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

How Big Of An Area Is Needed For Biopsy?

TCA

By TCA
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Recommended Posts

TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted

I never thought I could possibly have celiac, until I recently went on a gluten-free diet for my celiac daughter and I have had some amazing results. My joint pain that had been undiagnosed for years is gone. I've been diagnosed with recurrent poison oak for years. I just thought I was hyper allergic to the stuff. It would go away with steroid cream and prednisone and then come back. I even had it when I was on bed rest with my first pregnancy for toxemia. How did I get exposed to it then? It was December on top of that! It dawned on me the other day that I hadn't had any problems in months and started looking at DH as a possibility. It comes up as tiny blisters, sometimes on my feet, palms, fingers, back of my knees, just about anywhere and it itches like crazy!!! It may be poison oak, but I thought it might be worth getting a biopsy next time I have a breakout. It just started on my palms today, but it's only 4 or 5 blisters. How much do you have to have for a biopsy? Am I crazy for thinking of this? I'm really not a hypochondriac, but I've seen such amazing results in my kids and now my joint pains are gone and I'm wondering if this is caused by gluten too.

Also - do you have to be exposed to gluten for a breakout? Can it be a delayed reaction, because I haven't been exposed in a couple of weeks (we all had a reaction then).

Thanks for the help!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

You know, I've been thinking about that too! Seems like every spring my hands molt. I get itchy as hell fluid filled bumps that aren't really red, and then my skin peels and it's gone. I get it on the sides of my fingers and on my palms. I'm going to have to pay attention to that...

Well, they can't need that much for a biopsy, it's not like they peel all of your skin off :P

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I read that they only really need ONE blister for a biopsy. They'll take it right beside the blister, that should do it. Go for it, I am sure that's what it is. I've had those same blisters, especially on the sides of my fingers, for many years. Since I've gone gluten free, I rarely have those. And my joint pain is gone, too (even though it seems that not only gluten caused those with me, but lectins and salicylates, too).

Pegster Apprentice
Pegster
Posted

I had a biopsy on each of my elbows right next to a fresh blister. The dr. would have just done one biopsy, but I told him to go for it so I could be sure! It was a very small pinch of skin. I had a stitch or two in each one because it was on the outside of my elbow and I barely can see the tiny scars now (nearly two years later).

TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted
  • Author

I've been through the ringer trying to get in with a dermatologist this week. It was so exasperating. I finally got an appt, but it's in May!!! My family doc finally said he could do a punch biopsy next tues. Is this the right thing? We just started using him and I don't know if he is up on DH or not. Any advice?

Pegster Apprentice
Pegster
Posted

The problem with waiting until May for an appointment is that you may or may not be having an outbreak on that particular day! A knowledgable dermatologist will understand that a fresh blistered area needs to be biopsied. I don't know about the punch biopsy, but if the lab can analyze the sample for the gluten antibodies, it seems reasonable. When my dermatologist suspected dh, he had me call his nurse on a day when I had a blister and he was able to work me into his schedule. The thing is, if you feel better with the gluten free diet and you have a family link for Celiac, you might just want to consider sticking to the diet no matter what your biopsy may show. Many people have positive health changes after going gluten-free even though their test results were inconclusive.

Matilda Enthusiast
Matilda
Posted

..

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Nickie Newbie
Nickie
Posted

You should have a fresh unscratched blister for the biopsy, and the area around it, when they did my first set of biopsies came back and said it was traumatic dermatitis. So my derm told me to come up anytime I got a new blister to restest again, I did and suggested eliminting DH, he agreed sent it down, sent it down for second opinion and came back positive for DH. The dapsone is working great for me, and have been on gluten free since March 10th, still have sores but in healing stage, the bottom parts of my legs were pretty bad, but the other places, face elbows hands, wonderful. I have had it for 20 years and nobody knew what it was. I finally did the research and found out about DH. Hmmm....maybe I should get paid for that visit!! LOL!!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,960
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    jujubean
    Newest Member
    jujubean
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Colonoscopy with large area of inflammation

      By trents · Posted

      Because you have already had the "gold standard" test done, and because you have some experiential evidence that removing gluten from your diet causes you to feel better, it would make sense to begin the gluten-free diet as you wait for biopsy results.
    • growlinhard1
      Colonoscopy with large area of inflammation

