Hi there,
I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Sarah, I'm 28 and I live in central GA. Back in Dec. my husband and I went on a cruise and while in Cozumel we ate at a restaurant and used rented snorkel equipment. We believe that is where we picked up a parasite (Giardia). My husband's symptoms started in late Dec., and mine started in early Feb. of this year (we think he passed the giardia to me). We both have been very sick and went through a couple of rounds of treatment (I took Flagyl and Tinidazole). While some of my symptoms got better, the diarrhea never went away. I was scoped in mid March and that's when I was told the giardia was gone but I have lymphocytic microcolitis. Initially my doctor had me on Lomotil to control my symptoms and he put me on "Enteragam" but it didn't resolve the diarrhea/bloating/cramping/pain/gas. He now wants me to take Budesonide but after reading about it and visiting this forum I am not sure I want to take it.
Right now I am taking Imodium to control my diarrhea and I have cut out all dairy and gluten for the last month, but I am still struggling a lot and not doing as good as I had hoped I would be with those dietary changes. This forum is an amazing source of information, but I honestly feel a little overwhelmed. What would you all recommend I do next?
My husband and I really want to start a family -- so my main goal is to control this through diet only.
New here -- giardia infection and now L-MC
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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423proverbs
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:46 pm
- Location: GA
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Hey Sarah,
Welcome, but also a sigh that you had to find us.
Constant d wears you down.
It is great the you removed gluten and dairy.
I am one that has used mostly diet to attain remission ( and a bit of acupuncture and good quality supplements)
What do I suggest?
1. Low fibre, low inflammation, well cooked, bland meals. Well cooked veges, well cooked protein, small amt of oil and salt (no spices, no marinades etc)
Not too many ingredients in each meal, ie no more than 3-4 veges,
Avoid greens and legume family for now.
2. Double check products you are using to make sure there is no hidden gluten.
(Toothpaste, lipsticks etc)
It takes time for the inflammation to reduce, be patient, give it time.
3. Keep a food/activity/symptom journal. This will help to pinpoint issues if the symptoms continue past a month.
Are you taking any supplements? If so, stop for a bit.
Especially any like multi's that have lots of ingredients.
There are loads that have got their mc under control, diet only. There are a few that have had successful and healthy pregnancies.
Read the posts and threads aimed at new people! there is lots to digest about MC world.
Tex's book is like a lonely planet guide for MC world.
Most of all, breathe, stay calm. There is no quick fix, prepare yourself and your hubby for a few diet and lifestyle changes.
The success stories section will also give great info on how others got their lives back.
Healing hugs
Welcome, but also a sigh that you had to find us.
Constant d wears you down.
It is great the you removed gluten and dairy.
I am one that has used mostly diet to attain remission ( and a bit of acupuncture and good quality supplements)
What do I suggest?
1. Low fibre, low inflammation, well cooked, bland meals. Well cooked veges, well cooked protein, small amt of oil and salt (no spices, no marinades etc)
Not too many ingredients in each meal, ie no more than 3-4 veges,
Avoid greens and legume family for now.
2. Double check products you are using to make sure there is no hidden gluten.
(Toothpaste, lipsticks etc)
It takes time for the inflammation to reduce, be patient, give it time.
3. Keep a food/activity/symptom journal. This will help to pinpoint issues if the symptoms continue past a month.
Are you taking any supplements? If so, stop for a bit.
Especially any like multi's that have lots of ingredients.
There are loads that have got their mc under control, diet only. There are a few that have had successful and healthy pregnancies.
Read the posts and threads aimed at new people! there is lots to digest about MC world.
Tex's book is like a lonely planet guide for MC world.
Most of all, breathe, stay calm. There is no quick fix, prepare yourself and your hubby for a few diet and lifestyle changes.
The success stories section will also give great info on how others got their lives back.
