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

First Signs Of Dh After Going Gf?

Carriefaith

Recommended Posts

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

I've felt "glutened" now for just over a week. I had severe stomach pain, and continue to have major brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, lack of energy, bloat, stomach "problems" ect... I haven't delibrately eaten gluten but I may be eating something that is contaminated (Or maybe I just had a single contamination... :unsure:). However, today out of no where I broke out in these itchy/mosquito/blister like things. I have two on my arm (upper and elbow), a whole bunch on my leg, and one on my neck... and they just keep appearing! I never had this while eating gluten before the diet and I was just wondering if anyone ever developed DH for the first time during an accident or a contamination on the gluten free diet? I'm just trying to figure out what these things are! :blink:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


frenchiemama Collaborator
frenchiemama
Posted

I've been doing a lot of reading on DH in the last month, and from what I've read it sounds like a very few people can begin breaking out just after they go gluten-free. Not very common though, I would go to the doc and make sure it isn't something like impetigo or an allergic reaction to something else.

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

I personally had DH before being gluten-free, so I didn't really do a whole lot of reading about it when I was researching celiac disease, other than to confirm that the rash I couldn't get rid of was in fact DH. But I do have something to add here.

My kids never had DH before going gluten-free. 2 months ago my husband (the only one NOT gluten-free in our house) decided to switch to ZOOM! whole wheat hot cereal for his breakfast. At about the same time he also relaxed on his kitchen skills and we got contaminated. After about a week of him eating this cereal and all of us being sick I convinced him to toss the cereal and he switched to grits (which are gluten-free). Now the point of my story is that what finally convinced him to stop is when my DH came back and he couldn't deny that I had been glutened (the digestive symptoms he passed off as a virus!), but even worse my daughter broke out with DH on her scalp. This is the first place I break out too, and it was very obvious to me that the bistery bumps on her head was DH. I wouldn't have thought you could suddenly develop it after being gluten-free, but maybe a large enough dose of gluten could trigger it. It takes more than a casual microscopic particle of gluten to trigger my DH (but not my digestive symptoms, those can't handle even the tiniest particle!). So it would have had to been a lot of repeat contamination over that week.

It would probably be a good idea to go to the doctor anyhow just to make sure...

And keep looking to see if there is something new that you have recently started using that has gluten, or something that might have changed their formula and added gluten.

God bless,

Mariann

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for your replies :)

I have had a few suspicions of things around my house being contaminated like my peanut butter for example, since I'm the only gluten-free person in my house (I'm trying to get to the bottom of it). I'm going to have to clearly label things from now on B) However, I have tried a new product in the last week that said gluten free/wheat free on the label... so maybe it is contaminated... ??

Or....I may be having an allergic reaction to something else... I sure hope not though ;) I'll have to go see my doc if I don't start feeling better soon though.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Mariann- What does your daughter's DH on her scalp look like? Does is get scabby or is it more like little pimples ??

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

They were raised blisters about 1/8 of an inch round, very itchy, a little bit reddish around the base and a liquidy center. To me it almost look like a large chickenpox blister. Here is a picture of a lot of DH blisters. Hers looked just like them, but only three blisters (that we could find) separated by inches on her scalp. They pop easily and then scab over.

http://wwwils.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency...llsize/1406.webp

God bless,

Mariann

Guest Eloisa
Guest Eloisa
Posted

Medaka,

I totally understand what your going through. Since being diagnosed with Celiac your so much more in tune with your body and know when your getting reactions from the bad stuff. What I have to do in my house is put printed labels with Mom's name on it or I get those color dots and tell everyone that they're off limits. Just think when you spread anything with a knife & you stick it back in the jar ex. peanut butter, mayo or mustard, your getting exposed. Get you a toaster just for you. I always tease my husband and tell him he's trying to make me sick on purpose. Hahaha. One of the things about DH is that you body is trying to get the exposure out of it quick. When this happens to me I drink lots of water eventhough I really feel bad and don't want any but it helps and I double up on my Reliv shakes which will push all those toxins out of your system.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
  • Author

Eloisa, Thanks for your reply and for your advise.

