "control" the itch but I'm always aware of it.

Has anyone ever heard of myelin sheath? I have read where it is a substance that is present in the nerves (especially the endings) and if the sheath is damaged, then an itch like i experience can occur. I have also read where sulfur supplements help in healing the sheath.

I am hoping to learn more about this topic. I have yet to try sulfur supplements but will shortly (depending what I hear here).

Thank You

Steve

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


VioletBlue Contributor
VioletBlue
Posted

I started a similar thread here a while back about Dermographia. I had little response except sympathy, LOL. I have been suffering from Dermographia for awhile now. Antihistamines have no effect, unless I take them in very high doses. But the high doses make me extremely physically uncomfortable and drowsy so I've chosen to live with it for now. I have no idea what if anything I'm allergic to that is causing it, though the doctors best guess is it's stress related. I have family "issues" these days. I sometimes think if I'd been born an only child I'd be a hell of a lot healthier than I am just from the stress of idiot siblings. But that's another story.

I have some nerve damage from years of undiagnosed Celiac Disease. Some of the nerve damage has gone away since I went gluten-free 9 months ago, but some lingers on. So the concept of sheath damage as an explanation doesn't seem that far fetched to me. Perhaps there's hope yet then that this thing will go away one day.

Violet

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Hi...this is my first post and hope to find answers to a problem I have suffered thru for 17+ years. It is called dermographia. Basically, I can write on myself but touching my skin and it itches terribly. The itch is generally felt below the surface of the skin. I take antihistamines to "control" the itch but I'm always aware of it.

Has anyone ever heard of myelin sheath? I have read where it is a substance that is present in the nerves (especially the endings) and if the sheath is damaged, then an itch like i experience can occur. I have also read where sulfur supplements help in healing the sheath.

I am hoping to learn more about this topic. I have yet to try sulfur supplements but will shortly (depending what I hear here).

Thank You

Steve

Hi Steve, Do you have any other symptoms, even stuff that is seemingly unrelated? I do know that there are some that have had this, I am one of them. I also used to get pressure uticaria where for example the waist band of my pants would cause hives. I know it is quite uncomfortable. It is one of those things that I don't have anylonger so in my case it was connected to celiac. Damage to the myelin sheath is what causes MS, although they did not find evidence of this in my spinal tap I did have a great many MS type symptoms and an abnormal MRI. For me the cause was actually celiac and not MS.

Helena Contributor
Helena
Posted

Hi,

I am dermographic also---and have been so my whole life. My allergist tested for this by taking a tongue depressor and scratching my back with it. (I already knew what would happen LOL!)

I don't have a severe case --- I just get hives if my skin is scratched . . . I don't have problems with pressure on my skin or anything. And the hives don't particularly itch and aren't severe----just one big scratch-shaped bump that looks red and angry and with time settles down. I've read that for a lot of people the condition comes and goes. It doesn't really bother me, but I understand that it can be a difficult condition depending on its severity.

I understand that it is "idiopathic"---i.e. it isn't a reaction to anything in the environment . . . it is just how my body reacts. I also sometimes get hives with extreme cold temperatures (cold urticaria). Again, this can be a severe problem (in the worst case = anaphylactic shock when swimming in cold water), but mine isn't that bad. (explains why I got hives when snow got in my mittens as a kid.)

I do have a *ton* of allergies both envirnomental and food.

Sorry---I don't have any helpful info.! I haven't heard that there is any cure for dermographism . . . I have a feeling it is one of those immunological issues that isn't that well understood. I have read that people who are dermographic are more prone to getting idiopathic hives (even without the pressure).

VioletBlue Contributor
VioletBlue
Posted
Has anyone ever heard of myelin sheath? I have read where it is a substance that is present in the nerves (especially the endings) and if the sheath is damaged, then an itch like i experience can occur. I have also read where sulfur supplements help in healing the sheath.

