Hi All,
I am becoming a pest to everyone here! sorry!
Just to review my MC history: D since Sept when I started Cymbalta, also using Motin 600 for shoulder pain. Had normal stool cultures in early March. Colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. Biopsy diagnosis was MC.
Saw GI doc last week, prescribed budesonide ec 3mg 2-3 times a day.
I have always had a history of constipation. Very rarely have I had diarrhea, except with this episode and when I caught a GI bug. I know--bug was probably MC...
Well, since the colonoscopy, My BM have been very different. I am currently having constipation!
I have lots of gas, gurgling, but very rare BM! I feel like I have to go, but nothing!
I am fearful of taking the Budesonide because it may constipate me more.
I have not done well trying the elimination diet......my fault..
It is a case of denial......in my heart I know I need to do it, but I haven't....
I have had any fruit. I had a Greek salad last week to see if that had any effect on me--nothing...
I am at a loss..
Should I do the elimination diet (I know)?
The GI guy told me to stay away from fruit and uncooked veggies. Wanted me to slowly 'ween' myself back to eating regular food!!!! ( I know)
When I feel this gassy, I am afraid to leave the house!
also, I am under a lot of stress....
I am afraid to take Miralax or anything else for the C.....am afraid of the D....
I am about to e-mail the GI Guy with my questions about the budesonide, but wanted to ask your advice first--
I do have Tex's Book and have started reading it...
thanks everyone--sorry this is so long--I vent a lot
help! constipated now!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
HI Cyn, I'm sorry because I'm probably asking you to repeat yourself but I can't tell from your post: are you gluten free? What about dairy, soy, eggs? Fiber, sugar, caffeine? What have you eliminated from your diet?
I am also prone to C and rarely had D even in a flare so I know what you are saying. Just know that the Entocort will reduce inflammation but ONLY diet changes will allow you to heal.
I could advise you better but I'll need more details.
Hang in there-
Carol
I am also prone to C and rarely had D even in a flare so I know what you are saying. Just know that the Entocort will reduce inflammation but ONLY diet changes will allow you to heal.
I could advise you better but I'll need more details.
Hang in there-
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
Cyn,
Budesonide (Entocort) doesn't work very well with MC patients who are C-predominant, because one of the side effects of budesonide is constipation. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't take any more budesonide until I got past the C. If/when the D returns, then I would try a minimal dose of Entocort (1-3 mg capsule), to see if that will control the D, without causing C to return.
I would hope that this is what your doctor will advise.
Tex
Budesonide (Entocort) doesn't work very well with MC patients who are C-predominant, because one of the side effects of budesonide is constipation. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't take any more budesonide until I got past the C. If/when the D returns, then I would try a minimal dose of Entocort (1-3 mg capsule), to see if that will control the D, without causing C to return.
I would hope that this is what your doctor will advise.
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.
Tex is right of course. I knew it was time to reduce my Entocort when I would get cramping with C. Since like you I was always prone to C and taking the most effective but minimal amount of Entocort is key to using it successfully. It will help you feel better ..... but you will continue to flare as long as you are eating what is causing your inflammation. The 4 months I took Entocort 'bought me time' to get my diet sorted out. I eliminated gluten and dairy even before I started Entocort, as soon as I had a diagnosis. I eliminated soy while I was taking Entocort. I found I was reacting to eggs after I discontinued Entocort- but I never relapsed.
The diet changes can feel overwhelming but think 'eat simply'. Baked chicken with green beans or a lean roast with carrots and potatoes. Simple healthy foods. Grilled steak and a sweet potato. It takes planning but it's not impossible. You really won't get on the path to remission without the diet changes.
Hope you are doing better tonight.
take care,
Carol
The diet changes can feel overwhelming but think 'eat simply'. Baked chicken with green beans or a lean roast with carrots and potatoes. Simple healthy foods. Grilled steak and a sweet potato. It takes planning but it's not impossible. You really won't get on the path to remission without the diet changes.
Hope you are doing better tonight.
take care,
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
Hi Cyn. I agree. I have always been D dominant, but when I was taking Entocort, I knew I had to step down the dose when I got C.
Diet changes. Diet, diet, diet. Because of the gas, I would guess that dairy, and all sugars ( including fruit) are probably a problem for you. Certain veggies can also cause gas. For now, you might want to stick to squash, zucchini, green beans, asparagus….. Sweet potato seems very safe for us.
Maybe the Pepto protocol might be better for you then the Entocort?
