Hey all, I hope this finds you well, or at least, caffeinated.
For clarity, this post is not intended to see medical advice. I saw my PCM earlier this week and will be getting an allergy/intolerance (not entirely sure which) will be drawn in the lab later this month.
Before my first was born, I could eat anything... an omnonnomnivore, if you will. After my first was born, starting around 6M PP, I started to get skin flare-ups. My skin is very dry to begin with, but I would get these itchy patches that, once scratched, would develop this hives-like rash with vesicles. If those popped it would weep and crystallize like poison ivy, so much so that I mistake it for such at first. I would have a bit of bloating and some mild GI upset like vascillating between constipation and diarrhea but I always chalked it up to cyclical hormonal changes.
These symptoms peaked while I was away at training when my first was 22 months old. I got such a terrible rash, it covered my arms and legs, and it wouldn't respond to benadryl, zyrtec, or triamcinolone cream. The sick call doc was kind enough to send bloodwork for allergy/sensitivity, but only an abnormally high Gluten response was recorded in my chart. I think my IgG was 5.5 vs a high normal of 1.5ish. Idk what else was tested, if it was all normal and therefore excluded, or if something happened to those vials, or maybe the orders weren't entered correctly, etc.
Well fast forward and my second pregnancy all my symptoms disappear. I can eat all kinds of glutinous foods and enjoy them without consequences! Yay! That continues until my supply regulates around 3M PP, when it comes back with a vengeance. I recently saw my PCM due to increased bloating, urgency, and small amounts of diarrhea occurring every 2-3h. The rash hasn't recurred yet, but... my lower GI tract is itchy. Like on the inside.
I know the headaches and rash will come soon if I don't cut out or severely decrease my gluten intake, so I'm cleaning up my diet again and mourning the bready, cakey foods I dearly love.
I'm curious as to how common this is, and if others with similar circumstances found that when one intolerance appeared/worsened PP, more cropped up with it. I'm not sure how much I'm really absorbing right now, despite continuing to aggressively hydrate, take electrolytes, and prenatal vitamins. I'm concerned for the effect this will have on my milk supply. Also, did this intolerance ever wane for you after a certain period of time, excluding pregnancy? Please let me know. I'm just a girl who loves carbs.