MC Caused by Medications?
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MC Caused by Medications?
Is there a way to determine if your MC is caused by long term use of NSAID's & or Nexium?
Chris
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Gabes-Apg
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Chris
with no medically defined basis for why MC starts - and given the discussions in this forum and the varying events/situations/meds that people had in the lead up to their chronic symptoms and the Dx, i dont think at this stage there is any way you could narrow down the cause to a certain type of med.
mindful that for most people Dx with MC there are genes involved that made it highly likely they would get an IBD.
Given the money the Govt and Big Pharma make from those types of meds, if someone did a study and managed to prove that meds are a cause of MC, it would never get published or get any creditibility in the medical fraternity.
with no medically defined basis for why MC starts - and given the discussions in this forum and the varying events/situations/meds that people had in the lead up to their chronic symptoms and the Dx, i dont think at this stage there is any way you could narrow down the cause to a certain type of med.
mindful that for most people Dx with MC there are genes involved that made it highly likely they would get an IBD.
Given the money the Govt and Big Pharma make from those types of meds, if someone did a study and managed to prove that meds are a cause of MC, it would never get published or get any creditibility in the medical fraternity.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hey Gabes-
I was afraid that would be the answer! I've seen a couple of other previous comments about medication induced MC & was sure hoping there was some way to find out if that was the cause. I'm not sure if I should attribute my slowly improving condition to the absence of Gluten or NSAID's or both.....
On another topic, I originally posted some concerns about going GF before a trip to Mexico. After the encouraging responses here, I have been GF since before my trip & had a really good week there with no dietary problems at all.
Thanks for the feedback!
Chris
I was afraid that would be the answer! I've seen a couple of other previous comments about medication induced MC & was sure hoping there was some way to find out if that was the cause. I'm not sure if I should attribute my slowly improving condition to the absence of Gluten or NSAID's or both.....
On another topic, I originally posted some concerns about going GF before a trip to Mexico. After the encouraging responses here, I have been GF since before my trip & had a really good week there with no dietary problems at all.
Thanks for the feedback!
Chris
Chris
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Gabes-Apg
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- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Chris
most people with MC had issues elminated the commone meds that caused issues, which is a Huge step to attaining good results. but that good result from med change may not last forever, there is still the dietary and lifestyle components.
August 2011 it was confirmed that my MC was in remission, but i then when into the rollercoaster ride of histamine issues, which for many here is just as chronic as when we first had the MC.
I dont want to say it is a constant battle, moreso be diligent and listen to your body for when symptoms start appearing
Fantastic news that you had a great trip away! and that life GF has been easy to incorporate
well done
most people with MC had issues elminated the commone meds that caused issues, which is a Huge step to attaining good results. but that good result from med change may not last forever, there is still the dietary and lifestyle components.
August 2011 it was confirmed that my MC was in remission, but i then when into the rollercoaster ride of histamine issues, which for many here is just as chronic as when we first had the MC.
I dont want to say it is a constant battle, moreso be diligent and listen to your body for when symptoms start appearing
Fantastic news that you had a great trip away! and that life GF has been easy to incorporate
well done
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi Chris,
There is a way to detect an indication that MC may be drug-induced, but it doesn't constitute proof, and the pathologist would have to look for it when assessing your biopsy slides, and it's not likely that he or she did that, (because I've never seen such a notation on any of the pathology reports that I've seen). Research shows that if the eosinophil count is significantly higher in the descending, (left side), colon, than in the ascending, (right-side), colon, this can be an indication of drug-induced colitis. Frankly, I would be surprised if very many pathologists are even aware of this connection, and probably wouldn't recognize it even if they happened to see it in the slides, especially since the eosinophil count is not considered to be a diagnostic criterion of MC.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/707040
It's good to hear that the diet changes controlled your symptoms, and your trip went so well,
Tex
There is a way to detect an indication that MC may be drug-induced, but it doesn't constitute proof, and the pathologist would have to look for it when assessing your biopsy slides, and it's not likely that he or she did that, (because I've never seen such a notation on any of the pathology reports that I've seen). Research shows that if the eosinophil count is significantly higher in the descending, (left side), colon, than in the ascending, (right-side), colon, this can be an indication of drug-induced colitis. Frankly, I would be surprised if very many pathologists are even aware of this connection, and probably wouldn't recognize it even if they happened to see it in the slides, especially since the eosinophil count is not considered to be a diagnostic criterion of MC.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/707040
It's good to hear that the diet changes controlled your symptoms, and your trip went so well,
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.
That's great news, Chris! Thanks for letting us know.Chris wrote:On another topic, I originally posted some concerns about going GF before a trip to Mexico. After the encouraging responses here, I have been GF since before my trip & had a really good week there with no dietary problems at all.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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natythingycolbery
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Mine is thought to have been caused by long term abuse of NSAID's and to have been triggered fully by AD's. Especially as I seemed to go into remission as soon as I stopped taking these meds! However, I will never know exactly how I got it!
