New to this message board, April, of 2012, was given the diagnosis of Microscopic Colitis in April of 2012. The specialist wrote a script for steroids for 6 weeks. Never really regained normal, in fact all of my life I had the opposite problem constipation. Two weeks after I stop the steroids the systems were the same.
Something I ate in the last two weeks started a flair up resulting in watery diarrhea every day, with gurgling sounds at night.
Now the doctor is saying take Pepto Bismol for 8 weeks. Has anyone else been put on this regiment?
Possibly have gluten intolerance and wanted to ask if this is common to have with the diagnosis of Microscopic Colitis?
Treatment Plans
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Hi Darlene,
Welcome to the board. If constipation is part of your normal reaction pattern to this disease, then a corticosteroid is not likely to be very beneficial, because they tend to cause constipation. In initial trials, the Pepto-Bismol treatment was shown to be effective in at least 85% of MC cases. However, Dr. Kenneth Fine (the founder of EnteroLab) is the creator of that treatment regimen (he has MC himself), and he no longer recommends the Pepto treatment as the primary treatment of choice. While it will typically stop diarrhea for most people (usually within 2 to 3 weeks), after the treatment ends, patients will almost always relapse, unless they adopt a gluten-free diet when they begin the treatment program. Because of that, and because a surprising percentage of people are sensitive to one or more of the ingredients in Pepto-Bismol, he now recommends treating MC by diet changes alone.
That said, the Pepto treatment will usually bring remission for most people, sooner than using diet changes alone, but without the diet changes, most people relapse within a few weeks after the Pepto treatment ends. And as Cathy pointed out, it doesn't work for everyone. Most doctors forget to mention to the patient that they must adopt a GF diet, because they do not believe that diet has anything to do with digestive system diseases. That misguided attitude is similar to trying to claim that breathing polluted air has nothing to do with developing asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, black lung disease, etc.
The Pepto-Bismol treatment is relatively safe (generally safer than using any prescription drug), but if you choose to use it, be on the lookout for any signs of intolerance toward the bismuth subsalicylate, or an allergic reaction to any dyes, and discontinue using it if any such symptoms show up. Most members who have an adverse reaction to Pepto show neurological effects, such as dizziness, balance issues, or possibly a headache. If such symptoms develop, they typically fade away after the Pepto treatment is discontinued.
As other members have already pointed out, most of us are very sensitive to gluten (even though we test negative to the classic celiac blood tests), and casein (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us are also sensitive to soy and all legumes. Some members also have other food sensitivities. We are all different — that's why there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment for this disease, and it's why most gastroenterologists don't have much luck trying to treat it.
Again, welcome aboard, and good luck with developing your own optimum treatment program.
Tex
Welcome to the board. If constipation is part of your normal reaction pattern to this disease, then a corticosteroid is not likely to be very beneficial, because they tend to cause constipation. In initial trials, the Pepto-Bismol treatment was shown to be effective in at least 85% of MC cases. However, Dr. Kenneth Fine (the founder of EnteroLab) is the creator of that treatment regimen (he has MC himself), and he no longer recommends the Pepto treatment as the primary treatment of choice. While it will typically stop diarrhea for most people (usually within 2 to 3 weeks), after the treatment ends, patients will almost always relapse, unless they adopt a gluten-free diet when they begin the treatment program. Because of that, and because a surprising percentage of people are sensitive to one or more of the ingredients in Pepto-Bismol, he now recommends treating MC by diet changes alone.
That said, the Pepto treatment will usually bring remission for most people, sooner than using diet changes alone, but without the diet changes, most people relapse within a few weeks after the Pepto treatment ends. And as Cathy pointed out, it doesn't work for everyone. Most doctors forget to mention to the patient that they must adopt a GF diet, because they do not believe that diet has anything to do with digestive system diseases. That misguided attitude is similar to trying to claim that breathing polluted air has nothing to do with developing asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, black lung disease, etc.
