Hi all,
I've been lurking for days, and finally decided I needed to join the group! I was diagnosed with LC last week after months of what I thought was unresolved giardia (courtesy of the sweetest little adopted Congeolese granddaughter EVER)! I had giardia diagnosed in January and the symptoms never seemed to go away. I was really surprised when I found out the giardia was gone and there was something else going on. I'm a VERY healthy person. I have lots of questions and I'm searching old posts to find answers but as that often takes several clicks, I posted one poll and I've got some questions.
First, my celiac testing has all been negative -- blood tests, biopsies, etc. Since I also had a precancerous polyp, I've been told to continue with a high fiber diet.
My first course of treatment is Pepto. I'm willing to try that as it is inexpensive, but I'm wondering just how constipated people get from it as I was warned about that. Also wondering how long it takes MOST people to respond to that regimen if it works.
I have been physically inactive for the past couple of years and overweight. I wonder if that has contributed to the difficulties I'm having now. How many of you are/were in that boat? Of course, I've lost 25 lbs. since getting giardia and then the LC flare up, but I can think of better ways to lose weight!
I had a cholesterol screening (fasting) about a month ago and my cholesterol was quite low. While I was pleased because I've sometimes been borderline, I now wonder whether that was due to this colitis? Any insight there?
That's my list for today! Any help is great!
Janel
New and LOTS of questions
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Also wondering about coffee consumption -- how much coffee did most of you drink before colitis? I've been a HEAVY coffee drinker for years. Once on a history and physical form there was a question about caffeine use -- I put HOURLY and that's not much of an exaggeration. Wondering if that contributed to this too? (I know I have to give that up. It's okay if I can have decaf).
Hi Janel,
Welcome to our internet family. Regarding the celiac tests, unless you have fully-developed celiac disease, the results will almost always be negative. This is because those tests will only show a positive result when the patient has extensive villus damage to the small intestine. IOW, the tests will only show a positive result if there is at least a Marsh 3 level of damage, and it usually takes years to accumulate that much damage. Most of us here are extremely sensitive to gluten, but we test negative to those blood tests (except for those few members who have both fully-developed celiac disease and MC).
Only the stool tests offered by EnteroLab in Dallas, TX will detect the type of gluten sensitivity that we have. EnteroLab's stool tests are several orders of magnitude more sensitive than the celiac blood tests (because the antibodies are generated in the intestines, not in the blood). They will detect celiac disease several years before the intestinal damage becomes severe enough to trigger a positive result on the blood tests. This is why the average length of time from the onset of symptoms until celiac disease is actually diagnosed still takes an average of 9.7 years in this country. The medical community really needs to get it's act together, because they still have no way to diagnose the early stages of celiac disease, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Fiber is contraindicated with LC. Fiber is so abrasive to our intestines when they are hypersensitive from all the inflammation, that it will perpetuate the symptoms, even if we avoid the food sensitivities that are causing the inflammation.
With either a Pepto-Bismol treatment or treatment with Entocort EC, constipation is a sign that it's time to reduce the dosage. The average response time to either treatment is roughly 2 weeks, but some people see improvement within a few days, while others may take a month or more to respond to treatment.
LC is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn't seem to care whether we are athletically fit, underweight, or overweight. It gets us just the same. Some of us lose weight when the disease is active, and some do not.
There is a very good chance that your low cholesterol level is associated with active LC, but I doubt that your doctor would recognize a connection. Here's why I believe that it is connected — and rather than to go through the process of writing a long explanation, I'll save a bunch of time by just quoting from pages 21 and 22 in my book:
11. Koskela, R. (2011). Microscopic colitis: Clinical features and gastroduodenal and immunogenic findings. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oulu). Retrieved from http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn97895142941 ... 294150.pdf
12. Hrabovský, V., Zadák, Z., Bláha, V., Hyspler, R., & Karlík, T. (2007). [Changes in lipid metabolism in patients in the active phase of Crohn's disease]. [Article in Czech]. Vnitr Lek., 53(10), 1035–1039. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072426
13. Hrabovský, V., Zadák, Z., Bláha, V., Hyšpler, R., Karlík, T., Martínek,, A., & Mendlová, A. (2009). Cholesterol metabolism in active Crohn's disease. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift,
121(7–8), 270–275. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562284
Regarding coffee, most members here have found that if coffee caused them to have to run to the bathroom soon after drinking it before they developed MC, then it will cause them to have to run to the bathroom if they drink it after they have MC. For those of us who had no bathroom issues with coffee prior to the development of our symptoms, then coffee is typically not a problem for us after we develop MC. Of course, we are all different, so YMMV.
