Please Help!

[gfmommy67]

First off, I am a newly diagnosed Celiac by elimination diet and endoscopy. I've been gluten free for almost 6 months now. Just recently I started getting hives. And now they've spread and I am MISERABLE! Is this possibly linked to the Celiac? It's on my face, hands, legs, arms,and a little on my stomach and sides. If so, can anyone help with a possible solution?? I can't take it anymore!!! Thanks in advance.

[tmbarke]

Is it possible that you may have changed your laundry soap? or anything that touches your body?

I'm allergic to Mr. Bubble and Tide.

It was terrible when I was dating someone that used Tide and I started getting welted hives all over my body! thankfully he went to Tide Free and Era

I also got a skin hive reaction in my teens from a medication.......I was covered with welted hives and it made me sick and passed out! What a shocker!

I hope that may have brought some insight..........even if it's kids brand items

Hope you feel better hun,

Hugs!

T

[GlutenFreeManna]

Have you checked all your lotions, make-up, shampoos, deodorant, soaps (evan laundry soap) to see if they are gluten free? After going gluten-free I started getting hives from some lotion I had been using with wheat germ oil in it. Many people will say they have no reaction to gluten in non-food items, but for me I have to check that everything is gluten free.

[LDJofDenver]

Not to discount the prospect of a "contact" cause (something you're putting on your skin, or new laundry detergent, etc.), I often get a nasty case of hives from something I've ingested.

Cross contamination is a possibility. God help me if I was unknowingly glutened.

After you review exterior things that may have changed (lotion, detergent, soap, etc) perhaps really go over your diet with a fine-toothed comb looking for red flags for products that may have changed formula (many Progresso soups that were gluten free are no longer gluten free since they removed MSG and reformulated their soups, for example). Or unknown ingredients (natural flavors, etc.) in things you're eating that you think are safe. Contact the manufacturer(s) of anything suspect, for gluten-free verification.

Health Valley Soups: If you just read the ingredients most seem safe. However, when I phoned them they said I should stay away from ANY of their soups that list natural flavoring (split pea is OK, potato leek and cream of chicken are NOT).

[jerseyangel]

In addition to all of the above suggestions, have you changed or started any new medications lately? I got a reaction like that shortly after switching to a generic version of a med I had been taking for years.

At any rate, it sound like an allergic reaction to something.

[Skylark]

That does sound miserable. Have you talked to your doctor? Standard allergy testing might be able to help you sort out what's causing the hives. I get allergic rashes from certain plants and pollens and sometimes break out when I'm doing yard work. I put some Benedryl cream on and then take a dose of Benedryl at night. It makes me a little groggy the next day but it's worth it to be free of that awful itching.

[ravenwoodglass]

First off, I am a newly diagnosed Celiac by elimination diet and endoscopy. I've been gluten free for almost 6 months now. Just recently I started getting hives. And now they've spread and I am MISERABLE! Is this possibly linked to the Celiac? It's on my face, hands, legs, arms,and a little on my stomach and sides. If so, can anyone help with a possible solution?? I can't take it anymore!!! Thanks in advance.

What do you 'hives' look like? Are they large mosquito type bumps or are they smaller, more like a flea bite size? If they are smaller you may have DH. The placement you describe is where many folks typically get DH breakouts. If they are hives an antihistamine should relieve the itching. Antihistamines don't do much good for DH though.

Do check all that everyone has mentioned and if you take supplements make sure you read the ingredients and that there is no wheat or barley grass in them even if they say gluten-free on the label.

[gfmommy67]

Thanks everyone! My hives are like white bumps....mosquito bite size....they come and go...staying anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours....antihistamines do not seem to help. I've checked everything I use, no gluten or cross contamination. So I'm headed back to the doctor. Thanks again for the help!

[C39]

Thanks everyone! My hives are like white bumps....mosquito bite size....they come and go...staying anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours....antihistamines do not seem to help. I've checked everything I use, no gluten or cross contamination. So I'm headed back to the doctor. Thanks again for the help!

I wonder if because you are now eating gluten free items, you are eating more acid in foods like tomatoes and that is what is causing the hives?

[sandsurfgirl]

A lot of people ask this question so I did some research a couple of months ago. Autoimmune disorders can cause hives so yes you can get hives just because you have celiac. Sorry, don't know where the websites are anymore.

That being said, it's important to rule out allergies because of the risk of anaphylaxis.