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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest...
    2. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In...
    3. JudyLou
      - JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      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 covere...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced. Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well. Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside...
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,153
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jenn18
    Newest Member
    Jenn18
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest you look for another physician who is more up to date in this area and is willing to work with you to get an accurate diagnosis. If, in fact, you do not have celiac disease but you know that gluten causes you problems, you might have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). There is no test available yet for NCGS. Celiac must first be ruled out. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the small bowel. NCGS we is not autoimmune and we know less about it's true nature. But we do know it is considerably more common than celiac disease.
    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test.  In addition to IGA tests there are IGG tests which are particularly useful in the case of IGA deficiency.  
    • JudyLou
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By JudyLou · Posted

      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! 
    • knitty kitty
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced.  Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well.  Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside of Celiac, too.  Symptoms can wax and wane depending on dietary intake.  I knew an alcoholic who had the "boots" of Pellagra, which would get worse when he was drinking more heavily, and improve when he was drinking less.   Niacin deficiency is called Pellagra.  Symptoms consist of dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death (the four D's).  A scaly rash on the feet and hands and arms are called the "boots" and "gloves" of Pellagra.  Darkened skin around the neck exposed to the sun is Casal's necklace.  Poor farmers with niacin deficient diets were called "red necks" because of this.    Does your rash get worse if you're in the sun?  Mine did.  Any skin exposed to the sun got blistered and scaly.  Arms, legs, neck, head.  Do you have dry, ashy skin on your feet?  The itchiness was not only from the rash, but neuropathy.   My doctors were clueless.  They didn't put all my symptoms together into the three D's.  But I did.  I'd learned about Pellagra at university.  But there weren't supposed to be deficiency diseases anymore in the developed world.  Doubtful it could be that simple, I started supplementing with Niacin and other essential nutrients.  I got better.   One of Niacinamide functions is to help stop mast cells from releasing histamine.  Your allergist gave you doxepin, an antihistamine which stops mast cells from releasing histamine.   Since you do have a Celiac gene, staying on the gluten free diet can prevent Celiac disease from being triggered again.   Interesting Reading: These case studies have pictures... Pellgra revisited.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228662/ Steroid-Resistant Rash With Neuropsychiatric Deterioration and Weight Loss: A Modern-Day Case of Pellagra https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12532421/#:~:text=Figure 2.,(right panel) upper limbs.&text=The distribution of the rash,patient's substantial response to treatment.   Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721081/#:~:text=Additional causes of yellow skin,the clinical features of Kwashiorkor.   Hello, @Staticgypsy, I would not recommend cutting so many nutritious foods out of ones diet.  Oxalates can cause problems like kidney stones, but our bodies can process oxalates out of our systems with certain vitamins like Vitamins A and D and Pyridoxine B 6.   People with Celiac disease are often low in fat soluble vitamins A and D, as well as the water soluble B vitamins like Pyridoxine B 6.  Focus on serving your granddaughter nutrient dense meals to ensure she gets essential vitamins and minerals that will help her grow. Micronutrient inadequacy and urinary stone disease: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976348/ Multivitamins co-intake can reduce the prevalence of kidney stones: a large-scale cross-sectional study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564076/
    • Wheatwacked
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins and minerals.  Low or deficient  Vitamin D is almost always found in undiagnosed Celiac Disease. "Over 900 genes have been reported as regulated by vitamin D"  Possible Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease Onset  "The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 41.6%, with the highest rate seen in blacks (82.1%), followed by Hispanics (69.2%)."    Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults
×
×
  • 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.