I never drank coffee before my symptoms started, so I didn't drink it while I was reacting, or during the recovery stage, either. I did drink unsweetened tea with no problems while I was recovering, and I do drink a cup or 2 of coffee these days. Of course, I had been in remission for about 8 years before I decided to even try it, but it has never caused me any problems that I'm aware of.
Again, welcome to the board, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our internet family. Regarding the celiac tests, unless you have fully-developed celiac disease, the results will almost always be negative. This is because those tests will only show a positive result when the patient has extensive villus damage to the small intestine. IOW, the tests will only show a positive result if there is at least a Marsh 3 level of damage, and it usually takes years to accumulate that much damage. Most of us here are extremely sensitive to gluten, but we test negative to those blood tests (except for those few members who have both fully-developed celiac disease and MC).
Only the stool tests offered by EnteroLab in Dallas, TX will detect the type of gluten sensitivity that we have. EnteroLab's stool tests are several orders of magnitude more sensitive than the celiac blood tests (because the antibodies are generated in the intestines, not in the blood). They will detect celiac disease several years before the intestinal damage becomes severe enough to trigger a positive result on the blood tests. This is why the average length of time from the onset of symptoms until celiac disease is actually diagnosed still takes an average of 9.7 years in this country. The medical community really needs to get it's act together, because they still have no way to diagnose the early stages of celiac disease, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Fiber is contraindicated with LC. Fiber is so abrasive to our intestines when they are hypersensitive from all the inflammation, that it will perpetuate the symptoms, even if we avoid the food sensitivities that are causing the inflammation.
With either a Pepto-Bismol treatment or treatment with Entocort EC, constipation is a sign that it's time to reduce the dosage. The average response time to either treatment is roughly 2 weeks, but some people see improvement within a few days, while others may take a month or more to respond to treatment.
LC is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn't seem to care whether we are athletically fit, underweight, or overweight. It gets us just the same. Some of us lose weight when the disease is active, and some do not.
There is a very good chance that your low cholesterol level is associated with active LC, but I doubt that your doctor would recognize a connection. Here's why I believe that it is connected — and rather than to go through the process of writing a long explanation, I'll save a bunch of time by just quoting from pages 21 and 22 in my book:
Here are the medical research articles that are referenced in that quote:Bile is released by the gallbladder into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fats. Normally, about 90 % of excreted bile acids are reabsorbed from the intestines and recycled back to the liver and the gallbladder. The reabsorption takes place in the terminal ileum (the bottom end of the small intestine). The reabsorption process may be compromised when the ileum, along with nearby areas in the colon, becomes inflamed. If these bile salts cannot be reabsorbed and they remain in the fecal stream, they will often tend to initiate diarrhea and possibly other symptoms as well. It’s quite common for the inflammation associated with MC to extend into the terminal ileum.11
Logical analysis suggests that a possible reason why the bile fatty acids may not be properly recycled when they get to the terminal ileum (as they should be, if the digestive process were proceeding normally) might be because they are still coating the fat globules when they reach the ileum and consequently they are in a state where they cannot be absorbed. In other words, if the pancreatic lipase does not successfully hydrolyze the fats, then the bile salts cannot be reabsorbed. Since they cannot be absorbed and recycled, they pass on into the colon, contributing to diarrhea in the process.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the excess bile is the primary reason for the diarrhea, however. The failure of the pancreatic enzymes to hydrolyze the fats may be the cause of the problem, and the ultimate reason for the compromised pancreatic function is very likely connected with widespread digestive system inflammation that leads to pancreatic inflammation, known as pancreatitis. Also, consider that if most of the bile is lost, rather than recycled, the total demand for bile can increase to as high as approximately 10 times the normal amount. In the long run, losing all that recycled bile is bound to place abnormal demands upon the liver and gallbladder to keep up with the body's needs. This might at least partially explain why gallbladder problems are so commonly associated with microscopic colitis.
Those bile fatty acids are feedstock material that the body uses to manufacture cholesterol to supply its normal needs. If 90 % (more of less) of the bile salts that would normally be recycled, are instead lost due to malabsorption, then the body would obviously need to produce much more cholesterol from scratch. Since as noted above, that could be as high as roughly 10 times the normal production requirements, it would seem logical that serum cholesterol levels might go down, as a function of a long-term malabsorption issue.
