by Mark William Kanter? I understand the author is dealing with ulcerative colitis, but his treatment is an anti-yeast diet because of too much yeast in the intestine. Am I correct in understanding that a gluten free diet addresses too much bad bacteria in the intestine? My husband was diagnosed with lymphocitic colitis last summer and is currently taking Asacol with mercaptopurine. Like most of the people I've read on this site, meds aren't working great for him, except prednisone, unfortunately. After reading your posts, I've convinced him to let me try a gluten free diet. (He's already dairy free.) I just recently read the "10 Day Cure.." book, and was curious if anyone had ever tried to go yeast free rather than gluten free?
Kanter also mentions taking bee venom pills for production of Cortisol...has anyone tried this?
Recommendations for a good dairy free probiotic?
It's difficult to discuss any of this with my husband, as it's very stressful for him, and he's typically a very laid back individual. I appreciate any feedback.
Thank you...
Has anybody read the 10 Day Colitis Cure...
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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goldgeogirl
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:52 pm
- Location: NV
Hi,
Welcome to the board. While a few people with LC do have a yeast overgrowth, the GF diet doesn't really help that issue, unless virtually all significant sources of carbs, (IOW, all grains), and sugars, are avoided. Yeast feeds on sugar/carbs.
The reason why we have to eliminate gluten from our diet is because when the genes that predispose to LC,CC, MC, etc., are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten-sensitivity are also almost always triggered at the same time, (provided that we have those genes, and almost all of us do). A failure to recognize that connection is the primary reason why most gastroenterologists are unable to effectively treat MC on a long-term basis. They only prescribe drugs, and as soon as the drug treatment is discontinued, the symptoms always eventually return, because the inflammation continues to be generated by food-sensitivities that trigger an autoimmune reaction in the intestines.
The classic blood tests are not sensitive enough to detect the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have with MC, and so they are worthless. Unless we also have fully-developed celiac disease, those test results will always be negative for us, even though experience shows that we are just as sensitive to gluten as any celiac. Only the stool tests offered by Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, will accurately and reliably detect the type of food-sensitivities that we have.
I don't recall anyone using bee venom pills. A cortisol insufficiency is normally not a cause of MC.
Culturelle makes a good dairy-free probiotic, I believe, and VSL#3, (the unflavored version), should be dairy-free. I believe there are other brands available also, these days, that do not contain a dairy ingredient. Probiotics are a very individualized item. Some probiotics make some of us much worse, while some have little to no effect. Very few of us have found probiotics to be helpful, while many of us have found them to cause a relapse of symptoms. I can recall 2 or 3 members, (out of many hundreds), who have found probiotics to be very helpful. Theoretically, they should be very beneficial for an IBD, but in the real world, it's extremely difficult for most of us to find one that provides any noticeable benefits, as far as treating MC is resolved. They are helpful for preventing a C. diff infection, following a treatment regimen with antibiotics, however.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the board. While a few people with LC do have a yeast overgrowth, the GF diet doesn't really help that issue, unless virtually all significant sources of carbs, (IOW, all grains), and sugars, are avoided. Yeast feeds on sugar/carbs.
The reason why we have to eliminate gluten from our diet is because when the genes that predispose to LC,CC, MC, etc., are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten-sensitivity are also almost always triggered at the same time, (provided that we have those genes, and almost all of us do). A failure to recognize that connection is the primary reason why most gastroenterologists are unable to effectively treat MC on a long-term basis. They only prescribe drugs, and as soon as the drug treatment is discontinued, the symptoms always eventually return, because the inflammation continues to be generated by food-sensitivities that trigger an autoimmune reaction in the intestines.
The classic blood tests are not sensitive enough to detect the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have with MC, and so they are worthless. Unless we also have fully-developed celiac disease, those test results will always be negative for us, even though experience shows that we are just as sensitive to gluten as any celiac. Only the stool tests offered by Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, will accurately and reliably detect the type of food-sensitivities that we have.
