I have Celiac Disease. Confirmed. It is genetic – my sister developed symptoms soon after turning age 60 February 2008, now me a few months after turning age 60 in March 2016. She sent to me the checklist back then – I only matched 1 in 10 of the symptoms, but now it is 9 in 10.
One of the symptoms of Celiac Disease is an extremely painful burning stinging skin rash – so similar to Scabies rash that it is often misdiagnosed as Advanced Scabies! However, of the Scabies rash I have two symptoms – the “clusters” and “crusted ridges” – only found with rash of Advanced Scabies. So I have both now – Celiac rash and Scabies rash. Worse, the Scabies rash is made worse by gluton – such as from eating anything with wheat in it. The Scabies rash gets worse as the mites feed on it like a super fuel, as the Celiac rash is added to and mixed in with the Scabies rash.
Already suspecting it, I’d been avoiding the obvious foods containing wheat. I made the mistake of putting it to the test yesterday Friday December 30, having a slice of French toast from a frozen package I’d not yet tossed out. The rash exploded across my back with severe burn pain and looking like my skin had been damaged by boiling water dumped in it. I nearly went into shock and came close to calling 911. I took the last of Excedrin and Benedryl to knock down inflammation. Calamine lotion, which didn’t help before with the previous two and recent third attack of Advanced Scabies, has helped some this time – more so for the Celiac rash, making it possible to wear a shirt without causing extreme pain so I could go to the store this morning. Only one time did I have a sunburn so severe I could not tolerate wearing a shirt until it had healed enough, and yesterday’s rash was more painful than that. Good that I’d saved a bottle of the Calamine lotion. It also helped me to get a couple of hours of sleep last night.
When people with Celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When I was scoped (from both ends) in Wichita during September 2015, some damage to the villi was noted, but there was no diagnosis of the disease and so no gluton free diet recommended. The diet that was recommended was for the damage to my stomach and esophagus, and mainly for boosting hemoglobin production.Otherwise the tissue of my esophagus and stomach can no longer be repaired by any normal means. I’m slowly bleeding out. Maybe 5 more months. I’ll not get anymore blood transfusions because they can’t waste precious donated blood on someone who can no longer be saved. However…
A strict gluton free diet can help heal the small intestine within 2 years, as well as possibly reducing damage to my stomach and esophagus to help stop the bleeding. This could be a new hope, but because it takes so long to help might be too late to save me.
I stocked up on gluton free food bought at Homeland and Dollar General early morning today, so I’m now officially and totally on a strict gluton free diet.
A sunny 56F here in Norman Oklahoma this afternoon, with wind ENE at 8 mph.
I am still suffering from yesterday’s extreme flare-up. I’ll try to rest as much as possible during the day today. I’m planning to watch “New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” 7:00pm CT on CNN, 4 hours 30 minutes.
Have a fun and safe New Year’s Eve! May 2017 be better than 2016.
Reported by Jim Lantern
LANTERN TIMEGLASS JOURNAL
Final Day of the Year 2016, 2:20pm CT Saturday, December 31
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Lantern Timeglass Journal 