'The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.' Horace Bushnell
Diagnosed with MC (LC) Aug 2010
Diagnosed with MC (LC) Aug 2010
Chris,
I'm glad you got some relief and enjoyed your trip to Mexico. I trust you now recognize how much American food is laced with gluten at every opportunity, compared to Latin American foods. Just curious, are you still taking NSAIDS and/or Nexium? If not, are you finding the GF diet is helping to control the pain or other issues you were using those meds for?
I'm glad you got some relief and enjoyed your trip to Mexico. I trust you now recognize how much American food is laced with gluten at every opportunity, compared to Latin American foods. Just curious, are you still taking NSAIDS and/or Nexium? If not, are you finding the GF diet is helping to control the pain or other issues you were using those meds for?
Zizzle-
I've been off NSAID's for 3 months & am still on Nexium. I have some pretty developed arthritis in my back, neck & knees due to assorted injuries over the years. The arthritis has not improved and is worse w/out the NSAID's. I'm taking Tramadol in place of the NSAID's so I can function, but it doesn't offer the same pain control the NSAID's did.
As for the Nexium, I'd like to get off it at some point, but since my symptoms are just now showing slow improvement, I'm thinking I'm going to move slowly towards that goal......
Thoughts?
I've been off NSAID's for 3 months & am still on Nexium. I have some pretty developed arthritis in my back, neck & knees due to assorted injuries over the years. The arthritis has not improved and is worse w/out the NSAID's. I'm taking Tramadol in place of the NSAID's so I can function, but it doesn't offer the same pain control the NSAID's did.
As for the Nexium, I'd like to get off it at some point, but since my symptoms are just now showing slow improvement, I'm thinking I'm going to move slowly towards that goal......
Thoughts?
Chris
With NSAIDS out of the picture, you might want to consider more natural forms of pain relief for the arthritis. I see an Integrative Medicine doc who specializes in pain medicine. His primary tool for addressing pain is acupuncture, and I've found it helpful (although I don't have known joint damage, just hypermobile joints). People with fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain are usually helped with acupuncture as well as a gluten free and often dairy free diet, since they are pro-inflammatory foods.
Regarding the Nexium, there are others here who have tried or are in the process of weaning off of acid reducers. I don't know much about it, but I think many people treat GERD with Apple Cider Vinegar - it may help keep the Lower Esophageal Shincter (LES) closed. Of course your stomach upset may have been more about NSAID damage than true acid overproduction, so hopefully your stomach is healing from the NSAID use?
What we do know if that both those meds are major causative factors for MC.
Regarding the Nexium, there are others here who have tried or are in the process of weaning off of acid reducers. I don't know much about it, but I think many people treat GERD with Apple Cider Vinegar - it may help keep the Lower Esophageal Shincter (LES) closed. Of course your stomach upset may have been more about NSAID damage than true acid overproduction, so hopefully your stomach is healing from the NSAID use?
What we do know if that both those meds are major causative factors for MC.
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draperygoddess
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Chris,
I believe my MC was triggered by my use of Zoloft for about 7 years. Changing my diet was not enough to put me in remission, so I stopped taking the meds gradually and it made a huge difference in my symptoms. Still, my Enterolab tests confirmed that I am gluten-sensitive, and I have a recurrence of symptoms if I eat any of the foods on my "no-no list." So, the Zoloft may have been what started this mess, but now that the gene is triggered, there's no going back. If getting off your NSAIDS helped your symptoms, I think it's safe to assume they played a part in your getting here, but the diet is probably still key to your healing long-term.
I wish I had some words of wisdom about GERD, but that's one problem I DON'T have. Hopefully others have better advice! Good luck on your journey to "feel-better-ness."
I believe my MC was triggered by my use of Zoloft for about 7 years. Changing my diet was not enough to put me in remission, so I stopped taking the meds gradually and it made a huge difference in my symptoms. Still, my Enterolab tests confirmed that I am gluten-sensitive, and I have a recurrence of symptoms if I eat any of the foods on my "no-no list." So, the Zoloft may have been what started this mess, but now that the gene is triggered, there's no going back. If getting off your NSAIDS helped your symptoms, I think it's safe to assume they played a part in your getting here, but the diet is probably still key to your healing long-term.
I wish I had some words of wisdom about GERD, but that's one problem I DON'T have. Hopefully others have better advice! Good luck on your journey to "feel-better-ness."
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
Chris, FWIW, I stopped all NSAIDS, including Celebrex, which I had taken for some years due to Osteoarthritis, after my LC diagnosis. I can honestly tell you that I have less joint pain today, after almost a year gluten-free, than I had before. My rheumatologist gave me a script for Tramadol, which I had filled, but have never felt I had to use.
I have fairly advanced deterioration in my cervical spine, a bad hip, bad knees. I have found yoga and Pilates to be tremendously beneficial, in addition to strength training, and walking. I have done acupuncture and found it helpful.
I have fairly advanced deterioration in my cervical spine, a bad hip, bad knees. I have found yoga and Pilates to be tremendously beneficial, in addition to strength training, and walking. I have done acupuncture and found it helpful.
Suze