My spots are almost gone and my symptoms are getting better. I ended up giving my peanut butter away to the rest of the family and buying a new one. I have clearly labeled the new peanut butter, mayo, and margerine! Hopefully this helps ;) And I eliminated that product that I just started eating just in case that was the problem.

Guest Eloisa
Guest Eloisa
Posted

That's great. Peanut butter is a funny thing and we sometimes have problems just because its made from peanuts. I always have problems eating M&M peanuts and I always feel funny when I eat peanut butter.

Take care,

Eloisa

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
  • Author

are you allergic to peanuts?

Guest Eloisa
Guest Eloisa
Posted

No, but sometimes I wish I was so I wouldn't eat so many of those good M&M's.

Guest Leidenschaft
Guest Leidenschaft
Posted

This is an interesting thread... I've never had DH before, to my knowledge, and have been gluten-free for 18 months.

At about the same time I went gluten-free, monthly acne outbreaks became a problem. I'm not a vain person, I work with dogs, they don't care what I look like! :lol: However, the acne did start to scar my chin and it was also painful. I finally decided to start a topical treatment and began using a product called Clear Logix. It works quite well, but quite honestly I never checked with the manufacturer to see if it is gluten-free! :unsure:

Not long after I started using this, I developed an occasional blister (almost cold sore like) on my top lip. My doctor called it peri-oral dermatitis and prescribed a ridiculously expensive drug that I declined. Next visit she gave me samples of Rosasol which is gluten-free, but didn't do anything for me.

Is it possible that this little blister is DH? It doesn't hurt, itch, or last very long. It has appeared on occasion even after I stopped using the Clear Logix so I'm thinking that had nothing to do with it. I know it's not a cold sore, for some strange reason I'm immune to cold sores! :rolleyes:

Any suggestions?? I'm on the waiting list to see a dermatologist, however in the meantime my doctor prescribed the antibiotic Minocycline which unfortunately is not guaranteed gluten-free! :angry: Since the top side effect is diarhea I've decided not to try it since I wouldn't know if I was getting diarhea from the possible gluten, or the side effect! :blink:

So, any suggestions for the acne?? I'm in a wedding party next month and would love to get a handle on it! Also, any suggestions on my little blister? Does it sound like it could be DH?

Carriefaith, I found it helpful to label my cupboards at home too! I have SAFE cupboards for the things we share that are gluten-free, gluten-free Products ONLY cupboard to help me keep track of my inventory of specialty foods, and a NOT SAFE cupboard for my hubby's stuff! For margarine, we use completely different brands, so there isn't any mix up, lids getting swapped etc. I have also gone to squeeze bottles for mayo and such to eliminate contamination from spoons and knives going into the bottles.

Hope this helps you! :)

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
  • Author

I think that it is possible that the Clear Logix may have had gluten and caused the blister. For acne, I've of people using birth control pills to control their bad acne. Just a suggestion :)

Thanks for the info! I try and keep my stuff separated in cupboards, but it's hard when you're living with people who eat gluten! I just recently bought a squeeze mayo bottle too! I thought that would help if someone accidently used mine instead of theirs!

Pegster Apprentice
Pegster
Posted

I sometimes get DH blisters on my face. They are like little pimples, but the top layer of skin sort of sloughs off. They don't really hurt, They heal very quickly. The blisters are most often on my forehead and close to my hairline. I don't use anything on them except astringent to dry them up. As for the squeeeze bottles: don't forget jelly. I don't share any jars with the rest of my family.

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. dixonpete
      0

      Hookworm load planner

    2. AlwaysLearning
      - AlwaysLearning replied to Colleen H's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      Gluten related ??

      Get tested for vitamin deficiencies. Though neuropathy can be a symptom of celiac, it can also be caused by deficiencies due to poor digestion caused by celiac and could be easier to treat.
    3. Colleen H
      - Colleen H replied to Colleen H's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      Gluten related ??

