Can't Sleep And Itching....

[bfarnsworth0709]

Hi All,

I have a question. I thought last weekend that I might have been CC'd by a salad at Applebees or Arby's as I "thought" I was eating safe all weekend but then felt like crap Sunday afternoon. Not sure if it was from the salad Friday night or Sunday at lunch.

All week though, I have felt exhausted and kind of "brain Fog". I am so tired I can't hardly make it to bed, but then once there, I can't sleep at all and I itch so bad I can't stand it. I ended up getting up at 2:00 am last night and took a shower hoping that would help.

Is this normal? Does anyone else experience this if they have been glutened? Maybe it is just seasonal allergies, but I don't know what to do. I NEED SLEEP AND I CAN'T STAND THE ITCHING ANY LONGER!!!!!

any suggestions or thoughts?

[jmd3]

I have noticed that if I accidentially ingest wheat - I itch, itch, itch, then terrible D - and no sleep. I know right away it was wheat with the severe itching. It almost feels that you have bugs creeping. I have itched so bad that I caused black and blue marks.

When I ingest barley, I get a brain fog first, almost feel like I have an overdose of something. I had some nacho cheese that had malt barley in it awhile back, wow, did I react so differently than when I had wheat.

If I had whole wheat, that was the worst....I would bloat, and bloat, until I felt like I was going to burst, severe constipation to the point of vomiting because of the constipation. I did have other symptoms, but they came in different order and different strengths per different glutens.

The only way I knew what I had, my little girl found it in the ingredients, for some reason I read right over them, but that was in the beginning when I could hardly function let alone read, or think.

If you can figure out what kind of gluten that you accidentally had, keep a journel, you will be suprised that you can have such different reactions to the specific gluten you had.

p.s. I react with the slightest amount of gluten...just a speck will set me off.

[Yellow Rose]

I am the same way. The itching drives me nuts and I can't sleep. Your itching on the outside but it feels like it's inside. Have you tried to take some benadryl. It does work on itching and will help you sleep.

Yellow Rose

[Cherry Tart]

I get the same itching problem when I get glutened. I think the Benedryl suggestion is great - that's what I do. A cold shower to calm the hot irritated skin or a cool bath w/ black tea bags helps too (the tanic acid is very soothing).

I would also suggest avoiding Applebee's and Arby's at all costs. Those two restaurants are not friendly to Celiac diet.

Hope you feel better soon!

[bfarnsworth0709]

I get the same itching problem when I get glutened. I think the Benedryl suggestion is great - that's what I do. A cold shower to calm the hot irritated skin or a cool bath w/ black tea bags helps too (the tanic acid is very soothing).

I would also suggest avoiding Applebee's and Arby's at all costs. Those two restaurants are not friendly to Celiac diet.

Hope you feel better soon!

have you had bad experiences with them? Applebees are usually very helpful and willing to go the extra mile to cook my food. I always give the manager there, Christy, a big tip. This is the first time I have had trouble. Also, have you had problems with Arby's? I guess I like to eat out so much that it is hard for me to think I have to avoid places. So anyone's ideas and suggestions are beneficial to me.

Thanks,

[lyndao]

I am the same way. The itching drives me nuts and I can't sleep. Your itching on the outside but it feels like it's inside. Have you tried to take some benadryl. It does work on itching and will help you sleep.

Yellow Rose Benedryl is safe, thanks I need some right now

My story is similar and my heart goes out to you. I am waiting for blood tests, which may be negative, because i have started the diet. I actually went to my primary care with the panel of blood work I needed to test for Celiac. I went to him with a rash on my feet, elbows, thigh, A rash I used to get as a child back in the sixities. he did not even bother to look at it. I am trying to convince my 13 year old daughter and hope she will eventually accept this disease as a way of changing not only her diet, but her life. I am up tonight to see if benedryl is safe to take, I do not ingest anything until I find out. It looks like it is and I can go back to bed. I am trying to get an Aunt and others in my family with autoimmune diseases to get tested. Right now, I think they believe, I am crazy and have to lay back and help myself, since I have only been gluten free since Sept 19 07 keeping a food/video diary. I believe I do not have MS/IBS that i was diagnosed with in 1996. I may have to go for a endoscopy to prove to myself and others. It looks like I need the correct test for the antibody. I do not know if that is the test the doctor's office requested. I live in Jackson, TN, a town very unfamiliar with celiac disease. take care. lynda lube

[Guest brylletc]

Open Original Shared Link is a good choice and may help you with what you're feeling right now. It will not only help your sleeping problems, but It might also help you of your itching.

Bathing in bath salts can help lower stress and tension, and makes the body feel relaxed and restful. The aromatherapy essential oils that these bath salts are combined with, will relax your mind and helps clear out any worries These salts can also help with the itching, if it is caused by an external allergen.

[KimmyJ]

I don't really have any wonderful suggestions to offer past what others have already said - but I wanted you to know that I feel for you. My DH flared up in a big way right after I delivered my sweet baby (I'm talking the same day, after no rash all through my pregnancy.) At the time I was undiagnosed. It was the intense itching waking/keeping me up at night after my baby had started sleeping through the night that prompted me to go to the doctor for a second opinion. GL - I hope you feel better soon!

