Tissue Abnormallities And Celiac

[Jubilea]

Hi.

I've had problems with my skin and mucous membranes for quite a while now (severe rash, abnormal pap smears, chest/sinus congestion) and wonder if these things might go away now that I'm going to start following a Gluten free diet. Any one out there have experience or information about this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Judy

[mushroom]

Hello and welcome to the board.

There are many parts of the body's lining, both internal and external, that seem to be affected by gluten. External - Dermatitis Herpetiformis, eczema, psoriasis, hives and itching, dry skin. Internal (some of these are anecdotal): mouth ulcers, asthma/sinuses, UTI's (where things cling to the bladder wall and cause infection), stomach and small intestine (of course), ovaries (PCOS), uterus (fertility - perhaps eggs don't attach or stay attached to the lining?- just musing here in response to your question, no evidence for this). I think it is reasonable for you to hope for some resolution of some of your problems on a gluten free diet.

.

[Looking for answers]

I've been on a strict gluten free diet for years now. In October I went on a week-long vacation and definitely got glutened more times than I could count on one hand. I was absolutely miserable by the end of it...my stomach swelled to the size of a ball and I had severe C. Well, one week later I had my annual pap smear and it was the first time in my life that it came back abnormal. I was scared...couldn't imagine what was wrong. I had to get a biopsy done. Thank God nothing was wrong. I still blame that vacation for the abnormality. Not sure what gluten can and can't do, but for me, it definitely seems to throw mnay things off.