New Member-Interested on ages of those diagnosed

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Gloria
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Post by Gloria »

Welcome! :wave:

My GI says when a woman over 50 has MC symptoms, he'll do a colonoscopy. I guess if you're younger than 50 or a male, he assumes it's IBS. No wonder it's considered an older woman's disease - some doctors don't even look for it if you don't fit their mold.

I was dx'd via a colonoscopy when I was 61.

Gloria
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carolm
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Post by carolm »

Hi Dari,
I was 54 when diagnosed one year ago (August 2011), only 6 weeks after my symptoms started.

Carol
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Lesley
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Post by Lesley »

I was 66. I am not 67. I think MC had been around for a while when it happened.
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wonderwoman
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Post by wonderwoman »

I guess I'm the old fogey here at 72 years young. :hissyfit:
Charlotte

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humbird753
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Post by humbird753 »

I was diagnosed with LC when I was 57, but my symptoms started when I was 56. I see there are a number of us who are in our 50's (and women), but it is true that it is not a disease for only older women.

Welcome! You will find a lot of answers here. It wasn't until I came to this forum (11/2011) that I found I needed to make diet changes to remove gluten, dairy and soy. Not sure if I am intolerant to dairy and soy, but decided to eliminate the 3 primary food intolerances right away to get quicker results.

Paula
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Leah
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Post by Leah »

Welcome ! I was dx at age 50, but had intestinal problems for the 15 years prior. I am IgA deficient, so I think that is what triggered this auto immune disease, but I have another "Woman's" auto immune disease that must be managed also. Is the Asocol working for you?

Diet is key here and you will be hearing it over and over from us. I didn't think I was intolerant to gluten at all, but low and behold, my symptoms slowly got better when I dropped gluten and dairy from my diet. I also stayed away from raw fruits and veggies ( salad), beans, tomatoes, and peppers during the "healing period of time". It took me 6 months, (with the help of Entocort). to get off the drugs. During that time, I also had to give up soy-It became obvious. But I have been able to add salad and some beans back in. Things are still improving. I am almost there! Now I am looking at histamine reactions. I think it is the last piece of the puzzle.

I highly recommend that you order Tex's book from Amazon. It has so much great information. His real name is Wayne Persky if you are looking it up.

You can also check out the web site the lab called ENTEROLAB where you can send a stool sample to and get back your food intolerances.

Good luck
Leah
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Dariqwn
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Post by Dariqwn »

Wow…So many stories to read. I can definitely see food is the key to our health. I have figured out a lot of food over the last 5 years that don't agree with me, but now I know what I need to focus on. I can't believe soy too could be an issue. There are so many foods not to eat. Sounds like a food diary is in my future. I have a friend that is a dietitian for the University of Oklahoma sports. I am going to have her help me through this.
To help answer a question from a few posts back…I have not been on any regular meds over my life. I have been a healthy person with no real issues until after my 2nd C-section, then gal bladder went bad. I do take ibuprofen on or off as needed when my cycle or female issues get to much for me to handle. I am staying on schedule for hysterectomy after another consultation with my OB/GYN doc. There are definite differences in what I am experiencing. Today was one of those days. Sad thing is Ibuprofen is the only pain med that helps that pain. Lortab only makes me feel funny and doesn't kick the pain. :(

Does anyone take probiotics? I did, then my GI asked me not to get anymore (wasn't for sure it was to help isolate the issues or what. I forgot to ask them again if it was ok to start back after the colonoscopy & biopsy).

Also, has anyone taken Asacol? If so, what side effects have you had? I haven't had any yet, except maybe one that is starting to arise.

Thanks so much for all the feedback. Great help and new friends!
Leah
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Post by Leah »

Yes on probiotics ( make sure all the ingredients are safe). No on Asacol. To make the food thing more simple:

Most Common Inflammatory foods are : Dairy, Gluten, Soy ( and it's legume family). and Eggs

Most common "Aggravating" foods when your gut is inflamed are: UNCOOKED veggies, fruit (except bananas), salad, tomato and it's products, and peppers.

Other possible irritants are: coffee, tea, onions ,spices, vegetable oils, greasy food, night shades ( potato, eggplant)

We are all different and a food journal is an excellent idea.

Good luck
Leah
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Dariqwn
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Post by Dariqwn »

Thanks Leah.
That food info is very helpful. Now with that list, to figure out what is left that can be tollerated. Lol
tlras
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Post by tlras »

Hi and Welcome! I'm a newbie as well! Just was diagnosed with LC in July. I'm 45 years old. I'm trying to manage it with diet and the occasional pepto or immodium. Along with being GF since July, I now am DF for 2 weeks. DF has been the hardest but still having some WD so need to nip this in the bud with diet changes. I was put on Asacol about a month ago but WD got worse so doctor took me off and wanted me to do the whole Pepto Bismol treatment. But only taking it once a week right now. I think I had a problem with Asacol because of the Lactose something or other in it and I think I'm intolerant to that right now. It also acts like an NSAID, so I think I was having a problem with that as I used to take a lot of aspirin and Advil in the past. No more!!!

There is sooo much information on this forum about MC. I've learned a lot more here than from my GI doctor. I also gave up raw veggies and fruits for now to see if symptoms improve. My case seems to be pretty mild with 1 to 3 WD a day and sometimes I go a day now without a BM or I'll have a Norm one day. This just started when I gave up dairy so hoping it keeps getting better.

Good luck!! We are lucky to have found this group!

Terri
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

G'day from Australia

i was 40 when dx'd (had MC related symtoms for a few year before that) and various other digestion and hormone issues since childhood.

focussing on a MC eating plan that works for the individual has given quite alot of people fantastic quality of life, the changes and adjustments you make to your eating plan and lifestyle are worth it!

Pro Biotics - some have great success, lots of people no success at all.

the best explaination for MC is that; what works for one, may not work for another and similarly,
what is a major trigger for one person, another person may not have an issue with.
That is the crappy (pun intended) part of this, there is no quick fix or guaranteed solution. so my tag line for it is, there is no right way or wrong way, there is your way. You have to figure out what works best for you.

based on the knowledge learnt and shared by these wonderful people there are quite a few short cuts you can take, elminate the items that are major triggers for most, listen to your body and keep the journal.

i would reconsider the ibruprofin, it does cause issues for quite a few of us. Some people have gained really good remission quickly and easily by elminating something like iburprofin

happy reading and learning

:wink:
Gabes Ryan

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DebE13
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Post by DebE13 »

I was diagnosed with CC at 36 & I'm 41 now. Had daily headaches since I was in high school and horrible migraines in my 20's but I never related that to anything because I didn't know any better. I could and did eat anything without any problems. My symptoms started overnight with no warning. I had the flu one weekend and the watery D never went away after the flu worked its way through my system. It seems kind of odd that I can name the exact date.
Deb
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Post by Deb »

DebE, I had migraines, C, diverticulitis and other symptoms for years but I can also pinpoint the day my MC symptoms (D) started ( a few days after finding out a good friend was dying.) I knew stress was the major factor!
brandy
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Post by brandy »

Age 50---the GI doc implied this was a disease of women in their 90's so I felt I was going to kick the bucket soon. Brandy
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DebE13
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Post by DebE13 »

Deb- I'm beginning to wonder if stress is a reason why I can't seem to get a handle on things.
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