I had 4 days with no BM at all, after a lot of soft serve and pencil thin stools with mucous. First day I took Philips stool softening tablets. Second day I took citrucel with some Philips. 3rd day I took the previous 2 with one Dr. Schulze's capsules (thanks Jean), with no results. Not even a gurgle! And night 4 I took 2 capsules.
Well, I got a lot of "movement" last night. Plenty of soft serve, TONS of mucous and floaty stuff.
And then there is the pain. The shooting pains, the heaviness, the crippling cramps, the pain in my entire body.
Both extremes seem to be opposite sides of the same problem. I can't seem to hit a happy medium. I don't know what stops the movement, if it's a specific food, and why I have to resort to extreme measures to get going again. If I at least moved through N on my way from D <-> C, and didn't have the pain.
I am now very slowly LOSING weight, which is not a bad thing, but does indicate a flare, although I don't have the explosive watery D with all the undigested food it it.
When I am in C mode I bloat horribly and gain 4 pounds.
When I finally get going I have mucousy D and lose 5.
My version of MC seems to be so different. I wish I knew how to gain some control of it.
I also wish enterolab was not so expensive. I would do a recheck to see if there is any new sensitivity that I don't know of. I don't know what could be causing this.
In full scale flare...
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Lesley,
That's basically the reaction cycle that I used to go through each time, except that my "C" phase wasn't so severe. Early on, my C phase was sort of like N, sometimes, but as the months went by, it became more of a serious C problem. I usually didn't use any laxatives, though, (because they didn't seem to do any good), and after close to a week went by, the nausea would begin and the C would abruptly lapse into watery D.
I was fortunate that when I hacked my diet down to a few basic items, I managed to break the cycle.
I wonder if it's possible for long term narcotic painkiller use to cause permanent motility issues?
Tex
That's basically the reaction cycle that I used to go through each time, except that my "C" phase wasn't so severe. Early on, my C phase was sort of like N, sometimes, but as the months went by, it became more of a serious C problem. I usually didn't use any laxatives, though, (because they didn't seem to do any good), and after close to a week went by, the nausea would begin and the C would abruptly lapse into watery D.
I was fortunate that when I hacked my diet down to a few basic items, I managed to break the cycle.
I wonder if it's possible for long term narcotic painkiller use to cause permanent motility issues?
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.
I just saw this. Sorry Tex.
I am sure I have permanent motility problems, but I have had them all my life. Long term narcotic use can't have helped.
I have to take laxitives and stool softeners because, if I don't, nothing moves. Remember, I have been known to go 3 weeks without a BM, and once ended up in hospital because the pain was so bad the paramedics thought I was having a heart attack.
There is nothing the docs can do except tell me to blast out the way I am. Trouble is I didn't have MC at the time, and once I dug may way out (almost literally) I carried on.
Even with MC I have had a couple of weeks where nothing helped, but a flare as severe as this hasn't yet happened.
I can't take an anti diarrheal because I will immediately slip into C again, so I have to wait it out.
It's really tough because it is a gorgeous day, friends are having a party by the pool, and many other friends are there. I couldn't stay. I just felt horrible. Exhausted, head-achy, and miserable. I didn't feel like explaining again why I wasn't eating anything so I just came home.
I hate this illness!
I am sure I have permanent motility problems, but I have had them all my life. Long term narcotic use can't have helped.
I have to take laxitives and stool softeners because, if I don't, nothing moves. Remember, I have been known to go 3 weeks without a BM, and once ended up in hospital because the pain was so bad the paramedics thought I was having a heart attack.
There is nothing the docs can do except tell me to blast out the way I am. Trouble is I didn't have MC at the time, and once I dug may way out (almost literally) I carried on.
Even with MC I have had a couple of weeks where nothing helped, but a flare as severe as this hasn't yet happened.
I can't take an anti diarrheal because I will immediately slip into C again, so I have to wait it out.
It's really tough because it is a gorgeous day, friends are having a party by the pool, and many other friends are there. I couldn't stay. I just felt horrible. Exhausted, head-achy, and miserable. I didn't feel like explaining again why I wasn't eating anything so I just came home.
I hate this illness!
