Discussion Board

Good Morning!

I posted this question in the Sandbox since it was my first time but I received no answers so I thought this may be a better place.

I am trying to figure out if I should cut out gluten and wheat. I tried for about a week and I did feel better but I fell off. My first reason is that I have been losing my hair for a few years on my head and also on my arms and legs. About a year ago I started having sensations of something crawling under my skin just above and below my left elbow. Then it started itching. I never did get blisters or sores but my skin there is bumpy. Maybe from scratching so much. The crawling feeling is gone but the itching continues. My skin in that area is darker and it feels thicker and somewhat numb although still itchy. Two doctors told me that it is an allergy. One of the doctors said it is "Dermatitis somthing" and I didn't remember the name. When I found Dermatitis Herpetiformis in discussions here, I wondered if that was what my dr called it. It doesn't really fit all the descriptions that I have found in that it is only on one elbow and nowhere else. Also no blisters. Can anyone give me any information and shoud I be on a gluten free diet?

Thank you.
Linda

Hi Linda,

Welcome to the boards. You didn't mention how long you've been McDougalling, but I would give the starch-based diet a try first. That might clear up your symptoms. If it doesn't, by all means experiment with removing "suspect" foods. If you have DH, then removing gluten from your diet is a "must".

Good luck!

Hi Jamie, Thank you for answering.

I have been McDougalling for about four years. I did very well for a long time and I felt better but I never was able to loose the feeling that I just didn't want to do anything. I gradually started getting on and off the plan. Then when I stumbled onto the gluten thing I was very interested because of my hair and I finally decided to give it a try. What amazed me was that I found that I wasn't loosing words as often and I wasn't as hungry and I really wanted to get up and do all the things that I was putting off unti I "felt like it". There are other little differences also like my heart doesn't pound all the time anymore. I am 62, by the way, but I have a hard time believeing that.

Thank you again,

Linda

Linda,

It sounds like you already have your answer if you saw such improvement on a gluten-free diet. I've been gf for 6 years. It gets easier with time.

LindaBC,

Could be that you do have DH and that your intolerance to gluten may not be severe. Yes, DH is usually bilaterial, but maybe it just didn't spread yet because of the measures you took to avoid gluten.

I had severe DH and found that skin and hair products were a bigger factor than food was. Most of the highly effective wrinkle creams seem to contain gluten in some form.

If removing gluten has improved your quality of life that much, seems like the right thing to do.

I was McDougalling for a year when it hit me. I was in my 50's.

I am going to chime in with teh remove the gluten crowd... try it but with this caveat... do it for at least 3 weeks
skin rashes take a long time to clear up.

usually 3 weeks to 3 months depending on which skin rash it is,

and gluten sensitivity is definately tied to skin rashes and scalp rashes.

Also remember if something is packaged unless it says it is gluten free it has gluten in it this includes salad dressings, spice mixes, and sauces. it hides in the most unlikely places.

I hope you get relief soon...interesting that you mentioned teh creepy crawly feeling.. I have had that before when I was eating gluten and had some rash sites.

Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I will continue with the gluten free lifestyle. I believe that my main problem with it is that I so desperately do not want to believe it but the evidence is so strong in how well I feel without it.

Kitty, you said that you had crawly feelings also. I have another kind of crawly feeling that is like a tingling that pops up anyplace on my body, mostly on my head. It is only a sensation and I don't see any physical changes. Are you familiar with that? I am wondering if that could be gluten also.

Thank you all so much.

when I have the tingly feeling like something is crawing.. it is never accompanied with any kind of skin discloration other than the rash.. but the itching is not just at the rash but also in the surrounding area.

But a few things I do get when I ingest gluten...
I break out with acne.

and I do get scalp itching... if I have prolonged gluten contact the itchy scalp then gets sores on it. Like little pimples that get scratched and turn into sores.

TMI I know but when I get sores in my privates from it.. I get peeling skin there. along with the tingling crawling feeling.


And gluten totally irritates Hemorrhoids and you get that crawly feeling there too.

I have a theroy that the hemorrhoids themselves are caused by the years of eating gluten while unaware of the allergy.
I fear that my insides are a mess from it.. but I am hoping that by eating clean all that will heal up over time.

That's interesting, Kittyadventures, and thank you expecially for the TMI! I didn't mention the crawling sensations in my privates because I just didn't know how. For a long time I thought the sensatons were a reaction to stress. I too, break out with red spots on my face. I guess this pretty complicated because we ate at a buffet the other night and I had salad with no dressing and steamed vegies. The next morning I had several red spots on my face and a zit.

I think that some of my problems may be from food allergies also. I am allergic to poison ivy and mangos. They really make my tongue and lips itch. I haven't eaten them in years. There are other things that make my tongue and lips itch also but it isn't consistent. For instance, we eat a lot of rice and the other day organic, gluten free rice cakes gave me that reaction. Sometimes an apple will and sometimet it won't. I have found that what I thought was intense emotional anxiety and sleep disturbance was actually caused by coffee. I know that makes perfectly good sense to someone reading this but I have been a heavy coffee drinker for 44 years and the only thing I noticed was that I liked it very much and it made me feel alert and it might keep me up a bit longer. But I suddenly got restless legs that wouldn't let me sleep, I would wake up shortly after I fell asleep, and I was trembling. You couldn't see the trembling most of the time but I could feel it. I also finally traced my foot and leg cramps to coffee. So who knows what else is going in with my body? What a puzzle!

Are you allergic to Sulfa drugs? Mangoes mimic sulfa( your body recognizes it as sulfa instead of mangoes) LOL I break out in the worst itchiest hives ever if I get too much mango.I tend to avoid it.. but a once in a while encounter seems to be okay.

IF you have IBS you will be sensitive to fruit enzymes. including fruit juices.