      Thank you so much for your response Yes it seems as though things get very painful as time goes on. I'm not eating gluten as far as I know. However, I'm not sure of cross contamination. My system seems to weaken to hidden spices and other possibilities. ??? if cross contamination is possible...I am in a super sensitive mode of celiac disease...
    4. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      My only proof

      EXACTLY! I was asked yesterday on my LAST video call with Standford and I stated exactly yes absolutely this is why I need the name! One, get proper care, two, not get worse.Im falling apart, stressed out, in pain and just opened email from Stanford stating I was rude ect.I want that video reviewed by higher ups and see if that women still has a job or not...
    5. AlwaysLearning
      - AlwaysLearning replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      My only proof

      We feel your pain. It took me 20+ years of regularly going to doctors desperate for answers only to be told there was nothing wrong with me … when I was 20 pounds underweight, suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies, and in a great deal of pain. I had to figure it out for myself. If you're in the U.S., not having an official diagnosis does m...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,089
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Clare Durham
    Newest Member
    Clare Durham
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • AlwaysLearning
      Gluten related ??

      By AlwaysLearning · Posted

      Get tested for vitamin deficiencies.  Though neuropathy can be a symptom of celiac, it can also be caused by deficiencies due to poor digestion caused by celiac and could be easier to treat.
    • Colleen H
      Gluten related ??

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Thank you so much for your response  Yes it seems as though things get very painful as time goes on.  I'm not eating gluten as far as I know.  However, I'm not sure of cross contamination.  My system seems to weaken to hidden spices and other possibilities. ???  if cross contamination is possible...I am in a super sensitive mode of celiac disease.. Neuropathy from head to toes
    • Jmartes71
      My only proof

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      EXACTLY! I was asked yesterday on my LAST video call with Standford and I stated exactly yes absolutely this is why I need the name! One, get proper care, two, not get worse.Im falling apart, stressed out, in pain and just opened email from Stanford stating I was rude ect.I want that video reviewed by higher ups and see if that women still has a job or not.Im saying this because I've been medically screwed and asking for help because bills don't pay itself. This could be malpratice siit but im not good at finding lawyers
    • AlwaysLearning
      My only proof

      By AlwaysLearning · Posted

      We feel your pain. It took me 20+ years of regularly going to doctors desperate for answers only to be told there was nothing wrong with me … when I was 20 pounds underweight, suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies, and in a great deal of pain. I had to figure it out for myself. If you're in the U.S., not having an official diagnosis does mean you can't claim a tax deduction for the extra expense of gluten-free foods. But it can also be a good thing. Pre-existing conditions might be a reason why a health insurance company might reject your application or charge you more money. No official diagnosis means you don't have a pre-existing condition. I really hope you don't live in the U.S. and don't have these challenges. Do you need an official diagnosis for a specific reason? Else, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're diligent in remaining gluten free, your body should be healing as much as possible so there isn't much else you could do anyway. And there are plenty of us out here who never got that official diagnosis because we couldn't eat enough gluten to get tested. Now that the IL-2 test is available, I suppose I could take it, but I don't feel the need. Someone else not believing me really isn't my problem as long as I can stay in control of my own food.
    • AlwaysLearning
      Gluten related ??

      By AlwaysLearning · Posted

      If you're just starting out in being gluten free, I would expect it to take months before you learned enough about hidden sources of gluten before you stopped making major mistakes. Ice cream? Not safe unless they say it is gluten free. Spaghetti sauce? Not safe unless is says gluten-free. Natural ingredients? Who knows what's in there. You pretty much need to cook with whole ingredients yourself to avoid it completely. Most gluten-free products should be safe, but while you're in the hypersensitive phase right after going gluten free, you may notice that when something like a microwave meal seems to not be gluten-free … then you find out that it is produced in a shared facility where it can become contaminated. My reactions were much-more severe after going gluten free. The analogy that I use is that you had a whole army of soldiers waiting for some gluten to attack, and now that you took away their target, when the stragglers from the gluten army accidentally wander onto the battlefield, you still have your entire army going out and attacking them. Expect it to take two years before all of the training facilities that were producing your soldiers have fallen into disrepair and are no longer producing soldiers. But that is two years after you stop accidentally glutening yourself. Every time you do eat gluten, another training facility can be built and more soldiers will be waiting to attack. Good luck figuring things out.   
×
×
  • 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.