Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
Lovely post and good to both hear from you and see you. I know how you love wine. Like Joe, I have been laying off the wine for health reasons
I've long believed that many MCers have histamine issues. It has been interesting to follow the forum over the years and watch that theory unfold. MRT doesn't pick up foods high in histamine but, as Polly indicated, it does help to clean up the list of food sensitivities that most of us experience. I would have never suspected tapioca, for example.
You and I joined the forum around the same time, nearly 4 years ago. I have enjoyed following your journey.
Hugs,
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
I too am glad to see your picture and you are really handsome. I am with you and Polly on being a wine lover with Savignon Blanc first and Pinot Grigio 2nd - can't do the reds.
I totally understand and took to heart your post of the village to the city. I too am overwhelmed if I miss a couple of days with the number of posts and try my best to select ones that I feel I should post to.
Hope to see you around more.
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
It does look like I should go out of my way to get MRT tested. I could not find reference to the test in Hong Kong. I shall probably need to get a doctor's referral to test somewhere in UK when I next visit (if they do MRT in UK).
Meanwhile, I am unsure if I should try Zantac and Clarityne. Reading the blurb it looks like Zantac should only be taken for a limited period, while Clarityne does not have such a caveat (as long as my liver is OK). So probably Clarityne is the better option.
Love ant
P.S. on the photo.....amazing what lighting can do. This is what I really look like in the morning ... !
I believe you can get MRT in the UK. There is a lab in Poland that runs the test and it can be shipped from the UK to Poland in the specified amount of time. If you decide you want to do this please let me know and I will try to get info for you.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Ant wrote:P.S. on the photo.....amazing what lighting can do. This is what I really look like in the morning ... !
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.
You know, I found that I didn't need to take histamine blockers regularly for very long.........just a few weeks in my case. I can now just use them prn (as needed). Not sure why I had such a good response. (especially since I am one who has never had any respiratory or skin allergies).
I have always said that once a flare starts, it seems to take on a life of its own for a while, despite whatever treatments one tries. I wonder if those mast cells get into an ongoing, set "pattern" and perhaps the histamine blockers are able to interrupt that pattern? I found that both Claritin and Zantac helped, and I only used a 1/2 dose of Claritin.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Nice to see your face Ant!
I would give the antihistamines a try. Just read the "inactive" ingredient list to make sure that there is nothing you shouldn't have.
It worked for me :)
PS I love wine, but had to give up the reds :( And two glasses of white is all I can handle these days. Sad because one my husband's and my favorite things to do is wine tasting up in Napa and Sonoma.
Oh, my, I'm away for a week and when I come back, Ant has posted his picture! The mystery man is no longer a mystery. Nice to "see" you!
I didn't realize we're up to 1500 members. I expect the number will continue to increase because GIs might finally be recognizing that IBS isn't an adequate diagnosis and people want one. Someday, they might finally figure out how to treat MC, but I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, we can be grateful for the faithful veteran members who continue to lend support to newbies.
I've been taking Entocort along with various dosages of histamines for several months now. It took a bit of experimenting with brands and dosages, and I've finally settled on 1 Claritin RediTab each morning, none in the evening. When I had the itchy rash, I took 1 Zyrtec in the evening addition to the Claritin in the morning . I haven't had any side effects from the Claritin except a dry mouth. Claritin RediTabs have no dyes and the most minimal ingredients.
I think it's worth a try to see if the antihistamine helps.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Thanks. To paraphrase one of the UK's PMs from the 1960s (Harold Wilson), these days..... "A week is a long time on the PP".....
So, 1 Clarityne (Loratadine 10mg) in the morning looks like the way to go..... but I still have some questions (for anyone reading this) before trying it:
1. With food or without?
2. I see that the inactive ingredients = "corn starch" (questionable), "lactose" (very questionable since sourced from milk - methinks?) and "magnesium stearate" (probably ok in small doses). So will the potential benefits outweigh the potential dis-benefits? Or are there other brands of Loratadine I should look for?
I am looking at the box for my 5 mg. Claritin Reditabs, 12 hour. The inactive ingredients are: anhydrous citric acid, gelatin, mannitol, and mint flavor. You know how many sensitivities I have - and yet I do not react to this pill. You can take it anytime and anywhere - it literally melts in your mouth the minute it hits your tongue! Very cool and convenient! Let us know how it goes.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Ingredients can vary by country for some medications, but check out the Claritin Syrup, and as Polly suggested, the Claritin Reditabs.
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.
Hi Ant,
Thanks for saying what we all have felt. There are so many posts and one wonders how to welcome all so yours was a nice way to say hello to all newbies. I like what you said, about our poop-y discussions. When I say anything remotely about my digestive system, my family yells "Gross! Shut-up!", my friends scrunch up their faces with a look that screams, "NO please stop!" But everyone here says "oh, yeah, I know exactly what you mean, been there, pooped that". I feel so relieved to have found my tribe and to know that I'm not alone. This site is a safe house for me and may it comfort all newcomers as much as it has me.
Cory
CoryGut
Age 71
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis Sept. 2010
On and off Entocort(Currently Off)
!
