correspondance with my GI

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ant
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Post by ant »

Dear All,

Over the last couple of months I have been reading posts, but have been too preoccupied and felt unable to properly join into discussions. But, reading these post I just have to comment how this place (the PP) is sooooooo much at a "PHD" or higher level of discussion....truly searching and researching to find the TRUTH. I am in awe.

Best ant
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"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Ant,

Thanks for the kind words. That means a lot, because my/our long-range goals for this board have always been for it to serve as an on-going seminar devoted to understanding the disease and discovering the most effective ways to treat it, above and beyond established practices in the medical community. And along with that, we strive to maintain a down home, member-centric environment, where even though we understand doctorspeak, we prefer to translate it into terms that are more easily understood.

I hope the world has been treating you well, and Lady Luck is on your team.
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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wmonique2
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correspondence with my GI

Post by wmonique2 »

Tex,

On your post to Ant:

:thumbsup:

love,

Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
KD
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Post by KD »

Lesley

Robynzyme seems like an expensive way to get what it provides. A good digestive enzyme, (I take Similase GFCF) and Beatine HCL which is very inexpensive should do the same. You have to be careful with digestive enzymes they are often fermented in wheat, soy, dairy or barley which we are all trying to avoid. Robynzyme does not specify that it is gluten or casien free. The B12 that is in the product is a waste as the molecule of B12 is too big to be absorbed in your gut. It is best taken sublingually or via injection. If you read the article I posted last night Dr. Mercola He reccomends that you add the H2 blocker while you wean off of nexium this could take a couple of weeks. Then stay on the H2 blocker as you begin your digestive enzymes and Beatine HCL.
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Lesley
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Post by Lesley »

Thank you KD! That's interesting. I have to think about trying it. See if I can get off this stuff even though my sphincter is permanently damaged (see below)

Follow up correspondence with my GI:
Another colonoscopy? Perish the thought! I dread it.
I never thought of colon cancer. Don't mucous and the look of the stool indicate ongoing inflammation?

I use Citrucel daily. I also use flaxseed in many recipes, so I get some daily.

I use gum and rock candy to stimulate the salivary glands. I do not want to ingest the chemicals in the lozenges.

I worry that the esophageal sphincter is now permanently damaged, and thantnon acid substances are getting into it. Also that the stomach acids that are actually necessary in the stomach are permanently neutralized. How can my digestion ever improve given this situation?

BTW – the advertisements for nexium say categorically that it can cause diarrhea, and if it does to stop taking it immediately and contact the doctor.
How can I ever get off these clearly harmful medications? Every time I try to reduce them even minimally the rebound is so intense it is unbearable.

I added that I am taking nortryptiline daily and have been for years (100 mgs)

His reply:
If there is A large amount of mucous in the stool and its cause is inflammation I would Expect That you would Also be seeing blood And the stool would not be formed- it would be loose Or watery. Medications In the Drug class of nexium reduce acid But do not totally eliminate it . There is still an acidic environment within the stomach . PH of 7 is neutral and these medications lower the pH to 5 which is still acidic . A normal pH in the stomach can be as low as 2-3 which is very acidic. In 2009 The LES or esophageal sphincter had A slightly low pressure= The LES resting
pressure
was 12.6mmHg, which was low. The normal is between
14.3-34.5mmHg.
The LES relaxation was present with wet
swallows.

There is no way to increase the pressure except by another surgery which I would advise against .
At This time I would recommend increasing The Pamelor To 100 mg t o see if it reduces the pain that Is not due to reflux but from hypersensitivity of the esophagus. If BM are not greater than 3 Then you do not need to stop the Nexium. T Teller
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Post by carolm »

To anyone,
What would you suggest that I do to wean off the Dexilant I take?. It's in a capsule and my Dr has said I can open it and take the med in food. So now I'm wondering if-- rather than take one every other day-- if I would be better off to reduce it by opening the capsule and taking a portion of the med. it would be easy to reduce the amount weekly. And from the article KD posted, it sounds like I could add an H2 blocker at the same time, then fade it back after several weeks. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

A second question-- so what is the connection between low stomach acid and MC? Does it disrupt the ph of the small intestine? Or does it allow for too much fermentation in the intestine and the immune system perceives that as foreign and attacks it? I think there must be a connection of some kind, but I can't put my finger on it. How does it tie in?

thanks so much,
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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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Carol,

Sure, that should work. That's basically what I suggested to Lesley, in my 4th post, back on page one of this thread — wean off the PPI while adding an H2 blocker. And yes, IMO, since PPIs affect acid production for about 3 days, reducing the dosage smoothly should work better than doing it in large steps. You might need a longer time frame for the transition, and then weaning of the H2 blocker then you would expect, though, because PPIs physically change the histology of the parietal cells after a while, and their recovery can take a long time.

If the pancreas is working properly, it should provide the proper amount of buffering, via the common bile duct, to correctly adjust the pH of the chyme, after it enters the duodenum, so that theoretically at least, gastric pH should not affect downstream pH values. Of course, the reality is, in many cases, the inflammation that affects the intestines also eventually affects the pancreas (pancreatitis), so that pH may indeed be disrupted in the intestines. But that's probably a late-stage development (that is, it probably occurs long after MC has already become well established).

