Hi all
Well, this is the first time I'm posting in the DH forum. I've always been very glad to have avoided DH as a symptom. I remember when my mom first got it when she did her gluten challenge before getting biopsied (she told me, "It's not worth it!)
Anyway, long story short, I got glutened a couple weeks ago. Not just cross-contamination but actually eating some barley in soup. Cause I'm an idiot. Don't need to go into details. In any case, I've been relatively ok symptom-wise, but it's definitely been a long haul in healing.
Earlier this week I started to get a rash on my elbows, which I figured was just dry skin. Then it got itchy, and yesterday and today it's broken out in what looks to me like tinea (ring worm), which I have had on other parts of my body before. It's round, bumpy on the outside, but unlinke anything else I've had before, it's mirrored on both of my elbows. It's gotten extremely itchy (I'm doing my best not to scratch). My right elbow has turned into a big round itchy bumpy patch. I will try to post some photos tomorrow.
In any case, I'm treating it like tinea right now, with antifungal cream.
However, I have a few questions:
- how long does it usually take for DH to break out after getting glutenered (or does it depend on the person, like with any other symptom?)
- does anyone think it could be DH?
- if it is/could be, should I get it biopsied before it dissapears?
Because that's the big question. I've never been officially diagnosed, and IF this is actually DH, then that could give me an official stamp of approval (not that it makes any difference to me). I doubt it's going to spread/get much worse, since I haven't eaten a thing not made in my own kitchen for the past two weeks and won't for a while. I haven't been actually glutened for over a year.
Anyway, I'll try to give more details and photos tomorrow, but any opinions would be helpful. If it wasn't on my elbows and basically the same on both sides, I'd just treat it like tinea and be done with it, but the circumstances make me suspicious.
thanks a bunch. I'll try not to stratch in the night!
Peg