What Is Wrong?

[minton 1]

Okay so about a month ago, my DH started coming back and I have checked everything. I am gluten-free. 3 weeks ago, a canker sore popped up. The first one is now finally healing, but 2 more are now present so literally the only thing I can eat is applesauce. I take multivitamins and I can drink juice and milk and water. All other drinks are KILLER on the sores. Chewing food is out of the question right now.

My DH has spread daily. I have called the manufacturers of EVERYTHING I consume, nothing is CC. My prescriptions are all quadruple checked.

But the DH isn't all. For the past month I've noticed a worsening of many things. My anemia is back. I'm nauseous all the time. My left side randomly goes numb. The right side of my face HURTS when barely touched, my left side feels fine. I have sharp headaches. My skin goes from extremely oily one day to dryer than a desert the next. I have severe abdominal cramps (not menstral related). My balance is OFF. And by "off", I mean I fell down the stairs 2 nights ago from loss of balance. My memory is failing horribly. I went to write my own address down (lived there 17 years) and I forgot the house number. And my eyes are constantly red and itchy, like an allergy attack, but benedryl does not help at all.

Any ideas what may be wrong?

[rinne 3]

Sorry you are feeling so badly.

I know when my B12 levels were low I was dizzy. I was clumsy too and fell a number of times but since I remedied that, with B12 shots and methylcobalmin, I have been better. Where are your B12 levels at?

[minton 1]

Sorry you are feeling so badly.

I know when my B12 levels were low I was dizzy. I was clumsy too and fell a number of times but since I remedied that, with B12 shots and methylcobalmin, I have been better. Where are your B12 levels at?

b12 levels are good. I take b complex supplements on doctor's orders.

[rinne 3]

Could anything have changed in your workplace? Soap dispenser?

[minton 1]

Could anything have changed in your workplace? Soap dispenser?

okay, new "symptom." I have blood blisters forming on the tips of my fingers. They are under about 3 or 4 layers of skin. Some are liquid blood and others are what looks to be dried blood. I have not been pinching my fingers. So now I am randomly developing pools of blood under my skin. Yeesh!

I wouldn't know if work or school has changed anything such as soap. I refuse to use my work or schools bathrooms (school had an outbreak of MERSA staph infection in the bathrooms last year). My own soap at home, straight down to laundry detergent, has not changed. My mom has dye and fragrance allergy issues so she has always been very particular about the products she buys.

[ravenwoodglass 1,431]

okay, new "symptom." I have blood blisters forming on the tips of my fingers. They are under about 3 or 4 layers of skin. Some are liquid blood and others are what looks to be dried blood. I have not been pinching my fingers. So now I am randomly developing pools of blood under my skin. Yeesh!

I wouldn't know if work or school has changed anything such as soap. I refuse to use my work or schools bathrooms (school had an outbreak of MERSA staph infection in the bathrooms last year). My own soap at home, straight down to laundry detergent, has not changed. My mom has dye and fragrance allergy issues so she has always been very particular about the products she buys.

Have they checked your levels of Vitamin K? If you have not injured your fingers those blood blisters could be a sign of something serious. Please go back to the doctor as soon as you can.

[minton 1]

Okay here's an interesting question. In some other posts, which I forgot I put up, (yes my memory SUCKS) H. Pylori was suggested. Vitamin K has been suggested here. As well as the B Vitamins. Of course, CC has ALWAYS been suggested. But with my lack of eating ability at the present, CC is least likely. Other vitamin deficiencies havebeen suggested by my parents. And when I look up ALL the suggested ideas, they all have one cause in common. ALL say that a systemic candida infection can cause the problems. H. Pylori even thrives in a candida infected system.

I match plenty of candida symptoms...and I even posted about that wondering if I should try the diet. Given that, if candida is causing this stuff, should I start the diet to treat the candida before I start treating the problems? One would think that if candida is an underlying cause, that treating the manifested symptoms alone would not be good enough....input on this idea would be great!

[mommida 162]

Can you describe the "pools of blood" under the skin? If you think they have a purple color to them, get medical attention as soon as possible. Can you look up ITP, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, it is considered another auto-immune disorder.

[ravenwoodglass 1,431]

Can you describe the "pools of blood" under the skin? If you think they have a purple color to them, get medical attention as soon as possible. Can you look up ITP, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, it is considered another auto-immune disorder.

