Apple Cider Vinegar as a treatment for Diarrhea
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Apple Cider Vinegar as a treatment for Diarrhea
Hi. I'm a newbie. Is anyone aware of the use of apple cider vinegar as a possible treatment for chronic diarrhea? I was told by my doctor that it actually helped him significantly. Any comments?
Welcome Wnorm! 
We are all different and not everyone will benefit from the same treatment.
I cannot take any kind of vinegar because I have a problem with mast cells. Vinegar is very high in histamines, which inflame mast cells.
However, others here have found vinegar to be very helpful in treating GERD, as I recall.
Keep reading here and you will find a variety of treatments that we use to control our MC. The most common one is to eliminate gluten from the diet.
Gloria
We are all different and not everyone will benefit from the same treatment.
I cannot take any kind of vinegar because I have a problem with mast cells. Vinegar is very high in histamines, which inflame mast cells.
However, others here have found vinegar to be very helpful in treating GERD, as I recall.
Keep reading here and you will find a variety of treatments that we use to control our MC. The most common one is to eliminate gluten from the diet.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hi Wnorm,
Welcome to the board. I agree with Gloria.
Poor digestion can cause diarrhea. I have a hunch that many people who benefit from taking vinegar, simply do not produce enough stomach acid to properly initiate the digestion process. As we age, our ability to produce adequate amounts of stomach acid often declines, resulting in indigestion, heartburn, and possible diarrhea.
Many doctors incorrectly misinterpret the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, and assume that they are signs of too much stomach acid, so they prescribe an antacid, or a proton pump inhibitor, which seems to help at first, but eventually, they may just make the problem worse, and they sometimes lead to the development of GERD. People who produce too much stomach acid, are quite rare, actually, but that doesn't seem to deter doctors from dishing out prescriptions for antacids and PPIs, to virtually anyone who comes to them complaining of indigestion and heartburn, usually without even bothering to test the patient to see if he or she might actually be producing too much stomach acid.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the board. I agree with Gloria.
Poor digestion can cause diarrhea. I have a hunch that many people who benefit from taking vinegar, simply do not produce enough stomach acid to properly initiate the digestion process. As we age, our ability to produce adequate amounts of stomach acid often declines, resulting in indigestion, heartburn, and possible diarrhea.
Many doctors incorrectly misinterpret the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, and assume that they are signs of too much stomach acid, so they prescribe an antacid, or a proton pump inhibitor, which seems to help at first, but eventually, they may just make the problem worse, and they sometimes lead to the development of GERD. People who produce too much stomach acid, are quite rare, actually, but that doesn't seem to deter doctors from dishing out prescriptions for antacids and PPIs, to virtually anyone who comes to them complaining of indigestion and heartburn, usually without even bothering to test the patient to see if he or she might actually be producing too much stomach acid.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar as a treatment for Diarrhea
Thanks for the response. I took Nexium for years. This may have contributed to the diarrhea. I hope the apple cider vinegar works. I hope it doesn't aggravate my Rosacea or Fibromyalgia, or heartburn.
Nexium is a known trigger for MC. Apple cider vinegar shouldn't aggravate rosacea or fibromyalgia, so it shouldn't hurt to try it for a few days, to see if it helps your digestion.
Good luck with it.
Tex
Good luck with it.
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar as a treatment for Diarrhea
Thanks again. I'll give it a try.
Just got diagnosis of collagenous colitis
Hi. I just got my "official" diagnosis of C.C. today. It was almost impossible to get the results of the colonoscopy (which I took at a private clinic) on May 31.Forget Medicare. You'll wait until the cows come home to get your test. I had to trick the clinic by giving them the authorization to fax them to a particular doctor. Actually I got them to send the results to my dentist husband's office. In Quebec we go by our maiden name so the nurse did catch on. Otherwise I would have to wait until Aug 31 for my gastoenterologist to see me in his office and give me the results.
So now I need a lot of practical information: meal plans,etc. I have a lot of food allergies and intolerances so I'm afraid to restrict myself too much. Any suggestions?
So now I need a lot of practical information: meal plans,etc. I have a lot of food allergies and intolerances so I'm afraid to restrict myself too much. Any suggestions?
Hi Wnorm,
If your goal is to stop the D as quickly as possible, the best way to eat is very simply. Limit your diet to a few meats and/or fish that you trust. Add some trusted well-cooked vegetables. If you can tolerate vegetables high in calories and carbs, such as potatoes or squash, you'll feel fuller. Fruits can be problematic, so limit them to a few well-cooked ones without skins, if you must have them. Some feel that following a Paleo diet works well. Most of us are gluten-free and limit our consumption of the grain family to well-cooked rice and a few GF flours.
You have similar intolerances to me, so you may be interested in the type of menus that I follow. It is very restrictive, but it works for me. I've had both the Enterolab testing and the LEAP (MRT) testing to help me determine problematic foods. We are all different; this is only a sample. You'll be determining your own lists as you progress.
Here is a link to my sample menus. Since going off Entocort in April, I've eliminated some peripheral foods from the list and am still considering eliminating a few others.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 68&start=0
Gloria
If your goal is to stop the D as quickly as possible, the best way to eat is very simply. Limit your diet to a few meats and/or fish that you trust. Add some trusted well-cooked vegetables. If you can tolerate vegetables high in calories and carbs, such as potatoes or squash, you'll feel fuller. Fruits can be problematic, so limit them to a few well-cooked ones without skins, if you must have them. Some feel that following a Paleo diet works well. Most of us are gluten-free and limit our consumption of the grain family to well-cooked rice and a few GF flours.
