Celiac Disease: Connection to Melanoma?

I have been learning more about celiac disease lately, as I am about to be tested myself. I got diagnosed with thyroid disease after my first pregnancy, and have had issues with fatigue every since, even with thyroid medication. I have noticed a pattern with eating gluten, and then experiencing extreme fatigue, aches, mood swings, and some other symptoms shortly afterwards. I have been having to "gluten myself" for the next week so that the appropriate antibodies will be made, and honestly I have neve felt worse in my life!

Celiac diease is a common digestive, genetic disease of the small intestine that can only be cured by a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. It must be VERY strict, and includes the strict diet as well as changing out shampoo, lotions, soaps, toothpaste, lip balms, cosmetics, etc as well. Any infraction will cause the symptoms to return for a period of time. Over 3 million Americans are currently affected by celiac disease, and it is estimated that 30 million Americans carry the genes for it. Celiac requires triggers to become "activated." Obviously you need to have the genes to have the disease. The genetic test will rule it out by 99%, but won't let you know if you currently have it or will develop it in the future. The main enviromental trigger is obviously gluten but also includes things like chronic candida, bacterial infections, stress, death in the family, and pregnancy.

So I got the book Living Gluten Free for Dummies, and it has been a wealth of information. I have tested highly positive for gluten and wheat IgG allergies, but I never thought I had celiac, until I read more and started learning about how common this disease really is. Also looking at the history of illness and issues in my own family including thyroid disease, gall bladder problems, mood swings, osteoporosis, ADHD, gastrointestinal issues, reflux, eczema, hair loss, candida, migraines, etc. (all symptoms of celiac) has made me want to take a closer look. It IS a genetic disease, so if I test positive, other family members will also have the same genetics and quite possibly the disease itself.

Apparently, there are more studies being done to link celiac to both thyroid disease and various forms of cancer, including melanoma. Here is one study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19672595. Here is another discussion in the celiac forum where people are discussing the possible link: http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/33009-celiaccancer/. I find this very interesting considering that I have had a melanoma previously, and currently are affected by hypothyroidism.

Celiac is also linked to osteoporosis. Apparently bone density can improve dramatically on a gluten-free diet. Here is more information about how they commonly appear together : http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/medicalguidelines/a/osteoporosis.htm

Lactose intolerance can also be a problem frequently with celiac disease, one that usually goes away on a gluten-free diet.

Fibromyalgia is another illness closely tied to celiac disease. Here is an article about what the symptoms are: http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php. And here is more information about the connection to celiac disease: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Link-Between-Fibromyalgia-and-Celiac-Disease&id=3833460. It seems it can be easily mistaken for celiac disease with similar symptoms.

Another symptom of celiac is a form of eczema called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). http://www.e-celiacs.org/2-Dermatitis_Herpetiformis.htm. Not everyone with celiac will have this extremely itchy and painful form of eczema, but everyone with DH will have celiac as it is known as the "sister disease" to celiac. I actually have had this chronic form of eczema on my right hand for over two years straight, and my dermatologist told me that it was DH and only gave me steriod cream repeatedly and told me that it was just "bad luck." I kept telling her that there had to be something triggering these horrible itchy, blistering bumps....but just bad luck I suppose! I think not! No one has skin rashes and eczema without an underlying cause. I am praying that I will have finally found it.

My mother in law has a close friend whose health went spiraling downwards about a year ago. The doctors just couldn't figure it out, but her weight dropped to about 70lbs and she was basically bedridden. They were completely at a loss. However, one doctor at the hospital thought to test her for celiac and she ended up being positive. Now that she is strictly gluten-free, she has completely regained her health and is doing amazingly well!

The issue with standard blood testing is that the test frequently comes back negative due to 1) not eating enough gluten in your diet to make the appropriate antibodies and 2) deficient IgA - a major immue system marker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunoglobulin_A
If you have celiac, your immue system is obviously not working properly, which would be why this immunoglobulin would be low. If the test does come back negative, I have read about the genetic test and a stool test, which is supposed to be more sensitive. The stool test doesn't require a doctor's order and can be ordered here: https://www.enterolab.com/Default.aspx. I have not done these tests myself, so check them out for yourself.

The good thing is that this seems to be one disease where there is an easy cure - a dietary and lifestyle change. And my guess is that your health won't suffer too much from the loss of donuts, pizza and burgers! :-)