wildapple

Hi, I'm new to the forum.

Been undiagnosed for 6 years now. My symptoms come and goes. it starts with itchy tiny bumps (for me, sometimes in between the fingers, outer thigh, or upper arm), then it will form a tiny blister with visible clear 'bubble' which easily breaks and leak out the clear fluid. then the wound will become bigger but never close. I've had 2 previous really bad outbreaks before, my previous 3 dermatologist diagnosed stress related psoriasis, eczema, and PLEVAA. All been treated with prednisone and it cleared up right away. All the open wound started to heal within a few days. However, the 2nd time, the dermatologist stopped my dosages to soon, and it came back worse the week after. We had to start another dosage to keep it down.

I had another bad outbreak a month ago, this time, I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried gluten-free diet 5 days ago. What a huge improvement! all the open sores started to heal, even though there are still bumps. but at least they don't itch and burn as before. This gives me more confidence to do more gluten-free research online and found this forum. Does anyone knows how long it will take to clear out all the gluten from the body? Obvious, I've eaten gluten all my life without knowing that I'm allergic to it. Hopefully, once all the gluten are out of the system, my skin will be back to normal again. So glad I found this forum, will try to post picture soon. Thanks.

Megan

Yes, does anyone know how long? I have been gluten free for a week now and there is no improvement.

Hi WApple,

A couple things for or you. Soy is bad for the thyroid because it inhibits the thyroids ability to use iodine. It is considered a "goitrogen" for that reason. There are other foods that also are goitrogens. Soy is one of the worst though and you can do some searches and read about infants that were given soy formula and developed goiters.

I found out about my other food intolerances by doing an elimination diet, or rather 3 separate elimination diets over a period of time. Elimination diets are a good way to test your body for reactions to foods. Lots of threads on them here too.

Thanks again. May look into elimination diet. Don't have the insurance to see another doctor.

I surely didn't know that about soy. Thought it was supposed to be good for gals. Oh well, can't believe what you hear on TV. Ha!

Any idea how long these itchy bumps will last? It's been 4 months now. They used to come and go in about 3 weeks, but I've had this traveling itching since March. Started on my head, went down my neck, and now on my arms.

Use the Google search in the upper right corner. You will see lots of discussions on this that might be helpful. Just keep a eye on the dates. People who posted 5 years ago likely are not still reading along.

Thanks, kareng.

I have been looking around and like anything else find yeas and nays. Guess the proof is in the pudding so to speak. If I feel better off of gluten and my rash goes away that is the ultimate lab test, isn't it?

Has anyone used Enterolabs to get a diagnosis rather than going to a dr?

I just called them yesterday and they informed me that all of their beans are gluten free! Yay!

That is surely good to know. At least I can keep my beans.

I have used Shikai and there is also a newer brand called Himalaya that is really nice. The Himalaya even says gluten free on the label.

Thanks for posting this. I have just checked my shampoo (Aveda Pure Abundance). Would you believe hydrolyzed wheat protein and wheat starch? I am going shopping tomorrow so I will definitely be on the look out for Shikai and Himalaya.

I never knew before I found this forum that you had to check products that go on your skin. I should have....duh...I have a rash that is torturing me day and night.

could be Dh dermatitis herpetiformis. DH is a skin condition only celiacs get. They biopsy the skin near the lesion or blisters,not the lesions itself. They look for antibodies in the biopsy. Check out the DH forum on this site for lots more info. It is described as incredibly itchy, so that fits.

Also, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is more common in people with celiac than the general population.

Thanks, Paul.

As I explained to Marilyn they did the biopsy wrong as they took skin from a lesion. I am finding the DH forum quite interesting. Learning so much, but I still feel lost and overwhelmed. How did you find out there were so many things you couldn't eat?

Biopsies aren't always 100%. I know a medical assistant that had MRSA from a fresh tatoo. She had the site biopsied 3 times. The 1st and 2nd came out negative for MRSA. She said she told the derm. to really dig down there and take a good biopsy the 3rd time, and it came up positive.

This may not be the case with you, but thought it was relevant. Have you requested the celiac blood panel from your primary care physician or had an endoscopy?

You already have two autoimmune diseases, I'm guessing the blistering is a third since the derms. and allergist didn't diagnose you. I know someone with Bullous pemphigoid, which involves blisters but they're large, not clustered.

Insist on further testing ASAP, and if you don't get a positive, I'd still try a Gluten Free Diet for several months to see if there is an improvement.

Have your dr's advised you to avoid soy due to Hashimoto's? I hope the posters who are up to speed up to speed on thyroid diseases chime in here.

Good luck to you, hope this is helpful. To sum up a long post, yes, it could be celiac disease or gluten intolerance. You have a number of indicators. If you have 1st degree relatives with autoimmune diseases, that increases your liklihood too.

Thanks, Marilyn. That's good info.

I've been reading on this site much of the afternoon and now know that the biopsy that was done was done incorrectly. It should have been done from healthy skin and it was done on a leision.

No one has ever told me to avoid soy. Another eyeopener. I guess it makes the Hashi's worse?

I have been "trying" to be gluten free for about a week now, but haven't been as strict as I should. For instance I ate grits this morning and the package said "it may contain wheat and milk."

I've got a lot to learn.

I am new to this site and just posted "Lost" in the Prediagnosis section.

This looks like my rash, too. Also, thought it was eczema, but now see it may be DH. Wow, this is enlightening. Thanks for posting your pic.

I don't know about the celiac because I am trying to figure that out myself, but I do know something about Candida.

I had to follow a yeast-free diet and take a medication called Hypo A Nystatin to get rid of my candida.

The drs at Hotze Health and Wellness Center in Houston, Tx are experts when it comes to treating this. You can find some info on their website hotzehwc.com

There is also a radio show on KSEV 700AM from 12:00-1:00 CDT. They do talk other things like hormones, but I have heard candida discussed on the show before.

10 years ago I developed a nasty rash that would come and go. It could be anywhere on my body. Would start out as a small pimple and quickly progress to hot, raised, incredibly itchy patches.

Have gone to 3 dermatologists and they say it is atopic dermatitis (a skin biopsy was done).

Went to an allergy doctor who took a look at it and said I didn't have an allergy, although he didn't test for any.

Have recently been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid and osteopenia. No digestive symptoms other than lots of flatulence. I am 60.

At the present time the rash has come to stay and has been here 4 months now. Previously it would only last 2-3 weeks.

Could this be celiac?

Thank you for your help.