How To Treat A "glutening"

[Elfbaby]

I'm just wondering. Is there any way to treat the rash once it happens?

I have been following a gluten free diet for just shy of a month now, and I was doing ok. My symptoms has gotten SOOOOOO much better during the first two weeks. But now, I have had a couple of accidents. The lastest one was two days ago. I accidentally stuck a spoonful of multigrain baby cereal in my mouth to make sure it wasnt too hot to feed the baby. I immediately realized what I had done and kicked myself for it. But now, I have blisters on my hands and arms, and rashy areas on my legs. I am so itchy that I could cry. Earlier today I took 3 benadryl to try to relieve some of the rashy symptoms, but it didnt even help a little bit. What can I do to make this better, and how long is it going to last?

[eatmeat4good]

Benadryl won't help at all because this is an autoimmune response.

I hope you are different than I am, but any accident results in several weeks of flaring DH.

DH Celiacs are extremely sensitive to the slightest traces of gluten. Dr. Peter Green says it can take up to 2 years for the rashes to completely resolve because the antibodies are still in your skin and they can be easily activated by gluten and/or iodine. Some articles say the antibodies can remain in your skin for up to 10 years.

You will have to be very vigilant, but accidents do happen...

Can your baby be gluten free? It would save you cross contamination.

The only thing I have found for relief is an ointment by Walgreens called Pain Relieving Ointment...it is like 20% benzocaine. It doesn't stop the reaction at all or shorten reaction time, but it does relieve the pain temporarily.

[Elfbaby]

Benadryl won't help at all because this is an autoimmune response.

I hope you are different than I am, but any accident results in several weeks of flaring DH.

DH Celiacs are extremely sensitive to the slightest traces of gluten. Dr. Peter Green says it can take up to 2 years for the rashes to completely resolve because the antibodies are still in your skin and they can be easily activated by gluten and/or iodine. Some articles say the antibodies can remain in your skin for up to 10 years.

You will have to be very vigilant, but accidents do happen...

Can your baby be gluten free? It would save you cross contamination.

The only thing I have found for relief is an ointment by Walgreens called Pain Relieving Ointment...it is like 20% benzocaine. It doesn't stop the reaction at all or shorten reaction time, but it does relieve the pain temporarily.

Thank you very much for the reply. I am considering having the baby go gluten free. We currently live with my mom and her husband, and neither of them are gluten free, but I also dont have to feed them their food, so. I'm definitely thinking about it.

I will try the ointment, thats a great tip. I know that the blisters will heal faster and go away easier if I dont scratch them, but that is IMPOSSIBLE. My mom told me that she walked by my room and I was scratching in my sleep!

[eatmeat4good]

Yes, the itching is maddening.

Ice really helps to calm down the inflammation, but only temporarily.

I try to keep my sores covered with bandaids so I don't scratch at night.

Iodine is another factor in the flares if you haven't been gluten free for very long.

Shellfish, asparagus, any salty food like chips etc...can be iodized.

Use uniodized salt for a while...it will help.

We all do need iodine, but DH is activated by it, so I limited mine for 3 months and it helped a whole lot.

...that is, until I got accidentally glutened...then I have to start all over.

I checked with my Endocrinologist and he said that limiting iodine for 3 months or so would not be harmful as long as it is temporary.

Hope you feel better soon.

Good luck with the baby and keeping safe while living with gluten eaters.

It's hard, but you can do it!