Going Nowhere

[jeannine]

Hello, I am a 41 year old woman. I have had a horrible itching, burning rash on my lower legs for a year now. I also am very tired all of the time, if I'm not constipated then I have diarhea, my hair is falling out and my joints just ache most of the time. When I first went to the doctor a year ago I was misdiagnosed with Lupus. My dermatologist thinks it may be Celiac disease. Before doing a biopsy, however, he has me on a 2 week course of cephalexin and clobetasol. He said that he will do a biopsy in 4 weeks to check for dermatitis herpetiformis. My husband is in the army and I have seen 11 doctors in the past 12 months in relation to my symptoms.

Do my symptoms suggest Celiac disease? If the rash starts to clear up with this lastest round of medications (every doctor I've seen has prescribed somethng), should I still have the biopsy? I would also like to add the when I had the diagnosis of Lupus I was put on prednisone and the rash cleared up until I was taken off of it.

Thank you.

[mftnchn]

This does sound like it could be celiac. I would for sure have the biopsy done. Look on this forum and read about the skin form of celiac, because if I remember right, the biopsy has to be done in a certain stage of the blisters.

If that is positive, then you are celiac. This is a lifelong lifestyle change to remove all gluten from your life.

In addition, you can have blood tests for celiac, and a biopsy of the intestine.

If the tests are negative, then I think if I were you I would try the diet, to see if there is improvement. Many people here have been diagnosed by dietary response only.

Please keep asking your questions and looking around this forum, I think you will find lots of support and help.