Healing hugs
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Welcome to the group. Your story sounds a lot like mine. I had the enterolab results and found I was reacting to soy and eggs beside dairy & gluten. Soy is in a lot of things you wouldn't think to look (canned soup, etc). I learned to always read the ingredients, if something has more than 4 ingredients or has things listed that I am not sure what it means I just put it back on the shelf.
I took Uceris (another type of steroid) for a couple of months while I got used to the diet. I have been off it for about a month now and am controlling the D with diet.
Also I have had improvement in several other areas where previously drs had just given me more pain meds.
During this time I have stopped taking:
Lyrica for fibromyalgia
Diuretic for BP
Nsaids & tramadol for arthritis
Prilosec for GERD
I took Uceris (another type of steroid) for a couple of months while I got used to the diet. I have been off it for about a month now and am controlling the D with diet.
Also I have had improvement in several other areas where previously drs had just given me more pain meds.
During this time I have stopped taking:
Lyrica for fibromyalgia
Diuretic for BP
Nsaids & tramadol for arthritis
Prilosec for GERD
Theresa
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
Welcome!
I totally agree with everyone's diet recommendations. Much Like you, I have a history of past GI infections acquired in Latin America. My daughter has been dealing wit the after effects of an E.coli infection she got abroad when she was 3. She's 7 now and still does not have formed stool. In the interest of leaving no stone unturned, I would encourage you to try and find a functional/integrative/holistic or naturopathic doctor to help you get some additional stool testing done for bacteria and parasites. From what I read, standard US lab tests for ova and parasites are not even as sensitive as the tests your local vet can order on animals. In fact, some people bring human stool samples to vets for testing! Also, ova and parasite tests should be repeated over time to catch certain infections, particularly ones that can survive treatments and hatch later. My integrative medicine doc ordered a stool test from Genova Labs (CTSA) which my daughter will soon be getting. Unfortunately, mine was normal, so nothing to treat, but another test, an organic acids urine test, suggested small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Have you had a breath test for SIBO from your GI? Might be worth asking for too.
If you suspect you are colonized with an unfriendly GI bug, you may also want to add probiotics to your regimen to help crowd out the bad guys. Many of us react badly to multistrain probiotics, so they are trial and error. For example, I can take Culturelle and drink water kefir with no problem, but I get violent D from acidophilus-containing blends.
I hope you and your hubby get some relief soon.
I totally agree with everyone's diet recommendations. Much Like you, I have a history of past GI infections acquired in Latin America. My daughter has been dealing wit the after effects of an E.coli infection she got abroad when she was 3. She's 7 now and still does not have formed stool. In the interest of leaving no stone unturned, I would encourage you to try and find a functional/integrative/holistic or naturopathic doctor to help you get some additional stool testing done for bacteria and parasites. From what I read, standard US lab tests for ova and parasites are not even as sensitive as the tests your local vet can order on animals. In fact, some people bring human stool samples to vets for testing! Also, ova and parasite tests should be repeated over time to catch certain infections, particularly ones that can survive treatments and hatch later. My integrative medicine doc ordered a stool test from Genova Labs (CTSA) which my daughter will soon be getting. Unfortunately, mine was normal, so nothing to treat, but another test, an organic acids urine test, suggested small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Have you had a breath test for SIBO from your GI? Might be worth asking for too.
If you suspect you are colonized with an unfriendly GI bug, you may also want to add probiotics to your regimen to help crowd out the bad guys. Many of us react badly to multistrain probiotics, so they are trial and error. For example, I can take Culturelle and drink water kefir with no problem, but I get violent D from acidophilus-containing blends.
I hope you and your hubby get some relief soon.
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 Sarah,
Welcome to our internet family. You seem to be proactive and you are on the right track with your treatment. It takes a while for the inflammation in the intestines to decline, so obviously it takes even longer for the gut to heal. but with the right diet changes, to eliminate the foods that are causing your immune system to produce antibodies, you should be able to recover and get your life back, maybe not as quickly as we would all hope, but certainly within a reasonable length of time.
