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

Biopsy Results In...


CrazyforCandles

Recommended Posts

CrazyforCandles Rookie

My doctor finally called me in today and said that although my IBS symptoms do corralate to a gluten sensitivity and likes that since I went Gluten-Free 3 weeks ago my stomach issues have subsided.... my rash tested Positive for Pleva or Mucha Habermann Disease and doesn't believe it is Herpetiformis Dermititis. This is treated by Light Therapy and ridiculously strong amounts of antibiotics...and sometime within the next 2-36 months it should go away. :( Sounds not so good for the rest of my body tho..

I looked online and agree the images do look a lot like what I have. Here's my dilema.... from what I have read from our Advanced Members on this Forum is that celiac disease causes other immune disorders..so I'm curious if celiac disease could have brought this on as well... does anyone have any knowledge on this?

My doctor recommends keeping a food journal and slowly adding a little gluten each day to my diet and to report how I feel/ rash changes/ etc. With my families history of Thyroid problems, Cancer of the digestive systems, IBS, etc.... I am afraid that like so many on here... I go back to my old, normal healthy diet BUT I do have celiac disease, and it will go undetected (false negative blood/ skin biopsy tests) and I will kill my intestines. On the other hand- I would love to eat a REAL cookie (sorry folks...Bob's Red Mill Homemade cookies were like bricks :( and indulge on an occasional burger etc. The Gluten-Free diet is still a great healthy thing to live by and I will do what is necessary but if I don't have it then gluten in small amounts is healthy for ppl without celiac disease.

** I just don't want to find out 10 years from now... "sorry, we made a mistake- you should've stopped eating gluten years ago- oops our mistake".... and then I'm the one suffering with damage that cannot be reversed. Is there a 100% test I can take to be sure I do or DO NOT have celiac disease?

I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THIS TIME BUT I AM A LITTLE UNSURE OF HOW TO PROCEED SAFELY.

Thank you in advance- you all have been very helpful this last month!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Dixiebell Contributor

Did they biopsy the lesion or the skin next to the lesion?

Mucha Habermann Disease is autoimmune and autoimmune diseases usually travel together. I don't think you not having DH rules out celiac or gluten intolerance.

I am assuming you have had the celiac blood tests and/or biopsy and they were negative? My next step would be to try the gluten-free lifestyle for three or more months and see if anything changes. Hopefully you will get some answers soon.

ravenwoodglass Mentor

Unfortunately the only for sure way to know if gluten is an issue for you is to eliminate it completely. Blood tests and biopsies do have a fairly high rate of false negatives. It is significant that your GI issues have been relieved by the diet. You should consider continueing with it strictly.

Pleva or Mucha Habermann Disease is very rare and I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope it resolves soon for you. If your case is severe do contact organizations that deal with rare diseases for support and information during your treatment.

CrazyforCandles Rookie

DixieBell- he did two biopsies. One next to a lesion and one that was one actually a lesion. Sent it away to Northwestern.

RavenWoodGlass- Yes, my blood tests showed normal and "unlikely" to have celiac disease.

My doctor did agree that I still may be Gluten intolerant even tho the blood test was negative and told me to trust my body, watch the food journal/IBS symptoms and I will find my answer in time by paying attention to how I feel.

I think I will do just that. I miss my fav foods but like how I feel now much better. I will do the journal for a month and see how it goes. Maybe there is something else I am eating that give me the IBS problems- ( although celiac disease pretty much describes ALL the problems I've had for the last 30 years, including infertility for 8 years)

I've spent the last month researching celiac disease/ HD.... now I start on the PLEVA. There is much less info on that online though :(

and no known reason/ cause/ or length of time. urgh

drgoogle Newbie

DixieBell- he did two biopsies. One next to a lesion and one that was one actually a lesion. Sent it away to Northwestern.

RavenWoodGlass- Yes, my blood tests showed normal and "unlikely" to have celiac disease.

My doctor did agree that I still may be Gluten intolerant even tho the blood test was negative and told me to trust my body, watch the food journal/IBS symptoms and I will find my answer in time by paying attention to how I feel.

