Geographic Tongue/Gluten Intolerance

[Dreamgirl27]

How long did it take for your geographic tongue to clear up after going gluten free?  I am curious because I have had it all my life, but I use to have occasional flare-ups.  Now, it has been ongoing w discomfort and sometimes straight out painful for the last 2+ years.  I even have fissures now! :(

Many other health issues point to a gluten intolerance, but I am just wondering how long is took after going "gluten free" for all of you to have a clear and healthy tongue?

[Dreamgirl27]

To anyone out there:  If you happen to come upon this post.  Please consult a Doctor or a medical professional of some nature before self diagnosing yourself.  This is what appears to be working for me, but may not be the case for all???

Thank you so much for your reply.  I do agree with the fact that it is definitely something in my genetic make-up and it's interesting that you brought up psorsis too.  For I just researched that geographic tongue is also known as wandering rash of the tongue & there's a link to psorsis also.  I am going to bring this up @ my Doctor's Appointment with the Dermatologist this summer.  Believe it or not I have been researching geographic tongue for the last two years.  Mainly because I never experienced pain with it until after I had my first little love & I for sure never had fissures, until now.  I have been told that my tongue was probably in such a consistent & painful flare-up due to hormones.  For I was pregnant with my first little love, breastfeeding, then pregnant w my second little love & breastfeeding again!  So, this made total sense to me.  Hormones can do a number on us ladies.  

I am currently not pregnant @ the moment & haven't breastfed in about two months (for my littlest love is now weened.)  so, my hormones are somewhat regulated.

Here's a little background ... I guess I am at a point where I feel sharing is extremely important.  For it could possibly help someone else along the way because people's posts, blogs, experiences, etc.  Have definitely helped me.

As far back as I can remember, I have had certain health issues.  Issues that would come up & then they would go.  

I was put on diets to avoid things that were labelled "trigger foods!"  Was told  that I was lactose intolerant.  Had to get a biopsy of my bladder back in HS.  Was told I had a geographic tongue, IBS, interstitial cystitis and so forth.  Just last summer @ a routine visit to the dermatologist, I was told that an itchy rash on my arms (that I figured was from excercising) was called KP - keratosis pilarsis.  

I can go on and on, but that's just a few of the things that have happened throughout the years ...

Here's the thing every health issue that would come up, there was always an explanation.  "Oh, well you are probably lactose intolerant!  Oh, it's because they put MSG in the food @ college!  Oh, it could be related to stress, are you stressed?  Oh, it's a hormone reaction from going off the pill!  Oh, it's because you just had a baby!  Oh, it's because you're breastfeeding.  Oh, no worries, it's just genetic!"

With all that has happened in the last 10+ years.  My story truly begins six months after I gave birth to my first little love.  

It was Christmas Eve and all of the sudden my tongue began to hurt, burn, itch, swell, spots began to form.  I figured I just burnt my tongue really bad on something?  And ouch!

It was annoying and definitely painful.  It lasted awhile too (months to be exact) Maybe I just kept burning it over and over again?  Well, my tongue now had fissures.  "Was it oral cancer?"  I decided to make an appointment and go to the Dentist, "maybe they could tell me what in the world was going on?"  Was told, "It was nothing to worry about.  It's usually genetic.  You have geographic tongue and you're having a bad flare-up."  

I already knew I had a geographic tongue for I was told this years prior @ a routine visit.  I guess @ the time, while my teeth were being cleaned, I was having a flare-up.  It didn't cause pain, so I just thought I had a weird tongue.  

So, now that my hormones are basically regulated.  I figured my tongue would start to heal.

Well, three weeks ago, I ate a frozen pizza from home, before we all headed out to an event @ church.  About half hour later, my tongue began to swell, burn, itch.  I woke-up the next morning with canker sores too.  After a few days of dealing with a painful and annoying flare-up.  I said to myself, "What in the world could be causing this?"  I decided after researching geographic tongue "again" and reading it's link to gluten "again."  Maybe I should try a gluten free diet.  

The more I researched and looked into gluten.  I realized many things that I have had throughout my life.  Along with things like thyroid disorders and other autoimmune disorders that run in my family.  As well as my over all health issues (that would come & go) were all linked to gluten.  

I have just entered into my fourth week of going gluten free.  I have a ways to go still, but I will say towards the end of last week.  I finally began to notice a slight difference.  My KP on my arms is clearing up, I no longer feel as if I'm living in a constant fog.  This is difficult to explain, but it's like my brain is different???  I have a little more energy too & don't feel like I need to just stay in bed all day.  My stomach for the first time in years feels "good!"  Like I said I still have a ways to go, but I'm noticing a difference ... A good difference!

And ...

My tongue is "actually" beginning to heal.  I haven't had any tongue ulcers or canker sores in the last three weeks.  Not to mention the fissures aren't as deep, it's like they are beginning to fill in with tongue!  Crazy, right???

This is all eye opening to me & I am just in awe of all of this.  To think a little thing like "gluten" could possibly have been the culprit all along is mind boggling to me???

I'll know more in the weeks/months to come.  People have said just go & get tested, but there is no cure for a gluten intolerance/celiac disease.  The only treatment is a gluten free diet.  

And as a medical professional recently just said to me, "Stay off gluten for 30-90 days & you'll know if there's a link.  As long as you see improvement, continue on.  It takes some a long time to completely heal, but based on your symptoms there's a definite link!"

Thank you again for responding to my post.  I truly appreciate this because your comment about psorsis and asking the dermatologist.  Believe it or not, I literally just read that last week.  Where a rash on the body is your body's way of reacting to something.  The fact that geographic tongue is also known as wandering rash of the tongue & what I was reading was also talking about psorsis.  It makes me realize even more that there is something going on here, so thank you again! :)

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, geographic tongue is a harmless condition and it can be there from birth. The cause of geographic tongue is unknown, and there's no way to prevent the condition. There may be a link between geographic tongue and psoriasis. With the fissures have yourself evaluated to rule out this condition. You may need to consult your primary care physician who will examine you and initiate appropriate therapy. He may then refer you to a dermatologist if needed. Regards.