Leah
Diet changes. Diet, diet, diet. Because of the gas, I would guess that dairy, and all sugars ( including fruit) are probably a problem for you. Certain veggies can also cause gas. For now, you might want to stick to squash, zucchini, green beans, asparagus….. Sweet potato seems very safe for us.
Maybe the Pepto protocol might be better for you then the Entocort?
Leah
ok--I finally decided to try a gluten free diet...I am whining when I say this, but it is hard for me. I know you have all gone thru it...My personal stress level is increasing due to not working and workman's comp coming to an end...
I already drink Almond milk. I have decaf coffee in the house.
I really need to focus on just chicken (not too fond of), turkey (do not care for), steak, salmon
Fish--I need some recipes for---I usually bake it with breadcrumbs.
I have string beans, carrots--will have to pick up some zucchini.
I bought some GF Rice Chex for breakfast and to nibble on.
I also bought some GF bread---Udi's
and almond butter. and the margarine without soy--I forget the name but it is what you guys recommended.
I have sweet potatoes in the house.
and potato chips!
If I feel like a sandwich, I will buy some Boars Head chicken...on the Udi bread.....
I need nibble ideas, if possible? also:
What is a good way to have regular potatoes--just s&p and the margarine? or is that not allowed?
yesterday, I did not eat much.....just some chicken, huge sweet potato, green beans--decaf for breakfast, and some chips for a snack....was very gassy...
Is this ok to start with? Or should I be stricter?
I am trying not to spend much money--it is an issue right now- so any suggestions would be helpful.
I started this yesterday.. My stomach does not feel as gassy--right now, at least...
Since the colonoscopy, my BM is every 3 days--a huge amount! starts out normal; by the end it is cow patty time!
Hope this helps to get me regular.
Thanks for all your help..
I already drink Almond milk. I have decaf coffee in the house.
I really need to focus on just chicken (not too fond of), turkey (do not care for), steak, salmon
Fish--I need some recipes for---I usually bake it with breadcrumbs.
I have string beans, carrots--will have to pick up some zucchini.
I bought some GF Rice Chex for breakfast and to nibble on.
I also bought some GF bread---Udi's
and almond butter. and the margarine without soy--I forget the name but it is what you guys recommended.
I have sweet potatoes in the house.
and potato chips!
If I feel like a sandwich, I will buy some Boars Head chicken...on the Udi bread.....
I need nibble ideas, if possible? also:
What is a good way to have regular potatoes--just s&p and the margarine? or is that not allowed?
yesterday, I did not eat much.....just some chicken, huge sweet potato, green beans--decaf for breakfast, and some chips for a snack....was very gassy...
Is this ok to start with? Or should I be stricter?
I am trying not to spend much money--it is an issue right now- so any suggestions would be helpful.
I started this yesterday.. My stomach does not feel as gassy--right now, at least...
Since the colonoscopy, my BM is every 3 days--a huge amount! starts out normal; by the end it is cow patty time!
Hope this helps to get me regular.
Thanks for all your help..
It's hard to say what could be causing the gas. It could be the chips. Some are too greasy and for me, I discovered that I can't eat canola oil, so I only buy chips that are either oil, safflower, or sunflower and I only eat a few at a time. My favorite is Simply Ruffles Potato Chips. I also eat corn tortilla chips sometimes. I also eat corn chex. I find them tastier then the rice ones.
Some of us have problems with nuts or certain nuts, so that could be an issue.
At the beginning, I didn't eat any GF bread. It has a lot of ingredients that I just didn't know if I was OK with. Some of us have problems with GF processed foods. I didn't add that in until I had 6 months of healing under my belt, but I do sometimes toast it and eat it now and am fine.
When I want to bake fish with a crumb topping, I crush and season GF corn flakes and drizzle olive oil and lemon on top before baking. I'm not a huge fish fan, but BBQing is good with some. If I have trout, I just broil it open with spices. It takes maybe 5 minutes. Google fish recipes for ideas.
I eat all types of meat and I'm guessing you might be OK with that also. I rotate between all of them.
I roast my cubed potatoes at 425 most of the time with olive oil, S and P for about 30 minutes. I sometimes bake one and put saved bacon grease on it instead of butter.
Just remember we are all different in our intolerances. It's best to keep a food/reaction journal .
Leah
Some of us have problems with nuts or certain nuts, so that could be an issue.