I think I will do just that. I miss my fav foods but like how I feel now much better. I will do the journal for a month and see how it goes. Maybe there is something else I am eating that give me the IBS problems- ( although celiac disease pretty much describes ALL the problems I've had for the last 30 years, including infertility for 8 years)

I've spent the last month researching celiac disease/ HD.... now I start on the PLEVA. There is much less info on that online though :(

and no known reason/ cause/ or length of time. urgh

Did you find your rash went away when you went gluten-free? Or you felt better but the rash didn't improve?

Sorry to hear that you must re-start your journey, in a way, but hopefully now that you know at least a part of what you have, you can address it in the best way possible.

I've been getting UV therapy for a few months now for whatever it is that I have. I did find it helped, at least early on, in healing existing lesions...and I've been on a couple rounds of antibiotics too without any major ill effects that I could note. I did start taking probiotics when I was on the antibiotics.

Best of luck and I'll be following your journey if you keep posting here!

CrazyforCandles Rookie

Did you find your rash went away when you went gluten-free? Or you felt better but the rash didn't improve?

Sorry to hear that you must re-start your journey, in a way, but hopefully now that you know at least a part of what you have, you can address it in the best way possible.

I've been getting UV therapy for a few months now for whatever it is that I have. I did find it helped, at least early on, in healing existing lesions...and I've been on a couple rounds of antibiotics too without any major ill effects that I could note. I did start taking probiotics when I was on the antibiotics.

Best of luck and I'll be following your journey if you keep posting here!

CrazyforCandles Rookie

Welll...the rash improved and flared and improved and flared again this last month so its tough to say. My doctor suggested the UV therapy but there isn't any places closer than 60 miles away for that..unless I hit a tanning bed lol. What antibiotics did u use? I will start back on my probiotics (Acidophilus) tomorrow.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



drgoogle Newbie

Welll...the rash improved and flared and improved and flared again this last month so its tough to say. My doctor suggested the UV therapy but there isn't any places closer than 60 miles away for that..unless I hit a tanning bed lol. What antibiotics did u use? I will start back on my probiotics (Acidophilus) tomorrow.

I was taking cephalexin - went through two rounds of it within a couple months. Also have a steady supply of topicals: bactroban and fuciden.

Archived

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

  • 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. - cristiana replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      5

      Feel like I’m starting over

    2. - knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    3. - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

    4. - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,298
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    drewbee2294
    Newest Member
    drewbee2294
    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

    • cristiana
      Hi @Scatterbrain Thank you for your reply.   Some of these things could be weaknesses, also triggered by stress, which perhaps have come about as the result of long-term deficiencies which can take a long time to correct.   Some could be completely unrelated. If it is of help, I'll tell you some of the things that started in the first year or two, following my diagnosis - I pinned everything on coeliac disease, but it turns out I wasn't always right!  Dizziness, lightheaded - I was eventually diagnosed with cervical dizziness (worth googling, could be your issue too, also if you have neck pain?)  A few months after diagnosis I put my neck out slightly carrying my seven-year-old above my head, and never assigned any relevance to it as the pain at the time was severe but so short-lived that I'd forgotten the connection. Jaw pain - stress. Tinnitus - I think stress, but perhaps exacerbated by iron/vitamin deficiencies. Painful ribs and sacroiliac joints - no idea, bloating made the pain worse. It got really bad but then got better. Irregular heart rate - could be a coincidence but my sister (not a coeliac) and I both developed this temporarily after our second Astra Zeneca covid jabs.   Subsequent Pfizer jabs didn't affect us. Brain fog - a big thing for people with certain autoimmune issues but in my case I think possibly worse when my iron or B12 are low, but I have no proof of this. Insomnia - stress, menopause. So basically, it isn't always gluten.  It might be worth having your vitamins and mineral levels checked, and if you have deficiencies speak to your Dr about how better to address them?    
    • knitty kitty
      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
×
×
  • 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.