Thanks for posting this. I think you have helped me solve a mystery that has gone on for years. I have been covered in pinpoint hemmorhages for many years now and even holding a grocery bag over my arm will cause bleeding under the skin. I haven't seen a doctor in a couple of years now but will be finding one soon. When I was seeing them I always had so many other issues that little red dots under my skin were the least of my worries. I will be checking this out.

Minton, the NIH has a good bit of info on this here's a link-

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseas...ITP_WhatIs.html

[mommida 162]

My friend's brother was just diagnosed last year. He had an acute onset, requiring hospitalization.

There is another website for support or organization that is really great. The information was very clear and suggested some dietary changes. If I can find it again I will post a link.

Glad to know the information may have helped.

Laura

[veggienft 0]

Yes I think it's probably candidiasis. It's very common among celiacs. I think it's probably part of, or one of, the cause(s) of celiac disease.

http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/news/celiac.html

Whether you have candidiasis or bacteria, the diet is the same. Stop consuming sweets and sugar. That includes fruit and the apple juice you're drinking. Drink de-chlorinated water, either "purified" or distilled. Consume probiotics. I eat yogurt, which would not be suitable for a casein-sensitive person. Stop consuming salicylate dyes.

For celiacs, the diet would be heavy on meats and green veggies. Supplement with non-gluten vitamins C and B-complex.

..

[Jestgar 716]

Yes I think it's probably candidiasis.

Just emphasizing that this is someone's opinion. Please avoid using the internet to diagnose yourself.

[veggienft 0]

Just emphasizing that this is someone's opinion. Please avoid using the internet to diagnose yourself.

Just emphasizing that this is someone's opinion. Please avoid using the internet to diagnose yourself.

..

[Aleshia 0]

I would get checked for both yeast AND ITP my sister has ITP and it can cause serious problems if its not taken care of... one thing you could try, my naturopathic dr. told me the only thing she has seen that treats ITP successfully long term is sesame oil. she suggested my sister have a teaspoon of it daily. which could be like on salad or mixed into a shake or whatever if you don't like it plain hope that helps!

[RiceGuy 55]

The recommendation of methylcobalamin (B12) was my first thought. That and magnesium. I've read that blood levels of B12 are not reliable for determining a deficiency. Some on this board have even had to turn to the shots in order to get their levels up enough. Researchers say you cannot overdose on B12, so it can't hurt to get more. Most supplements use cyanocobalamin, which, believe it or not, has cyanide in it. That, and the fact that Pernicious Anemia can prevent the proper absorption of B12, is why I always suggest a sublingual methylcobalamin.

Also, consider that many nutrients compete for absorption, so taking a lot of one can lower absorption of another. From what I've read, this seems most true for minerals. Calcium and magnesium tend to compete, so it is often suggested to take these at separate times of the day. Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron and other minerals.

Although candida didn't occur to me, you should be able to try some of the candida killers without issues either way. The one I always recommend (because it worked for me) is caprylic acid capsules. AFAIK, it won't do any harm even if there's no candida overgrowth.

How are your fingernails? They are often effected by certain deficiencies, especially B12.

[April in KC 1]

If your DH is coming back, it would seem like the answer has to be gluten. I know it sucks, but what else is going to cause DH and mouth sores? I have both with gluten, and the only thing that causes them for me is gluten. (I tried a new brand of potato chips this week and started getting itchy - no more of those.)

Could you get your Celiac antibody levels re-checked? Whatever test was most positive before you went gluten-free, you should have that one rechecked now, as it will be the most sensitive.

Gotta keep looking for the gluten...

Maybe consider doing a whole foods fast (non-processed fruits, veggies & meats) for a week or two to see if the DH calms down.

The other symptoms sound like gluten, too, but they could also be from other causes (as others have suggested). But DH outbreaks are caused by gluten. In my experience, worsened by hormones & iodine - but not caused by hormones or iodine.

[Roda 186]

Okay so afer talking with my future mother in law and observing her family's dietary habits as well as my fiance's symptoms, I think he might have Celiac.

Here is what I've noticed. His family eats organic, non-genetically modified wheat and other gluten products. They drink raw milk, and his mom's cooking is mainly gluten free (she's Italian and makes most stuff from scratch from organic non GM foods). I have actually found I can eat regular spaghetti at their house with almost no symptoms as long as I'm gluten-free for a long time before that. but, with the downturned economy, they have been purchasing less organic and more regular store bought glutenny products.

