Hi it's me again, I have a new question. This may seem dumb to you folks who have been researching/dealing with the MC/CC issues for years but since I'm a newbie and hadn't heard this one addressed yet I'll ask it.
Over a year ago I had my first colonoscopy. I know, late for me since I waited til after 55 to do it but anyway I was wondering if CC is contagious. The reason I am asking is the stomach/bowel noise symptoms. I had NEVER experienced ANY bowel or stomach noises following bowel movements and immediately following the first colonoscopy that started and has never stopped to this day. The WD didn't start until over a year after the first colonoscopy but the bowel/stomach noises following BM never went away during that time. Now the question.....is it possible to "catch" CC during a medical procedure like a colonoscopy? What if the instruments, i.e.....scope etc were accidentally not properly sterilized/sterilization process malfunction/noncompliance?
This may sound stupid but I'm just grasping at straws since I would still like to know why I have this condition but there's no history of it in any other family member. Aren't things like this usually genetic in nature even if related to gluten intolerance?
Thanks in advance.
Phil
Off the wall colonoscopy/contagion question
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Joefnh
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Hi Phil, I'm pretty sure that MC is not contagious although there has been one or two discussions about family members developing this condition.
What has been noted by many here is that the clean out process prior to the colonoscopy really disturbs the bacterial balance of the gut resulting in MC that seems to get worse after the colonoscopy. Additionally some of the prep chemicals have been suspected of also making MC worse. I know Tex has discussed this before, I'm just not sure of the details. My last colonoscopy was just this past April and I know that process caused me to flare up for quite a while.
What has been noted by many here is that the clean out process prior to the colonoscopy really disturbs the bacterial balance of the gut resulting in MC that seems to get worse after the colonoscopy. Additionally some of the prep chemicals have been suspected of also making MC worse. I know Tex has discussed this before, I'm just not sure of the details. My last colonoscopy was just this past April and I know that process caused me to flare up for quite a while.
Joe
Hi Phil,
IMO, Joe is right on target. The fact that you noticed those digestive system noises (that are unique to inflammatory bowel diseases) immediately after the exam, suggests to me that the clean out solution was responsible for initiating the development of your IBD. It usually takes a while for the inflammation to reach a level at which symptoms begin to present, but once the process is initiated (IMO), the reaction becomes self-perpetuating, and maturity of the disease is just a matter of time.
Some authorities suggest that the disease is caused by a pathogen (and in some cases, infections are indeed the initial trigger to start the ball rolling), but IMO, (as discussed in detail in the last chapter of my book), the process is usually initiated by chronic stress (which can be either mental or physical), that causes mast cell degranulation, which produces an inflammatory environment leading to leaky gut syndrome, and the resulting clinical symptoms cause additional stress that completes the loop to make the process self-perpetuating. The published research references that verify all this are listed in the back of the book.
In your case, the clean out solution caused physical (chemical) stress that lasted at least a few days, and while this may have been sufficient in itself, it was probably reinforced by chronic emotional stress (either immediately, or at some later time before the initial damage to the intestines had healed). Since damage to the intestines tends to heal very slowly, that implies that "chronic" doesn't necessarily have to mean continuous — it just has to be reinforced before healing progresses too far (and for adults, healing of the intestines typically takes years, not weeks or months — kids heal much faster). Anyway, this provides ample opportunity for environmental stress (whether continuous or cyclic), to set the stage for the development of MC or any other IBD (and remember that celiac disease is an IBD). This also sets the stage for the development of additional autoimmune diseases, FWIW.
As you probably know, I'm not a medical professional, this is just my opinion based on extensive research and the combined experience of members of this discussion board
Tex
IMO, Joe is right on target. The fact that you noticed those digestive system noises (that are unique to inflammatory bowel diseases) immediately after the exam, suggests to me that the clean out solution was responsible for initiating the development of your IBD. It usually takes a while for the inflammation to reach a level at which symptoms begin to present, but once the process is initiated (IMO), the reaction becomes self-perpetuating, and maturity of the disease is just a matter of time.
Some authorities suggest that the disease is caused by a pathogen (and in some cases, infections are indeed the initial trigger to start the ball rolling), but IMO, (as discussed in detail in the last chapter of my book), the process is usually initiated by chronic stress (which can be either mental or physical), that causes mast cell degranulation, which produces an inflammatory environment leading to leaky gut syndrome, and the resulting clinical symptoms cause additional stress that completes the loop to make the process self-perpetuating. The published research references that verify all this are listed in the back of the book.
In your case, the clean out solution caused physical (chemical) stress that lasted at least a few days, and while this may have been sufficient in itself, it was probably reinforced by chronic emotional stress (either immediately, or at some later time before the initial damage to the intestines had healed). Since damage to the intestines tends to heal very slowly, that implies that "chronic" doesn't necessarily have to mean continuous — it just has to be reinforced before healing progresses too far (and for adults, healing of the intestines typically takes years, not weeks or months — kids heal much faster). Anyway, this provides ample opportunity for environmental stress (whether continuous or cyclic), to set the stage for the development of MC or any other IBD (and remember that celiac disease is an IBD). This also sets the stage for the development of additional autoimmune diseases, FWIW.