[cupp125]

I've had the same exact problem and strongly suspect it to be DH. I cannot, for the life of me, stop itching. I feel like I'm being tortured. I'm lucky to get an hour of sleep. I'm completely gluten-free though, so I have no idea where the G that would be causing it could come from. I'm losing my mind.

I would suggest being very careful with benadryl and other antihistamines. They work very well...always knocked my itching right out, but my body built them up and I had to go to the ER with severe lightheadedness, a very fast heart rate, and some other issues. Maybe I just can't handle that kind of medication, but it got me good--figured I'd pass it on.

This itching is far, far, far worse than the stomach issues associated with Celiac. I'd take them back to get rid of this!

[ellen123]

I've just been dealing with this myself, because the first and most irritating thing that happens to me if I get glutened by mistake is I immediately get itchy bumps on my legs, arms, sometimes torso. I don't know for sure if it's wheat I'm getting though. I use old-fashioned Calamine Lotion on the bumps, which temporarily relieves the itching pretty well. I don't see anything on the ingredients that would suggest to me any gluten content in that -- I think it's safe. I sympathize with you!

[LoriC]

I ate a grilled chicken salad from arbys once..i did fine..the next time i wasn't so lucky..i woke up at 2am with HIVES all over my body..i tried taking benedryl..but as you know..that really can knock you out..so i finally went to the dr. he said it might have been the preservative they put on salads to keep them fresh..sometimes you can react to that, but other times you won't. Hope this helps you out..PLUS, when i get glutened, i will itch like crazy..get the head fog, feel so run down and tired..not to mention horrible "D", some of these symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. the only problem i have now that i can't seem to get control of is the itching in my pubic area..my dermatologist still says its the DH..anyone else get itchy there?

[RoseTapper]

I would strongly suggest that you get your thyroid tested--the itching and brain fog are very common with hypothyroid; and, of course, hypothyroid is common in celiacs. I was plagued with these issues, as well, and then found out that my thyroid had indeed failed. The itching and brain fog are both gone!

[LoriC]

I would strongly suggest that you get your thyroid tested--the itching and brain fog are very common with hypothyroid; and, of course, hypothyroid is common in celiacs. I was plagued with these issues, as well, and then found out that my thyroid had indeed failed. The itching and brain fog are both gone!

I have had tons of blood work done..my thyroid shows fine in all..my sugar is fine, I am going to see a rhuematologist in April. I have changed Dermatologists, had my first visit last week..she did a biopsy finally..my last derm, diagnosed me with DH by sight..although the diet and dapsone did help me, I guess to have a piece of mind, i want a positive diagnoses..and I know that even a biopsy can show a false negative. I also have seen a GI spec. had the blood work for Celiacs, which was negative..but all the GI problems have pretty much gone away, after 15 yrs of chronic "D" I'm still on the diet..but not the dapsone. I don't like Dapsone. Thanks for your reply

[dujour]

I have had tons of blood work done..my thyroid shows fine in all..my sugar is fine, I am going to see a rhuematologist in April. I have changed Dermatologists, had my first visit last week..she did a biopsy finally..my last derm, diagnosed me with DH by sight..although the diet and dapsone did help me, I guess to have a piece of mind, i want a positive diagnoses..and I know that even a biopsy can show a false negative. I also have seen a GI spec. had the blood work for Celiacs, which was negative..but all the GI problems have pretty much gone away, after 15 yrs of chronic "D" I'm still on the diet..but not the dapsone. I don't like Dapsone. Thanks for your reply

Hya.

As you know, Celiac Desease is an autoimmune desease, therefore, other things might come up. I have the hypothyroid and DH, and I also have Lichen Sclerosus. This desease causes extreme itchyness in the outside vagina area. I have a prescription for Topicort that relieves the symptoms, but the desease is never cured, just managed, much like the DH.

Just a thought you may want to ask your doc about.

[westrivergirl]

I ate a grilled chicken salad from arbys once..i did fine..the next time i wasn't so lucky..i woke up at 2am with HIVES all over my body..i tried taking benedryl..but as you know..that really can knock you out..so i finally went to the dr. he said it might have been the preservative they put on salads to keep them fresh..sometimes you can react to that, but other times you won't. Hope this helps you out..PLUS, when i get glutened, i will itch like crazy..get the head fog, feel so run down and tired..not to mention horrible "D", some of these symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. the only problem i have now that i can't seem to get control of is the itching in my pubic area..my dermatologist still says its the DH..anyone else get itchy there?

[westrivergirl]

This sounds exactly like the symptoms I get. I have been itchy since Easter Sunday - but it comes and goes in various degrees. After about a week I had a rash on the inside of my thighs - otherwise it just feels like hives under the skin with no outside visible marks.

I am taking a combination of Allegra and Zantac to try and get rid of the itchy. At first I thought it was working, but now it is worse again. I don't know at this point if it is food, makeup, or other personal items. Any suggestions for relief would be greatly appreciated.

