Just diagnosed with MC
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Just diagnosed with MC
Hello, my name is Alyssa. I was just diagnosed last week after suffering for over 7 years with Microscopic Colitis. My doctor and all the nurses, plus several of my nurse friends say I'm super young to have this...I'm 24. I guess it usually only affect people in their 60's? I have an extensive family history with autoimmune diseases. One thing I haven't had answered from this site, is whether or not MC is an autoimmune disease. Any enlightenment? I'm so glad to have found this site, as I have been felling a little out of place. Anyhow, I'm very happy to finally have a reason to my daily madness! I'm not just going crazy, and I'm not just a complainer. Hurrah for validation!
Alyssa
Hi Alyssa and welcome. Unfortunately MC was always thought to be a disease that especially affected older women. We now know that's not true...men, children and anyone can be impacted by it. I'm sorry it took so long for them to diagnose you. Because of the "older women" belief they probably never bothered to look. MC is autoimmune. Many of us here have other autoimmune issues as well. Diet appears to be the best bet for remission. I think we all felt "out of sorts" until we found this forum. Tex (our forum administrator) has written a book with a lot of information. The link is at the top right of this page. Deb
Hi Alyssa,
Welcome to our internet family. We consider ourselves a family because no one actually understands this disease unless they have it. Everyone here understands exactly what everyone else is dealing with, so we have a unique bond. Most doctors don't "get it", and they consider MC to be a benign, nuisance disease, that amounts to dealing with "a little diarrhea". Rarely do they recognize it as the serious life-altering disease that it actually is.
Deb is quite correct, of course, that MC is not only an autoimmune disease, but it is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, especially if it is not properly treated.
The attitude of your doctor and nurses regarding imagined age restrictions on this disease shows that they are out of touch with reality, and not very familiar with the disease (they're basing their opinions on obsolete data that was incorrectly interpreted back when the disease was first described, roughly 35 years ago). MC can strike at any age. We have many members in their 20s and 30s. Our youngest member will be celebrating her 7th birthday on the 28th of this month. She was diagnosed at the age of 2.
Fortunately, her mother followed her instincts and utilized the information that she found on this site to start her daughter on a GF diet, and within a few months she was in remission, much to the chagrin of her doctors at one of the leading children's hospitals. They wanted to treat her with corticosteroids.
She has been in remission for over 4 years, now.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. We consider ourselves a family because no one actually understands this disease unless they have it. Everyone here understands exactly what everyone else is dealing with, so we have a unique bond. Most doctors don't "get it", and they consider MC to be a benign, nuisance disease, that amounts to dealing with "a little diarrhea". Rarely do they recognize it as the serious life-altering disease that it actually is.
Deb is quite correct, of course, that MC is not only an autoimmune disease, but it is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, especially if it is not properly treated.
The attitude of your doctor and nurses regarding imagined age restrictions on this disease shows that they are out of touch with reality, and not very familiar with the disease (they're basing their opinions on obsolete data that was incorrectly interpreted back when the disease was first described, roughly 35 years ago). MC can strike at any age. We have many members in their 20s and 30s. Our youngest member will be celebrating her 7th birthday on the 28th of this month. She was diagnosed at the age of 2.
Fortunately, her mother followed her instincts and utilized the information that she found on this site to start her daughter on a GF diet, and within a few months she was in remission, much to the chagrin of her doctors at one of the leading children's hospitals. They wanted to treat her with corticosteroids.
She has been in remission for over 4 years, now.Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
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.
Welcome, Alyssa! You're not going crazy, you're not a complainer, and you have a real disease. This forum is a wonderful place to find information and encouragement.
You've probably been reading that we believe diet modifications are the best way to control this disease. Medicine helps, but the real key is diet, eliminating gluten, and probably dairy and soy, depending on your sensitivities. Many of us are able to handle MC with diet, especially after a period of healing. You need a lot of patience with MC--the damage took time, and healing takes time.
Sincerely,
Martha
You've probably been reading that we believe diet modifications are the best way to control this disease. Medicine helps, but the real key is diet, eliminating gluten, and probably dairy and soy, depending on your sensitivities. Many of us are able to handle MC with diet, especially after a period of healing. You need a lot of patience with MC--the damage took time, and healing takes time.
Sincerely,
Martha
Martha
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Welcome Alyssa and you have found the right place to be with great knowledge, good tips and super support.
No discrimination in the world of MC with age, race or culture.
Diet is by far the best path to take with this disease.
Maggie
No discrimination in the world of MC with age, race or culture.
Diet is by far the best path to take with this disease.
Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
Welcome Alyssa.
You have found the right place to get answers, help, and support. We have all been... or still are, where you are right now. It's too bad it took so long to get a Dx.
I don't know how bad your symptoms are, or if the doctor's are suggesting drugs to help, but diet is key to getting your life back.
You will hear all of us say "Gluten Free" over and over because it seems to be the commonality with us all. Many of us have had to give up dairy and soy also. Some even Eggs.
Just a heads up... if you are going to the bathroom a lot right now, you should probably cut out all your fiber foods for now (RAW fruits and veggies, salads, beans) and acid foods also. All of these foods just aggravate and already inflamed gut. Once you heal and you get the inflammation down - it may take months- then you can test these things back into your diet one at a time.
The elimination diet takes time and patience, but it does work. I am proof of that. If you have the money and want to find out what your main intolerances are, you can send a stool sample to Enterolab. Look up their web site. It will save you a lot of time and guess work.
Okay, ask as many questions as you need to. We are here for you :)
Leah
You have found the right place to get answers, help, and support. We have all been... or still are, where you are right now. It's too bad it took so long to get a Dx.
I don't know how bad your symptoms are, or if the doctor's are suggesting drugs to help, but diet is key to getting your life back.
You will hear all of us say "Gluten Free" over and over because it seems to be the commonality with us all. Many of us have had to give up dairy and soy also. Some even Eggs.
Just a heads up... if you are going to the bathroom a lot right now, you should probably cut out all your fiber foods for now (RAW fruits and veggies, salads, beans) and acid foods also. All of these foods just aggravate and already inflamed gut. Once you heal and you get the inflammation down - it may take months- then you can test these things back into your diet one at a time.
The elimination diet takes time and patience, but it does work. I am proof of that. If you have the money and want to find out what your main intolerances are, you can send a stool sample to Enterolab. Look up their web site. It will save you a lot of time and guess work.
Okay, ask as many questions as you need to. We are here for you :)
Leah