Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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

Which Type Of Doctor Should I Go To?


maitrimama

Recommended Posts

maitrimama Apprentice

I have a sneaking suspicion that the horrible rash I have had since July that the doctor thought was shingles is not shingles but DH. What type of Dr should I go to for a biopsy? Dermatologist? I have already had blood tests and they are negative. My 15 yr old daughter was diagnosed by biopsy with celiac and ibd and just last night I had a horrible aha moment when I realized that the "shingles" I have had since July was in likelihood DH.

I grew up in a home where you didn't (still don't) complain about every little ache or pain, you pulled yourself up by the bootstraps and keep moving forward. But if I look back over the last couple years I have migraines different from any in the past, severe indigestion (gerd that has gotten much worse), a rash on my bottom that I mostly ignore because I can't see it, unexplained sweating and fatigue. I am hoping I am wrong but have a funny feeling that the new rash and symptoms are pointing in the direction of DH. Has any one had a similar situation or symptoms?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



maitrimama Apprentice

I also have had very elevated lipase (pancreatic enzyme) levels that they have nevered explained, vision issues and involuntary movement. The more I remember the more nervous I get.

Hopeful1950 Explorer

Since DH is on the skin, we have all usually started with a dermatologist. I had no luck with any because they didn't really take the time to listen to me. An allergist finally made the connection and diagnosed me.

Since your daughter has been diagnosed, maybe start with the doctor who helped her. If he/she is not comfortable working with a skin condition maybe you can get referred to a dermatologist who can help you. To diagnose DH, the dermatologist must know how to do the biopsy correctly and also must know what to request from the lab.

If you search this forum you'll find a lot of information on how the biopsy should be done.

The most important thing is to keep advocating for yourself until you have a definitive answer.

maitrimama Apprentice

Thank you for the info. My daughter's pediatrician actually started the ball rolling right off the bat. On her first visit complaint of belly pain etc. He ordered the correct blood tests and stool samples, once they got those results she was sent directly to a children's gi. Endo/colonoscopy were done and she was diagnosed with celiac and ibd. She is 15 and angry at this point. I have made an appt with a very nerdy but knowledgable dermatologist. Being bipolar and dealing with the pysch side of medicine I have learned to advocate for myself and my children!

lovegrov Collaborator

A dermatologist diagnosed mine just by looking. I had the classic weeping blisters.

richard

glutengirl42 Rookie

I would go with an allergist first. Had I not visited an allergist in conjuncion with a Gastroenterologist I would have never been diagnosed.

maitrimama Apprentice

Go figure - my pyschiatrist thinks it's DH based on things he has seen in the last year but not the dermatologist?! I have gone gluten free because my daughter has been diagnosed by endo/colonoscopy biopsy so we will see what happens.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



pricklypear1971 Community Regular

If you want a biopsy go to a derm. DH is very hard to biopsy.

If you want to see if it acts like DH, go on a low-iodine diet. If it recedes at all, it's a good indicator that it's DH.

maitrimama Apprentice

Lol, I already feel like I am starving but I'll ask anyway...what foods should eliminate if I want to reduce iodine?

mushroom Proficient

Lol, I already feel like I am starving but I'll ask anyway...what foods should eliminate if I want to reduce iodine?

Iodized salt, fish and fish oils, eggs, cheddar cheese, there's a start

pricklypear1971 Community Regular

Lol, I already feel like I am starving but I'll ask anyway...what foods should eliminate if I want to reduce iodine?

There's a low-iodine cookbook and guidelines on the thyca website. Google it.

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - shirlane posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      Is AG1 safe for Celiacs??

    2. - trents replied to MagsM's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      24

      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

    3. - Zuma888 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Hypothetical question about antibodies

    4. - nataliallano replied to nataliallano's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      5

      Meniers and celiac are they related

    5. - knitty kitty replied to nataliallano's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      5

      Meniers and celiac are they related


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,231
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Brenda Held
    Newest Member
    Brenda Held
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • shirlane
      I need to supplement my vitamin intake and was told AG1 was a good product.  I checked their website and they claim to be gluten-free, but I see that barley is one of the ingredients.  If the product is gluten-free how can it safely contain barley?
    • trents
      @nataliallano, whatever else can be said, you need to get serious about eating gluten free. Lots of people with celiac disease are like you. We call them "silent celiacs". They have few or no GI symptoms and falsely assume no damage is being done to their body by continuing to consume gluten. Neurological damage is one of them.
    • Zuma888
      Good day, From browsing this forum, I've come to find out that even on a gluten-free diet, many people seem to take years for their antibodies to go down to normal levels, and also that hidden gluten could keep the levels from going down to normal indefinitely. Shouldn't that mean that a celiac person would have a high possibility of testing positive given that they had gone gluten free for less than 2 years or so, and especially if they had not been careful about cross-contamination or had cheat days? The criteria for the gluten challenge makes it seems like the possibility of false negative is high in general.
    • nataliallano
      Thanks Kitty for your guidance. I will do the test to see if I have nutrients deficiencies and at the same time re organize my diet to see if that helps with my vertigo and other symptoms.   
    • knitty kitty
      Yes, Vitamin D is frequently low in Celiac Disease and Meniere's both.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace test to check for thiamine insufficiency.  Diuretics can cause excess thiamine loss.  Benfotiamine is a form of thiamine that improves intestinal health.  Thiamine in the form TTFD (Tetrahydrofurfuryl Disulfide) helped improve my Meniere's syndrome.
×
×
  • Create New...