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

New To Gluten-Free


firefightersgal

Recommended Posts

firefightersgal Apprentice

I have been spending a lot of time in doctor's offices lately trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I thought that my issues were independent of each other, but now it looks an awful lot like Celiac.

I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday to look at my out of control 'eczema'. The day before, my husband worked for someone (not his usual day to work). One of the other firefighters was talking about how his children were very recently diagnosed with Celiac. My husband thought that their symptoms sounded eerily like mine, so he called and asked me to do some research on it. I was surprised to find all of my health issues listed as symptoms.



  • I have joint pain and weakness. I was tested for RA, but did not show the markers in my blood.
  • I have a horrible rash that has been plaguing me for over 2 months.
  • I have been battling infertility for almost two years and suffered one miscarriage. (My hormone levels are all normal, but I am not ovulating without the assistance of Clomid). My daughter was concieved over 4 years ago with no trouble.
  • I sometimes have stabbing gas pains and a reoccuring ulcer

.

My doctor didn't seem overly enthused that I brought information in, but he did test me for celiac disease. He confirmed that my eczema is now accompanied by Dermatitus Herpitaformus. He told me that I could try a gluten-free diet, regardless of my test-result, so I did.

I'm glad to have found this group. I've already learned a lot and I've only been on here for a few minutes!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



tarnalberry Community Regular

You have DH and he said you "could" try a gluten free diet? Dumb doctor. DH is a positive marker for celiac disease. Not every celiac has DH, but everyone with DH has celiac. If you have DH you SHOULD remain completely gluten free.

K8ling Enthusiast

WELCOME!! We all have had experiences with doctors who make us wonder why they are doctors...it sounds like you just had one. DH is FOR SURE Celiac. Ugh

Like i said, welcome to the club, and we are all here to help!

firefightersgal Apprentice

WELCOME!! We all have had experiences with doctors who make us wonder why they are doctors...it sounds like you just had one. DH is FOR SURE Celiac. Ugh

Like i said, welcome to the club, and we are all here to help!

Thanks very much for validating what I had read before--that DH=Celiac. My doc was thinking that I might have hepatitis, but I have no risk factors for it. I'm anxious to get my blood test back, but I have been gluten free for 2 1/2 days and will continue to do so.

butterfl8 Rookie

Well, ditto K8ling and Tiffany, Dumb Dr! Welcome...To feeling a million times better. Reoccuring ulcer? That was me too. My Dr. and I both said that was due to my particular life stresses. Now we know better! Same stresses, only I either am dealing with them better; or, I'm not poisoning myself with gluten and therefore feel like a new woman. (And I'm not treating them by eating bagels. . . oops)

In any case, clean out your house as much as you can, free yourself of all gluten, including beauty products, and enjoy feeling better. Welcome to the forum! (Smart hubby too! Aren't they the best?)

-Daisy

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - SusanJ replied to Jillian83's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      Celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis has taken Me from Me

    2. - knitty kitty replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      13

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

    3. - tiffanygosci replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      13

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

    4. - RMJ replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?

    5. - knitty kitty replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,980
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Cathal Brugha
    Newest Member
    Cathal Brugha
    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

    • SusanJ
      Two months ago, I started taking Dupixent for dermatitis herpetiformis and it has completely cleared it up. I can't believe it! I have had a terrible painful, intensely itchy rash for over a year despite going fully gluten-free. See if your doctor will prescribe Dupixent. It can be expensive but I am getting it free. When the dermatitis herpetiformis was bad I could not do anything. I just lay in bed covered in ice packs to ease the pain/itching and using way too Clobetasol. Dapsone is also very good for dermatitis herpetiformis (and it is generic). It helped me and the results were immediate but it gave me severe anemia so the Dupixent is better for me. Not sure if it works for everyone. I cannot help with the cause of your stress but from experience I am sure the severe stress is making the celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis worse. Very difficult for you with having children to care for and you being so sick. Would this man be willing to see a family therapist with you? He may be angry at you or imagine that your illness is a psychosomatic excuse not to take care of him. A therapist might help even if he won't go with you. Also do you have any family that you could move in with (with the kids) for a short time to get away? A break may be good for you both.
    • knitty kitty
      @tiffanygosci, Thiamine deficiency is a thing in pregnancy for "normal" people, so it's exponentially more important for those with celiac disease and malabsorption issues. I studied nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology because I was curious what the vitamins were doing inside the body.  See my blog.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll to drop down menu "activities" and select blog.   So glad you're motivated to see the dietician!  We're always happy to help with questions.  Keep us posted on your progress! 
    • tiffanygosci
      Thank you for sharing all of this, Knitty Kitty! I did just want someone to share some commonality with. I did not know This one Deficiency was a thing and that it's common for Celiac Disease. It makes sense since this is a disorder that causes malabsorption. I will have to keep this in mind for my next appointments. You also just spurred me on to make that Dietician appointment. There's a lot of information online but I do need to see a professional. There is too much to juggle on my own with this condition.<3
    • RMJ
      I think your initial idea, eat gluten and be tested, was excellent. Now you have fear of that testing, but isn’t there also a fear each time you eat gluten that you’re injuring your body? Possibly affecting future fertility, bone health and more? Wouldn’t it be better to know for sure one way or the other? If you test negative, then you celebrate and get tested occasionally to make sure the tests don’t turn positive again. If you test positive, of course the recommendation from me and others is to stop gluten entirely.  But if you’re unable to convince yourself to do that, could a positive test at least convince you to minimize your gluten consumption?  Immune reactions are generally what is called dose response, the bigger the dose, the bigger the response (in this case, damage to your intestines and body). So while I am NOT saying you should eat any gluten with a positive test, the less the better.  
    • knitty kitty
      @Riley., Welcome to the forum, but don't do it!  Don't continue to eat gluten!  The health problems that will come if you continue to eat gluten are not worth it.  Problems may not show up for years, but the constant inflammation and nutritional losses will manifest eventually.  There's many of us oldsters on the forum who wish they'd been diagnosed as early.    Fertility problems, gallbladder removal, diabetes, osteoporosis and mental health challenges are future health issues you are toying with.   To dispel fear, learn more about what you are afraid of.  Be proactive.  Start or join a Celiac group in your area.  Learn about vitamins and nutrition.   Has your mother been checked for Celiac?  It's inherited.  She may be influencing you to eat gluten as a denial of her own symptoms.  Don't let friends and family sway you away from the gluten-free diet.  You know your path.  Stick to it.  Be brave. 
×
×
  • 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.