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I am having a bad day, and don't have anyone to talk to (who will understand).
It is hard not to be afraid, angry, and cry because of MC. I have recently recognized "meat" in my "so called" stool. I have been GF/SF/DF for 5 months and still have very watery stool with shredded foods - and now meat! I have heard that we are not supposed to have meat show in our stool. I experienced this once maybe in February and hoped it was an isolated incident, but have experienced it again. When I saw my ND 1-1/2 weeks ago and told her of the February incident all she said was "you're not supposed to see meat." But she did not go on to explain why. It's difficult when you don't understand.
Has anyone else experienced this, or know what it means, or what to do about it?
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
I have not seen undigested meat(yet). I am sure that gave you a "what now!" moment. I'm wondering - was it beef or chicken?, because I have heard beef is harder to digest. You always have this forum full of potty people who understand. I did sit on the toilet crying last month when I saw blood. I'm glad to report this has not re-occurred since.
I had a good turn this month because I can now buy generic Entocort(budesonide) on my insurance(bluecross/blueshield) What a relief t- $20 for a 90 day supply from Medco.
CoryGut
Age 71
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis Sept. 2010
On and off Entocort(Currently Off)
Paula,
When I was REALLY reacting I saw everything in my stool. I was ling on chicken and rice, but it was coming out of me. My reactions now don't really include much food.
I know how you feel. All I can say is patience. I guess that's what it takes.
Still new at this so I really can't give you an answer as to whether meat should be seen I have seen the pieces of the capsules that my medicine is in so I guess anything is possible with this disease
Sending you a gentle hug and a wish that you feel better soon.
It just means that you're not digesting the meat. That makes me wonder if you might be reacting to that particular meat. Or, you might be reacting to something else in your diet.
Also, some meat is sold with injected "tenderizing" or "moisturizing" solutions, some brands of poultry are especially prone to being injected with such solutions, and some brands of pork are also injected. Check the label before buying, because if the meat has been injected with something during processing, it will be on the label. Some poultry contains so much added solution that it amounts to up to 15% of the total weight, for example. That means that you're paying 15% of your money for water and phosphates, and sometimes the solutions contain gluten, or other problem ingredients.
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.
You poor thing. I was told also that the protein part of the meat should not show up in your stool (but fat and connective tissue can). I guess you should lay off the beef for a little while and then try it again and see if it happens.
I'm so sorry, Paula. We tend to think that all meat is acceptable (probably because the Paleo diet is promoted for MC), but many of us here have had problems with some types of meat. I was astonished that the MRT test showed I was highly reactive to chicken and beef was moderately reactive. I only eat turkey, pork and lamb now, but I have to be careful of the type of turkey that I buy. Most turkey is injected with a solution and that solution can be problematic, as Tex wrote.
I understand completely how devastating it can be to feel like you've suffered a setback. Sometimes I think that's the worst part of the MC progression. We are estatic when we think we've overcome it, but totally demoralized when we relapse. It's like being on a roller-coaster. That's when this board becomes our friend. Hang in there - you're not alone.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
I may sound like Winston Churchill, but never give up! It's okay to be frustrated and discouraged and scared. But you can do this!
If you're not digesting your food, I would think it wouldn't matter WHICH food--it's just all going through you so fast, you don't have time to digest it. I agree with all the comments above about safe/unsafe meats. As a matter of fact, it makes me think I need to take a closer look at my chicken!
I have to keep telling myself that patience is the key, that healing takes time, that this approach is not a quick fix. It is hard not to react to each worsening of symptoms with despair and each improvement with great hope, but I think this is a tortoise and the hare type process, slow and steady wins the race. There are plenty of people here, like Tex and Polly, who stuck with the diet despite how long it took for symptoms to disappear. I try to remind myself of that when my enthusiasm wanes. For me, I know that even if things are not perfect now they were so much worse before that going back to my old ways is not an option.
Rae wrote:Is it an indication of celiac (even though you have a negative biopsy) if you are passing food bits through your stool?
That can happen with any inflammatory bowel disease, including celiac sprue, MC, Crohn's or UC. It can even happen with other issues that cause enteritis, such as influenza, or a bacterial infection.
It can also be caused by inadequate stomach acid or by dumping syndrome.
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.
Rae, when Tex said that you might not have enough stomach acid to break down the protein, I thought about the natural enzymes that I use to take to help me digest. They did help. I took one with each meal that had hard to digest foods. You may also be low in Bromelain which helps break down protein. That is also a supplement.
Just a thought.
Thank you for all of your comments and encouragement.
I guess it could one of many things - injected meats, not enough stomach acids, or possibly an intolerance to that particular meat. By the way, it is beef that I have noticed undigested.
Do others here take enzymes to help break down foods? I have heard that before, Leah, but don't recall where I had heard it from.
I think what made my day worse than what I believe it should have been (beginning Monday evening) was because I took a walk with my husband and was talking about all of this that has been going on - probably because of my recent visit to my ND. My husband made a statement that floored me - he decided he knew what the problem was - STRESS. And to add insult to injury, added that I should be able to stop all of this (without all of this other stuff - GF/DF/SF/etc.). I thought we had been on the same page and that he fully understood and was in agreement with me. Apparently NOT.
I firmly believe this is the way to heal and put MC into remission. I appreciate each of you for your wisdom and encouragement.
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
oooo, sorry to hear about your husband's comment. It makes it so much more difficult to deal with this if you don't have the support of your loved ones.Stress can be a factor, but food is the key. I don't know what you can say to change his views, but maybe he should be reading this site.
I wanted to add that when I saw my ND (we had a 1-1/2 hour conference). I explained how I not only went GF but DF and SF as well. She seemed perplexed and asked if I had trouble digesting dairy.
She then proceeded to ask how I was doing on the supplements she had me taking. I told her I stopped taking all of them, but continue to take B Complex, a Multivitamin, Probiotics, and Calcium with D, and have added D3 and L-Glutamine to that as well.
She decided I need to add supplements again - Endefen (a powder to mix with water to help heal the digestive system), Digestin (to help slow down the digestion process and maybe help digesting foods), and a other supplements. I am not home at the moment so don't remember the names of the other supplements.
I want to continue to go to a doctor if nothing else to be able to get blood work done when needed. Going to her for the tests are less expensive than going to my local clinic/PCP. However, I do not want to get on the regimen she had me on when I first started coming to this forum. I was talking 30+ supplements every day. I never saw any improvements, and the schedule was difficult to adhere to - and very expensive! I am still finding the GF/DF/SF diet restricting as all foods are made from home. I cannot imagine doing what I am doing now and adding all of her supplements back into this. I would like to keep this as simple as possible.
Is there anyone on this forum who sees a ND, and did you find it was recommended you take A LOT of supplements?
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
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