Gluten and it's connection to Geographical Tongue

[BrandyJay]

I may have some interesting information for sufferers of Geographical Tongue. My son who is now 16 has had the condition almost on a daily basis since birth, like everyone else who suffers from it, we tried everything and every specialist to no avail.
Just over a year ago my son collapsed and was raced to hospital, he had no iron at all in his body and was on the verge of death, so much so he was given a full blood transfusion. After months of testing and a stomach/intestinal biopsy, he was finally diagnosed with Coeliac Disease - a severe allergy to gluten.
As a result, his diet changed and all gluten was removed. He is now a very healthy strong teenager.
The interesting fact though is that since the gluten was removed from his diet a year ago, he has had a completely clear tongue. Not once in the last 12 months has he had any flare ups. He has gone from almost daily to none at all. We noticed in the past that although acidic foods caused pain and discomfort on the affected area, it was never the cause of the geographic tongue. Now however, he can eat pineapple, eat salty foods and drink orange juice, for the first time in his life.
He has had a healthy clear tongue for a year and counting.
I would like to see the medical profession research further into the connections with gluten and geographic tongue, as it may well be an early indication of gluten intolerance, a disease that almost killed my son. I do not believe this is pure coincidence, as gluten intolerant people have the villi on the intestinal wall worned down by gluten, a similar thing to what occurs on the tongue - the protection is eroded away.
It is definitely worth a closer look instead of the shrug shoulders - no cure - live with it attitude of most medical practioners.
Is there a connection? Has it really been ruled out? Where is the evidence that they are not related?

[not2oldyet]

Thanks for the info.  I am glad your son is ok.    your definitely right on the shrugging of the shoulder, live with it attitude.  I have a daughter in law with Celiac.  Never heard of the geographic tongue disorder tho.  will look into it.

[Karmakumba]

Great information,,,I have had Geographic Tongue for years and have never believed it was something that you just had to live with (no cure).  It is uncomfortable and at time scary looking.  I have noticed if I don't eat wheat it gets considerably better.   I have always thought that the citrus was not the problem, it just happens to aggravate it when the patches are already there.  Good Luck with your son, it sounds like he is doing great!

[JUmpinbean]

Hey Brandy, Im so glad your son is better, Mine hit me at age 22, and the thought of being a teenager with such an embarrassing condition makes me sad. I have always thought this is allergy related, even the vitamin deficiency that so many talk about, and lack of absorption that I hear of, are related to food allergy in my mind. If you have an allergy you constantly wear your intestine down, and therefore cannot absorb nutrients properly, and therefore have deficiency in certain vitamins. Thank you for the info, I'll try going gluten free again, and see what happens!