Coeliac - Sourdough

[PoesieAndPeaches]

I finally worked out myself in March (after 18 months, 2 GP appointments and 1 dermatology appointment) that my intensely itchy skin was actually a condition called Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Which means I am Coeliac.

I am 100% better now since altering my diet to GF, mostly at the moment lactose-free, low iodine and no oats.

A few people have suggested that I might be able to eat sourdough. Can anyone advise on this? Do you eat it if you are Coeliac?

Thank you!

Normal sour dough contains gluten as it’s made with wheat flour.

Don't eat normal sourdough it's got gluten in it. You can get gluten free sourdough .
edit to say I am coeliac and I don't listen to other people's often very wrong ideas about what is safe to eat . For example , I've been told to scrape the batter off deep fried items! No thanks I don't want to be vomiting 6 hours later

Thank you!

If it is made with GF flour you can, but if it is made with normal flour then it contains gluten.

Hi OP, have you had a blood test to check you are DEFINITELY coeliac, and not just gluten intolerant? My DC are coeliac; one diagnosed by blood test (TTGA levels >45) and the other via OGD.

No, it is not necessary and would be negative now, anyway.

I told my Derm that I know that to get a positive result, I would need to eat gluten again and I absolutely will not do it. I was very unwell before discovering it was DH; my skin was incredibly sore and painful for 18 months. It was Hell. If you have DH, you are Coeliac.

The evidence and the link is clear and Derm and GP all agreed with this.

Without the test you could be gluten intolerant or other conditions. I can tolerate sourdough and the more expensive wholewheat but not cheap commercial bread, it’s the Chorleywood baking process apparently and common. Cutting gluten if you don’t need to means you are eating more processed foods and that may not be what your problem was

My diet since March is actually far healthier than it was before. I have had to look at a lot of different food items that I didn't previously.

That gives you a handy list of people to categorise as 'Fucking Idiots', then.

It'll be useful when dealing with people on the internet as well.

Derailing slightly-has there ever been a study looking at coeliac diagnosis and the increased use of the Chorleywood process?
The more I read about Coeliac disease, the more I am told that even if it doesn't trigger a reaction, it does affect you as its an auto immune disease.

No! You can't eat sordough if you are coeliac.

People who know nothing about coeliac disease, and think it’s an intolerance, seem to often suggest this. It may help some people who find modern bread hard to digest, that is nothing at all like having coeliac disease.
No you can’t eat anything containing any level of gluten if you have coeliac. Even if you have no discernible reaction your gut will be damaged.

It doesn't mean you have to eat more processed foods?

My main, most severe symptom was insane itching (rather than gastro although I had that too, eventually).

I know within half a hour is I have accidentally consumed something gluten-containing because this Hellish itch starts.

It's a learning curve and I am getting there now.

Thank you.

Hard no; made from wheat flour and contains gluten - unless it specifies that it is gluten free.

Right up there with people who are on a yeast-free diet insisting that sourdough doesn’t use yeast. Typically uses a starter which is a live culture of yeast.

It’s good that you have figured out ways to help yourself to stay healthy

I actually eat far fewer processed foods, now. Loads more fresh fruit and veg and far fewer pies, croissants, chocolate etc..

Some people with gluten intolerance can tolerate normal sourdough, but if you have Coeliacs then you shouldn't even try it as it can still cause you damage even without getting symptoms from it

On a side note, Australia have developed a test for Coeliacs that involves adding a gluten protein to a blood sample in a lab, so we're hopefully not far off testing for it without the need to eat gluten for weeks beforehand

It is probably worth getting allergy testing with these symptoms, as you could have an allergy rather than coeliac disease. No difference obviously in needing to avoid gluten, but different in terms of treatment if you do get glutened, and also may mean you need to carry an EpiPen. Have a word with your GP and get a referral to your nearest allergy clinic. As you no longer eat gluten, blood tests for coeliac will come back negative (and are not conclusive, some coeliacs will show as negative, although a positive is conclusive). There is also a mouth swab test for the gene.
Dermatitis herpetiformis has a distinct form in that it is symmetrical. You would erupt in the same place on either side of the body, I get it on my elbows or knees. If you have a more generalised reaction, or it is not symmetrical, then it could be an allergy to wheat, rather than coeliac disease. That could mean you being able to eat other grains containing gluten, for instance, which would be nicer for you .

Hi, sorry new account but I am the OP.

I have had allergy testing in the past. Diagnosed chronic eczema in childhood. The itching was symmetrical, this was one of the features that made it obvious that it was DH. The itching has gone since I have eliminated gluten, so the link is clear. I knew within 24 hours, it was obvious as the releif was massive.

I am very careful about gluten now; rarely eat out. When I have accidentally consumed it, I itch within an hour but there are no other symptoms so no Epi-pen required. I have discussed all of this with the derm and researched it myself. It is no a wheat allergy, it's clearly DH. I also eventually developed gastro symptoms as well. My tummy had been bloated for about 4 years and that has now gone! I will not consume anything containing gluten and it is obviously the trigger.

Thank you, though.

I have DH and Coeliac disease . It's as OP describes.