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
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- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
sorry that things are still crappy (pun intended)
my only suggestion is that there is something in your environment causing you inflammation, i know you have done ALOT of changes with diet and lifestyle etc etc so the thought that there is still something causing this much chaos can be overwhelming...
whether it is external (ranging from household cleaners, body products, pollens) to internal (foods, meds, supplements)
if i was in this situation i would start from scratch for a week, not wash my hair, not use soap, go back to the most basic of basic diets (water and a couple of ingredients) and try and figure out what the possible trigger or triggers are.
quite alot of us had a bit of a roller coast ride that as we eliminated one major trigger, things would be good for a few weeks or a few months and then symptoms, something else becomes the major trigger
my only suggestion is that there is something in your environment causing you inflammation, i know you have done ALOT of changes with diet and lifestyle etc etc so the thought that there is still something causing this much chaos can be overwhelming...
whether it is external (ranging from household cleaners, body products, pollens) to internal (foods, meds, supplements)
if i was in this situation i would start from scratch for a week, not wash my hair, not use soap, go back to the most basic of basic diets (water and a couple of ingredients) and try and figure out what the possible trigger or triggers are.
quite alot of us had a bit of a roller coast ride that as we eliminated one major trigger, things would be good for a few weeks or a few months and then symptoms, something else becomes the major trigger
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Lesley, I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this again. I agree with Gabes it does sound like something it still making you react.
Have you considered a Fleet's enema for your C? Early on when I was flaring and had gone several days with no BM I tried one and it wasn't bad at all. It's makes sense to put moisture in and then let your body do the rest. Since I am able to eat fruit again I have a lot less C. I rarely use Imodium because I rarely have D but times I have you are correct, you go back to C. There have been times that just using Sudafed for sinus congestion would give me C.
Now that's bad!.
You really may want to give it some thought. I'm sure you'd get results and you get to pick the time your results show up, probably in less than 30 minutes. It might be better than worrying and wondering and I would think it would relieve the pain and heaviness you feel.
take care,
Carol
Have you considered a Fleet's enema for your C? Early on when I was flaring and had gone several days with no BM I tried one and it wasn't bad at all. It's makes sense to put moisture in and then let your body do the rest. Since I am able to eat fruit again I have a lot less C. I rarely use Imodium because I rarely have D but times I have you are correct, you go back to C. There have been times that just using Sudafed for sinus congestion would give me C.
Now that's bad!. You really may want to give it some thought. I'm sure you'd get results and you get to pick the time your results show up, probably in less than 30 minutes. It might be better than worrying and wondering and I would think it would relieve the pain and heaviness you feel.
take care,
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
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Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Lesley that sounds awful! I hope things are starting to settle down. I can't imagine alternating from D to C...I've actually forgotten what C is like.
It does sound like something has snuck back into your diet, it's amazing how easily that can happen. Manufacturers constantly change the suppliers for their ingredients and the recipe itself. Keeping up with all of this can be a full time job at times.
Take care Lesley, I hope you feel better soon
It does sound like something has snuck back into your diet, it's amazing how easily that can happen. Manufacturers constantly change the suppliers for their ingredients and the recipe itself. Keeping up with all of this can be a full time job at times.
Take care Lesley, I hope you feel better soon
Joe
I will probably get flamed for this suggestion but I think you should just "take a break" from all of this for a week or two and just eat like a healthy, non-MC person. You have been through the mill with food eliminations and then having to take things for your C....... maybe you should just give your body a chance to do what it's supposed to do and see what happens. Eat from the different food groups, in healthy moderation. Eat some fruits and veggies and breads. Eat some dairy. It doesn't sound like things could get much worse and, who knows, maybe your body will respond by functioning properly?
Yes, you'll probably have to eliminate lots of stuff in a few weeks but why not take a break from all this planning and analyzing and restricting and then start fresh in a few weeks? Like I said, I'm sure this will not be a popular suggestion, but after all you've been through and all the effort and energy you've put into trying to make things better, I think I would throw in the towel and just enjoy eating for a week or two and see what happens. You deserve a break today (McDonald's old slogan, I think?)