The Pepto-Bismol treatment is relatively safe (generally safer than using any prescription drug), but if you choose to use it, be on the lookout for any signs of intolerance toward the bismuth subsalicylate, or an allergic reaction to any dyes, and discontinue using it if any such symptoms show up. Most members who have an adverse reaction to Pepto show neurological effects, such as dizziness, balance issues, or possibly a headache. If such symptoms develop, they typically fade away after the Pepto treatment is discontinued.
As other members have already pointed out, most of us are very sensitive to gluten (even though we test negative to the classic celiac blood tests), and casein (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us are also sensitive to soy and all legumes. Some members also have other food sensitivities. We are all different — that's why there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment for this disease, and it's why most gastroenterologists don't have much luck trying to treat it.
Again, welcome aboard, and good luck with developing your own optimum treatment program.
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.
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Christine.
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:15 pm
Dsimmons
Pepto might be worth a try but most everyone here will tell you that there is no quick fix to mc. I tried the Pepto regimen after Asacol did nothing, but had to stop because my ears were ringing like mad.
You are very likely gluten intolerant. Most all of us are. By finding out your intolerances you may be able to achieve remission without meds. I am gluten, soy, dairy and egg free. ( after 9 months I find I can eat a little egg in baked goods and gluten free mayonnaise). I dont know what steroid you took or for how long but some of us take Entercort, a steroid that targets the intestines. I'm sure Tex or some of the others will chime in with more info. There is lots of information here and lots of wonderful people willing to be there for you. Good luck.
Christine
Pepto might be worth a try but most everyone here will tell you that there is no quick fix to mc. I tried the Pepto regimen after Asacol did nothing, but had to stop because my ears were ringing like mad.
You are very likely gluten intolerant. Most all of us are. By finding out your intolerances you may be able to achieve remission without meds. I am gluten, soy, dairy and egg free. ( after 9 months I find I can eat a little egg in baked goods and gluten free mayonnaise). I dont know what steroid you took or for how long but some of us take Entercort, a steroid that targets the intestines. I'm sure Tex or some of the others will chime in with more info. There is lots of information here and lots of wonderful people willing to be there for you. Good luck.
Christine
Hi and welcome!!
I am one of those who is taking the 8-week Pepto regimen. I'm on my 3rd week and having no ill effects from it so far. But I have to be careful with it as it can constipate me a little and have had to go down to 6 pills on some days instead of 8. It definitely has helped 100% with the watery D immediately. I got on it because I was afraid to lose anymore weight and now I can eat more. But diet is a huge deal with this disease. I'm currently GF and dairy free and I will stay that way. I have also had to cut out legumes and raw veggies as it aggravates the gut and causes more D for me. I'm praying that once I get off the Pepto I will have quit all my food intolerances.....still questioning eggs right now....and my D will not come back. Any deviation from my diet will cause a flare as I have learned from this forum. But right now Pepto has given me my life back and I'm enjoying it while I can. Also Imodium works well for me. Asacol made me worse....maybe because of the Lactose in it but I'm not sure as I'm doing so well on Pepto and both contain anti-inflammatories.
Good luck....you will get lots of great information on this forum!
Terri
I am one of those who is taking the 8-week Pepto regimen. I'm on my 3rd week and having no ill effects from it so far. But I have to be careful with it as it can constipate me a little and have had to go down to 6 pills on some days instead of 8. It definitely has helped 100% with the watery D immediately. I got on it because I was afraid to lose anymore weight and now I can eat more. But diet is a huge deal with this disease. I'm currently GF and dairy free and I will stay that way. I have also had to cut out legumes and raw veggies as it aggravates the gut and causes more D for me. I'm praying that once I get off the Pepto I will have quit all my food intolerances.....still questioning eggs right now....and my D will not come back. Any deviation from my diet will cause a flare as I have learned from this forum. But right now Pepto has given me my life back and I'm enjoying it while I can. Also Imodium works well for me. Asacol made me worse....maybe because of the Lactose in it but I'm not sure as I'm doing so well on Pepto and both contain anti-inflammatories.
Good luck....you will get lots of great information on this forum!
Terri