The thing to remember is that while the medications your doctor prescribes can mask the symptoms, to mike life more pleasant while the gut is healing, only diet changes to totally exclude the inflammatory foods can stop the antibody production, and thereby prevent the inflammation from being generated in the first place. IOW, meds treat the symptoms (as is always the case with meds), but diet changes prevent the inflammation that perpetuates MC in the first place.
You may need to fine-tune your diet from time to time as you begin to recover, but as Gabes pointed out, recovery will not come overnight. It takes dedication and attention to detail to prevent MC from continuing (or relapsing, if we lower our guard). But you will prevail, if you are motivated, and you certainly seem to be motivated, since you have already taken the first steps toward controlling the disease. With any luck at all (and a good, personalized treatment program based on diet management), this should only impose a temporary obstacle for your plans to begin a family.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our internet family. You seem to be proactive and you are on the right track with your treatment. It takes a while for the inflammation in the intestines to decline, so obviously it takes even longer for the gut to heal. but with the right diet changes, to eliminate the foods that are causing your immune system to produce antibodies, you should be able to recover and get your life back, maybe not as quickly as we would all hope, but certainly within a reasonable length of time.
The thing to remember is that while the medications your doctor prescribes can mask the symptoms, to mike life more pleasant while the gut is healing, only diet changes to totally exclude the inflammatory foods can stop the antibody production, and thereby prevent the inflammation from being generated in the first place. IOW, meds treat the symptoms (as is always the case with meds), but diet changes prevent the inflammation that perpetuates MC in the first place.
You may need to fine-tune your diet from time to time as you begin to recover, but as Gabes pointed out, recovery will not come overnight. It takes dedication and attention to detail to prevent MC from continuing (or relapsing, if we lower our guard). But you will prevail, if you are motivated, and you certainly seem to be motivated, since you have already taken the first steps toward controlling the disease. With any luck at all (and a good, personalized treatment program based on diet management), this should only impose a temporary obstacle for your plans to begin a family.
Again, welcome aboard, 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 Sarah. Take a deep breath and read as much as you can on this forum. Then go to the upper right hand corner of this page and click on Tex's book to order it. It has a lot of helpful info.
I was dx. about 2 1/2 years ago and am one of us who decided to take the Entocort because I am a personal trainer/nutrition specialist and could not afford to take months off of work because I had to use the bathroom all day! I also could not afford to lose much weight. During the six months I was on Entocort ( slowly weaning the dose down as I felt better), I also overhauled my diet completely. Because of my IgA deficiency, the Enterolab test didn't work for me, so I had to figure out the diet thing myself.
The biggest offenders for us are ( in order) are gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs. I chose to to leave eggs in and didn't worry about soy at first either. I took all fruit out and all RAW vegetables. No beans or legumes. low sugar. No spicy or acid foods.I also got rid of nightshades like tomato and potato. Sounds daunting, huh? Basically, my diet consisted of all cooked meats, sweet potato, white rice and it's products, corn products ( like tortillas) cooked veggies, eggs, GF Chex cereal with almond milk, avocado, olives, some nuts and nut butters, and only used olive or coconut oil. I also only drank herbal tea with a little honey. When I had weaned down to a low dose of Entocort, I then noticed I was reacting to peanut butter ( which is a cousin to soy) and GF soy sauce, so I dropped soy also. Things then got better and I was able to wean off the drug and have never had to go back on it.
Besides the big four offenders, all the other foods are just very hard on an inflamed system and can be tested back in once your symptoms are under control and you have some healing under your belt. There is hope! I have been able to add many things back into my diet by testing each food for three days straight. However, I remain gluten, dairy, and soy free. I only have one BM a day and if I stick to my diet, I feel mostly good and can live my life.
This whole process took about a year, so patience is necessary. I also had to fine tune things with antihistamines and supplements.
