Dh & Celiac?

[meganbunch89]

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Lets try this link. Hopefully it will work.

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Hi, I'm a 21 year old female.....trying to figure out if this looks like DH? I broke out in this rash several different times the past couple of months....lasted for a few days each time (didn't use any sort of treatment, because my curiousity gets the best of me...I like to observe the reaction.) This rash starts out as a intense burning sensation on my arms...then these bumps appear. They do itch but not unbearably. The rash was from my elbows down on both arms. Along with that random rash, I do have blister type bumps on the back of my thighs and..well, on my bottom sometimes. These last for weeks. Seems like since I started college a little over a year ago my health has just...completely went down the drain. I've always had digestive issues...mostly constipation when I was younger..mom always said I had a strangely large stomache.

Since college....here are my symptoms that seems to be getting unbearable...going to the doctor next week because I JUST got insurance. THANK THE LORD!

Symptoms:

In order of most annoying..lol

Arm/hand & toe numbness and tingling- So bad I want to chop them right off.

Bloating- enough that people ask how far along I am.

All the digestive embarresments- If you can imagine it, I have it.

Extreme fatigue- So tired I have to nap before doing anything strenous...like washing my 4 year olds hair.

Memory Loss- This is really debilitating. My whole day consist of searching for....everything. I loose EVERY thing that touches my hands.

Morning sickness- no I am not pregnant. There would be a baby by now! lol. Had this for wayyyy too long.

Nausea- Randomly get sick throughout the day.

Lack of coordination- I bump into lots of stuff.

Itchy skin- Feel pretty itchy all over, first year my head has ever really itched insanely bad. Talk about some nasty dandruff. yuck.

Anxiety- Did go to the doctor last year once when I had some money saved over some breathing difficulties, which they concluded as anxiety before even hearing me out. I refused treatment, because I refuse to believe i am simply stressed. However, since my health has gotton so much worse since then, I am getting depressed because no one believes the way I feel....and they don't show any sympathy. It's really annoying.

HISTORY- got a family history of autoimmune disorders such as Thyroid disorders, RA, Lupus, uh...and another one, forgot what it is.

I did do a VERY STRICT trial diet...about a week 1/2. Felt completely better. Honestly....my energy levels spiked so high it was almost unreal. Bloating was gone. Didn't look 9 months. I felt fantastic. Can't wait to get this checked out by a Dr.

So any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated. THanks~!

[psawyer]

Your link doesn't work for me. To share a photo on FB here, you have to have your privacy settings allow anyone to see your photos. You should be able to link to an image on a picture-sharing site like flikr or photobucket.

[eatmeat4good]

You have neurological, dermatological, and gastrointestinal symptoms that are all very consistent with Celiac disease.

In addition your gluten free trial went very well.

You may not test positive for Celiac by blood tests or biopsy as there is a high rate of false negatives particularly for people who have the Dermatitis Herpetiformis. But you may be able to get a biopsy of the skin next to a lesion where the IgA antibodies will be found.

If this is your problem you will need to be very stricly gluten free and avoid iodine to heal the sores. Iodine can activate the lesions. It is found in vitamins, iodized salt, shellfish, asparagus, and that sushi seaweed paper. It will prevent healing of the sores. I am 4 months gluten free and still the lesions get activated by slight cross contamination and/or iodine.

I hope you will be able to be gluten free soon and I think all your symptoms will start clearing.

I had almost everything you describe. Everything is gone except the DH sores so I just started Dapsone.

It takes a long time for the antibodies to leave the skin.

But the pain and itching go away sooner.

Hope you feel better soon.

[running-girl]

It looks like my rash. I'm still waiting for a diagnosis.