Sue
Yes, you'll probably have to eliminate lots of stuff in a few weeks but why not take a break from all this planning and analyzing and restricting and then start fresh in a few weeks? Like I said, I'm sure this will not be a popular suggestion, but after all you've been through and all the effort and energy you've put into trying to make things better, I think I would throw in the towel and just enjoy eating for a week or two and see what happens. You deserve a break today (McDonald's old slogan, I think?)
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
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Christine.
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:15 pm
Leslie,
Like CaroL I thought about a fleet enema. At least that should blast out any stubborn impaction. I don't know about eating everything.....Sounds kinda nice but if you get brain fog, aches and pains etc. You could end up in bad shape. The soup ( your own safe mix) sounds better to me. I forget...have you taken Entercort or have you gone strictly by diet and supplements alone?
Christine
Like CaroL I thought about a fleet enema. At least that should blast out any stubborn impaction. I don't know about eating everything.....Sounds kinda nice but if you get brain fog, aches and pains etc. You could end up in bad shape. The soup ( your own safe mix) sounds better to me. I forget...have you taken Entercort or have you gone strictly by diet and supplements alone?
Christine
Carol and Christine:
Fleet's enema - when I go into C it doesn't work, because it can't get past the inevitable dreaded plug. Also because of my "spastic" colon. I have had and used more enemas that I can tell you.
The last time I was in the toilet (yesterday) I only passed a lot of mucous. I know it's not because I am emptied out, but because of switching over from D->C.
Another symptom I have as soon as I switch is GERD. When I have D I The GERD is way better. With C it gets unbearable. Right now it's getting bad again.
Christine - Entocort gives me even more constipation.
I have been thinking that I should go back to potatoes only for a few days and add things in from there. Trouble is I will have to still take stuff for C because it's inevitable.
I didn't change anything in my diet and have NO idea what could have done it. I don't eat out, read every label, insist on seeing labels of stuff friends use, and always find something I can't eat, so I refuse all food when I am out, and drink only water. It's a drag, but I haven't had watery D for a very long time, although I am constantly fighting C. I haven't seen Norman around for a long, long time.
Sue, I really, really reject the idea of eating everything. I don't want to take the chance. My gut has been gluten, dairy, corn, rice, poultry, egg, almonds, cashew, and many other things free for almost a year now. I know I am sensitive to all those things.
What a mess I am!
CATCH 22!
Thank you guys! I appreciate you so much.
The brain
Fleet's enema - when I go into C it doesn't work, because it can't get past the inevitable dreaded plug. Also because of my "spastic" colon. I have had and used more enemas that I can tell you.
The last time I was in the toilet (yesterday) I only passed a lot of mucous. I know it's not because I am emptied out, but because of switching over from D->C.
Another symptom I have as soon as I switch is GERD. When I have D I The GERD is way better. With C it gets unbearable. Right now it's getting bad again.
Christine - Entocort gives me even more constipation.
I have been thinking that I should go back to potatoes only for a few days and add things in from there. Trouble is I will have to still take stuff for C because it's inevitable.
I didn't change anything in my diet and have NO idea what could have done it. I don't eat out, read every label, insist on seeing labels of stuff friends use, and always find something I can't eat, so I refuse all food when I am out, and drink only water. It's a drag, but I haven't had watery D for a very long time, although I am constantly fighting C. I haven't seen Norman around for a long, long time.
Sue, I really, really reject the idea of eating everything. I don't want to take the chance. My gut has been gluten, dairy, corn, rice, poultry, egg, almonds, cashew, and many other things free for almost a year now. I know I am sensitive to all those things.
What a mess I am!
CATCH 22!
Thank you guys! I appreciate you so much.
The brain
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Christine.
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:15 pm
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wmonique2
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1048
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:06 am
- Location: Georgia, U.S
- Contact:
in full flare
Hey Lesley,
I can't add anything to what everybody has been suggesting since I am one of the newest members of this motley crew ;-)
Just want to send you good vibes and wishes with hope that you'll stumbled into something that would ease your pain.
I am fighting this battle this last miserable week as well....
Regards,
Monique
I can't add anything to what everybody has been suggesting since I am one of the newest members of this motley crew ;-)
Just want to send you good vibes and wishes with hope that you'll stumbled into something that would ease your pain.
I am fighting this battle this last miserable week as well....
Regards,
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)