If you can afford the Enterolab tests, it is worth doing. Google them. It takes a lot of guess work out of figuring out your food intolerances. Although I have always been able to eat rice, corn products and some nuts, many here can not. We all have different intolerances.
Hope that helps
Leah
I was dx. about 2 1/2 years ago and am one of us who decided to take the Entocort because I am a personal trainer/nutrition specialist and could not afford to take months off of work because I had to use the bathroom all day! I also could not afford to lose much weight. During the six months I was on Entocort ( slowly weaning the dose down as I felt better), I also overhauled my diet completely. Because of my IgA deficiency, the Enterolab test didn't work for me, so I had to figure out the diet thing myself.
The biggest offenders for us are ( in order) are gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs. I chose to to leave eggs in and didn't worry about soy at first either. I took all fruit out and all RAW vegetables. No beans or legumes. low sugar. No spicy or acid foods.I also got rid of nightshades like tomato and potato. Sounds daunting, huh? Basically, my diet consisted of all cooked meats, sweet potato, white rice and it's products, corn products ( like tortillas) cooked veggies, eggs, GF Chex cereal with almond milk, avocado, olives, some nuts and nut butters, and only used olive or coconut oil. I also only drank herbal tea with a little honey. When I had weaned down to a low dose of Entocort, I then noticed I was reacting to peanut butter ( which is a cousin to soy) and GF soy sauce, so I dropped soy also. Things then got better and I was able to wean off the drug and have never had to go back on it.
Besides the big four offenders, all the other foods are just very hard on an inflamed system and can be tested back in once your symptoms are under control and you have some healing under your belt. There is hope! I have been able to add many things back into my diet by testing each food for three days straight. However, I remain gluten, dairy, and soy free. I only have one BM a day and if I stick to my diet, I feel mostly good and can live my life.
This whole process took about a year, so patience is necessary. I also had to fine tune things with antihistamines and supplements.
If you can afford the Enterolab tests, it is worth doing. Google them. It takes a lot of guess work out of figuring out your food intolerances. Although I have always been able to eat rice, corn products and some nuts, many here can not. We all have different intolerances.
Hope that helps
Leah
HI Sarah, welcome
You've gotten great advice already. I just wanted to add that I also had to give up sugar, acidic foods and caffeine while I was healing. Meats, well cooked vegetables, cooked fruits if you can tolerate the fiber and sugar will be helpful. I became a chicken soup expert using a rice based pasta and a few seasonings like sage and rosemary, and carrots in my soup. Even now it's still one of my go-to foods.
Like Leah, I also took Entocort for about 4 1/2 months and found it very helpful. I was able to continue working and it bought me time to get my diet straightened out. Eggs were the only thing that was masked for me. I have to avoid the big 4. I had no side effects like hair loss. As I healed I would decrease my dosage when I became crampy. But overall, I did fine on Entocort and found it to be very helpful.
take care, You'll find lots of help here so be hopeful.
Carol
You've gotten great advice already. I just wanted to add that I also had to give up sugar, acidic foods and caffeine while I was healing. Meats, well cooked vegetables, cooked fruits if you can tolerate the fiber and sugar will be helpful. I became a chicken soup expert using a rice based pasta and a few seasonings like sage and rosemary, and carrots in my soup. Even now it's still one of my go-to foods.
Like Leah, I also took Entocort for about 4 1/2 months and found it very helpful. I was able to continue working and it bought me time to get my diet straightened out. Eggs were the only thing that was masked for me. I have to avoid the big 4. I had no side effects like hair loss. As I healed I would decrease my dosage when I became crampy. But overall, I did fine on Entocort and found it to be very helpful.
take care, You'll find lots of help here so be hopeful.