I don't recall anyone using bee venom pills. A cortisol insufficiency is normally not a cause of MC.
Culturelle makes a good dairy-free probiotic, I believe, and VSL#3, (the unflavored version), should be dairy-free. I believe there are other brands available also, these days, that do not contain a dairy ingredient. Probiotics are a very individualized item. Some probiotics make some of us much worse, while some have little to no effect. Very few of us have found probiotics to be helpful, while many of us have found them to cause a relapse of symptoms. I can recall 2 or 3 members, (out of many hundreds), who have found probiotics to be very helpful. Theoretically, they should be very beneficial for an IBD, but in the real world, it's extremely difficult for most of us to find one that provides any noticeable benefits, as far as treating MC is resolved. They are helpful for preventing a C. diff infection, following a treatment regimen with antibiotics, however.
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.
Sorry to hear that your husband is having a difficult time. Has he tried Entocort yet? Normally much easier on a person than prednisone. It works best if taken for about 6 months to give the intestines time to calm down and do some healing. Going gulten free along with it gives the best results. I'm not saying it works for everyone but most, I think.
Glad you found the board. Is your husband willing to do some reading/reasearch here? I imagine he feel quite alone but, believe me, that's not true.
Shirley
Glad you found the board. Is your husband willing to do some reading/reasearch here? I imagine he feel quite alone but, believe me, that's not true.
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
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goldgeogirl
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:52 pm
- Location: NV
Thanks, Tex & Shirley, for the replies. It's good to have people to ask questions of. I'm very glad for the probiotic warning. I bought some for my husband yesterday, and I'd hate to cause him discomfort because of a whim.
He has not tried Entocort. We are seeing the Dr. today.
My husband is quite willing to do research. He's just a very private person, which makes it very uncomfortable for him to discuss, which in turn makes him stress out before each Dr visit (once a month) and is definitely not good for the gut.
The bee venom question was about producing a natural steroid, rather than taking prednisone, for MC relief.
Thanks again
Lisa
He has not tried Entocort. We are seeing the Dr. today.
My husband is quite willing to do research. He's just a very private person, which makes it very uncomfortable for him to discuss, which in turn makes him stress out before each Dr visit (once a month) and is definitely not good for the gut.
The bee venom question was about producing a natural steroid, rather than taking prednisone, for MC relief.
Thanks again
Lisa
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draperygoddess
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 558
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:49 am
- Location: Tennessee
Hi, Lisa!
I can certainly understand why your husband wouldn't want to discuss this--it can be embarrassing if you're talking to other people who don't have the condition. The great thing about this forum is that nobody has to know who you are (unless you want them to). You can be anonymous and talk about your bathroom issues, and everybody here understands, because we deal with the same things. It might actually be a relief for him to be able to discuss it here!
I think a lot of doctors who don't understand MC recommend probiotics. Although there are certainly plenty of digestive ailments out there that are caused by an imbalance of bacteria and/or yeast, MC isn't one of them. My personal opinion is that if you don't treat the underlying cause of the inflammation (usually a food intolerance, usually gluten), you aren't really better, even on meds--you're just covering up the symptoms, and the damage is still taking place. From what I've read here, a GF diet is much easier than dealing with the side effects of the meds! They do have their place in the recovery process, but they aren't the cure.
Your husband is fortunate to have you in his corner, researching this for him and trying to help him get better. Good for you!
I can certainly understand why your husband wouldn't want to discuss this--it can be embarrassing if you're talking to other people who don't have the condition. The great thing about this forum is that nobody has to know who you are (unless you want them to). You can be anonymous and talk about your bathroom issues, and everybody here understands, because we deal with the same things. It might actually be a relief for him to be able to discuss it here!
