a weird symptom...

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:10 pm

Okay, does this happen to anyone else: Every so often, my scalp will break out in painful raised bumps--not lots, but maybe 5-10 at a time. I haven't changed my shampoo, styling products, etc. The bumps are only on my scalp. Is this just my weird body, or could it be a reaction of some kind? I'm beginning to question even seemingly unrelated things now, after I figured out that the itchy bumps on my fingers might have been related to a gluten intolerance (haven't had them since I went GF).

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:36 am

Cynthia
i havent had that type of thing on my scalp, so not sure i can be much help.
Many years before Dx, I used to get small lumps around my eyes when i wore eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, then i had a weird keriatitis and could not wear eye make anymore. Knowing what i know now, it was most likely part of the MC type reactions.

Check the ingredients of your shampoo and Conditioner, some can have wheatgerm in them, now that you are GF, you may be a bit super sensitive to small amounts on your skin/scalp

once you start eliminating once trigger, another ingredient may/will become a major irritant, the first few months of elminating ingredients can be a bit of a rollercoast ride.

Post by **tex** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:03 am

Yep, that used to happen to me, but it doesn't anymore.

Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:54 am

Cynthia,

Yes, I've had that (I knew we were long-lost cousins - but I usually would get more like 2-3, rather than 5-10). I think my sensitivity may have settled down - but I still try to avoid SLS and similar ingredients. As Gabes points out, many more health-food-store-ish shampoos do have something like wheat germ, too (sigh). I have sometimes 'washed' my hair with baking soda. Kind of weird, but non-irritating! I use a little coconut oil instead of a conditioner or styling product.

Amazing how annoying and distracting a little bump can be...

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:55 am

Yes, I have gotten itchy bumps on my scalp. I haven't changed my shampoo, so I don't believe it's related to that. I believe it's related to a mast cell problem.

Gloria

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:24 am

Gloria,

I believe my bumps may be mast-cell related as well. But I am definitely sensitive to some cosmetic ingredients - I try never to wash my hair when traveling unless I've brought along a shampoo that I know and trust.

I seem to be susceptible to certain symptoms both topically and by ingesting something that sets them off.

Cynthia, hope your bumps are a thing of the past!

Post by **tex** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 12:54 pm

FWIW, I didn't change shampoo, either.

Tex

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:40 pm

Oh, goodness, is EVERYTHING related to gluten?? And if my pathology report indicated my lymphocyte count wasn't high enough for a diagnosis of LC, and I'm not celiac, (at least according to blood tests), how likely is it that I have mast cell issues? I'm not having D anymore since stopping the Zoloft, but despite a GF, DF diet, the past few days I've been incredibly tired (like, my legs feel like lead when I go up a flight of stairs), nauseated, just feel generally yucky. I'm not really sure where to go at this point. Should I try to find another GI? Dare I even ask that GI #1 check for mast cell issues?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:40 am

Cynthia,

I'm not sure how we can tell for sure whether we are heading in the right direction, even if it's taking some time. Congratulations on stopping the Zoloft. It's great that the D has stopped. For me, the non-D symptoms took longer to come around (fatigue, brain fog, etc.). I hope your current lead legs and yucky feeling are temporary, and come around soon. And they would sometimes come back if I didn't make sure to eat and rest well - even if I didn't get glutened, or take a food risk.

By themselves, skin issues and fatigue don't necessarily point to mast-cell involvement. And it's possible, if you do have a mast-cell issue, that your overall healing will enable you to minimize its impact on your life - which seems perhaps to be the case with me. I think it's good that you know about that, and keep that in mind in case you have new symptoms or ongoing difficulty resolving your MC.

Be well!

Sara
p.s. only *almost* everything is related to gluten.

Post by **tex** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:07 am

Cynthia,

I'm certainly no expert on mast cell issues, but if you're having mast cell issues, I would think that you should at least occasionally have some additional symptoms more closely connected to mast cell degranultion - for example, a flush and/or rash of the face, neck, or upper chest, itching, watery eyes, nasal discharge, positional tachycardia, positional hypotension, etc.

Tex

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:09 am

Sara, my long-lost cousin (got any Edwards or McCarns in your family??) thanks for the words of encouragement! I am feeling better today--I did a challenge of gluten last week, and I'm thinking maybe it affected me for longer than I expected. Still, I'm going to try limiting soy this week and see if I notice a difference. I've not been able to pinpoint a reaction to soy in the past, but I know some people have experienced a "coming-out party" for secondary sensitivities once the major ones are under control. Glad to know it's only *almost* everything!

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:33 am

Bingo - gluten challenge. I haven't been glutened for a while, but the full effects took almost a week to go away, last time. I can get the D stopped with Pepto, but the exhaustion and general lousy feeling hang on longer.

I was afraid of a cascade of sensitivities, so cut everything out at once. It seemed drastic at the time, but I don't regret it. Once I started feeling better, I couldn't bear the idea of backsliding. (And now I really, truly can't bear the idea!)

No Edwards or McCarns here, cuz - we must go way back further in the family tree!

Funny we ate out the other night with a friend we haven't seen for a while - she's now soy intolerant. She brought along a college pal, who can eat no dairy. I decided not to suggest they drop the gluten, but... you know what I think!

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:10 pm

I am following what I call the "Sara plan" this week and being very, very careful! Went on my weekly shopping trip today and made sure everything I got was GF/DF/SF, plus not lots of funky extra ingredients I can't identify. Mostly meat, vegetables, rice, V-8. No nausea today, (yay-I can handle almost anything other than that), but my tummy seems awfully loud. Haven't given it anything to complain about, so I don't know that that means exactly. More new bumps on my head today. That one still just seems weird to me. Seems like if I were going to react that way, I'd get them all over!

Is home-brewed iced tea a problem for MC'ers? I don't drink it out, since so many tea concentrates have added colors and flavors,but I make it at home. It seems like I'm always thirsty--carry a drink around everywhere.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:55 pm

I drink homemade tea and coffee. (I take mine plain - but if you are tolerating whatever sweetener you use, I think that would be OK... if you begin to suspect it, you can try the "when in doubt, leave it out" theory

)

I think it's really good to stay hydrated. I think it helps with all kinds of symptoms. As far as the new bumps on your head... maybe they will settle down, but are late getting the memo that you've eliminated the problem. I feel as though that happens sometimes - some symptoms gracefully depart when we do the right thing, and others hang around a little longer - no idea which ones, or why.

Keep us posted - and keep feeling better,

S

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:36 pm

Oh, I missed your post earlier, Tex--thanks for the clarification! I was thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure how else ME might manifest. I have always had respiratory allergies, and mild asthma as a child, but never had any food allergies, nor did I have skin issues--it was always the congestion/runny nose/cough variety. Haven't noticed any of those in response to what I eat or in conjunction with GI symptoms.

Sara, there's always the possibility the bumps have nothing to do with gluten, but I will be tracking it more carefully in the future!