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,Sarah. I was diagnosed with LC in 9/13. I have been able to control the symptoms by diet after taking 6 Pepto Bismol tablets a day for 8 weeks as prescribed by my GI. I decreased the Pepto on my own to 4 tablets a day after my stool became hard to pass. Since then I have only had to take the Pepto when I ate a mystery ingredient while dining out. My diet mainly consists of chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, sweet potatoes. steamed broccoli & spinch, and lean ground beef once in a while. I can eat bananas and peeled apples without a problem. I do eat eggs (not every day.) I gave up gluten, dairy, all night shades and vegetable oil. I use olive oil or coconut oil when cooking. I would recommend purchasing Tex's book, it was very helpful to me. This support group is an awesome reference as well. Good luck to you. It is overwhelming at first but 9 months later I can honestly say that I feel much better and more like myself. I didn't realize how "not like me" I felt even before the symptoms started.
Take care,
Marcia
Take care,
Marcia
-
423proverbs
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:46 pm
- Location: GA
First of all: thank you all so much for your generosity in using your free time to reply to my questions/share your insight. I am so appreciative! :)
My husband is finally recovered from the Giardia -- after several relapses he was put on a pulse dosing of Tindazole and it finally killed it all. He is almost back to normal and feeling so much better. I'm so glad he does not have MC and praying he never does.
To answer someone's question: I do see a MD who is much more holistic/natural minded, I actually have an appt. with him early next month to discuss my issues further now that I've been trying to make dietary changes. I am definitely wanting to get the lab testing to figure out what foods are triggers. I have figured out that cooked rice, corn, corn chips, and beans are all a no-go for me in addition to gluten/diary.
I had been looking to my GI for help with all this, but he's been pretty unhelpful. When he first explained this diagnosis to me, he told me basically nothing about it (maybe he doesn't know much?). Overall, he's a nice guy and probably good at what he's trained to do, but I don't see him being very helpful with the MC diagnosis. He's never recommended any dietary changes (which from what I'm reading, is common) and thinks the Budesonide is going to fix everything, without doing anything else. While I have not totally ruled out the Budesonide (and I'm so glad to hear it's been helpful for several of you), I'd like to save it for the worst case scenario. Thankfully, I am unemployed (by choice) and have a much more relaxed lifestyle in terms of being able to stay near the bathroom on bad days.
I have a complicated medical history including thyroid cancer and a genetic blood clotting disorder. Last year for unknown reasons I was struggling with recurrent UTI's, yeast infections, and constant colds/viruses. About 3 months before all this started I had finally kicked all those issues to the curb through supplements/dietary changes, so I really don't want to bring those issues back by taking the Budesonide. I know it's not a guarantee, but it worries me...
From what I've read, my symptoms are not as severe as some. On my worst day I go to the bathroom about 6 times. Right now, with the dietary changes and taking 2 Imodium a day, I am only going 1-2x per day and it's not watery, just soft/unformed. If I bump it up to 3 Imodium it will be firm/formed, but I try to take the lowest dose possible.
When I had the active giardia infection some of the ways I tried to treat it were food grade diatomaceous earth, homeopathic supplements, aloe vera juice, and therapeutic-grade essential oils (in addition to the Rx meds). I really don't think I have lingering/recurrent effects from the giardia though because I overall feel much better than I did when I had it. With the giardia I was constantly nauseated, I had zero appetite, I had a rash on my abdomen, my diarrhea smelled much worse, etc. All of that is basically gone now, so that tells me I likely don't have the giardia, but I do want to look into more sensitive stool testing just to rule it/other parasites out.
Oh, I was going to add -- I had a c.diff infection/colitis in 2012. I had surgery and was put on antibiotics prophylactically -- after about 5 days of Keflex I developed a high fever, ended up passing out/in hypovolemic shock, was hospitalized for 5 days and treated with Flagyl. Thanks to super high-quality probiotics I recovered very quickly. I've always taken probiotics daily since that incidence. Although that was terrible, this has been worse in a lot of ways because of the duration. I asked my GI if the prior colitis put me at an increased risk for MC, but he didn't seem to think so?
