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I was diagnosed with celiac in 1980 after chronic diarhea, bloating, and
then a positive bowel biopsy.
After diagnosis, I began what I now realize was a fairly lax diet,
eliminating bread, pasta, and so on, but retaining beer, soy sauce, spices,
and occasionally more egregious violations.
 
Around 1984 I began to experience patches of burning sensation on my chest
and back, lasting for a week or two, and recurring every four to six
months. I believed that they were "shingles," the flare-ups of chickenpox
virus on the base of spinal nerves, but shingles has visible lesions, and
my physicians were unwilling to give them any diagnosis at all. After a
complete neurological work up revealed nothing, I'm sure they concluded I
was a hypochondriac.
 
Now, after discovering persistent liver inflamation that appears to be the
result of my lax dietary vigilance, I now am discovering all the other
health problems associated with gluten, among them "dermatitis
herpetiformis". It really doesn't surprise me that my physicians never
thought to connect the allergy to the symptom - I don't think most doctors
take allergies seriously.  From what I understand d.h. also has visible
lesions.
 
So heres the question: anybody out there have a recurrent burning sensation
on their torso, without visible lesions?
 
-------------------------------------------------------
James J. Hughes PhD, Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, U. of Chicago,
(work) 312-702-3742  [log in to unmask]
(Web) http://ccme-mac4.bsd.uchicago.edu/CCMEFaculty/Hughes/Hughes.html
 
            "Economic justice can be measured by the
             screams of anguish from the very rich."
               -John Kenneth Galbraith, economist