As to eating at the buffet... you probably got some gluten cross contamnation. I pretty much expect to get it when ever I eat out. Once in a while I am pleasently surprised.. but yeah... pretty much a given when I eat out no matter what I order.

And the coffee. LOL well I know I had to give it up too... Once i did i found out how much anxiety it was giving me. I think we just live with stuff until we stop eating something and find out how much better we feel when we don't have it.

as to the TMI.. I think we need to speak up more about these things.. i was terrified I had some kind of sexually transmitted desease that hid in my body for 20 years. Imagine my surprise when it cleared up when i quit eating gluten. LOL also cleared up vaginal warts.

For my whole life I had terrible cramps in my lower intestines but never told anyone... and teh same with athletes foot. I have had it since I was 3 or maybe younger . as long as I can remember.

gone with the removal of gluten from my diet.


no one talks about this stuff and yet how much more relief if we told each other. I could go on and on... but I believe there is some report out there about how gluten affects your autoimmune system and that is why it affects so many different areas of your body I will have to go find that report again. See if i can link it in.. It was a scientific report I found.. for a college reprot I did.

Can I chime in too? I had to give up coffee too. Way too much anxiety! Time seemed to slow down when it was gone.

I never got any rashes with gluten, but I did have an ichy hot spot on my left thigh which just disappeared when I cut out gluten. I also had swollen stiff hands and feet that cleared up. And achey ankles. The gut problems were a nightmare! Thankfully, they are gone most of the time. The fatigue and brain fog were almost unbearable. It felt like I was moving through my day underwater. Everything was a chore and a struggle. I have no idea how I lived like that. I was miserable.

As for IBS, citrus fruits can sometimes really irritate me and cause cramping, especially juice. And too much raw garlic.

RRC

Happy Mother's Day! I REALLY blew it today. Started out well with really good intentions but three of my four children were home and I put a spoon of mac & cheese on my plate before I realized what I had done. My family thinks I have gone off the deep end so I didn't want to make and issue of it and I ate it. Just a spoonfull. Then later in the day I ate some cake. Then some more. I guess I will get out my food journal and see what happens. How do you change such weak will power? I really do want to feel better and I want my hair to stop falling out and to grow back in. I want to feel warm again instead of feeling so cold when it drops below 70. I want to have energy and eagerness about my life. I don't want to wake up in the morning with red spots all over my face and dragging my body around all day tomorrow. I am really disgusted with myself.

Hi LindaBC,

I'm sorry you slipped up yesterday. I hope that you are feeling alright today. The first thing I would say is be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up about the slips; that's a sure way to making more. Just try to relax about it and take a deep breathe or 10 deep breathes and stay in the moment. It's not the end of the world. We live life a moment at a time.

As for sticking to the diet, I don't think there is any trick. I have found I just have to get stubborn and not allow myself to be taken off track. I am the one in charge of managing this condition. I keep in mind that I have a choice about how I will feel both emotionally and physically. I can have the pleasure of the gluteny treat now and feel awful later ie abdominal bloating, cramping, gas, diahreoia, brain fog, insomnia, heart palpitations, anemia, or I can find something else to eat that gives me pleasure and continue to feel good. With your family, it may take some time, but I think if you take the lead and treat this seriously they will eventually come around. Let them think you've gone off the deep end. It really is none of their business. It's your body, your health, your choice.

I understand, it's not easy to do sometimes. Try not to panic. It will pass.

Have you had your thyroid tested? How is your standard blood work?
Do you sleep long hours and wake up still feeling tired? Hair falling out and coldness and lack of energy can be related to hypothyroidism.

RRC

Hugs Linda

and don't beat yourself up about it... WHeat has a siren call and add fat and sugar to it and it is pretty much gonna win most of the time.


this is why for things I really love I make gluten free versions and that is just tuff for hubby he has to eat what I eat. I am the cook after all.

I keep gluten free versions of bread on hand(in the freezer).. I don't eat it often but it is there for the times when i need it.

make some gluten free deserts and pop themnm in the freezer in individual serving sizes... then you can pull tehm out for this kind of occasion.

all our caseroles are made with gluten free brown rice noodles now.

I do have a few things around that arent because I hate them so if I make it for hubby I can easily avoid eating it.

but everyone slips up sometime... I try to do a mental exercise of reminding myself how bad I will feel when I eat it... this doesn't always work because sometimes I really just want to eat that food.

do yourself a favor today eat as much salad and cooked vegetables as you can.

it helps to clear it out of your system.

Thank you both for the pep talk. I need to learn to do that for myself better than I do now.

I have had my thyroid tested about three times in the last year and a half by three doctors. They all said it was normal. I don't remember all the numbers but the last time it was, I think, 1.7. My doctor said that he doesn't test beyond that. That means I would need a specialist to go deeper and my crummy little insurance will not pay for that. I am hoping that just eliminating the gluten will take care of it. I don't know that much about the condition so I don't know if that is a realistic viewpoint. I know that I feel better without gluten but I haven't been off long enough or been consistent enough to to heal the itching on my elbow yet. I don't really know if that is from gluten. Like I said, there are no blisters or rash, just itching.

My standard blood work comes out normal. I don't ever really sleep long hours. Sometimes I drag and sometimes I don't. I know that for the short time I have been trying to be gluten free, I have more energy and am more interested in getting things done. My bowels are not affected at all that I can tell. I do have hemmorids and I have read that that is one of the symptoms. I had a polyp removed about six years ago. There are just so many little things but I can't say for sure if I am allergic or not.

As far as I know I am not allergic to sulfa drugs but I really take so little medication that I don't know. I am allergic to codine.

This just gets all tangled up and I don't know how to sort it all out. For all I know I am just making things complicated for myself.

I appreciate your help so much.