In fact, that phenomenon has been documented for active Crohn’s disease.12, 13 It seems likely, then, that the other inflammatory bowel diseases, including microscopic colitis, could also be associated with this phenomenon.
11. Koskela, R. (2011). Microscopic colitis: Clinical features and gastroduodenal and immunogenic findings. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oulu). Retrieved from http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn97895142941 ... 294150.pdf
12. Hrabovský, V., Zadák, Z., Bláha, V., Hyspler, R., & Karlík, T. (2007). [Changes in lipid metabolism in patients in the active phase of Crohn's disease]. [Article in Czech]. Vnitr Lek., 53(10), 1035–1039. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072426
13. Hrabovský, V., Zadák, Z., Bláha, V., Hyšpler, R., Karlík, T., Martínek,, A., & Mendlová, A. (2009). Cholesterol metabolism in active Crohn's disease. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift,
121(7–8), 270–275. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562284
Regarding coffee, most members here have found that if coffee caused them to have to run to the bathroom soon after drinking it before they developed MC, then it will cause them to have to run to the bathroom if they drink it after they have MC. For those of us who had no bathroom issues with coffee prior to the development of our symptoms, then coffee is typically not a problem for us after we develop MC. Of course, we are all different, so YMMV.
I never drank coffee before my symptoms started, so I didn't drink it while I was reacting, or during the recovery stage, either. I did drink unsweetened tea with no problems while I was recovering, and I do drink a cup or 2 of coffee these days. Of course, I had been in remission for about 8 years before I decided to even try it, but it has never caused me any problems that I'm aware of.
Again, welcome to the board, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Welcome Jane.
Let's see if i can answer some of these questions. Although doctors say they don't know what causes MC, we do know that there is a gene that is "triggered" by certain things.... NSAID use ( advil, aleve), certain antidepressants, use of antibiotics, high stress...). I don't believe being overweight triggers MC. I'm a little confused because you said you are VERY healthy but, being very over weight and sedentary is not healthy. I'm guessing that your cholesterol went down because you lost weight.
Ok, having a negative celiac test and biopsy does not mean that you are not gluten sensitive. Most of us have Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity and stay very far away from it.. It's the one thing almost all of us have in common- gluten causes inflammation. For many of us, so does dairy. Some of us soy and eggs also. If you want to know for sure, you can get tested by Enterolab . Look up their website.
I have to disagree with your doctor on the fiber thing. You must realize that most doctors know very little about treating this disease.. especially when it comes to food. Fiber is one of the worst things to eat while you are in a flare!!!!!! Think of it this way- If you had an open infected wound and you started taking antibiotics, but at the same time rubbed sand paper on the wound, would it get better? Right now, your gut is INFLAMED! We all must take fiber out of the diet until we are healed. Then we can slowly test a little back in at a time. if you do the Pepto treatment and still continue to eat the things that irritate your intestinal lining, you won't heal.
The pepto treatment works for many ( I did Entocort). You start with 8 chewables a day. if you start to get even slightly constipated, you cut back on the dose. you shouldn't be on i for more then 3 months and you should drastically change your diet WHILE on the meds, or you will likely relapse when you wean off of it. We are all different in how fast we respond. I think since you caught this early, perhaps not too much damage has accumulated.
I had to give up all coffee ( even Decaf), but I know that there are some people on this forum who are able to drink a cup a day
Please ask any other questions you have. Tex is our expert and has written a book. it's in the upper right hand corner. You might want to order one.
take care,
leah
Let's see if i can answer some of these questions. Although doctors say they don't know what causes MC, we do know that there is a gene that is "triggered" by certain things.... NSAID use ( advil, aleve), certain antidepressants, use of antibiotics, high stress...). I don't believe being overweight triggers MC. I'm a little confused because you said you are VERY healthy but, being very over weight and sedentary is not healthy. I'm guessing that your cholesterol went down because you lost weight.
Ok, having a negative celiac test and biopsy does not mean that you are not gluten sensitive. Most of us have Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity and stay very far away from it.. It's the one thing almost all of us have in common- gluten causes inflammation. For many of us, so does dairy. Some of us soy and eggs also. If you want to know for sure, you can get tested by Enterolab . Look up their website.
I have to disagree with your doctor on the fiber thing. You must realize that most doctors know very little about treating this disease.. especially when it comes to food. Fiber is one of the worst things to eat while you are in a flare!!!!!! Think of it this way- If you had an open infected wound and you started taking antibiotics, but at the same time rubbed sand paper on the wound, would it get better? Right now, your gut is INFLAMED! We all must take fiber out of the diet until we are healed. Then we can slowly test a little back in at a time. if you do the Pepto treatment and still continue to eat the things that irritate your intestinal lining, you won't heal.
