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Hi Folks,

I've lurked long enough and would like to tell my story.  I have T-1
diabetes, DH, CD and last Thursday was diagnosed with psoriasis which is
not to be confused with DH, but is usually caused by a weakening of the
immune system.  The dermatologist that diagnosed my psoriasis was
astounded by the fact that I was diagnosed by a different dermatologist
in 1992 for having DH and NOT put on a g/f diet.  The worse I broke out
the more dapsone I had to take.  This went on until 1996 and finally
both my dermatologist and endocrinologist sent me to see a cancer
'specialist' for losing weight, being anemic and a lot of my lab work
was circled as being out of range.  After numerous tests he decided that
all these problems were due to the 'side effects' of dapsone.  About
that time, Aug. 1996 there was an article in Diabetes Forecast Magazine,
by Jean Guest, *Wheat's Your Problem.*  It's like the article had been
written about me.(over 5% of T-1 diabetics have CD)  I immediately went
to a gastroenterologist and got diagnosed with CD (after a biopsy) and
went on a strict g/f diet.  I kept getting a slight breakout every two
weeks or so and would take 50mg of dapsone.  It took three years to get
all the IgA deposits out of my system.  I took my last dose of dapsone
last June. I mention this because I kept thinking that I was ingesting
gluten somehow.

In December of last year I convinced our newspaper to do an article
about autoimmune diseases.  I posted a notice mentioning the article and
received a warning from one of the list owners mentioning publishing
rights etc, etc.  At the time I didn't know that it was going to be put
on our newspapers web site. (for one month)  I have sent it to anyone
that I have corresponded who seemed interested.  But the purpose was to
let all the people who are undiagnosed know about these diseases--since
I found out by reading an article. That's how our support group got
started in Florence, SC.

Diabetes Forecast is doing another article in June and one in the Fall
according to their information representative.  I am an ADA member and
not associated in any other way.  I apologize for the length of this,
and welcome comments.  I am retired.

Charles,  Charleston, S.C.