The Itch on the Celiac and the Allergist

As a college celiac, I've gotten a lot of weird advice. Mostly from naive fellow college students, coaxing, "Just eat a little gluten! Like one bite will really hurt you!" The advice from my allergist has to take the (gluten free) cake, though.

Summed up in two sentences? "Become an honorary Asian and eat a lot of rice! Rice is low gluten!" The sad part was, throughout my entire appointment, he was trying his best to be helpful. Still, by the time I walked out of his office, my mouth hurt from continually biting my tongue.

My new diet?

I've mentioned my challenges with possible food sensitivities in some of my past posts. Ever since the wisdom teeth saga (wisdom teeth out, infection in, antibiotic mouth wash in, hello allergic reaction!), I've been fighting a never-ending facial rash and itch. I thought my second dose of Prednisone had finally killed the insane need to scratch my off my skin. Until I arrived back home from Colorado, my red and itchy face staring back at me from the mirror.

In a way, I consider myself lucky with celiac disease. Although I'd never even heard of it - or gluten, for that matter - after only a few months of nausea, weight loss and acid reflux, a new name dominated my medical chart. Celiac stinks, but at least I can "fix" it. At least I have a name to curse when I'm hugging my stomach in bed after gluten snuck in my meal.

My kind of t-shirt...

This itching is a different kind of demon. It can't wreak the same physical damage as celiac disease, but mentally? The unknown "why" - Is it a remnant from the mouthwash allergic reaction? Is it something I'm eating? - is scraping away my sanity. When the rash reappeared after Prednisone #2, I lifted up my allergy appointment as the ultimate panacea. A couple tests, a new list of allergens to avoid and presto! Casey is back in business!

Except, it didn't work out that way. The blood tests (which only checked suspected allergens versus every food ingredient) mocked me with all negatives, and the only skin test reactant was flax seed. Even more frustrating than the lack of results, though? The lack of knowledge about celiac disease from my allergist. I'm not demonizing him in any way - he was polite and patiently gave us a mini biology lesson about allergic reactions, sensitivities and everything in between.

All the manners in the world can't entirely destroy my frustration, though. Thousands of people blindly eat gluten free, yet "gluten" is still a foreign language to doctors outside of the gastroenterology field.

Common reaction to the word "gluten"

On some level, I understand. As a writing major, I won't study math in great detail. In the same way, a specialized doctor shouldn't spend decades memorizing every page of general biology.

Except, in this case, celiac disease played a huge role in my allergy testing. He laughed off my flax seed results asking, "Who eats flax seeds on a daily basis?" How about all the celiacs who eat the gluten free products that often rely on flax meal? His biggest piece of advice was to eat "normal foods" rather than trying out "strange" alternative ingredients like chia seeds and quinoa. I wanted to scream - I would, if I could! Send celiac a memo for me!

Until then, I'll devour my chia seed, coconut flour pancakes!

As of yesterday, I am back on Prednisone and praying that the third time will be the (anti-itch) charm. And, the day I'm back from sweating it out with relatives in Texas, I'm starting an Elimination Diet to furrow out any food sensitivities for myself.

For now, I'll just keep eating (hoping that nothing I'm gorging on is triggering my histamine reaction) and keep dreaming.

I'm dreaming of a day when I'll find the diet best fit for my finicky body. I'm dreaming of the day when all types of doctors - and the common public in general - will understand celiac disease and the impact is plays on a person's body and behaviors. Finally, though, I'm dreaming of when my body and mind are back in tune.

Soon, I won't be like Mr. Snowman!

'Cause that is one itch that this celiac just has to scratch.


**This post is also found at RunningwithSpoon's link party! Yay!**

How easily were you diagnosed? Have you ever done an Elimination Diet? Any advice for this itchy celiac? Comment below!