The pepto treatment works for many ( I did Entocort). You start with 8 chewables a day. if you start to get even slightly constipated, you cut back on the dose. you shouldn't be on i for more then 3 months and you should drastically change your diet WHILE on the meds, or you will likely relapse when you wean off of it. We are all different in how fast we respond. I think since you caught this early, perhaps not too much damage has accumulated.
I had to give up all coffee ( even Decaf), but I know that there are some people on this forum who are able to drink a cup a day
Please ask any other questions you have. Tex is our expert and has written a book. it's in the upper right hand corner. You might want to order one.
take care,
leah
Welcome Jane!
Coffee has always hated me, and my family owns a coffee farm! I do enjoy a few sips, but a full cup sends me running to the bathroom. I drink lots of caffeinated tea with no trouble.
My total cholesterol was 150 just prior to my LC diagnosis, much lower than in my 20s, so i believe there is some connection to IBDs and/or autoimmunity.
Coffee has always hated me, and my family owns a coffee farm! I do enjoy a few sips, but a full cup sends me running to the bathroom. I drink lots of caffeinated tea with no trouble.
My total cholesterol was 150 just prior to my LC diagnosis, much lower than in my 20s, so i believe there is some connection to IBDs and/or autoimmunity.
1987 Mononucleosis (EBV)
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
Hi Jane and welcome!
You have come to the right place. I wish I had some answers for you as I am going through a trial and error process myself. I have been GF, DF, SF, I even stopped having rice and corn the last two weeks with the exception of GF corn chips because I need something salty to crunch and I think I'm craving that because I gave up all chocolate as well. I had reeses cups everyday and not just one or two. I stopped eating nuts too. I'm going on my third month of Entocort, my physician just refilled it because I am still having D, bloating and cramping but not half as bad as I was before I began all this two months ago.
The only fruit and veggie I eat right now is avocado and sweet potato. Sometimes I think that is still too much fiber.
Soon, I will be sending a stool sample to Enterolab and I can't wait. It will take so much of the guessing work out of this.
Oh and I still have my morning coffee, with almond milk though.
Good luck to you!!!
You have come to the right place. I wish I had some answers for you as I am going through a trial and error process myself. I have been GF, DF, SF, I even stopped having rice and corn the last two weeks with the exception of GF corn chips because I need something salty to crunch and I think I'm craving that because I gave up all chocolate as well. I had reeses cups everyday and not just one or two. I stopped eating nuts too. I'm going on my third month of Entocort, my physician just refilled it because I am still having D, bloating and cramping but not half as bad as I was before I began all this two months ago.
The only fruit and veggie I eat right now is avocado and sweet potato. Sometimes I think that is still too much fiber.
Soon, I will be sending a stool sample to Enterolab and I can't wait. It will take so much of the guessing work out of this.
Oh and I still have my morning coffee, with almond milk though.
Good luck to you!!!
Joanne
"A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step"
"A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step"
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ladyathome
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:08 am
Welcome!
I started Pepto-Bismol when I found this site in February. Like you, I thought it was worth a shot because I had taken a Pepto during flares on my own, and had experienced some relief, but I didn't know about the protocol. I started with 8 pills (2x4 doses per day), then after 2 weeks I reduced to 6 (2x3 doses per day) then again after 2 weeks I reduced again and eventually stopped because I was getting constipated. I really responded to the treatment almost immediately! I know others have not responded or not as quickly.
I also immediately cut out Gluten, Soy, Dairy, all grains, Eggs, sugar, and Beef from my diet, pretty much anything I thought I had issues with. I began to heal for the first time since 2010. I think the pepto was a wonderful aid for me, but I mostly believe that changing my diet was what changed everything!
I just got my results a couple weeks back from Entrolab and I'm now starting to incorporate some of the foods I cut out, and I'm still not having issues!
It took me so long to really "get in my head" that gluten and other foods could be such an issue because this disease seemed to come out of the blue for me!! My doctor didn't make a big deal out of the diagnosis, and I've always eaten anything I wanted... I hope you will read and listen to these wise folks on here who were the only real help out there for me!
I am one that can have coffee as long as I'm not in a flare. I did change to decaf because I feel weird sensations all over my body when I'm in a flare and coffee seemed to make me feel worse!
Keep us updated on your progress!