You have similar intolerances to me, so you may be interested in the type of menus that I follow. It is very restrictive, but it works for me. I've had both the Enterolab testing and the LEAP (MRT) testing to help me determine problematic foods. We are all different; this is only a sample. You'll be determining your own lists as you progress.
Here is a link to my sample menus. Since going off Entocort in April, I've eliminated some peripheral foods from the list and am still considering eliminating a few others.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 68&start=0
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Just got diagnosis of collagenous colitis
Thanks for the helpful information. I should definitely do a food diary. When I eat the offending foods I may not have digestive problems until the next morning. Sometimes I don't know what I should avoid. I don't think I have gluten intolerance. I tested negative ( specific blood test). I doubt I'm intolerant of soya or eggs. I try to avoid yolks. too much fat. However, allergies to many foods and spices narrow my choices. So many of the available prepared foods have traces of nuts, or pepper,etc. Also, I keep kosher which narrows my choices even more. As a result, I rarely eat out, and have to bake my own bread,etc. In the U.S. there are a lot of products that are nut and seed free and kosher. In Canada, there are very few. If I want to get a good wholewheat bread (kosher,no nuts, no seeds), I have to drive to New York State.
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
allergic to :nuts, all seeds, tomatoes, eggplant, all pepper, nutmeg, most raw fruit, many cooked fruits, peanuts, chestnuts, etc.
Please be aware that the classic celiac blood tests are worthless for trying to detect the type of gluten-sensitivity that most of us have, (non-celiac gluten-sensitivity). Quite a few of the members here also have celiace disease, in combination with MC, and, of course, those individuals will usually test positive to the celiac blood tests, (assuming that they are ingesting gluten, and are symptomatic, at the time of the test). However, most of the rest of us are just as sensitive to gluten as they are, and we always test negative to the celiac blood tests. Only the stool tests offered by Enterolab are sensitive enough to detect non-celiac gluten-sensitivity, (N-S G-S), reliably.
For many of us, it's difficult to tell that we're sensitive to gluten, even with a food diary, but when we eliminate it from our diet, we find that it was the reason why we were sensitive to such a wide range of other foods, in the first place, (it's due to the extensive, long-term damage to the gut, caused by gluten). Short-term elimination trials usually don't work for determining gluten-sensitivity - we have to avoid gluten 100%, for months, in many cases, before we begin to improve, probably because of the extensive residual damage to our gut, caused by gluten. When you begin a GF diet, you will find that Kinnikinnick makes some pretty decent GF bread. In the U. S., Udi's seems to be the preferred brand.
Tex
For many of us, it's difficult to tell that we're sensitive to gluten, even with a food diary, but when we eliminate it from our diet, we find that it was the reason why we were sensitive to such a wide range of other foods, in the first place, (it's due to the extensive, long-term damage to the gut, caused by gluten). Short-term elimination trials usually don't work for determining gluten-sensitivity - we have to avoid gluten 100%, for months, in many cases, before we begin to improve, probably because of the extensive residual damage to our gut, caused by gluten. When you begin a GF diet, you will find that Kinnikinnick makes some pretty decent GF bread. In the U. S., Udi's seems to be the preferred brand.
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.
I thought I could tolerate eggs, and was relying on them after I eliminated dairy and gluten... but when I got my Enterolab results, I had elevated antibodies to eggs, and felt better after eliminating them. (Sigh... it took some time to figure out what's for breakfast!)
Do keep in mind that it is the protein in egg *white* that generally causes a reaction. You're right that the fat is in the yoke, but the kinds of reactions we have here occur when presented with certain proteins - and the ovo-albumin in chicken eggs does cause reactions in quite a few of us.
My husband enjoys several products from the Kinnikinnick brand. I am avoiding most grains at the moment, as Gloria mentioned, and going back to a strict food diary. I feel miles and miles better, but need to focus on eliminating at least one or two foods I have not yet figured out.
I am also planning to spend a chunk of time each week doing a bunch of cooking ahead and freezing. I need a reliable source of safe "convenience" foods, and for me, the grocery store is not a safe source.
If you haven't already tried eliminating gluten, it does take a little planning and shopping to set yourself up. But even my husband, who is not gluten-sensitive that we know of, feels much better without it. I've never had a positive celiac blood test, either, but once I stopped eating gluten for about a month, and then had a very small amount, I was sick enough to remove all doubt.
The diet is not as daunting as the symptoms, fortunately
I hope you're feeling better,
Sara
Do keep in mind that it is the protein in egg *white* that generally causes a reaction. You're right that the fat is in the yoke, but the kinds of reactions we have here occur when presented with certain proteins - and the ovo-albumin in chicken eggs does cause reactions in quite a few of us.
My husband enjoys several products from the Kinnikinnick brand. I am avoiding most grains at the moment, as Gloria mentioned, and going back to a strict food diary. I feel miles and miles better, but need to focus on eliminating at least one or two foods I have not yet figured out.
I am also planning to spend a chunk of time each week doing a bunch of cooking ahead and freezing. I need a reliable source of safe "convenience" foods, and for me, the grocery store is not a safe source.
If you haven't already tried eliminating gluten, it does take a little planning and shopping to set yourself up. But even my husband, who is not gluten-sensitive that we know of, feels much better without it. I've never had a positive celiac blood test, either, but once I stopped eating gluten for about a month, and then had a very small amount, I was sick enough to remove all doubt.
The diet is not as daunting as the symptoms, fortunately
I hope you're feeling better,
Sara