      By growlinhard1 · Posted

      I wasn't given any blood tests. I think I should try the gluten free diet because when I cut it out a few weeks ago for just a couple of days, I know I started feeling better. The difference was actually pretty dramatic. When I learned gluyen free earing may cause false negative biopsy results, I went back to gluten full force and feel like you know what × 10. Do you feel it would be okay since the gold standard for diagnosis is behind me or should I wait for biopsy results? In your opinion, of course. I know you can't offer me medical advice.
    • Wheatwacked
      3 year old gluten intolerance?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      My mom said when he was born "you got what you gave".  Until 5 years of he was gluten free, was well liked by his friends, although did get them into mischief at times, a leader of his group of friends, physically active and paid attention, as much as any preschooler.      At 5 years old we moved to my hometown and had to rely on our friends, my pediatrition (still the best doctor I ever had), my wife was a nurse so her aquaintences and doctor friends.  They all still believed back in 1980's that Celiac was a growing phase, and he wanted to be like everyone else.  So everyone's opinion was that if he tolerates gluten with no symptoms he had outgrown it.  He passed the summer at the beach (lots of vitamin D) was a prodegy swimmer and the whole team liked him and he fit in well.     Fall came, he started kindergarden school, less sun ( low vitamin D, Seasonal Affective Disorder is real), new people and a morning schedule that did not end up in a fun, active day at the beach.  Getting him going got more difficult.  By the first teacher-parent meeting in December, they brought up the subject.  He was disruptive in class.  By then we had forgotten what his doctor said 5 years earlier.  So he was diagnosed as ADHD.      Competitive swimming was his saving grace.  All though High School he continued to swim with his competetive team most days after or before school and with the beach club team in addition in the summer.  Some records he set lasted years.  After high school he became a professional ocean guard. Now getting close to retirement.  But always had difficulty concentrating on schoolwork.      He, and his wife, incidentally, is now having the health problems that I just have just gotten rid of.  I had forgotten what the doctor said to us 60 years earlier, bout Celiac Disease being hereditory.  He is starting to listen, but still in denial.  Loves his pizza.  At 63 I had arthritis, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, enlarged prostate, alcoholism and I got dumber as the years passed.  They all are gone with gluten free and vitamin replenishment. My wife had allergies, endometriosis, fertility problems and miscarriages.  She passed 18 years ago. Sorry for the long story.  Reminds me of a Joni Mitchell song.  "L've looked at life from both sides now. From win and lose, but still somehow, it's life's illusions I recall. I really don't know life, at all"  
    • Beverage
      Vaccines

      By Beverage · Posted

      I feel for you. I've had an interesting history with some vaccine, especially t-DAP. One time after just getting it, I remember walking from the pharmacy to my car, reaching for the door handle of my car as my last memory, then waking up slumped into my car with the door wide open hours later. Nobody even knew I was there. I did get a bad cut from rotting rusty wood and probably animal droppings, and it had been 10 years, so I got a booster recently, but took someone with me. My doc back then did say he was concerned about my reactions to vaccines, but we never talked about what alternatives there might be. What is your risk when you do get sick? For me, I almost always end up needing prednisone and antibiotics and have to crawl back to life for months after those are done, prednisone really messes me up, raises my blood pressure to stroke levels, and the antibiotics mess up my intestines really bad. I have to take mega doses of C and D and B's, especially flush niacin, and probiotics.  So preventing flu is critical for me since I always get a long term negative effect from the treatment. I did a lot of research, traditional and alternative medicine, and they all say high vitamin D levels are crucial to so many kinds of illnesses, including flu, cancer, etc.  People with high D during covid had much better outcomes.  I always tested low in D even with high oral supplementation of D3 and K2.  So last year I saved up and bought a real vitamin D lamp, not one of those cheapie ones that you can get on Amazon that don't work, seriously, those are junk. Wow what a difference with a real D Lamp. We haven't been sick all year, which is rare for me, even after being around several sick people or people that came down sick just after visiting. I use the lamp about every other day or if I've been in a group of people or around anyone sick.  I have not yet had my D levels retested since starting with it (will do that at annual check up later this year), but I have not gotten a cold or flu (knock on wood), feel better than usual for a cold wet winter in the NorthWest, and my hair is growing in like crazy, all signs of improved vitamin D levels. It doesn't take long to use, just a few seconds and first and gradually build up. I now do it for a count of 200, which is about 3 minutes. I don't remember all the details on how the body creates its own vitamin D, but I do remember that the body makes a reaction on the skin and you don't want to wash that off for a few hours.  So I do the D Lamp right after my shower, not before.  There are 2 reputable ones that I found in my research: Sperti Vitamin D Lamp uses florescent tubes, you stand and turn in front of it, be sure to get the VITAMIN D LAMP, not the tanning lamp:  https://www.sperti.com/product/sperti-vitamin-d-light-box/ Chroma Vitamin D Lamp is LED's, you can stand and turn in front of it or hold it in your hand and wave it over your body, always keeping it moving so you don't burn:  https://getchroma.co/products/d-light-vitamin-d-light-device-uvb-red-nir AND YOU MUST WEAR SPECIFIC EYE PROTECTION WHEN USING, KEEP ALL PETS AND OTHERS AWAY, THE GLASSES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE D LAMP. I got the Chroma D Lamp when they had a huge sale last year, it's a small start-up company in Seattle.  Sperti is a larger longer term well known, and you can sign up for a 10% discount on their web site.  If Chroma had not had the sale when I was going to buy one, the Sperti would have been fine. They both often have back orders on them, but they do deliver as promised. I have read various articles on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine for example, not always highly effective every year.  Since your risk with vaccines is high, or if your risk of bad illness if you get sick is high, maybe consider how to mitigate both in another way, perhaps a D Lamp. 
    • trents
      Facial pain

      By trents · Posted

      That's what came immediately to my mind as well, Bell's palsy. And don't assume every medical problem is connected to her celiac disease as there is still something known as coincidence. Get this checked out by medical professionals and push for some serious testing. Don't let them brush you off. Be appropriately assertive.
×
×
  • Create New...