Hi everyone,
This is my first post. I thought I would introduce myself and give you my history.
I was diagnosed about 5 weeks ago with Lymphocitic Colitis. I have suffered from stomach problems for many years, I was told I had IBS. No doctor had ever suggested I have a colonoscopy or gastroscopy until very recently.
At Christmas time I had what I thought was gastro, quite embarrassing when it occurred at work. Anyway, the D never went away. After about 6 weeks I went to the GP who sent me to a Gastro. Two weeks later I was in for the tests. My first lots of results came a week later when I was told I had a hiatus hernia, but the specialist was still waiting on some results, so I had to go back the following week. That was when I got the Lymphocitic Colitis results.
My G has put me on Pariet and told me it eould take about 3 weeks to start working. So far I have had no change.
I have a family history of Chron's and my mum has a huge number of food intolerances, unfortunately my daughter, now 21, also suffers from stomach problems.
I have tried cutting out diary and coffee, but this seems to make no difference. I am thinking of cutting out gluten and will see how that goes, after reading through these boards.
So that is me and "hello".
Mim from DownUnder
Newly diagnosed
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Mim,
Welcome to our internet family. Many of us here have the same sort of history. It's good that you were able to receive a diagnosis so quickly, but unfortunately, it appears that your doctor is doing nothing to treat your LC. In fact, the treatment that he or she prescribed, Pariet (rabeprazole sodium), which is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is known to cause LC. We have many members who cannot take a PPI because it will trigger a reaction or prevent them from reaching remission. PPIs do nothing to suppress the inflammation that causes LC. Your GI specialist apparently must not be familiar with treating this disease, and thinks that he or she is treating a patient with IBS, rather than an inflammatory bowel disease.
Yes, I encourage you to try a gluten-free diet, because most of us who have this disease are just as sensitive to gluten as the average celiac. Most of us also have to eliminate all dairy products from our diet, and about half of us have to avoid all foods that contain soy, also. If we eliminate all the foods to which we are sensitive, our symptoms will disappear as our intestines heal. If you manage to eliminate all of the foods that are causing the inflammation in your intestines, you shouldn't need any drug prescription. You should be able to heal by means of your diet alone, and as long as you faithfully follow that diet, your symptoms won't return. Of course, if you eat out, or eat processed foods, there is always a risk of cross-contamination with gluten, dairy or soy ingredients, so you have to read labels carefully, and be very, very careful when eating away from home.
Please give the diet a fair trial for a reasonable length of time, because most of us find that the healing process takes much longer than our doctors claim. It often takes several months to see significant results from the diet, and for some of us it can take 6 months to a year. Some are lucky and heal faster. Kids heal quickly, but as we age, we heal more slowly.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
P. S. I moved your post to the Main Message Board so that more members would see it.
Welcome to our internet family. Many of us here have the same sort of history. It's good that you were able to receive a diagnosis so quickly, but unfortunately, it appears that your doctor is doing nothing to treat your LC. In fact, the treatment that he or she prescribed, Pariet (rabeprazole sodium), which is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is known to cause LC. We have many members who cannot take a PPI because it will trigger a reaction or prevent them from reaching remission. PPIs do nothing to suppress the inflammation that causes LC. Your GI specialist apparently must not be familiar with treating this disease, and thinks that he or she is treating a patient with IBS, rather than an inflammatory bowel disease.
Yes, I encourage you to try a gluten-free diet, because most of us who have this disease are just as sensitive to gluten as the average celiac. Most of us also have to eliminate all dairy products from our diet, and about half of us have to avoid all foods that contain soy, also. If we eliminate all the foods to which we are sensitive, our symptoms will disappear as our intestines heal. If you manage to eliminate all of the foods that are causing the inflammation in your intestines, you shouldn't need any drug prescription. You should be able to heal by means of your diet alone, and as long as you faithfully follow that diet, your symptoms won't return. Of course, if you eat out, or eat processed foods, there is always a risk of cross-contamination with gluten, dairy or soy ingredients, so you have to read labels carefully, and be very, very careful when eating away from home.
Please give the diet a fair trial for a reasonable length of time, because most of us find that the healing process takes much longer than our doctors claim. It often takes several months to see significant results from the diet, and for some of us it can take 6 months to a year. Some are lucky and heal faster. Kids heal quickly, but as we age, we heal more slowly.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
P. S. I moved your post to the Main Message Board so that more members would see it.
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.
Thanks for the welcome Tex,
Interesting you should say that about the medication, as I am finding it is making no difference whatsoever.
I will be starting the Gluten free diet as soon as I can, my main problem is that I live about 30 minutes from town and try to avoid going in unless I have to. I much prefer the sound of the waves breaking on the beach and the Kookaburras to the sound of cars. I also hate to waste food, so will use the stuff I have at the moment and buy gluten free when we run out.
Cheers
Mim
Interesting you should say that about the medication, as I am finding it is making no difference whatsoever.
I will be starting the Gluten free diet as soon as I can, my main problem is that I live about 30 minutes from town and try to avoid going in unless I have to. I much prefer the sound of the waves breaking on the beach and the Kookaburras to the sound of cars. I also hate to waste food, so will use the stuff I have at the moment and buy gluten free when we run out.
