Mottled tongue

[bente]

Ds has geographic tongue, I did not know this could be related to food sensitivities untill I read about in "Is this your child". I have ordered the book so I can start figuring out ds and possibly the rest of the families food issues.

Prior to an elimination diet a couple of years ago ds had lots of symptoms - dark cirkles under eyes, wrinkles under eyes, mottled tongue, crusty behind the ears, stuffy nose, nose rub, stuffy nose that interfered with his sleep. His behavior also changed. He was frustrated from morning til night. He woke up angry and frustrated. He had alot of what his dad and I called "impossible tasks". He got so sad and mad when we could not help with what he wanted...like take the handles of his bicyle:
The symptoms disapeared after that, but I am not sure if it was dairy that caused it alone...I mean we cut dairy from his diet after the elimination.

I knew this was not just from moving, having a new baby, and other issues in the family. My heart was telling me that this was something else. We have always been gentle with him and everyone else in the familiy. He was nursed til he was almost 5.

Does anyone else have experience with mottled tongue and food sensitivites? And possibly in combination with the other symptoms I listed.

[tboroson]

yup. Geographic tongue is my primary response to gluten. I had it for about a year before identifying what it even was, then right away knew it had to be from gluten b/c my dad has celiac, and I tested a "mild positive" for gluten sensitivity in blood tests two years prior. Since then, I've become even more sensitive - digestive problems from gluten that I'd never experienced before. DD gets a skin rash, not dermatitis herpetiformis but a different one, geographic tongue, and digestive problems that aren't the typical celiac problems from gluten.

[bente]

Oh, thanks for reply. I dont know of anyone else with mottled tongue. Dh had it as a child, but outgrew it. And he has some issues with his skin. Do you think that would be gluten also?

Would you recomend that I do a new elimination diet, this time with only gluten? Dairy is pretty much out of our diet now, dh does eat cheese, but I think that is pretty much it for dairy.

[Qerratsmom]

This is a very interesting thread for me. DD has Geographic tongue but I had no idea it was linked food sensitiveties (ds is the one that seems more food sensitive and has skin issues). I haven't noticed any sensitivities with dd (18 mo) but I definelty notice her tongue some days more than others. Does anyone know anything else about Geographic tongue?

[bente]

The only thing I could find out about geographic tongue before I realized that it was probably linked to food sensitivites, was that it was harmless, probably linked to ezema?? My ds does not have ezema, but some dry patches on legs and arms. He also has wiggly legs. I just watched him today, standing there with those wiggly legs He has a hard time keeping them still.

[bente]

I was thinking today - dh has mottled tongue (geographic tongue) and he is also starting to develop dermatitis/ecxema on his head. I wonder if we should try to go gluten-free with dh and see if that helps?

[nalo]

FWIW I have been told I have a geographic tongue (although it only appears that way sometimes) and I do not have food intollerances. I did a big ED because of DD and the elimination of many foods and then the reintroductions did not affect me at all. I am certain at this point that my body is fine with all foods. However, that doesn't minimize the point that many people with a geographic tongue do have intollerances or allergies. That's a great book you have ordered - hopefully it will help guide you appropriately.

[ChickityChinah]

Hmm. Really interesting. I have geographic tongue and never knew what it was until someone mentioned it on another board I read. All I know is that it gets worse and becomes VERY irritated when I eat anything too acidic, especially anything with fresh pineapple in it. Although, I still eat it because I love it . I just have to limit how much I eat. I used to think it was a topical reaction but it seems to be more of a systemic reaction that happens about 10 minutes or so after I eat it.

[nalo]

Originally Posted by ChickityChinah

Hmm. Really interesting. I have geographic tongue and never knew what it was until someone mentioned it on another board I read. All I know is that it gets worse and becomes VERY irritated when I eat anything too acidic, especially anything with fresh pineapple in it. Although, I still eat it because I love it . I just have to limit how much I eat. I used to think it was a topical reaction but it seems to be more of a systemic reaction that happens about 10 minutes or so after I eat it.

That's funny because the only time mine flares is when I WAAAAY overdo it on really sour candy (i.e. acid). I rarely, rarely eat this now but in the past if I would eat a big pack of sour patch kids or something my tongue would look really mottled and be a bit tender. However, I don't get this reaction with any degree of real food, no matter how acidic or spicy. Weird!!

[changingseasons]

How crazy. I have always had a 'geographic tongue'. Mine always seemed to be most noticeable when I was sick...

I just looked in the mirror- and it's totally gone. hmmmm.... Maybe I have had food allergies all along.

[preemiemamarach]

huh. I have this, too (found out it wasn't 'normal' in nursing school when we all had to look at each other's tongues). I have a few serious food and medication allergies. DS has this, as well as chronic thrush, and his allergist and immunologist both said this was probably related to his immune deficiency.

[jayell79]

I always had a geographic tongue as a child. I also had a terrible time with my digestive system. My childhood Dr. never was able to diagnosis anything other than hypochondria. I since found out I have severe food allergies. Now that I've changed my diet, my tongue is normal. I can't tell you weather it was the gluten, soy, beef, tree nuts, shellfish or veggies that caused it because they were all eliminated together.

[memiles]

My dd is a diagnosed celiac with other sensitivities (dairy, peanuts) and also has geographic tongue. Our ND has her taking B vitamin supplements-it's my understanding that the geographic tongue is not a symptom of the allergy but instead a response to the deficiency resulting from the celiac. We've been lazy about the drops lately and the tongue looks bad. Thanks for the reminder!

[LaurieG]

Originally Posted by bente

Prior to an elimination diet a couple of years ago ds had lots of symptoms - dark cirkles under eyes, wrinkles under eyes, mottled tongue, crusty behind the ears, stuffy nose, nose rub, stuffy nose that interfered with his sleep. His behavior also changed. He was frustrated from morning til night. He woke up angry and frustrated. He had alot of what his dad and I called "impossible tasks". He got so sad and mad when we could not help with what he wanted...like take the handles of his bicyle:
The symptoms disapeared after that, but I am not sure if it was dairy that caused it alone...I mean we cut dairy from his diet after the elimination.

Oh my! Your post just made me stop in my tracks! DD has a very strange looking tongue to me. I've never heard the expression geographic tongue but mottled is a good description for hers. And she has all the other symptoms you listed! She reacts with GI symptoms to dairy, soy, egg, and oat and possibly to wheat/ gluten, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and corn (the latter group has been removed from my diet and not yet re-introduced).

It never occured to me the tongue could be related to the food sensitivities.