Hi folks,
I have recently been having lots of trouble with my vitamins--Centrum Women's--and my calcium--Citracal Petites--causing a lot of nausea and sour stomach, even when taken after eating. Any suggestions for replacements? I cannot swallow huge pills. I feel I need both due to no dairy and stopping Fosamax.
I go on the site frequently and find SO MUCH good information here. I have discussed the Enterolab testing with my GI doc, and she says while she hasn't heard of it, she is willing to hear more about it, and will support me if I want to order it and try to get my insurance to pay for it. So I guess that's good. I'm still undecided. Maybe I fear I'll open up a can of worms and find I have to avoid more foods than I already am.
On the whole, doing not too badly. A bit of a busy stretch: my son got married this summer (much happiness), and my mom died a week later, after 12 years with Alzheimer's (sadness/relief). I managed not to have any flares during that stretch due to meds/diet, so that was positive.
Help with vitamins
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Help with vitamins
Suze
We all have that fear, but it's usually such a relief to discover what the real problems are, so that we can avoid them, without having to guess about it, that the test results tend to replace that fear with a feeling of empowerment.Suze wrote:Maybe I fear I'll open up a can of worms and find I have to avoid more foods than I already am.
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. You're evidently doing pretty well, if you were able to avoid a flare during such a stressful summer.
Concerning the vitamins. Most people here who have a lot of food sensitivities, take Freeda vitamins, and have good results with them.
http://www.freedavitamins.com/
I don't have near as many sensitivities as most members, so I'm able to use plain old Centrum Silver. The reason why I use that version, rather than the "souped-up" versions, is because the newer, specialized men's and women's "this-and-that" versions of Centrum Silver have all sorts of ingredients that I don't care to ingest. Soy comes to mind, but there may be other problems with them, as well. The old-fashioned version of Centrum Silver has relatively high levels of RDAs for the most important vitamins, and I seem to do OK with them. YMMV, of course.
Be sure that you're getting plenty of vitamin D. IMO, that's more important than calcium, for bone health. Of course, for optimum benefits, you need both, but calcium without adequate vitamin D is probably mostly wasted. And if I recall correctly, an adequate level of magnesium is important, also, so that the calcium and vitamin D can provide maximum benefits for bone health.
I hope you can find a vitamin and mineral combination that will work for you, without causing digestive issues. Nausea and an upset stomach are no fun at all.
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.
Suze,
I agree with Tex - I use Freeda vitamins almost exclusively, except for potassium supplements, which aren't available through them.
I'm glad to read that you're not doing too badly and that you continue to read the postings here. That will help you along the way.
Gloria
I agree with Tex - I use Freeda vitamins almost exclusively, except for potassium supplements, which aren't available through them.
I'm glad to read that you're not doing too badly and that you continue to read the postings here. That will help you along the way.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Haha, silly me, thinking I was going to get through this stretch unscathed... Talk about the perfect storm: Mom dies, Entocort prescription runs out and GI doc wants to have me take a break from it with Colazal and then restart in a month or so. Same week, I reach the end of my prescription for Celexa, which I have slowly been weaning off of. Feel like I have been hit by a truck. On the couch all day today. Even allowing for the grief element, achy joints, headache, very foggy and exhausted. No appetite, but then nauseous because of not eating. Ate, and almost immediate nasty D. So, no further doubt about the mind/body connection or the impact of stress and LC.
Suze
Oh, Suze, I'm so sorry - my mother's late-life decline was a slightly different story, but I can totally relate to the sadness/relief/(guilt)/stress churn... my heart is with you that you're also dealing with multiple meds changes. (I have found that changing from one GF/DF/SF/etc.F *supplement* to another can cause minor upheaval - I can't imagine the Entocort/Colazal/Celexa weaning at the same time...
Losing my mother was a transformative experience - she died as she wished to, at peace in her sleep, and even with the certainty that her wishes were honored in every way, it took more time than I expected to move through the process. Please be patient and generous with yourself, and let us know how we can help.
Losing my mother was a transformative experience - she died as she wished to, at peace in her sleep, and even with the certainty that her wishes were honored in every way, it took more time than I expected to move through the process. Please be patient and generous with yourself, and let us know how we can help.
Sara, thanks. Very kind words.
This summer was the last, slow, goodbye of a long losing of Mom, not unexpected in any way. But, coming eight days after my son's wedding, in the middle of our vacation, which was interrupted by hurricane evacuation from our family's NJ beach house, where she was all around us, it was a bit rough.
As if 9/11 wasn't emotional enough, my mom's ashes went to the ocean that night. I had held it together pretty well up to then.
I appreciate your words, and know that this fall I will need to just sort of roll with it.
This summer was the last, slow, goodbye of a long losing of Mom, not unexpected in any way. But, coming eight days after my son's wedding, in the middle of our vacation, which was interrupted by hurricane evacuation from our family's NJ beach house, where she was all around us, it was a bit rough.
