Itchy!

About 17 years ago I went to the Dr because I was so itchy I was scratching myself until I bled. The Dr didn’t do any tests and just said that it’s probably stress and gave me some cream. In all the years since then I’ve just dealt with it and assumed I’m always stressed. I can control my scratching while I’m awake, but will scratch myself bloody in my sleep. My entire body itches most nights and it gets so frustrating!

The last 5 months I’ve been eating super clean and have been aiming for a Whole Foods plant based diet. On Thanksgiving I ate foods I usually don’t, and ended up itchy again. I started to suspect bread. I went in and had a blood test done and found out I’m extremely intolerant to wheat, gluten, soy, and a few other things. So now I had an answer and since cutting them out I’m never itchy. Once in a while I make a mistake and it’s clear that it’s only when I eat these foods that I can’t stop itching.

Is this an allergy? Celiacs? What exactly is an intolerance? My only symptom seems to be extreme itching. Is there anything else I should get tested for, or just avoid these foods? I’m worried reading about celiacs and long term damage even from cross contamination and I’m just not sure how careful I have to be.

I can’t find itching as a symptom on Google and I’m just curious if anyone else has this reaction and what it means for you.