I think a lot of doctors who don't understand MC recommend probiotics. Although there are certainly plenty of digestive ailments out there that are caused by an imbalance of bacteria and/or yeast, MC isn't one of them. My personal opinion is that if you don't treat the underlying cause of the inflammation (usually a food intolerance, usually gluten), you aren't really better, even on meds--you're just covering up the symptoms, and the damage is still taking place. From what I've read here, a GF diet is much easier than dealing with the side effects of the meds! They do have their place in the recovery process, but they aren't the cure.
Your husband is fortunate to have you in his corner, researching this for him and trying to help him get better. Good for you!
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
Hi Lisa,
I suspected that might be the purpose of considering bee venom. Unfortunately, cortisol generates a flight or fight response in the body, which creates a high-stress environment. Here's an explanation of why I don't consider that to be a practical option for treating MC, (or anything else that involves the digestive system, for that matter:
That is also the reason why the corticosteroids slow down the healing process, (even though they are widely prescribed to suppress inflammation, and they do help to suppress the clinical symptoms of the disease - unfortunately they do it at the expense of the normal healing process).
Tex
I suspected that might be the purpose of considering bee venom. Unfortunately, cortisol generates a flight or fight response in the body, which creates a high-stress environment. Here's an explanation of why I don't consider that to be a practical option for treating MC, (or anything else that involves the digestive system, for that matter:
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchi ... 9p38.shtmlGastrointestinal Problems
Cortisol activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing all of the physiologic responses previously described. As a rule, the parasympathetic nervous system must then be suppressed, since the two systems cannot operate simultaneously. The parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated during quiet activities such as eating, which is important because for the body to best use food energy, enzymes and hormones controlling digestion and absorption must be working at their peak performance.
Imagine what goes on in a cortisol-flooded, stressed-out body when food is consumed: Digestion and absorption are compromised, indigestion develops, and the mucosal lining becomes irritated and inflamed. This may sound familiar. Ulcers are more common during stressful times, and many people with irritable bowel syndrome and colitis report improvement in their symptoms when they master stress management.5 And, of course, the resulting mucosal inflammation leads to the increased production of cortisol, and the cycle continues as the body becomes increasingly taxed.
That is also the reason why the corticosteroids slow down the healing process, (even though they are widely prescribed to suppress inflammation, and they do help to suppress the clinical symptoms of the disease - unfortunately they do it at the expense of the normal healing process).
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.
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goldgeogirl
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:52 pm
- Location: NV
Lisa,
Ditto to what Cynthia suggested. Nobody truly understands this disease unless they actually have it, so on this board, we all understand, because we've been there, done that, and the odds are extremely high that we've experienced everything related to this disease that he has experienced, and a lot more. MC is a very humbling disease, but it can definitely be controlled. He can get his life back.
Tex
Ditto to what Cynthia suggested. Nobody truly understands this disease unless they actually have it, so on this board, we all understand, because we've been there, done that, and the odds are extremely high that we've experienced everything related to this disease that he has experienced, and a lot more. MC is a very humbling disease, but it can definitely be controlled. He can get his life back.
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 Lisa, I am currently in the process of figuring out exactly what foods cause reactions in me, but I can say for certain, after my experiences last week, that yeast is a major contributor to my symptoms. That being said, Gluten was the number one problem for me, and when I stopped gluten last February I initially felt 80% better. I think you are on track to get your husband off of gluten. Give it a few weeks, and he may feel significantly better. I wouldn't totally dismiss the yeast though. I have been trying to figure out which other foods bother me, and in the process I started eating pistachios to add calories. I had done a test through enterolab which indicated I was allergic to almonds, but it also suggested antibodies toward yeast. Well, this has been my worse week yet! I have had lupus symptoms return and stomach upset despite taking Entocort. Found out yesterday that pistachios contain yeast. I think this may have been the missing link, because apparently so do peanuts and I should have realized, vinegar! All this to say, I have to take a probiotic. Yeast is not the primary issue, gluten is! But yeast can contribute to problems.