Cheers
Mim
Welcome Mim. I see that you have already got advise from our expert :) Your story is like so many of us. Going gluten and dairy free is the first step you should definitely take. I didn't believe at first that Gluten was one of the culprits, but I am sooooo much better now then I was four months ago! There are also other foods that "aggravate" an already inflamed intestine that you should try to avoid to give yourself time to heal. Then you can "test" them when you start to feel better. These include fresh fruits and vegetables ( eat only cooked), salad, high fiber, whole corn,and maybe even tomato products.
If you don't see improvement soon, there is a drug that many of us have had great success with. It's called Budesonide. I started with 3 pills a day and I have slowly been able to step down the dose over time. I now only take one every other day ( unless I am in a flare)
Where you live sounds wonderful :) Keep us posted and read as much as you can on this forum
Leah
If you don't see improvement soon, there is a drug that many of us have had great success with. It's called Budesonide. I started with 3 pills a day and I have slowly been able to step down the dose over time. I now only take one every other day ( unless I am in a flare)
Where you live sounds wonderful :) Keep us posted and read as much as you can on this forum
Leah
Hi Mim, 
Welcome from another Aussie. I don't post much these days as my LC is basically under control, but I do read regularly.
The diet thing is key to most people. You don't need to go shopping to start gluten free - just choose what you eat from the food you already have and stick to basic stuff. When I was reacting badly I tended to go to a very basic food, like grilled chicken, and overcooked rice with honey, and eggs.
When you do hit the shops, the healthfood aisle is the place to start. Look for Orgran stuff at Coles or your local health food store. Woolies re-badge a bunch of stuff under their Macro label now. Also, Coles has Country life bread (near their store baked bread) that is good - get the Low GI version as it doesn't have dairy whereas the plain GF one does. They also have Leda choc chip biscuits in the same area
Nuttelex is your marg of choice.
You won't see the Aussie brands mentioned here a lot, as we don't want to make our Yank cousins jealous. So yell out if you would like suggestions.
I am from Canberra, and yes, it is cold lately!
Lyn
Welcome from another Aussie. I don't post much these days as my LC is basically under control, but I do read regularly.
The diet thing is key to most people. You don't need to go shopping to start gluten free - just choose what you eat from the food you already have and stick to basic stuff. When I was reacting badly I tended to go to a very basic food, like grilled chicken, and overcooked rice with honey, and eggs.
When you do hit the shops, the healthfood aisle is the place to start. Look for Orgran stuff at Coles or your local health food store. Woolies re-badge a bunch of stuff under their Macro label now. Also, Coles has Country life bread (near their store baked bread) that is good - get the Low GI version as it doesn't have dairy whereas the plain GF one does. They also have Leda choc chip biscuits in the same area
Nuttelex is your marg of choice.You won't see the Aussie brands mentioned here a lot, as we don't want to make our Yank cousins jealous. So yell out if you would like suggestions.
I am from Canberra, and yes, it is cold lately!
Lyn
Hi Lyn
I used to be a Public Servant in Canberra, but fell in love with the Gippsland area, so moved down here. Am originally from Perth, so still getting used to the cold weather.
I work casual at Safeway (Woolies) so will have a look what they have and am studying full time for degree number 3.
Do you shop at Deeks? His chocolate bread is pretty amazing toasted and all gluten free. I think his bakery was the best thing about Canberra.
The pantry is starting to look a bit empty, so next time I am in Sale I will do some shopping.
Cheers
Mim
I used to be a Public Servant in Canberra, but fell in love with the Gippsland area, so moved down here. Am originally from Perth, so still getting used to the cold weather.
I work casual at Safeway (Woolies) so will have a look what they have and am studying full time for degree number 3.
Do you shop at Deeks? His chocolate bread is pretty amazing toasted and all gluten free. I think his bakery was the best thing about Canberra.
The pantry is starting to look a bit empty, so next time I am in Sale I will do some shopping.
Cheers
Mim
Hi Mim,
They sell Deeks bread at Coles here, so that is easy when I feel like some. I don't have the chocolate very often as it has dairy and even trace amounts can be an issue for me at times, so I have just got into the mindset of never having any.
I find I buy more GF stuff at Coles, but Woolies Select brand does the best ham's etc that are safe and decent quality.
Cheers,
Lyn
They sell Deeks bread at Coles here, so that is easy when I feel like some. I don't have the chocolate very often as it has dairy and even trace amounts can be an issue for me at times, so I have just got into the mindset of never having any.
I find I buy more GF stuff at Coles, but Woolies Select brand does the best ham's etc that are safe and decent quality.
Cheers,
Lyn
Welcome, Mim,
We all began where you are and there is much to learn, lots of Aussies here, and you are likely to solve a long history of family problems here. Keep reading and asking questions.
Connie
We all began where you are and there is much to learn, lots of Aussies here, and you are likely to solve a long history of family problems here. Keep reading and asking questions.
Connie
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.