At the beginning, I didn't eat any GF bread. It has a lot of ingredients that I just didn't know if I was OK with. Some of us have problems with GF processed foods. I didn't add that in until I had 6 months of healing under my belt, but I do sometimes toast it and eat it now and am fine.
When I want to bake fish with a crumb topping, I crush and season GF corn flakes and drizzle olive oil and lemon on top before baking. I'm not a huge fish fan, but BBQing is good with some. If I have trout, I just broil it open with spices. It takes maybe 5 minutes. Google fish recipes for ideas.
I eat all types of meat and I'm guessing you might be OK with that also. I rotate between all of them.
I roast my cubed potatoes at 425 most of the time with olive oil, S and P for about 30 minutes. I sometimes bake one and put saved bacon grease on it instead of butter.
Just remember we are all different in our intolerances. It's best to keep a food/reaction journal .
Leah
Cyn.. I am new here like you but will chime in. I have been steaming my fish with herbs or onion slice on top. Or..wrap your fish or chicken in foil with herbs&onion on top and BBQ. I have also taken salmon&leftover potato and made it into a patty &broil or BBQ. I Try not to fry anything. Tonight, fish in foil with zucchini slices atop rice. This weekend I am going to try making soup with beef bones I bought cheap. Try to keep it very basic and consistent. I keep a food&BM diary to help me find triggers. I am an all or nuthin diet diabetic gal. I have been sugar free since my diagnosis june2012.And have lost 54lbs so far. I had absolutely no willpower before my diabetes diagnosis but the fear of diabetic side effects & meds for eternity scared the crap outta me. Lol.. That gave me determination & willpower I never had. When I had to make my radical diet change I did it all at once so I was only miserable in withdrawal once. It is hard to do but the benefits are great. I chopped a ton outta my diet apr.1st when I found this site& am starting to feel results. You can do it too! When I get the munchies or cravings I get out of the house & force myself to walk around the block with my water bottle. To relax, I have started bathing in Epsom salts while reading a book. The folks here are a wealth of information. I wish you luck in your quest for health.
My mom once told me "the goodness you feed your body directly affects the life your body provides you". I get that now!
My mom once told me "the goodness you feed your body directly affects the life your body provides you". I get that now!
Diabetic DX June 2012
Diverticulosis/ MC DX Feb.2014
I am thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength.
What are you willing to let go of so you can live the life you know you deserve?
Diverticulosis/ MC DX Feb.2014
I am thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength.
What are you willing to let go of so you can live the life you know you deserve?
Cyn, I ate very simply for a long period of time until my gut was healed ( in addition, I did take Entocort for a few months, which was a lifesaver for me) I fought it big time but finally came to the conclusion that I needed to make some significant changes if I was going to heal. By simply I mean, very plain foods cooked with NO spices, etc. I agree with Leah...stay away from the GF items as they are full of ingredients that bother many of us. I would cook up a batch of ground turkey and steamed veggies and ate that for 2 meals a day, as an example. I also did testing through MRT and found that I could not tolerate beef or chicken (which I knew) in addition to corn, salmon, cottage cheese, etc. and my favorite thing of all time, sweet potatoes. I can eat any type of fish though and found that shrimp fried or grilled or crab meat or tuna, etc. worked very well. I now can eat large amounts of salad and raw veggies but stick to fish and or turkey for my protein.
Good luck to you. This disease sucks big time but it's amazing the success that you can have with consistent diet changes. I found that if I focused on what I COULD eat rather than what I COULDN"T eat, it wasn't so overwhelming.
Good luck to you. This disease sucks big time but it's amazing the success that you can have with consistent diet changes. I found that if I focused on what I COULD eat rather than what I COULDN"T eat, it wasn't so overwhelming.
Hi Cyn,
Not sure which state you live in but food stamps is about a 5 minute application at myflorida.com for Floridians. A girlfriend had to go on food stamps for about 6 months when she was between jobs and my boyfriend had to go on (he is a single Dad) when he was between jobs. The boyfriend was surprised he qualified but it helped with the costs of the gallon of milk that sonster (his son) drinks every other day. Any working person has paid into the system.
Brandy
Not sure which state you live in but food stamps is about a 5 minute application at myflorida.com for Floridians. A girlfriend had to go on food stamps for about 6 months when she was between jobs and my boyfriend had to go on (he is a single Dad) when he was between jobs. The boyfriend was surprised he qualified but it helped with the costs of the gallon of milk that sonster (his son) drinks every other day. Any working person has paid into the system.
Brandy