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

Curious If It Is Common!

adiftime

How long is your pinky finger?  

236 members have voted

You do not have permission to vote in this poll, or see the poll results. Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Recommended Posts

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted

I know this may sound weird but 2 years ago a health food doctor told me that I had gluten intolerance. I didn't really care for him or his personality, so I chose to not listen to him. Wish I had now.

He gave me this diagnosed based on the length of my pinky finger. He said that if your pinky finger falls below the last joint, under your nail, on your ring finger, that that means you have gluten intolerance.

When I went to the GI doctor I told him of this diagnoisis and he said he didn't really think I had it but that it was definetly an easier and cheaper diagnosis than his. He did the scope and the biospy, and I did have it, but I never had another appointment with him to hear his reaction. He just sent me back to my primary care doctor(who really doesn't know much) and to my wonderful dietician.

Now, I am curious as to how many people, that have been diagnosed with this disease, actually have a short pinky finger.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • Replies 59
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Emily Elizabeth Enthusiast
Emily Elizabeth
Posted

Wow! That's crazy! I hope everyone participates. It would be interesting to see how many of us have the short pinky finger. :P

I know this may sound weird but 2 years ago a health food doctor told me that I had gluten intolerance. I didn't really care for him or his personality, so I chose to not listen to him. Wish I had now.

He gave me this diagnosed based on the length of my pinky finger. He said that if your pinky finger falls below the last joint, under your nail, on your ring finger, that that means you have gluten intolerance.

When I went to the GI doctor I told him of this diagnoisis and he said he didn't really think I had it but that it was definetly an easier and cheaper diagnosis than his. He did the scope and the biospy, and I did have it, but I never had another appointment with him to hear his reaction. He just sent me back to my primary care doctor(who really doesn't know much) and to my wonderful dietician.

Now, I am curious as to how many people, that have been diagnosed with this disease, actually have a short pinky finger.

mommyagain Explorer
mommyagain
Posted

That's just weird! But kinda cool if it works!

I just Googled "short pinky finger" and found this interesting tidbit on a site about palmistry: "A very short pinky finger (the kind that only reaches half way through the middle phalanx of the ring finger) is indicative of someone frustrated, unable to express their talents and skills." Hehehe... so we're gluten intolerant AND frustrated! fits me perfectly!

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

Wow. :blink: I've known that I have a short pinky (violinists tend to notice these kinds of things), but never had a clue it might be related to, well, anything!!!

Yellow Rose Explorer
Yellow Rose
Posted

I was told several years ago that it is a genetic thing related to Athritus. There has been a study on it. I have RA and have a short little finger. My youngest daughter has JRA and also has a short little finger.

Yellow Rose

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted
I was told several years ago that it is a genetic thing related to Athritus. There has been a study on it. I have RA and have a short little finger. My youngest daughter has JRA and also has a short little finger.

Yellow Rose

Well, that makes sense, as celiac disease seems to be a major cause of RA.

Byte Me Apprentice
Byte Me
Posted

That's really weird! But I'm curious as to which pinky finger we should be looking at?? I voted based on my right hand, because I am right-handed. It is shorter than the last joint by a good quarter of an inch....but on my left hand, my pinky finger is even with the last joint!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

Hmm, both of my little fingers come right to the last joint.

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted
  • Author
That's really weird! But I'm curious as to which pinky finger we should be looking at?? I voted based on my right hand, because I am right-handed. It is shorter than the last joint by a good quarter of an inch....but on my left hand, my pinky finger is even with the last joint!

He didn't tell me to look at a particular one. But both of mine are below, so that may have been why.

I should have included in the poll, whether one had been diagnosed with ceiliac sprue or gluten intolerance.

I wonder if length indicates the severity of our reaction to gluten?

It's crazy, but the poll is showing that the majority of us have short pinkies.

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted
  • Author

I know this has only been on here for a couple of days, but I had hoped to have at least 100 people for a good comparison.

Also, I am curious for the 5 people that have a longer pinky, what their diagnoisis' are.

Don't really think this is a scientific study, but if it all has to do with genes, maybe it is an indication of a possiblity of having the disease.

I think when one is measuring you should look at the length of your finger from the palm side of your hand.

Thanks to all of you that have participated.

Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

I would participate also, I'm not quite sure what I'm looking at. Do you mean that the top of your pinky has to come below the joint of your ring finger? That doesn't sound right...Is that what you mean? That would be only a little stub coming out of your hand? :o Let me know, Janet

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted
  • Author
I would participate also, I'm not quite sure what I'm looking at. Do you mean that the top of your pinky has to come below the joint of your ring finger? That doesn't sound right...Is that what you mean? That would be only a little stub coming out of your hand? :o Let me know, Janet

You should be looking at the joint/line just before your finger nail on your ring finger.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

Janeti - it doesn't look like a stub, though, because the base of the pinky starts below the base on the ring finger.