Hi Steve. Would the sulfur be in the form of MSM? I've been reading up. Fortunately I have some Chondroitin/MSM tablets from the pre-Celiac diagnosis days. I was taking them to ease the joint pain I was having. Well, I no longer have the joint pain, but I bought a two for one deal on the tablets. They're still in date and gluten free. The dose is 500mg. Since nothing else has helped I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck. The itching when it's bad is maddening.

Violet

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,855
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tara M
    Newest Member
    Tara M
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Ibuprofen

      By cristiana · Posted

      @Colleen H   I am just curious,  when you were tested for coeliac disease, did the doctors find out if you had any deficiencies? Sometimes muscle pain can be caused by certain deficiencies, for example, magnesium, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium.   Might be worth looking into having some more tests.  Pins and needles can be neuropathy, again caused by deficiencies, such as iron and B12,  which can be reversed if these deficiencies are addressed. In the UK where I live we are usually only tested for iron, B12 and vitamin D deficiencies at diagnosis.   I was very iron anemic and supplementation made a big difference.  B12 was low normal, but in other countries the UK's low normal would be considered a deficiency.  My vitamin D was low normal, and I've been supplementing ever since (when I remember to take it!) My pins and needles definitely started to improve when my known deficiencies were addressed.  My nutritionist also gave me a broad spectrum supplement which really helped, because I suspect I wasn't just deficient in what I mention above but in many other vitamins and minerals.  But a word of warning, don't take iron unless blood tests reveal you actually need it, and if you are taking it your levels must be regularly monitored because too much can make you ill.  (And if you are currently taking iron, that might actually be making your stomach sore - it did mine, so my GP changed my iron supplementation to a gentler form, ferrous gluconate). Lastly, have you been trying to take anything to lessen the pain in your gut?  I get a sore stomach periodically, usually when I've had too much rich food, or when I have had to take an aspirin or certain antibiotics, or after glutening.  When this happens, I take for just a few days a small daily dose of OTC omeprazole.  I also follow a reflux or gastritis diet. There are lots online but the common denominators to these diets is you need to cut out caffeine, alcohol, rich, spicy, acidic food etc and eat small regularly spaced meals.   When I get a sore stomach, I also find it helpful to drink lots of water.  I also find hot water with a few slices of ginger very soothing to sip, or camomile tea.  A wedge pillow at night is good for reflux. Also,  best not to eat a meal 2-3 hours before going to bed. If the stomach pain is getting worse, though, it would be wise to see the doctor again. I hope some of this helps. Cristiana    
    • Me,Sue
      Knowing what to do when feeling unwell.

      By Me,Sue · Posted

      I was diagnosed with coeliac disease a couple of years ago [ish]. I love my food and a variety of food, so it's been hard, as it is with everyone. I try and ensure everything I eat doesn't contain gluten, but occasionally I think something must have got through that has gluten in. Mainly I know because I have to dash to the loo, but recently I have noticed that I feel nauseous after possibly being glutened. I think the thing that I have got better at is knowing what to do when I feel wiped out after a gluten 'episode'. I drink loads of water, and have just started drinking peppermint tea. I also have rehydration powders to drink. I don't feel like eating much, but eventually feel like I need to eat. Gluten free flapjacks, or gluten free cereal, or a small gluten free kids meal are my go to. I am retired, so luckily I can rest, sometimes even going to bed when nothing else works. So I feel that I am getting better at knowing how to try and get back on track. I am also trying to stick to a simpler menu and eat mostly at home so that I can be more confident about what I am eating. THANKS TO THOSE WHO REPLIED ABOUT THE NAUSEA .
    • Francis M
      The Happy Tart review

      By Francis M · Posted

      Thanks. Since the back and forth and promises of review and general stalling went on for more than six months, the credit company will no longer investigate. They have a cutoff of maybe six months.
    • Scott Adams
      The Happy Tart review

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Is this the same restaurant? https://www.facebook.com/TheHappyTartFallsChurch/ Is it too late to take this up with your credit card company? Normally you have a few months to do a chargeback with them. It seems very odd that they are taking this approach with someone who is likely to be a regular customer--not a good business-minded way of handling things!
    • Scott Adams
      Stomach burning and neuropathy

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.        
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.