newbie requests advice
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
newbie requests advice
i was dx LC 3 yrs. ago and was managing well after stint with Asacol and occasional immodium or Lomotil. Then in March had some antibiotic (Keflex) and needed to go back to GI who prescribed Entocort until I returned from a trip to Panama. That worked until . . my husband got a virus the last days of the trip. Five days after we returned I was VERY ill, needed ER electrolytes. Back to GI who did tests and prescribed Questran. Now I'm off Questran and Entocort and on Colazal. The good news is that D is gone, but I'm exhausted and my blood pressure is lower than usual. GI is doing repeating some blood work and checking thyroid. I have not experienced this before. Is this common?
Hi Jan,
Welcome to the board. No, low BP is not common. That could possibly be a sign of an adverse reaction to the Colazal. Low BP is one of the signs of anaphylactic shock. Do you have any of the other signs of anaphylaxis, such as a rash, hives, weals, flkushing, breathing problems, increased heart rate, etc.?
Tex
Welcome to the board. No, low BP is not common. That could possibly be a sign of an adverse reaction to the Colazal. Low BP is one of the signs of anaphylactic shock. Do you have any of the other signs of anaphylaxis, such as a rash, hives, weals, flkushing, breathing problems, increased heart rate, etc.?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Jan and 
You have had some bad luck there. Some have found probiotics to be helpful before or after a course of antibiotics or a stomach virus.
Low blood pressure can also be a sign of dehydration/electrolyte imbalance. I know you are no longer having any D, but it's important to remember to increase our fluid intake in the warmer weather. It's also wise to have your thyroid checked. Fatigue is definitely one of the cardinal symptoms of MC, and for me, was the last symptom to vanish (over several years).
Looking forward to further chats.
Hugs,
Polly
You have had some bad luck there. Some have found probiotics to be helpful before or after a course of antibiotics or a stomach virus.
Low blood pressure can also be a sign of dehydration/electrolyte imbalance. I know you are no longer having any D, but it's important to remember to increase our fluid intake in the warmer weather. It's also wise to have your thyroid checked. Fatigue is definitely one of the cardinal symptoms of MC, and for me, was the last symptom to vanish (over several years).
Looking forward to further chats.
Hugs,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Thanks everyone for your warm welcome and sharing from your experiences. This group is so great. I had been reading a week or so before i joined. I wish I would have known about it three years ago.
To answer your questions
Tex, I do not have the other symptoms you mentioned so fortunately I can eliminate anaphylaxis.
I was having the fatigue before I started colazal, but maybe it's adding to, or replacing, my earlier tiredness.
I am noticing that some days are better than others and that inhalant allergy re-testing is making it worse.
Polly,
thanks for sharing that fatigue was a symptom you dealt with. I had not expereinced it before. I had taken probiotics intermittently, but should I have similar circumstances I will be more diligent about them.
re dehydration - are MC folks more prone to that in hot weather?
Does anyone have experience with efforts to replace electrolytes?
zizle - my BP has been 118-122/70 for
years. Recently it's been going down gradually, latest reading was 100/60. I guess I'll have to make extra effort to hydrate.
ant - thanks for your welcome
To answer your questions
Tex, I do not have the other symptoms you mentioned so fortunately I can eliminate anaphylaxis.
I was having the fatigue before I started colazal, but maybe it's adding to, or replacing, my earlier tiredness.
I am noticing that some days are better than others and that inhalant allergy re-testing is making it worse.
Polly,
thanks for sharing that fatigue was a symptom you dealt with. I had not expereinced it before. I had taken probiotics intermittently, but should I have similar circumstances I will be more diligent about them.
re dehydration - are MC folks more prone to that in hot weather?
Does anyone have experience with efforts to replace electrolytes?
zizle - my BP has been 118-122/70 for
years. Recently it's been going down gradually, latest reading was 100/60. I guess I'll have to make extra effort to hydrate.
ant - thanks for your welcome
-
MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Welcome Jan!
