Type Of Doctor

[texas flood]

I have been seeing my family doctor about my rashes for the last few months. All he has told me so far is it's a food allergy and he gave me the DexPak -13 day dose which helped. But of course the intense rash came back right after I stopped taking it. From the pictures I've seen all over the internet and on here, and the descriptions, I am convinced I am having a reaction to gluten.

Is the DH test something any doctor can do, or do I need to see a specialist? I don't want to waste my time tomorrow if he's just going to send me to another doctor. My insurance also does not pay for allergy testing - but I take that as the usual skin prick tests, and not a blood test. Is this correct?

[mushroom]

If you want to have a shave biopsy of a suspected DH area, you really need a dermatologist, and one who knows something about celiac and DH, because the biopsy is not taken of the lesion but of the clear skin immediately adjacent to a lesion. So many doctors do not take the biopsy sample correctly beause they don't know any better.

[squirmingitch]

Yup. A dh punch biopsy is what you need. And a derm who knows what the heck they're doing. AND DO NOT GO GLUTEN FREE OR GLUTEN LIGHT UNTIL THE BIOPSY IS DONE & YOU HAVE THE RESULTS BACK & KNOW THE DERM DID IT RIGHT!

[cahill]

a derm who knows what the heck they're doing.

yep, unfortunately rarer than one would imagine

I would expand on that by saying : the most important doctor a celiac ( especially if undiagnosed ) can have is a doctor that will leave his ego at the door and will actually pay attention to what you say .

[sisterlynr]

My PCP referred me to a Dermatologist for a biopsy. I actually had 3 biopsies but they were from the lesion itself. After research she ordered Dapsone for me and due to the good response, along with Gluten free diet, agrees I do have DH Celiac.

I have a great PCP/Internal Med as a doctor! She has other patients with DH but told me I am the worst case she has ever seen.

Ask questions before you go see a doctor. Co-pays and such are way too expensive to waste on Derms that will not test you properly! Good Luck

[texas flood]

I guess I have a good primary care pyscian. I told him I thought it was gluten and he agreed. So we did the celiac panel. I'll know the results in a day or two. He also referred to me an allergist if we need to go that route. He gave me a cortisone shot as well. Not really sure what that is gonna do, but we'll see!!

[squirmingitch]

Ppl with dh generally test neg. on the celiac panel.

Read & learn:

Interesting Reading on DH:

http://www.celiac.co...-reading-on-dh/

Descriptions of DH Types:

http://www.celiac.co...ns-of-dh-types/

Help for the Itching, Stinging, Burning, Pain of DH:

http://www.celiac.co...__1#entry823195

DH Photobank:

http://www.celiac.co...-dh-photo-bank/

Newbie 101 for celiacs

http://www.celiac.co...ewbie-info-101/

Furthermore, if the doc didn't do the current FULL panel then you didn't get proper celiac blood testing. Here's the info.:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

Total Serum IgA

The DGP test was added recently to the full panel.

Also can be termed this way:

Endomysial Antibody IgA

Tissue Transglutaminase IgA

GLIADIN IgG

GLIADIN IgA

Total Serum IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

[texas flood]

I have been reading on a lot on here and learning. Thank you.