It Really Works!!!

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humbird753
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It Really Works!!!

Post by humbird753 »

Hi everyone:

It's been awhile since I've posted. I've been having intermittent problems with my computer.

Great things have been happening.

I started having my symptoms in August of 2009, but because of a lot of interrupting circumstances, I didn't follow through with getting a colonoscopy until June of 2010, in part because I had just had one (my first one) 1-1/2 yrs earlier and got a clean bill of health from that one. Anyway, I was diagnosed with LC. I was even told it was a mild case - didn't seem mild to me since I had explosive D 25 to 30 times a day! :shock: I have learned since being on this forum that there is no such thing as "mild" LC. You either have it or you don't. Unfortunately no doctor ever recommend any changes in my diet. I was offered Entocort EC, and possibly chose not to use it because I didn't think things could be that bad for me to have to use a steroid. I think my choice was based a lot on shock, denial, and being totally confused about what was happening to me.

I came to this forum the end of last year (2011) extremely confused and didn't even know what gluten was. I went GF/DF/SF (so I thought) the early part of Dec., 2011, but in reality it took many months before I was really on the right track. Improvements came slowly, but I did start seeing those small improvements after the first month, and I was grateful to see that eliminating those foods I am sensitive to could actually make a difference. In all honesty I was skeptical but went along with it because I didn't have anyplace else to go. Up until 9 days ago I was still having WD (shredded foods and all) 5 to 7 times a day. Although I read it often on this site, I didn't look closely at the supplements I was taking until 9 days ago, and found that 3 of them were suspicious. I stopped taking them, and things instantly changed from WD to going only 1 to 2 times a day. For the first time in 3 yrs and almost 4 months it appears to be forming.

I remember the first day I came to this forum. When members here actually responded to my post, I cried because it was such a relief to find there were really other people like me who understood. It is now almost a year, and I cried again today. This time because I am so thankful for everyone here. Without the information and support I received here, I know I would not have come this far.

WELCOME to all the newbies that have come here since I last posted. I would like to say this forum has a wealth of information (the right information). Do not get discouraged, but continue to ask questions and read a lot here. There will always be someone who can relate to what you are going through.


:grouphug:

Paula
Paula

"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
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Post by brandy »

Hi Paula,

Great news! My experience with supplements mirrored yours. Wishing you continued healing! Brandy
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humbird753
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Post by humbird753 »

Thank you, Brandy.

What a surprise it was to me that I didn't look closer at the supplements. I was focusing so much on the foods.

Wishing you continued improvement as well.

Paula
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"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
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Post by carolm »

Paula, your experience mirrors my own in that it's a process of chipping away at the problem. We are really down to fine tuning now where even small changes can have a big impact. So great that you discovered your supplements were problematic and you had such noticeable improvement. That's good detective work.

Keep up the good work,
Carol
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Post by laine »

Paula, great that you discovered that certain supplements were giving you problems. I take fish oil, calcium, a multi, vitamins B, C and D, glucosamine/chondroitin/msm. If you don't mind sharing did any of these cause you problems?

Thanks!
Laine
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Paula,

Congratulations! Great detective work! It always seems to be extremely difficult to track down those last few pieces of the puzzle, because after a while, we tend to trust some of the things we take, and we forget that they might be a possible risk.

Thank you for posting the good news. Victory after such a long, difficult battle is one of the greatest feelings in the world, isn't it. And it can do wonders for our self-confidence.

Tex
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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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Post by tex »

Laine,

It's certain inactive ingredients in those supplements that cause the problems, and those are largely determined by the brand name.

Tex
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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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Post by Gloria »

Congratulations, Paula! It's a great feeling to have figured it out, isn't it?

I experienced something similar when I recently went on a vacation and started taking some different calcium supplements. My Freeda calcium tablets were running low and I replaced just one a day with the new one to extend my supply. The new Freeda ones didn't arrive before my departure.

I began having D and small accidents within the week of taking the new calcium pills. Once I returned home and stopped taking it, Norman reappeared. A little pill can make all the difference in the world. I reacted to vitamin E capsules a few years ago and realized they had soy in them.

I hope you are on your path to remission. I'm so happy for you.

Gloria
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Post by maestraz »

Paula, those little breakthroughs are so significant! I recall wondering a while back whether my multi-vitamin was giving me problems, and Gloria recommended Freeda. I've been getting my vitamins from them since, and I believe it helped.
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humbird753
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Post by humbird753 »

Thank you all for your posts. They keep me encouraged.

Laine - It is surprising that just little pills can cause so many problems. It was my vitamins B Complex, Calcium and Multivitamin. And, Tex, you're right, it was the inactive ingredients. I believe there was soy in them. I'll have to check out Freeda or somewhere else for replacements as I would like to at least continue with the B vitamins and Calcium. I continue to take the D3 (5,000), a probiotic, and L-Glutamine with no problem.

Tex - I love your book! I've read it, but know I need to read all the chapters beginning at 16 again. There is a lot of information that I don't fully understand. I used to believe the statement, "what you don't know can't hurt you." In this case, though, "what we don't know can hurt us."

Another thing I noticed was I had more symptoms than I realized. They came on as subtly as they left. In my case it was the extreme fatigue, balance issues (unsteady on my feet), brain fog, and possibly more if I think longer on it. The only one that was not subtle was the explosive D - who wouldn't notice that one :shock:

I actually made some stew, and had some for dinner last night. NO PROBLEMS. I had peas in it as well (and wonder that "if" Soy is an issue for me, they may be as well). I only say "if" because I still have not had the Enterlob tests done. Even though I know I am healing, I am still considering on have the testing done. I hesitated to have them done earlier because I was afraid to see the results. Initially, just knowing I was going GF/DF/SF was overwhelming. If my symptoms had not improved, I would have had to get the testing done.

Thanks again everyone for your comments.

Carol - It is like chipping away (little by little).

Time for me to get to work.

Paula
Paula

"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
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Post by tlras »

OH Paula, that is great news! May I ask what the soy derived ingredient was in your meds? I did give up one of mine because it said soybean oil but honestly don't know if I react to soy or not.

I think it's amazing that you have healed so well with just diet. This is very encouraging. That's at least 2 encouraging posts I've seen already today. And it's good to hear at a time when I'm weaning off my Pepto. I'm like you in that I'm afraid to have the enterolabs done right now as I'm afraid of the results! You sound like you are healing well. Another success story in the making and we all need to hear lots of those!

Thanks for sharing!

Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Post by CathyMe. »

That's terrific news Paula. Doesn't it feel great to feel somewhat "normal" again? So glad that you're doing better.
Cathy
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Post by Leah »

Great news Paula! I've always admired you for taking this on with diet only. I am in the same boat with soy. I think I react a little, but seem to be fine with string beans and such. I can even eat a little dark chocolate that has soy lethicin.

Leah
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Post by Denise »

Paula,


WOW! You did it!
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Paula

a big WOO HOO - congratulations on your hard work that brought you this success
and that figuring out supplements were causing you issues, it will be awesome healing and wellness from this point on!

:lol:


for any newbies that are reading this, who are struggling at the moment, it is easy to get dispondent day to day. IF you apply the knowledge shared by the wonderful people of this forum, gradually there are more good days than bad ones, and in 12 months you will look back and see the progress, acknowledge that patience, tenancity and giving it 100% does work and it is worth it.
Gabes Ryan

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