You all have given me a lot to think about as far as what changes I can further make to my diet, allergen testing, and potentially removing some of my supplements (although they are all gluten/dairy free), and figuring out if I'm tolerating the probiotic I'm taking. Again, thank you for the wealth of information! I also plan to get the book and read it.
Glad to hear there is hope in sight and I just need to continue to be patient....*sign* so much easier said than done ;)
My husband is finally recovered from the Giardia -- after several relapses he was put on a pulse dosing of Tindazole and it finally killed it all. He is almost back to normal and feeling so much better. I'm so glad he does not have MC and praying he never does.
To answer someone's question: I do see a MD who is much more holistic/natural minded, I actually have an appt. with him early next month to discuss my issues further now that I've been trying to make dietary changes. I am definitely wanting to get the lab testing to figure out what foods are triggers. I have figured out that cooked rice, corn, corn chips, and beans are all a no-go for me in addition to gluten/diary.
I had been looking to my GI for help with all this, but he's been pretty unhelpful. When he first explained this diagnosis to me, he told me basically nothing about it (maybe he doesn't know much?). Overall, he's a nice guy and probably good at what he's trained to do, but I don't see him being very helpful with the MC diagnosis. He's never recommended any dietary changes (which from what I'm reading, is common) and thinks the Budesonide is going to fix everything, without doing anything else. While I have not totally ruled out the Budesonide (and I'm so glad to hear it's been helpful for several of you), I'd like to save it for the worst case scenario. Thankfully, I am unemployed (by choice) and have a much more relaxed lifestyle in terms of being able to stay near the bathroom on bad days.
I have a complicated medical history including thyroid cancer and a genetic blood clotting disorder. Last year for unknown reasons I was struggling with recurrent UTI's, yeast infections, and constant colds/viruses. About 3 months before all this started I had finally kicked all those issues to the curb through supplements/dietary changes, so I really don't want to bring those issues back by taking the Budesonide. I know it's not a guarantee, but it worries me...
From what I've read, my symptoms are not as severe as some. On my worst day I go to the bathroom about 6 times. Right now, with the dietary changes and taking 2 Imodium a day, I am only going 1-2x per day and it's not watery, just soft/unformed. If I bump it up to 3 Imodium it will be firm/formed, but I try to take the lowest dose possible.
When I had the active giardia infection some of the ways I tried to treat it were food grade diatomaceous earth, homeopathic supplements, aloe vera juice, and therapeutic-grade essential oils (in addition to the Rx meds). I really don't think I have lingering/recurrent effects from the giardia though because I overall feel much better than I did when I had it. With the giardia I was constantly nauseated, I had zero appetite, I had a rash on my abdomen, my diarrhea smelled much worse, etc. All of that is basically gone now, so that tells me I likely don't have the giardia, but I do want to look into more sensitive stool testing just to rule it/other parasites out.
Oh, I was going to add -- I had a c.diff infection/colitis in 2012. I had surgery and was put on antibiotics prophylactically -- after about 5 days of Keflex I developed a high fever, ended up passing out/in hypovolemic shock, was hospitalized for 5 days and treated with Flagyl. Thanks to super high-quality probiotics I recovered very quickly. I've always taken probiotics daily since that incidence. Although that was terrible, this has been worse in a lot of ways because of the duration. I asked my GI if the prior colitis put me at an increased risk for MC, but he didn't seem to think so?
You all have given me a lot to think about as far as what changes I can further make to my diet, allergen testing, and potentially removing some of my supplements (although they are all gluten/dairy free), and figuring out if I'm tolerating the probiotic I'm taking. Again, thank you for the wealth of information! I also plan to get the book and read it.
