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

Iodine Attack!


ndw3363

Recommended Posts

ndw3363 Contributor

I've been gluten-free almost 4 weeks - active lesions were still itchy, but slowly healing and no more new ones. WELL then yesterday happened. I couldn't get out of the office for lunch, so I ate my emergency frozen gluten-free clam chowder that I had in the freezer. Not even thinking that the whole thing was probably full of iodine. Within hours I was itching like crazy. It's everywhere - all my old spots that were healing nicely came back like crazy. Didn't occur to me what it was that I ate that caused the whole mess until late last night. I'm swearing off all seafood for at least 3 months. I'm really just venting, but does anyone have any experience with this? Will these new ones stay around for weeks like the old ones, or might they heal a little faster if I'm more careful?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



hnybny91 Rookie

I have been gluten free for over two months and still break out. Mine seem to last just as long too. It takes YEARS for the antibodies under the skin to go away.

ndw3363 Contributor

I was afraid of that. Just so frustrating!!! My outbreaks were mild and merely a little annoying while I was still eating gluten. Now that I'm gluten free, they are driving me insane!! I itch ALL DAY!! Used to only be on my elbows - now it's in and around my ears, back of my neck, on my back, back of legs, etc. Anybody have any suggestions to take the edge off while they heal? I had to take an antihistamine last night just to get to sleep!

hnybny91 Rookie

I take benedryl when the itching gets bad too. Mine has always been spread out and not in clusters like many have. If you eat eggs you might notice you break out too because I think there is iodine in eggs. I stopped eating them so much and do not itch as much anymore.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast

I'm so sorry to hear that you had a reaction. I am recovering from my last episode. But, yes, it seems any mistake will be paid for- for weeks.

I can't do dairy or eggs and I don't know why (iodine?). They both bother my sores.

Healing is slow. Cass recommended a Ionized Silver ointment from Whole Foods and says it cleared hers up. I haven't tried it yet. I use Pain Relieving Ointment-Walgreens brand of Benzocaine. Takes the sting away for a while.

But yeah, fish and shellfish is awful for DH. Took me a long time to wrap my head around how serious the reactions will be.

I ate Funyuns absentmindedly while watching a movie with my son. Salty. I ate 3 before I realized the familiar sting. It is a neverending adventure.

itchy Rookie

Yes, NDW, perhaps I've been experiencing it too.

I've been on holidays and got a lot of sun and ate a bit of seafood. Everything is stinging and itching, including spots not exposed to the sun. So either it is stress from travel, or iodine from the seafood. We ate nothing but fruit, vegetables, meat and fish that we cooked ourselves, so it is unlikely to be from gluten.

The difference is, the only effect has been the itching and stinging. So far, no worsening of the lesions, which have been healing more or less steadily for several weeks.

itchy Rookie

I was curious about iodine in dairy as discussed on a couple of threads so I did a little surfing and came up with these general sites.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

The source below suggests that dairy might be a lower source of iodine than in past years, due to changing practices in the dairy industry.

Open Original Shared Link

While iodine seems to be a factor in DF, it seems to me that the priority has to be reducing gluten, and it is very difficult to monitor ones success if one is suppressing the lesions by avoiding gluten. And going iodine free is dangerous in itself over the long run.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



  • 3 weeks later...
ChemistMama Contributor

Antihistamines do nothing for DH (except if you take enough of them to make you fall asleep). DH isn't a histamine response, it's another part of the immune system. I've found that Sarna lotion (the one without the menthol) works great. It contains the painkiller that's in Neosporin Pain and it works great to dull the itching.

As for iodine, you don't need to go iodine free, just don't use iodized salt and avoid shellfish and seaweed for a few months. There's enough iodine in the rest of your food to make sure you get enough (you don't need much). NSAIDS also can aggravate DH, use Tylenol instead of Advil or Aleve for awhile too. Good luck!

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,128
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Paulen
    Newest Member
    Paulen
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      69.9k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Hopeful1950
      I use an app called Spoonful where you can scan labels and it will tell you whether it is safe, questionable (and why) and also something you can substitute.  It also makes it easier to see what is on the label.  There are some ingredients that I avoid in addition to gluten. You can also search the app by a category.  I just searched on "cosmetics and a few things popped up as compliant.  I think the app is mainly focused on food.  When I first started out reading labels was a nightmare and it took me so much time at the store.  This app has really helped me when I am looking at something new.  They update frequently, and if something isn't in their data base there is an AI function where you can enter the information from the label and it will analyze it right away for you. I have used an app called Find Me Gluten Free in the past when I am traveling to find restaurants.  People's reviews are very helpful because even when a restaurant claims to be able to accommodate, often people will find out differently and they report it on reviews. Hope this helps.
    • Scott Adams
      It took me 2-3 years to feel like my gut recovered, and then I still had gluten ataxia issues for well over a decade.  This study indicates that a majority of celiacs don't recover until 5 years after diagnosis and starting a gluten-free diet: Mucosal recovery and mortality in adults with celiac disease after treatment with a gluten-free diet However, it's also possible that what the study really shows is the difficulty in maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet. I suspect that if you looked closely at the diets of those who did not recover within 2 years might be that their diets were not 100% gluten-free. Perhaps they ate out more often, or didn't understand all of the hidden ingredients where gluten can hide. Either way, it shows how difficult recovery from celiac disease can be for most people. According to this study: This article explores other causes of flattened villi:    
    • Thelma Cadieux
      Good idea, but make sure she does not require lactose free cheese,it is common in celiac patients. 
    • pmarklesparkle
    • pmarklesparkle
      I was diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis and ultimately celiac disease in September 2024.  I am trying to navigate the world with celiac, unsuccessfully, still having dermatitis herpetiformis outbreaks.  Grocery shopping is difficult, shopping for toiletries is nearly impossible. Dining out is also a challenge. Can anyone recommend iPhone apps that will make these easier?  Thanks so much!
×
×
  • Create New...