[ellen123]

I am going through the same thing right now. Somehow got glutened last week, had a migraine and neck pain for only a day or two, but the itching started a day or two later even without any visible rash, and now, almost a week later, I'm covered with DH, in places I never had it before. The itching is far beyond anything I've experienced before too. Don't know why I got it so bad this time, but after 2 nights with almost no sleep, I was finally able to sleep last night by applying a topical cream called "Florasone," made by B&T (Boericke & Tafel). I got it at my local health food store/pharmacy. It's not perfect, but it does seem to help. I don't take Benadryl or any other oral medication unless I absolutely have to. Ice packs help the itching too, but they're not exactly conducive to sleep. In the past, Calamine Lotion helped somewhat, but this time even that had no effect.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

Ellen

[BridgetJones]

I have the same itching, its an itch you simply cant describe to anyone who isnt a coeliac. I have aloe vera gel which does soothe it and I also take an anti histamine which works.. I have caused black bruises from itching.

[tsryder]

I have DH and just got back from a trip to the Carribean (Cozumel, Mexico).

Prior to the trip I had several itchy spots that wouldn't go away on my shins and hands. These areas had been itching for many months.

After a couple days in Mexico ... I had no itching what so ever, and I'm sure it wasn't just from drinking tequila.

My thought is that swimming/snorkeling daily in the salt water caused the itching sensation to disappear. The humidity and also not wearing socks and/or gloves over these areas may have helped as well.

After a couple days back in Michigan, the itching has returned.

I'm going to try bathing in bath salts with the hope that once again eleviates the terrible itching.

[Munich]

I have always suspected a wheat sensitivity and generally avoid carbs. Lately I have been slacking and about one month ago I started having severe night time itching on my palms, in between my fingers and on my feet. It is a very intense itch and sometimes feels like burning. It has since spread to my inner legs. Benadryl works but makes me very drowsy. It usually starts between 6-10 p.m. and wakes me up during the night even with Benadryl. At first I thought I caught canine scabies mites from a client. Her dog constantly scratches itself and the itching seemed to worsen in the days after being at her house. However now it is all the time. I noticed my dog as been scratching ALOT more. However there are 4 other people living in my house and none of them have any symptoms of itching. I'm starting to wonder if it is caused by wheat? Do other people have the itching I describe? I do not have any rashes, other then eczema on my wrists that I've had for 6 months. Just trying to figure this out. Starting a wheat free, gluten free, processed food free diet tomorrow to see if that makes a difference. I am going to treat my dog with sulfur, but if this is from wheat I don't want to know sooner than later! Thanks for your reply!! Itching on hands and feed

[JulianaPayson]

3 weeks ago, I had to have across the board immunization 5 vaccines in one administration due to immigration requirements. I was pretty sore afterwards, and thought the blister that formed on my palm within an hour was a heat blister. It sure itched like crazy.

By evening I felt like I was bruised, and thought I was getting insect bites to my upper underarms. I put down any itching and fever to the immunisations: MMR, Hepatitis A, Hep B, Tetanus and Diptheria.

The next day I thought I had insect bites on the soles of my feet, there were blisters starting to form on my toes, sides of feet, and really itchy bumps on my shins, under the knees. That night I couldn't sleep.

The next night I gave up trying to sleep by around 3 am, and was desperately uncomfortable with the itching.

The immunes advisory say 'there will be some symptoms, but will fade after a couple of days' so I stuck it out.

I was so itchy I found this forum in desperate insomnia on google. And everything clicked. I have never been diagnosed Celiac, and hope I am not that far gone, but I've always avoided wheat because of issues prior to this. However I cook all my foods from raw, so know what I am putting in my foods and thought - maybe my intolerance has stepped up to include soy-sauce?

I cut it out, went on antihistamines, slathered myself in anti-itch cream and nothing is stopping fresh breakouts. Finally in desperation, I went to see a Chinese herbologist two days ago.

He said rather than western medicine treating the symptoms, and removing one layer of cause (gluten, now possibly lactose as well) his approach was very different. He simply said, the immunizations had tipped my sensitive 'imbalance' completely over the edge, and it was imbalanced in the first place because my digestive system was also imbalanced. Sort of made sense but I didn't care at this point - I will try anything to stop that itching that's scarring me badly!

I've been dosing up on herbs since 3 days ago, and I can now sleep at night! the new blisters are breaking out maybe a couple this morning, and a couple at a time in the evenings, but I am at such a relief I'm starting to think there is something in this Chinese remedy... or it could be that I'm flushing the toxin out of me by drinking so much to take the herb powder - who knows, I think it's going away, it's the best sign yet.

I'll keep you posted as I carry on with the treatment - he thinks I am not celiac, but have some intolerance, that I could get under control when my immune system reaches some equilibrium again.

Anyone else tried chinese medicine? I'm curious to know if mine is an anomoly. Western doctors would simply say it would take three weeks for my vaccine reaction to calm down or something, or that I'd simply cut the soy sauce out at the right time, and maybe wont be as sensitive... but after this experience - I fail to have any trust in Doctors now. I've been a sleepless zombie for over a week and desperately unhappy until finding this alternative.