Glad to hear there is hope in sight and I just need to continue to be patient....*sign* so much easier said than done ;)
Sarah, Sadly most GIs will be of no help to you. My GI told me not to change my diet. When I told him that two members of my family have Celiac Disease he snapped that I don't have Celiac Disease. After my initial appt.I met with the Physician's Assistant. When I told her that I stopped eating gluten and dairy and that was helping she said that gluten free is a fad. So I knew right then & there that I was on my own on this journey. Read everything you can on the topic and you'll figure out what works for you. I don't know what caused my LC. I think it was a combination of antibiotics after dental surgery and then taking Advil for some time after that for the pain and then the stress of my son leaving for college. That's when the symptoms really hit. Stress is a large factor for me so I have to work at keeping my stress level low. Again, hang in there. We're all here to help you through this! 
Marcia
Marcia-
JamesEcuador
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Tue May 13, 2014 6:59 pm
Hi Sarah
Welcome to the best place around for helping and healing. I've also been recently diagnosed as having LC (in Jan 2014) and our suspicions of how it has developed are very similar. I've lived in the Galapagos Islands for 2 years and since arriving have been diagnosed with giardia and blastocystis hominis parasites as well as e-coli on several times. I'm a walking talking parasite machine. This is common for Galapagos residents because of the poor quality of water and I, like many others have been encouraged to de-parasite every 3 months. I am certain that one of these infections, and/or the treatment to kill them has caused my LC symptoms to develop (D, C, obvious reactions to gluten, stomach/ab pains, body aches, nausea and brain fog) I have now accepted that even if I treat the parasites this is a permanent thing for me.
A week ago I finished Tex's book and it is a must for all of us suffering from this disease. Not just for you actually, but for your husband as well. My wife is reading it now and she understands my symptoms better than ever before and no longer thinks its a case of having to just put up with it and stop over-reacting which is what I've fount to be a common reaction. I've been gluten free and dairy free for most of the time since my diagnosis and about a month ago was tested positive yet again for giardia after experiencing lots of abdominal pain. I took a course of metronizadole for 10 days (must be a world record) and it did nothing. On the recommendations of people here and from what I read in the book, I switched to a very bland diet of boiled chicken, rice, bananas and applesauce and for three weeks my symptoms didn't change. Last week, I noticed (accidentally in tiny small print on the packaging) that the chicken I had been eating three times a day and for at least the last 12 months contained soya. I've since changed where I buy my chicken from and 3 days ago, and ever since, I've had solid BMs for the first time in 2 months and less abdonimal pain. Every day I´m feeling a little bit better and less depressed.
You have to give the diet a chance and be 100% sure that there is nothing in there that could upset your gut. Yes, this diet is incredibly boring but I do think you have to try it for weeks and possibly months to get the best effect and like people have said here, once your gut has healed you may be able to try adding other items to your diet
James
Welcome to the best place around for helping and healing. I've also been recently diagnosed as having LC (in Jan 2014) and our suspicions of how it has developed are very similar. I've lived in the Galapagos Islands for 2 years and since arriving have been diagnosed with giardia and blastocystis hominis parasites as well as e-coli on several times. I'm a walking talking parasite machine. This is common for Galapagos residents because of the poor quality of water and I, like many others have been encouraged to de-parasite every 3 months. I am certain that one of these infections, and/or the treatment to kill them has caused my LC symptoms to develop (D, C, obvious reactions to gluten, stomach/ab pains, body aches, nausea and brain fog) I have now accepted that even if I treat the parasites this is a permanent thing for me.
A week ago I finished Tex's book and it is a must for all of us suffering from this disease. Not just for you actually, but for your husband as well. My wife is reading it now and she understands my symptoms better than ever before and no longer thinks its a case of having to just put up with it and stop over-reacting which is what I've fount to be a common reaction. I've been gluten free and dairy free for most of the time since my diagnosis and about a month ago was tested positive yet again for giardia after experiencing lots of abdominal pain. I took a course of metronizadole for 10 days (must be a world record) and it did nothing. On the recommendations of people here and from what I read in the book, I switched to a very bland diet of boiled chicken, rice, bananas and applesauce and for three weeks my symptoms didn't change. Last week, I noticed (accidentally in tiny small print on the packaging) that the chicken I had been eating three times a day and for at least the last 12 months contained soya. I've since changed where I buy my chicken from and 3 days ago, and ever since, I've had solid BMs for the first time in 2 months and less abdonimal pain. Every day I´m feeling a little bit better and less depressed.