I started Pepto-Bismol when I found this site in February. Like you, I thought it was worth a shot because I had taken a Pepto during flares on my own, and had experienced some relief, but I didn't know about the protocol. I started with 8 pills (2x4 doses per day), then after 2 weeks I reduced to 6 (2x3 doses per day) then again after 2 weeks I reduced again and eventually stopped because I was getting constipated. I really responded to the treatment almost immediately! I know others have not responded or not as quickly.
I also immediately cut out Gluten, Soy, Dairy, all grains, Eggs, sugar, and Beef from my diet, pretty much anything I thought I had issues with. I began to heal for the first time since 2010. I think the pepto was a wonderful aid for me, but I mostly believe that changing my diet was what changed everything!
I just got my results a couple weeks back from Entrolab and I'm now starting to incorporate some of the foods I cut out, and I'm still not having issues!
It took me so long to really "get in my head" that gluten and other foods could be such an issue because this disease seemed to come out of the blue for me!! My doctor didn't make a big deal out of the diagnosis, and I've always eaten anything I wanted... I hope you will read and listen to these wise folks on here who were the only real help out there for me!
I am one that can have coffee as long as I'm not in a flare. I did change to decaf because I feel weird sensations all over my body when I'm in a flare and coffee seemed to make me feel worse!
Keep us updated on your progress!
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Hi there Janel
I am one that has no issues with coffee.
I drink a GMO free, organic based type of coffee that I make via an Italian stovetop percolator. I drink it as half strength long black (pre MC I was a latte gal)
this is the sucky part of MC, what affects one person may not affect another...
there are ingredients that do affect the majority (gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, etc)
aside from that it is pretty much you have to figure out what works and what doesn't for you...
Keep a journal
noting what you ate/drank, meds, supplements, when you had them, any activities, any stressful situations, sleep patterns etc) and over time you will see what works and what doesn't.
I know that I cant have coffee to close to eating as it causes Gerd.
I have my main meal in the middle of the day, light meal at night
To an extent, what caused the MC is a combo of lots of factors; genetics, medications over the years, illnesses from birth til now, stressful events, lifestyle etc
we cant go back and change the course of events. what is important now is to figure out your major triggers and come up with a lifestyle plan that will eliminate the symptoms and give you wellness.
take care
I am one that has no issues with coffee.
I drink a GMO free, organic based type of coffee that I make via an Italian stovetop percolator. I drink it as half strength long black (pre MC I was a latte gal)
this is the sucky part of MC, what affects one person may not affect another...
there are ingredients that do affect the majority (gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, etc)
aside from that it is pretty much you have to figure out what works and what doesn't for you...
Keep a journal
noting what you ate/drank, meds, supplements, when you had them, any activities, any stressful situations, sleep patterns etc) and over time you will see what works and what doesn't.
I know that I cant have coffee to close to eating as it causes Gerd.
I have my main meal in the middle of the day, light meal at night
To an extent, what caused the MC is a combo of lots of factors; genetics, medications over the years, illnesses from birth til now, stressful events, lifestyle etc
we cant go back and change the course of events. what is important now is to figure out your major triggers and come up with a lifestyle plan that will eliminate the symptoms and give you wellness.
take care
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
.jpg){kind=avatar}
Lots of.great info. I think I'll do the extended testing. I don't have much confidence in my medical provider but I live in oil boom country and we have an extreme shortage of docs. It took a month to get in to see a gastroenterologist, another month to get an appointment for a colonoscopy, and a week to get results. My actual appointment to discuss this with the referring GE isn't for three weeks, but she called to tell me to try the Pepto and answer a few questions. Sounds like that doesn't even matter if docs don't know anything about this.
Just to clarify - I am not exactly sedentary - I work three jobs and take care of 5 grandchildren every chance I get.I play competitive volleyball once a week and bike when weather permits. I just haven't been getting to the gym as much as I should for structured aerobic workouts. And I am about 20 lbs overweight. What I meant by VERY healthy is that I take no meds and have had few medical issues. Until now that is.
Also curious about something - my D only comes around every 7 to 10 days and lasts a day and a half - less if I take anti-diarrhea meds. Is that considered mild or average? Don't know why it matters to me. Don't mean to be naive, but is there ANY chance this can go away as quickly as it appeared?!?
Just to clarify - I am not exactly sedentary - I work three jobs and take care of 5 grandchildren every chance I get.I play competitive volleyball once a week and bike when weather permits. I just haven't been getting to the gym as much as I should for structured aerobic workouts. And I am about 20 lbs overweight. What I meant by VERY healthy is that I take no meds and have had few medical issues. Until now that is.