A gastric pH that is too high results in poor digestion, because not only does it fail to adequately control many types of food-borne bacteria (which can cause SIBO, bacterial infection, or some other bacterial imbalance), but gastric digestive enzymes work much better in a highly acidic environment. If the initial stages of the digestive process are incomplete, then digestion cannot proceed normally, and sugars will not be completely split, etc., so that the only way that the process can be completed, is by bacterial fermentation of the undigested remnants in the colon (which causes gas, cramps, and D, and of course — inflammation). There are probably numerous ways that poor digestion can lead to the development of MC, because anything that can result in inflammation in the intestines, on a chronic basis, can lead to MC.

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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carolm
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Post by carolm »

Tex, thanks for your response. I was probably 'splitting hairs' debating with myself as to whether taking 1 capsule every other day versus opening the capsule and taking a reduced amount every day. It may not make that much difference, but a lowered daily dose is what I think I will do. I appreciate your advice about giving this more time than anticipated. I do tend to want to "get on with it" and move through the changes quickly. I've been on Dexilant for 20 months and had gotten off of it twice, only to have to get back on it-- but one of those times was when I had to also get back on Entocort for about a month. It did seem necessary when I was on the steroids. However those days are behind me and now seems as good a time as any to work my way off Dexilant.

I will see my GI doc on Thursday for a 6 month follow-up. I'll see what she has to say about long term PPI use. She didn't prescribe the Dexilant (my PCP did) but she's not objected to it either. She's been very practical and has not steered me wrong. She's also been impressed with how I've managed my LC-- she said so at my last appointment-- and I've told her it's from the good advice of the support group here.

As always, thanks.
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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tex
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Post by tex »

Best of luck with these treatment program changes — hopefully everything will go smoothly. Please keep us posted on your progress, as I'm sure there are others here who will be very interested to see how well this works.

You're most welcome,
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.
TXBrenda
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Post by TXBrenda »

Below is an excerpt from Roby Mitchell's facebook post giving his side of the story regarding some of the Texas Medical Board reports as well as the corresponding local newspaper article:

Not surprisingly, after a lifetime of smoking and occupational chemical exposure,Ms White's late husband was diagnosed with cancer that had spread past the primary site. He underwent conventional therapies including partial removal of some of the cancer by head and neck surgeon, Michael Guttenplan MD. The type and location of his cancer was high risk for invasion into a major artery. There was no hope the procedure would be curative-only palliative. For his trouble,Ms White threatened to sue Dr Gluttenplan. After these therapies predictably failed,Ms White brought her husband to me for the education on boosting his immune system that I had used with her,and also used to manage my advanced prostate cancer(And yes,I accept the responsibility of facilitating that condition by my own lifestyle choices prior to understanding what causes cancer and how to reverse it by choosing different lifestyle choices). For cancer patients,I charge a nominal fee of $2,500 which does not begin to cover the $500/hour fee I normally charge. The finances of cancer patients have usually been decimated by prior failed treatments(Dr Brawley also speaks to this in his book,which should be read by every cancer patient). My reasoning for charging so little. As with an an attorney's retainer,the services rendered can't be returned like a defective toaster.
I provided education to Ms White and her husband,usually via home visits. I also facilitated an interface with them and hospice as hospice had been an invaluable resource when my mother became terminal with colon cancer caused by the drug Premarin. Ms White also berated and threatened to sue hospice nurses for "euthanasia".
One of the immune boosting strategies I made Ms White and her husband aware of is the "Universal Oral Vaccine". The information regarding the process is easily accessible via Google. This is the process used by former U.S. congressman Berkley Bedell to cure his crippling lyme's disease after conventional therapies failed. I facilitated the introduction of Ms White to a dairyman willing to help her husband. She would purchase his animal to be used for the process and he would destroy the animal afterwards. Ms White chose to work with this individual. Unfortunately,Mr White's condition was too far gone and he did not survive. Although the businessman still had to destroy his livestock,he refunded Ms White's purchase price for fear of reprisal. I have no such fear. Ms White proceded to small claims court after refusing a partial refund from me. She was unsuccessful.
No laws were broken in the case. She asked for and received educational information from me similar to what can be read in many books or sourced via the internet. This could also done if were trying to represent yourself in a court case,but its inadvisable. People who have already read this material shorten the process from A to B. I am certified by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research as a Lifestyle Counselor. That is what I offer for those who understand that "You will never medicate your way out of diseases you behave yourself into".


I agree that his products are pricey. The information he provides (for a price) is not as bad as the local "main stream" medical professionals would like us to believe.
Brenda
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Lesley
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Post by Lesley »

KD - where is the post where you suggested something instead of Robynzyyme? I have been looking for it.

Thanks!
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Lesley
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Post by Lesley »

I'll do more D3. One of my problems is the dropper bottle it is sold in. Hard to see what comes out.
KD
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Post by KD »

Lesley, I use Similase GFCF made by Integrative Therapeutics as a digestive enzyme. I think you can order it from the Internet. I am lucky since my DH is a physician I have whole sale access to all supplements. Then just add a simple beatine HCL which is very inexpensive.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
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Lesley
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Post by Lesley »

How do you use it? I am going to order it, but I need a routine for decreasing the PPIs and increasing this.
You are lucky to get the meds wholesale. I have spent a sall fortune since I got sick. Still, Nexium and the Carafate are SO expensive. If I can get off them I will save to pay for it.
Can you help?
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