Just to add to what everyone has said, i have always had low BP so I cannot say it is a sign of the disease. My regular BP, which I do take daily, is normally 90/62 or in that area. It has been as low as 82/54. I also am careful of how quickly I get up and sometimes experience bouts of dizziness.
Maggie
Just to add to what everyone has said, i have always had low BP so I cannot say it is a sign of the disease. My regular BP, which I do take daily, is normally 90/62 or in that area. It has been as low as 82/54. I also am careful of how quickly I get up and sometimes experience bouts of dizziness.
Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
Mornin' Jan!
Check out the forum titled "Welcome Message and Info for Newbies" and you will see a post called "Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance" that you might find helpful. There are tips on replacing electrolytes. In a pinch I eat a something salty and a banana while drinking lots of water.
Yes, ever since I got MC (10 years ago now) I have to pay more attention to my hydration status. Before, I never thought about it, but now I find myself consciously telling myself to drink more......even when I am not having D. I also find I do not tolerate high temperatures/humidity like I did pre-MC. Yesterday was a case in point: I went to a U2 concert. We arrived at the stadium at 4:45 and they did not open the gates until 5:45. I had to sit in 95 degree heat outside in an area with no water or bathrooms (an MCer's worst nightmare - I don't think that fear ever leaves us)! Once I was inside, I had to drink 5 bottled waters until I felt hydrated again!
Folks who have naturally low BP are very fortunate - there are no diseases caused by a too-low BP. LOL! Only the "nuisance" of postural hypotension, where you become dizzy if you get up too quickly. If you have low BP, you should always go slowly from lying to sitting and from sitting to standing to give you body time to equilibrate. But if your BP is even lower than normal, think dehydration and act accordingly!
Love,
Polly
Check out the forum titled "Welcome Message and Info for Newbies" and you will see a post called "Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance" that you might find helpful. There are tips on replacing electrolytes. In a pinch I eat a something salty and a banana while drinking lots of water.
Yes, ever since I got MC (10 years ago now) I have to pay more attention to my hydration status. Before, I never thought about it, but now I find myself consciously telling myself to drink more......even when I am not having D. I also find I do not tolerate high temperatures/humidity like I did pre-MC. Yesterday was a case in point: I went to a U2 concert. We arrived at the stadium at 4:45 and they did not open the gates until 5:45. I had to sit in 95 degree heat outside in an area with no water or bathrooms (an MCer's worst nightmare - I don't think that fear ever leaves us)! Once I was inside, I had to drink 5 bottled waters until I felt hydrated again!
Folks who have naturally low BP are very fortunate - there are no diseases caused by a too-low BP. LOL! Only the "nuisance" of postural hypotension, where you become dizzy if you get up too quickly. If you have low BP, you should always go slowly from lying to sitting and from sitting to standing to give you body time to equilibrate. But if your BP is even lower than normal, think dehydration and act accordingly!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
thanks for the advice about dehydration. i had been using some hydration-fitness powder but now that I compare it to the other product I see the difference, hardly anything in the powder.
I'll give the Allergy Research Group product
a try. I crave bananas and eat 1/2-a whole banana every chance I get. Maybe my body's telling me something? Today I bought some dried banana chips. They will be easier to take with me as needed.
Five bottles of water is a lot! I have to keep reminding myself to drink because I get involved in other things and forget. Thanks for the encouragement about the low BP and the fatigue.
They're just more new things to get used to I guess.
I'll give the Allergy Research Group product
a try. I crave bananas and eat 1/2-a whole banana every chance I get. Maybe my body's telling me something? Today I bought some dried banana chips. They will be easier to take with me as needed.
Five bottles of water is a lot! I have to keep reminding myself to drink because I get involved in other things and forget. Thanks for the encouragement about the low BP and the fatigue.
They're just more new things to get used to I guess.