Jump to content

  • 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

A Few Questions

Teachergrl

Recommended Posts

Teachergrl Newbie
Teachergrl
Posted

I apologize if this is a bit long.

I am presently waiting to see a Dermatologist and a GI specialist to help diagnose what my doctor believes is Celiac disease. Since I was in my early 20's I would get blisters on my scalp and occasionally what I thought were pimples around my jaw line that would wax and wane. I would also get itchy, scabby blisters on my elbows that I was originally told was eczema. My mom is hypothyroid and has fibromyalgia and stomach issues that have been diagnosed as IBS. Recently, I experienced 7 months of severe stress due to a divorce. Three days after I signed my legal separation papers, my face broke out in what my doctor believes is Dermatitis Herpetiformis. I have itchy red, painful blisters on both sides of my face. They are in different stages of healing and leave behind dark purple spots once they have healed. This has been going on for almost 7 weeks now. Other than the blisters, the only gastro symptoms I have had are awful constipation, bloating and very narrow stools, even when I use a laxative for relief (sorry for the detail) No diareaha, I also have incredibly swollen glands on my jawline close to where the blisters are forming and have experienced constant Brain Fog. My questions are:

1) Could the stress of my divorce have brought on the Celiac symptoms?

2) Has anyone else experience narrow stools and constipation with Celiac? (not diarreaha) I constantly feel like there is something left inside me.

3) I have been checked for infection and my Dr. said not to worry about the swollen glands-they will go away. She said they were probably related to DH, but based on what I have read about DH, it usually doesn't involve swollen glands. My lesions look like the textbook pictures. Has anyone had swollen glands related to Celiac?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Sparkle1988 Rookie
Sparkle1988
Posted

Hi there

I have not being diagnosed with celiac but I am currently getting tested. I have had a big swollen gland just under my right jawline for around 4 years. I was told mine would go away but its still there. I should get my biopsy results in 2weeks.

Tabasco Apprentice
Tabasco
Posted

It seems as though my flare ups coincide with stress as well. Good luck on your diagnosis.

nasalady Contributor
nasalady
Posted

Hi and welcome!! :)

I am presently waiting to see a Dermatologist and a GI specialist to help diagnose what my doctor believes is Celiac disease.

You have a smart doctor....stick with him/her.

Since I was in my early 20's I would get blisters on my scalp and occasionally what I thought were pimples around my jaw line that would wax and wane. I would also get itchy, scabby blisters on my elbows that I was originally told was eczema.

Recently, I experienced 7 months of severe stress due to a divorce. Three days after I signed my legal separation papers, my face broke out in what my doctor believes is Dermatitis Herpetiformis. I have itchy red, painful blisters on both sides of my face. They are in different stages of healing and leave behind dark purple spots once they have healed. This has been going on for almost 7 weeks now.

Blisters that leave behind dark purple spots as they heal.....classic Dermatitis Herpetiformis (aka DH). I don't know of anything that acts like that. My husband has DH and his behaves exactly like that. If it's DH, you definitely have celiac disease.

My mom is hypothyroid and has fibromyalgia and stomach issues that have been diagnosed as IBS.

She almost certainly has celiac disease, and has had it for a long time. Thyroid autoimmune diseases are very closely linked to celiac disease, and many, many of us have fibro too.

I was also told I had IBS. Turned out not to be the case. I have celiac disease, fibro, RA, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sjogren's Syndrome, asthma, psoriasis, and autoimmune hepatitis. The longer celiac disease goes untreated, the more damage is done, the higher your risk of intestinal cancer, AND the more autoimmune diseases you can develop.

Unfortunately I found out I had celiac at the age of 52.

Other than the blisters, the only gastro symptoms I have had are awful constipation, bloating and very narrow stools, even when I use a laxative for relief (sorry for the detail) No diareaha, I also have incredibly swollen glands on my jawline close to where the blisters are forming and have experienced constant Brain Fog. My questions are:

1) Could the stress of my divorce have brought on the Celiac symptoms?

2) Has anyone else experience narrow stools and constipation with Celiac? (not diarreaha) I constantly feel like there is something left inside me.

3) I have been checked for infection and my Dr. said not to worry about the swollen glands-they will go away. She said they were probably related to DH, but based on what I have read about DH, it usually doesn't involve swollen glands. My lesions look like the textbook pictures. Has anyone had swollen glands related to Celiac?

1) Stress can cause all sorts of physical problems. I wouldn't be surprised if it could cause a flare up of your DH symptoms.

2) Yes, my husband also has celiac disease and he has chronic constipation. I have the other problem. :)

3) Don't know about the swollen glands....we haven't experienced that but you could ask in the Dermatitis Herpetiformis forum.

Here's a link to an old topic on this site about swollen glands:

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=24132

Good luck!! Keep us posted!

JoAnn

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      49

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3. Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C. Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine. Weight...
    2. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free. I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
    3. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      highly unlikely NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
    4. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      21

      Insomnia help

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep. One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem. Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read,...
    5. SilkieFairy
      - SilkieFairy replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates? https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,353
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ace14219
    Newest Member
    ace14219
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.   Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.   When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.   One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.   Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well.   I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA.  I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.   Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
    • cristiana
      Insomnia help

      By cristiana · Posted

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep.  One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem.  Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read, do a sudoku or some other small task, and then go back to bed when she felt sleepy again.  I can't think it did her any harm - she lived  well into her nineties. Last week I decided to try a Floradix Magnesium supplement which seems to be helping me to sleep better.  It is a liquid magnesium supplement, so easy to take.  It is gluten free (unlike the Floradix iron supplement).  Might be worth a try.        
    • SilkieFairy
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By SilkieFairy · Posted

      It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates?  https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.