You have to give the diet a chance and be 100% sure that there is nothing in there that could upset your gut. Yes, this diet is incredibly boring but I do think you have to try it for weeks and possibly months to get the best effect and like people have said here, once your gut has healed you may be able to try adding other items to your diet
James
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
James
great post!
awesome that the BM's have improved! It is awesome that your wife is reading the book
Hope the healing and improvements keep happening.
People frequently ask, 'surely a small amount of soy cant cause that much of an issue' - YEP it can.
It can overwhelming at first, checking every label. Once you know safe shops, safe products there is alot less stress.
PS - with the soccer, with the aussies out, and now italy out, i am supporting the swiss!
The aussie kids entertainment group 'the wiggles' have released a song about the Suarez biting - it is hilarious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnoLl3N45w
great post!
awesome that the BM's have improved! It is awesome that your wife is reading the book
Hope the healing and improvements keep happening.
People frequently ask, 'surely a small amount of soy cant cause that much of an issue' - YEP it can.
It can overwhelming at first, checking every label. Once you know safe shops, safe products there is alot less stress.
PS - with the soccer, with the aussies out, and now italy out, i am supporting the swiss!
The aussie kids entertainment group 'the wiggles' have released a song about the Suarez biting - it is hilarious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnoLl3N45w
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
James,
Excellent detective work. I'm glad you tracked down that problem, and I hope that you have much smoother sailing from here on.
Tex
Excellent detective work. I'm glad you tracked down that problem, and I hope that you have much smoother sailing from here on.
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.
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423proverbs
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:46 pm
- Location: GA
That is so encouraging to hear! I have always stayed away from soy because when I went through my thyroid cancer diagnosis I realized how TERRIBLE soy is for you. Seriously, soy is one of the WORST "health food" product out there. However, I am trying to be diligent to remove any sources of it from my diet. I realized it was in my Vitamin D! Ugh. So trying to sort that out....I am in the process of double/triple checking everything...
James,
My wife (she has LC) had a stool test detect blastocystis hominis. The only real relief she has experienced in the last few years was during an herbal parasite cleanse. Symptoms returned soon after stopping the treatment and it now seems parasite symptoms have spread from the gut to other areas of the body. The more we research, the more we believe parasites are an underlying cause for her. I know I'm the minority on this website, but I have trouble accepting the only answer to this condition is avoiding dozens of foods (or at least when extreme diet changes have no effect it's time to consider other triggers). Parasite testing and treatment in this country (maybe Ecuador is better) might be worse than the management of MC. There are plenty of people who have to treat parasites very extensively before finding relief. Our hope is that once the parasites are removed, the LC will not be a permanent condition and the food intolerances will subside. Two separate MDs have told her protozoa and worm parasites are two of her major priorities right now (detected by muscle testing for what it's worth).
My wife (she has LC) had a stool test detect blastocystis hominis. The only real relief she has experienced in the last few years was during an herbal parasite cleanse. Symptoms returned soon after stopping the treatment and it now seems parasite symptoms have spread from the gut to other areas of the body. The more we research, the more we believe parasites are an underlying cause for her. I know I'm the minority on this website, but I have trouble accepting the only answer to this condition is avoiding dozens of foods (or at least when extreme diet changes have no effect it's time to consider other triggers). Parasite testing and treatment in this country (maybe Ecuador is better) might be worse than the management of MC. There are plenty of people who have to treat parasites very extensively before finding relief. Our hope is that once the parasites are removed, the LC will not be a permanent condition and the food intolerances will subside. Two separate MDs have told her protozoa and worm parasites are two of her major priorities right now (detected by muscle testing for what it's worth).