Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
It's been a while since I posted, life has been a bit busy :)
Hope everyone has been well.
After getting the run around from the pathology lab then doctor's clinic, I finally got the results from the ME test - negative.
Histopathlogy Report
Supplementary Report
Specimen:
C. Duodenum
D. Terminal ileum
E. Caecum
F. Rectosigmoid
Clinical:
Had colonoscopy done at SDH in 2007 for frequent diarrhoea. Would like to request to have slides reviewed for mastocytic entercolitis.
As per request by Dr Lo on 28 May 2012, the slides from this case have been reviewed.
Microscopic:
As originally reported in 2007, the duodenal biopsy and terminal ileum biopsy show histologically unremarkable small bowel mucosa. The caecal and rectosigmoid biopsies show classical histological changes of collageneous colitis.
Immunohistochemistry stains for CD117 stain have been performed on all four samples. These highlight small numbers of singly scattered mast cells within both small and large bowel mucosa, numbering not more than 20 per high power field in any of the sections.
Comments:
Following histopathological review and discussion of the case with several colleagues in our department with specialist interest in gastrointestinal pathology, the original diagnosis of collagenous colitis is confirmed. To the best of our knowledge, histological changes of collagenous colitis has not been described in association with mastocytic enterocolitis.
My question is - she didn't have the sores on her arms/neck back in 2007. Is ME something you can "develop" or do you always have it regardless of whether you show symptoms?
If it is possible she developed it only in the last couple of years, I will ask her if she had the sores at the time of her last colonoscopy (2009/2010) and if yes then I'll request they are stained for ME.
Yes, mast cell numbers can wax and wane with time, diet, drug treatments, and very likely other factors.
It probably would have been better if they had reanalyzed the most recent biopsy samples. I would think that it's always best to assume that the most recent biopsy samples will provide the best data (since they will provide the most current data. A lot of things can change in several years, as you are well aware.
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 Shona,
Nice of you to care for your mum. I have taken Entocort for flare ups on and off the last few years. I just rolled off it a week ago after being on it for 2 months. No side effects except the type of headache you get from quiting caffeine. Last time, I went 6 months with no flare up after taking Entocort for only 6 weeks. It depends on how vigilant I am about my diet. This week, I feel fine, no gut ache whatsoever. I wish your mom success with the GF diet.
Cory
CoryGut
Age 71
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis Sept. 2010
On and off Entocort(Currently Off)
Thanks Cory, could I ask why you stop taking it rather than staying on a low dose all the time? (side effects etc?)
Tex, I know the more recent slides would've been better but the 2 more recent ones were done in her home state and when I asked the pathology lab if they still had the slides in storage they said they would have only kept them a few weeks - I'm sure this is wrong so I'll follow it up when I fly over there in a few weeks :)
That does sound highly irregular, but I have no idea what the regulations might be in Australia. Over here, they're usually kept for many years. There may even be a legal obligation, but I'm not sure about that.
In a situation such as that, one can't help but wonder if a claim that the slides no longer exist is made simply to minimize (or eliminate) any additional work that they might otherwise be required to do.
Good luck,
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 Shona,
The reason I roll off Entocort after 6 wks to 2 months is because I don't want to build up an immunity to it and have to use another possibly stronger drug. Entocort works so well and I have stayed in remission for up to 6 months so far.
Cory
CoryGut
Age 71
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis Sept. 2010
On and off Entocort(Currently Off)