Also curious about something - my D only comes around every 7 to 10 days and lasts a day and a half - less if I take anti-diarrhea meds. Is that considered mild or average? Don't know why it matters to me. Don't mean to be naive, but is there ANY chance this can go away as quickly as it appeared?!?
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Janel
depends on how long you had symptoms, how much damage there is, how quickly your body heals, ?other health issues.
there are some - that once they remove major triggers, Gluten and the like, they can have minimal symptoms within weeks.
there are some that it can take 3 - 6 months to heal and have minimal symptoms
there are some that it can take 12 months
and there are some that have had issues pretty much semi constant for years....
ummm - it depends.Don't mean to be naive, but is there ANY chance this can go away as quickly as it appeared?!? Shocked
depends on how long you had symptoms, how much damage there is, how quickly your body heals, ?other health issues.
there are some - that once they remove major triggers, Gluten and the like, they can have minimal symptoms within weeks.
there are some that it can take 3 - 6 months to heal and have minimal symptoms
there are some that it can take 12 months
and there are some that have had issues pretty much semi constant for years....
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi Janel,
Welcome to our happy little group!
Interesting that you have a pattern of D like that...many of us would kill to have that problem instead of daily having it 8-10 times, or being incontinent with it or having explosive D and sometimes all three! I don't think that it matters though, whether you have mild or average or anything in between symptoms. MC is MC and it is going to affect you the way it is going to affect you and it may or may not go away as quickly as it came if you stick closely to a G-F diet. Seems to have a mind of its own.
I took Pepto for 15 days--4 times a day two at a time--and achieved constipation back at the beginning of January. I am just now feeling like I maybe starting to straighten out, but know from the way my stomach growls that I have not eliminated something that continues to cause inflammation. I was G-F BEFORE I had symptoms of MC and now am oat, egg and for the most part dairy free. The dairy is not a problem, but could be until the inflammation is gone. I don't seem to tolerate grain very well, but since I have to eat something, it is rice or corn based for me. I am allergic to tree nuts, which presents a special challenge of getting enough protein. I have become quite the meat eater.
I find your cholesterol decrease interesting and Tex's explanation even more so. My cholesterol was higher than I have ever had it last December and my primary care doctor was concerned enough that he wanted to test it this month. I was back down where I had been before. I explained it as my body was so stressed, my liver was pumping out cholesterol. Not sure that that is the case in light of Tex's explanation. But, people DO just react differently. I was at my lowest weight when my cholesterol was at its highest.
I have never been a coffee drinker. I could never tolerate it well. Caused me to speed. I am a lightweight when it comes to chemicals. I just can't take much.
Welcome to our happy little group!
Interesting that you have a pattern of D like that...many of us would kill to have that problem instead of daily having it 8-10 times, or being incontinent with it or having explosive D and sometimes all three! I don't think that it matters though, whether you have mild or average or anything in between symptoms. MC is MC and it is going to affect you the way it is going to affect you and it may or may not go away as quickly as it came if you stick closely to a G-F diet. Seems to have a mind of its own.
I took Pepto for 15 days--4 times a day two at a time--and achieved constipation back at the beginning of January. I am just now feeling like I maybe starting to straighten out, but know from the way my stomach growls that I have not eliminated something that continues to cause inflammation. I was G-F BEFORE I had symptoms of MC and now am oat, egg and for the most part dairy free. The dairy is not a problem, but could be until the inflammation is gone. I don't seem to tolerate grain very well, but since I have to eat something, it is rice or corn based for me. I am allergic to tree nuts, which presents a special challenge of getting enough protein. I have become quite the meat eater.
I find your cholesterol decrease interesting and Tex's explanation even more so. My cholesterol was higher than I have ever had it last December and my primary care doctor was concerned enough that he wanted to test it this month. I was back down where I had been before. I explained it as my body was so stressed, my liver was pumping out cholesterol. Not sure that that is the case in light of Tex's explanation. But, people DO just react differently. I was at my lowest weight when my cholesterol was at its highest.
I have never been a coffee drinker. I could never tolerate it well. Caused me to speed. I am a lightweight when it comes to chemicals. I just can't take much.
Jane
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
It can do either. For some people it can take decades for celiac disease to develop to the point where is causes clinical symptoms. At the other extreme, Dr. Fine's research shows that when the genes that predispose to MC are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten sensitivity are also triggered for most patients (and yes, for some individuals, this can happen virtually overnight).Janel wrote:Can it hide or can you develop a gluten allergy overnight?
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.