As if 9/11 wasn't emotional enough, my mom's ashes went to the ocean that night. I had held it together pretty well up to then.
I appreciate your words, and know that this fall I will need to just sort of roll with it.
Suze
Suze,
I think 'rolling with it' is about right. My mother was a gigantic presence in our lives, and in our home where she lived her last few months. It was both a long, slow goodbye as you describe, and a shock, all at once. (Humbling, like all huge life events.)
For you - wedding, hurricane, evacuation, loss - on the one hand YIKES to all of that at once. And of course on the other hand... losing a parent is kind of a hurricane in itself, which just takes as long as it takes. So how great you had a joyous occasion in there, too.
Hope the tidal flow of fall is gentle in getting you to the next stage.
I think 'rolling with it' is about right. My mother was a gigantic presence in our lives, and in our home where she lived her last few months. It was both a long, slow goodbye as you describe, and a shock, all at once. (Humbling, like all huge life events.)
For you - wedding, hurricane, evacuation, loss - on the one hand YIKES to all of that at once. And of course on the other hand... losing a parent is kind of a hurricane in itself, which just takes as long as it takes. So how great you had a joyous occasion in there, too.
Hope the tidal flow of fall is gentle in getting you to the next stage.
Hi Suze,
That was certainly unfortunately timing on the medication changes. I hope that you can get back on track, again, ASAP.
Tex
That was certainly unfortunately timing on the medication changes. I hope that you can get back on track, again, ASAP.
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.
Suze,
You've certainly had a rough summer. It's never easy to lose a parent, even if it's clear their time is near. Many new emotions rise to the surface and we need to recognize and deal with each one. I hope things begin to stabilize for you.
Gloria
You've certainly had a rough summer. It's never easy to lose a parent, even if it's clear their time is near. Many new emotions rise to the surface and we need to recognize and deal with each one. I hope things begin to stabilize for you.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Thanks to all. I'm feeling physically better today, which helps.
Now, dealing with 90 y/o father in law in the hospital...and, just told today at an eye doc visit that I have a vitreous detachment in the eye (Apparently not uncommon as we age. I had a ridiculously large floater. Red flag: if there are flashing lights, it's your retina, and get to the eye doc/ER ASAP). I have had more health s--- in the last nine months than I've had in the previous 59 years, so depressing...
Now, dealing with 90 y/o father in law in the hospital...and, just told today at an eye doc visit that I have a vitreous detachment in the eye (Apparently not uncommon as we age. I had a ridiculously large floater. Red flag: if there are flashing lights, it's your retina, and get to the eye doc/ER ASAP). I have had more health s--- in the last nine months than I've had in the previous 59 years, so depressing...
Suze
Suze,
I hear you. Until the later years of my fifth decade, doctors and clinics and hospitals were just places where I chauffeured older relatives for their appointments, or went to visit someone recovering from surgery, etc. I had no use for their services, myself. Now, I'm chauffeuring myself to those places.
And when it rains, it pours. 
Tex
I hear you. Until the later years of my fifth decade, doctors and clinics and hospitals were just places where I chauffeured older relatives for their appointments, or went to visit someone recovering from surgery, etc. I had no use for their services, myself. Now, I'm chauffeuring myself to those places.
And when it rains, it pours. 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.
Suze, I had a vitreous 'glitch' a few years ago - thankfully, not the retina. My mom had every flavor of vision thing that could go wrong (glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration) and I always wonder which of those are heading my way...
Best wishes to your father-in-law and you, and the whole family.
Tex, you're right - when it rains, it pours. I could take a little light drizzle, from time to time - and I'm sure all of you in Texas feel just the same.
L,
S
Best wishes to your father-in-law and you, and the whole family.
Tex, you're right - when it rains, it pours. I could take a little light drizzle, from time to time - and I'm sure all of you in Texas feel just the same.
L,
S
As always, thanks folks.
90 y/o FIL ended up having his gallbladder out. Doing well, largely due to being an active guy who walks, gardens, does lots of physical stuff. I'm sure he will bounce back well. He is every nurse's dream patient, that's for sure--never complains, very patient. They love him.
I started with the Freeda vitamins, and so far so good. Glad to have that recommendation.
I'm feeling better, and looking forward to a beach weekend in RI with old friends, while my SIL takes over...
90 y/o FIL ended up having his gallbladder out. Doing well, largely due to being an active guy who walks, gardens, does lots of physical stuff. I'm sure he will bounce back well. He is every nurse's dream patient, that's for sure--never complains, very patient. They love him.
I started with the Freeda vitamins, and so far so good. Glad to have that recommendation.
I'm feeling better, and looking forward to a beach weekend in RI with old friends, while my SIL takes over...
Suze