I think I need to change my vote. One pinky is just about even with the joint and I voted based on that one. Then I looked at the other hand and that pinky is below the joint.

ptkds Community Regular
ptkds
Posted

I went around and looked at all my kids and dh. All 4 of my kids and I have pinkies that are below the last joint on the ring finger. My dh's was longer. So my oldest dd went to school yesterday and looked at all of her friends and her teachers hands. Most of them had the "gluten intolerant" pinky! When she told them what it was supposed to mean, they told her they didn't have a problem w/ gluten.

Maybe we should also look at our family members who DONT have celiac and post those results! This is really interesting and fun!

ptkds

Luisa2552 Apprentice
Luisa2552
Posted
That's really weird! But I'm curious as to which pinky finger we should be looking at?? I voted based on my right hand, because I am right-handed. It is shorter than the last joint by a good quarter of an inch....but on my left hand, my pinky finger is even with the last joint!

Wow, I didn't even think of that. I voted based on my left hand because my right was on the mouse(I'm right handed). My left pinky is even witht he last joint and my right is considerably shorter- just over half way between the joints! How weird I've never noticed that before :P

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted
  • Author
I went around and looked at all my kids and dh. All 4 of my kids and I have pinkies that are below the last joint on the ring finger. My dh's was longer. So my oldest dd went to school yesterday and looked at all of her friends and her teachers hands. Most of them had the "gluten intolerant" pinky! When she told them what it was supposed to mean, they told her they didn't have a problem w/ gluten.

Maybe we should also look at our family members who DONT have celiac and post those results! This is really interesting and fun!

ptkds

It is interesting isn't it?

Of course the teachers are going to say they don't have it. The old case of, "Not me, there isn't any thing wrong with me."

But maybe, she planted a seed and some day if they develop a problem they might think where to look . We can only hope and pray that we have educated one more person to this disease.

And with this kind of diagnosis a little fun doing it!!! I find myself looking at peoples fingers now all of the time. Course if it isn't laying flat you can't tell. I have been checking family, friends and anyone else that I can. I've tried to make it my new goal(since being diagnosed) to tell at least one new person a day. :lol:

bbuster Explorer
bbuster
Posted

Right hand - even

Left hand - below

and I don't have Celiac

tom Contributor
tom
Posted

Of course, even if it's true, the sampling is biased.

If that 1:133 ratio is correct, each of us celiacs would have to check and report on 133 non-celiacs' pinky lengths to correct the sample.

For all we know 30% of THEM have the short pinky.

Oops, just realized it was for gluten-intolerant, not celiac!! So that tosses out the 133 number, but not the notion that a much higher and diverse sample would be req'd. :)

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I just voted--both of mine are shorter by about 1/4 of an inch or so.

adiftime Rookie
adiftime
Posted
  • Author

Not sure the health food doctor that told me this actually knew the difference between gluten intolerant and celiac sprue.

I didn't really think this would be a scientific study but was curious how many actually have a short pinky. After I posted it I wished I had included choices that would have indicated the severity of the disease, but I didn't. Oh well! It's still interesting to see the numbers.

Billie

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

this is so interesting and FUN :lol:

I voted and my pinky goes up to the last joint on the ring finger.

i'd love to see some pictures...

2Boys4Me Enthusiast
2Boys4Me
Posted

I voted for Ty. Looking at the palm of his hand, they both are pretty much even with the joint on the ring finger. He has celiac. I don't have celiac and mine are both pretty much even or slightly above the joint.

Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

Ohhh, ok I voted. Both my pinkies fall belo :lol: w the joint...Janet

Betty in Texas Newbie
Betty in Texas
Posted

Well I got my up to the light and they both are under the first joint measuring them they 2 inches and I have celiac

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

As someone said--from the palm side, they are different--strange, but true. From the top, both my pinky fingers fall below the first joint on my ring finger--even if i bend the finger, my pinky is below the bend--yet, if I turn my hand over and look from the palm side--it appears differently. On the backside of your hands, there is only one true definite line for the joints and the tip of my pinky appears to fall above it--weird huh?

Then, if we all look at our hands, we will find that they resemble family members. Is it celiac, gluten intolerance, or hereditary? There is a whole thing about foreheads too. Something about your forehead and if it's this or that, then you are gluten intolerant!

Is fun to think about though.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,900
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tessycork47
    Newest Member
    tessycork47
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

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



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.