Improvements With Dietary Changed

[Frieda]

Hi all,

Three months ago, I was at my wits end with the chronic dh outbreaks I had been experiencing for the past 12 years. For 11 years, I thought the painful, unbelievably itchy/burning recurrent rashes, pustules, infections, were shingles. I began to suspect that there might be a relationship between my skin disorder and celiac, which I had been diagnosed with 57 years ago as an infant (though I wasn't told about that diagnosis until I was in my forties.) I then sought out medical opinions from a chiropractor who specializes in celiac, and from a dermatologist at our local clinic, neither of them thought there was any relationship between my celiac disease and my skin disorder. That's when I dove into researching the web, and found the celiac.com forum and blogs. That's when I began making additional changes in my diet: eliminating foods with iodine, legumes, nightshades, poultry, eggs, casein, etc. I was already very commited to a gluten free, lactose free, organic diet. All these changes helped some, but I would still have outbreaks.

Then I found some references to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)on various websites. One thing led to another. I found 3 books that have been positively life changing for me. Turns out each of these books were the basis for the next I'll list them in the order I read them. "Management of Celiac Disease" by Dr.Sidney Haas, published in 1951, which presents the historic research and treatment of Celiac and presents Dr. Haas's theory that Celiac is a disease that results from the inability to digest carbohydrates not just gluten. "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall whose daughter was a patient of Dr. Haas, Elaine Gotschall takes off where Dr. Haas left off and describes the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) and how it can permit the body and mind to regain functioning, a realy informative and valuable book. "Gut and Psychology Syndrome" by Dr.Natasha Campbell-McBride, which I am finding to be the best guide to understanding the SCD diet, or the Gut and Psychology or GAPS protocol as Campbell-McBride names it, why it works, and how to implement it.

When I began reading Dr. Haas's book, I took rice out of my diet, it was the only grain I was still eating. That was November 5, 2010, and I have had only one fairly minor DH outbreak since taking out the rice and that was after about the third week of being totally grain free (except for what might have been in my supplements). I removed other disacharrides and polysacharrides from my diet while reading Elaine Gottschall's book, the chronic kidney pain, hip pain, pain in my shin bone, are almost completely gone. Now I am rereading Campbell-McBride's book and continue to make changes in my food protocol, I'm working toward doing her food protocol as she suggests, and will soon be starting the introductory diet, I'm finding it takes emotional and practical preparation, and the book contains so much important information that I feel the need for clarity on the hows and whys of making these food changes, all the while I am feeling hopeful and healthier as I learn and make changes.

Most importantly, I had hit bottom big-time with the DH and feel so relieved to be having a reprieve and hopefull that I am on a healing path.

Thanks, Frieda