As you probably know, I'm not a medical professional, this is just my opinion based on extensive research and the combined experience of members of this discussion board
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.
Thanks Joe and Tex,
That makes sense. It was over a year after the colonoscopy but the time that the CC presented did coincide with a sinus infection which also had me taking Levaquin AND a Medrol Dospak. In the middle of the antibiotic/steroids I flew home on a redeye flight from Hawaii and had little if any sleep at all for at least a day. When the WD started I just figured it was aftereffects of the good bacteria being killed off from the Levaquin but apparently must have been the "CC awakening" from all the stress of the meds and no sleep from the flight. That would be my "Readers' Digest diagnosis".
Now the next thing I have to ask is I wonder when the manufacturers of the Moviprep and other colonoscopy preps will put a warning on the label that their product may manifest MC/CC in patients that already are prone to this?
I'm assuming all the things you guys say about MC are also true for CC as well....not really sure what the difference is but maybe the book will tell me that
By the way Brandy's reply to my post last week with the list of all the GF things to buy from Publix has triggered my interest. Just the nudge I needed to try the GF diet for a while and I plan on taking it with me and stocking up next trip to Publix and giving it a shot.
Thanks again for the input. I'm definitely going to buy the book too as soon as it shows back in stock on Amazon.
Phil
That makes sense. It was over a year after the colonoscopy but the time that the CC presented did coincide with a sinus infection which also had me taking Levaquin AND a Medrol Dospak. In the middle of the antibiotic/steroids I flew home on a redeye flight from Hawaii and had little if any sleep at all for at least a day. When the WD started I just figured it was aftereffects of the good bacteria being killed off from the Levaquin but apparently must have been the "CC awakening" from all the stress of the meds and no sleep from the flight. That would be my "Readers' Digest diagnosis".
Now the next thing I have to ask is I wonder when the manufacturers of the Moviprep and other colonoscopy preps will put a warning on the label that their product may manifest MC/CC in patients that already are prone to this?
I'm assuming all the things you guys say about MC are also true for CC as well....not really sure what the difference is but maybe the book will tell me that
By the way Brandy's reply to my post last week with the list of all the GF things to buy from Publix has triggered my interest. Just the nudge I needed to try the GF diet for a while and I plan on taking it with me and stocking up next trip to Publix and giving it a shot.
Thanks again for the input. I'm definitely going to buy the book too as soon as it shows back in stock on Amazon.
Phil
The gastro doc who diagnosed me at a teaching hospital was pretty sure the 28 pill visicol prep irritated my colon and caused the CC to come forth ... it might never have happened if the system hadn't been so stressed.. or might have appeared later. He is NOT the one who ordered the prep that was a different doc. He wrote to the manufacturer for more information but never got a response...
I can verify the prep worked. Started working on the first batch of the 28 pill regimine and it never stopped until years later when I started entocort.
grannyh
I can verify the prep worked. Started working on the first batch of the 28 pill regimine and it never stopped until years later when I started entocort.
grannyh
I think every colonoscopy patient should be sent home with a good probiotic and a suggested diet to follow for 2-3 weeks while their gut "recovers." It might prevent a lot of unecessary suffering. As to the "warning label" idea...GOOD LUCK getting these companies to agree to that!! Even if the FDA knew there was a risk, they would determine the risk is outweighed by the chance of catching colon cancers and saving lives. They would not want to scare the public away from having the recommended colonoscopies.
It's interesting how many common threads there are. My first colonoscopy was about 2 years ago and the prep was "Golightly". I thought that was a strange name since it really caused me to go a lot instead of "lightly" LOL.
Another weird coincidence I found years after my first psoriasis outbreak was it started soon after I went on a beta blocker in the early 80s called Corgard. I think it's been discontinued now but I am convinced if I'd never taken it, the psoriasis may have never manifested. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I had psoriasis for about 10 years and by that time the doctor had already changed me over to a different med for BP. When I first came down with the psoriasis in my late 20s it was really debilitating. My nails were splitting and fingers and elbows would break open and bleed. Now I have some pretty bad arthritis in those areas but the psoriasis is in total remission from Enbrel for 7 years and most recently changed to Humira.
Phil
Another weird coincidence I found years after my first psoriasis outbreak was it started soon after I went on a beta blocker in the early 80s called Corgard. I think it's been discontinued now but I am convinced if I'd never taken it, the psoriasis may have never manifested. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I had psoriasis for about 10 years and by that time the doctor had already changed me over to a different med for BP. When I first came down with the psoriasis in my late 20s it was really debilitating. My nails were splitting and fingers and elbows would break open and bleed. Now I have some pretty bad arthritis in those areas but the psoriasis is in total remission from Enbrel for 7 years and most recently changed to Humira.
Phil