I just happened to read this in another one of your posts. It sounds like you are saying that you eat reagular spaghetti at your boyfriend's house. If that is the case you are injesting gluten hence the symptoms. Just a thought.

[minton 1]

RiceGuy- My nails are brittle and grow slower than average. I have a biting habit but when I let them grow, they break on their own and someties split in layers.

Roda- Yes, and that post refers to ONE dinner in JULY in which I ate a VERY SMALL portion because his mom and I had not had the celiac talk and that woman scares me. She and I have had the celiac talk and I do not eat dinner at her house anymore. At the present, her son (my beloved fiance) is not even living in her house! So yes, I Glutened myself at her house in JULY. Not since then. When I say I am Gluten free, I am SERIOUS. Especially with canker sores limiting me to apple sauce, unless my parents are sneaking gluten spaghetti noodles in my applesauce, I am gluten-free.

[RiceGuy 55]

The poor nail health is often a sign of nutritional deficiency, typically due to insufficient vitamin B12, but can be related to other nutrients including zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A and others. Here is just one of many pages you can Google up: http://safenaturaltips.com/nailsassignsofhealthproblems.html

As for possible gluten sneaking in, if your fiance is eating gluten, then kisses you, there is the chance of getting glutened by that. If you handle postage stamps or envelopes, make sure they are the self-stick kind, and avoid touching the glue part. Watch out for stickers, including the ones from grocery stores, such as the sort they often put on bananas and other fresh fruits. Certain types of glues contain gluten, as do finger paints.

Another thing which comes to mind is other possible allergens. Some find dairy and other things cause very similar is not the same symptoms as gluten.

[Jestgar 716]

The poor nail health is often a sign of nutritional deficiency, typically due to insufficient vitamin B12, but can be related to other nutrients including zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A and others.

My crappy nails appear to be genetic. My dad has them, and several of my brothers.

[minton 1]

RiceGuy-I will look into B12 supplements after school today. Kissing the fiance is at present, not a a possible cause. He has been out of town since December 24th. Letters, however, are a great point. I write him daily and the only envelopes available in my house are the one you lick. But, rather than lick them, I've been using a wet washcloth (the taste of the glue makes me want to be ill). Is it possible that just touching the glue, as little as I do, could still cause sucha major reaction?

I did find out last night - I bought some gummy candies that I checked out and are gluten-free. They didn't hurt my sores so much so I ate them at work - Last night at work, the instant one of the gummy candies went down my throat, SEVERE acid reflux came and caused painful burning burp hiccups too. My mom and I both have a list of the ingredients and will be watching closely to see if those ingredients can be narrowed down to one culprit. The company still says the product is gluten-free, we called this morning. But is it possible that whatever the evil ingredient is could also be causing the DH to flare up?

Sidenote: my doctor did tell me numerous times that DH is MAINLY gluten reactive, but he also mentioned that other food allergies can cause it to flare too. He said the 3 biggest food allergies aside from gluten that cause the DH to flare are soy, corn, and cow dairy. Since he is big into the latest research, I trust he may be right.

I'm 100% positive a life without gummy candies would not be bad at all.

[Jestgar 716]

Are they different colors?

[minton 1]

Jestgar, are what different colors?

[Jestgar 716]

Jestgar, are what different colors?

I'm sorry. Are your gummy treats different colors? Maybe you're reacting to a specific dye.

[RiceGuy 55]

Is it possible that just touching the glue, as little as I do, could still cause sucha major reaction?

Yes, it is possible, though if you wash your hands immediately afterward, I'd like to think you'd be ok. However, some people have a reaction to such slight amounts, like walking past the bread at the supermarket, or the smell of toast in the toaster, so you should never say never.

I did find out last night - I bought some gummy candies that I checked out and are gluten-free. They didn't hurt my sores so much so I ate them at work - Last night at work, the instant one of the gummy candies went down my throat, SEVERE acid reflux came and caused painful burning burp hiccups too. My mom and I both have a list of the ingredients and will be watching closely to see if those ingredients can be narrowed down to one culprit. The company still says the product is gluten-free, we called this morning. But is it possible that whatever the evil ingredient is could also be causing the DH to flare up?

I agree with the possibility of the dye. Though if I'm not mistaken, gummy candies are corn-based, and as you know, corn is a top allergen.