Ive Been Gluten Free For Five Days......

[Twiggy]

I have vast improvement in my symptoms already,the stomach pain has eased and the bloating is starting to go down.I have'nt got the results of my gut biopsy back yet but i was feeling so poorly that i thought i'd go gluten free for 7 days to see if i felt any better and i'm glad i did.There is just one thing thats bothering me though,i think ive had DH since my mid-teens (i'm 39 now) and if i stop eating gluten would i get a false negative on my skin test the same as for the gut test??? Input would be greatly apreciated,thanks

[The Fluffy Assassin]

I have vast improvement in my symptoms already,the stomach pain has eased and the bloating is starting to go down.I have'nt got the results of my gut biopsy back yet but i was feeling so poorly that i thought i'd go gluten free for 7 days to see if i felt any better and i'm glad i did.There is just one thing thats bothering me though,i think ive had DH since my mid-teens (i'm 39 now) and if i stop eating gluten would i get a false negative on my skin test the same as for the gut test??? Input would be greatly apreciated,thanks

I don't have DH, but as I understand it, the skin test can only be taken when you have an outbreak (and only from skin right next to an outbreak). If it's DH, you'll only have an outbreak if you eat gluten. Therefore, if you're off gluten, you shouldn't have an outbreak again and a skin test wouldn't be possible (or needed). But if you have a powerful need to know for sure that it's DH, yes, you would need to keep eating gluten until you have an outbreak to be tested.

[ang1e0251]

My DH took about as long to clear up as it was a problem for me; 6 - 8 weeks gluten-free. I've read other posters say that the antibodies take a while to leave your skin. Is your test soon? I think you could eat enough to break you out again. I don't think it's like the long term usage you need for and endoscopy. Maybe someone will post who knows more than I.

[Twiggy]

Hmm,i feel too well to risk making myself ill again....i dont know what to do I dont know if i really do need a dignosis,i'm convinced i have DH so thats prob good enough and besides that,if i dont eat anymore gluten it wont be a problem in the future.I have noticed however that i seem to get upset and a washing-machine type tummy now when i have milk or milk products (cottage cheese) i will just persist with this cause many of you say its temparey until you heal a bit.I cant believe that when i go to the loo im starting to have sem-normal stools without ''that'' familiar smell i'd gotten so used to.The thing thats also putting me off getting tested is that by the time i have a flare up,show my GP and wait for an appt with a skin specialist the rash will have cleared again.Sometines it lasts a month sometimes a week and sometimes it may clear completely for a month....tricky right?

[ang1e0251]

Don't jump the gun! You haven't even heard the results from your biopsy. Don't assume you need the DH to get a dx. I know it's hard to wait but hang in there. I didn't feel the need to make myself sick again for a dx. My body told me what I needed to know. That's a personal desicion you have to make but you are cool here at the forum whether you go for further testing or not.

[The Fluffy Assassin]

Hmm,i feel too well to risk making myself ill again....i dont know what to do I dont know if i really do need a dignosis,i'm convinced i have DH so thats prob good enough and besides that,if i dont eat anymore gluten it wont be a problem in the future.I have noticed however that i seem to get upset and a washing-machine type tummy now when i have milk or milk products (cottage cheese) i will just persist with this cause many of you say its temparey until you heal a bit.I cant believe that when i go to the loo im starting to have sem-normal stools without ''that'' familiar smell i'd gotten so used to.The thing thats also putting me off getting tested is that by the time i have a flare up,show my GP and wait for an appt with a skin specialist the rash will have cleared again.Sometines it lasts a month sometimes a week and sometimes it may clear completely for a month....tricky right?

Not that it's a diagnosis, but you can always look at pictures of DH and see if they at least look familiar, eg: Open Original Shared Link

[Twiggy]

Thanks for the Link Fluffy it sums my rash up to a ''T'',i'm just going to continue with my gluten-free lifestyle regardless of a DX,i feel fab!