I have this itchy rash over my entire body, and I think it may be related to a gluten intolerance. I’ve thought before that I may be allergic to wheat, and generally think my allergy symptoms are better when I don’t eat wheat. But I lack willpower, and usually just put up with not being able to breath through my nose and sneezing just so I can have a cupcake.
I’m going to the doctor later this afternoon (earlier if they let me) and want them to test me for celiac’s disease. If I have it, I’ll be both relieved and upset. Relieved because I’ll finally have an answer to the various digestive and allergic issues I have been dealing with for the past couple of months. Upset because a gluten-free diet sucks for someone like me who loves all forms of carbohydrates and thinks stuff like gluten-free cookies are an insult.
I also think it increases the risk that my kids will also have a gluten allergy, which I am starting to suspect in my son because his body is refusing to increase in weight. He is perhaps one of the skinniest kids I have ever seen. He’s in less than the 5th percentile for weight for children his age. The doctor says that he probably just has my metabolism as I’m on the thin side, but I think I want some further investigation.
The kid right now only wants waffles and pancakes so a gluten-free diet would cause a major meltdown in my house.
Filed under: health, my children | Tagged: celiac's disease, rash
I hope you get to the bottom of what’s causing your rash. Also I think you can make/buy gluten-free waffles/pancakes!
KikiBe - thanks for the words of encouragement. 12 hours after taking the prescribed medicine, I can officially say I feel worse, not better. I dislike using the “H” word, but I think I truly do Hate the medical profession. They just guess and guess and often guess wrong and don’t care that while this problem I’m having might e pretty low on the importance scale, it’s extremely important to me because the itching makes me irritable and feel like i can’t handle everyday life with two kids and grad school.
[sigh].
It felt good to let that out. And yes, you can buy them gluten free, but they will never be like the real thing. And you’ll think of the real thing every time you bite into one
Nah! If you are diagnosed, after six months or so, you’ll be so grateful that you’re not sick, that a gluten filled goodie won’t be a craving anymore. Bear in mind that the blood test doesn’t always pick up gluten intolerance. I’ve been gf/cf for over a year, and I have to say that I feel so much better. It hasn’t cured me of my eczema entirely, but it is better. Other things are cured. Plus, I’ve learned to make cookies that are as good as any wheat cookie. And, this week, I made foccacia, and it was fabulous.
thanks for your comment Dee - question, what is “cf”? And what were your symptoms? The doctor seems to think that it can’t be a gluten issue because she’s never seen it look like a rash. But if I’m reading you correctly, eczema was one of your symptoms?
[...] for everyone [you know who you are] who’s been so great and helpful about calming my fears about a gluten-free diet. I really appreciate it, and I’ll stop hatin’ on gluten-free cookies and pancakes [...]
good luck with this — i have a good friend with a gluten allergy. she is doing well now but it took a long time for her to learn how/what to eat. i bet she’d share some tips if you like.
rashes are awful. i got rash after rash after rash when my daughter was born and it turned out i was allergic to her baby wash (you know, the calming one that is supposed to be so sensitive for newborns!!!) Everytime I nursed her or held her or gave her a bath, a new rash would pop up. the doc said he was amazed at how many baby products cause stuff like that — i’d say disturbing, not amazing.