Hello,
I'm new here. My 20 yr old daughter was diagnosed with microscopic colitis last week and I'm reading as much as I can about it. I've just finished reading Wayne's book.
Her MD wants to treat her and seems very optimistic about a remission. My daughter's only symptom so far is loose bowel movements (all her life, really). We've spent years trying to eliminate foods and to get a diagnosis. Now we have one. Eliminating eggs, milk, soy, and gluten does not do the trick. Is it possible to get into remission without addressing the other food sensitivities?
I've been reading about the low Fodmap diet and was wondering if anyone has given it a try. The fodmap issues make sense to me, that's why I'm curious about finding out if this diet, that works well for IBS, can help too with IBD.
Thanks!!
Fodmap diet
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Hi Mary,
Welcome to the discussion board. If your daughter is already avoiding gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs, then a prescription from her doctor for budesonide (Entocort EC), which is probably what her doctor has in mind, would probably promptly bring remission. The problem is, unless she finds out what is still causing her diarrhea (D), and eliminates it, after her doctor weans her off the budesonide, the symptoms will return. Medications are only a temporary fix, because the inflammation is being caused by something in her diet, or something else she is using (such as lipstick, shampoo, conditioner, skin cream, oral contraceptives, etc., that contains gluten, soy, or something else that causes her to react (even some hormone treatments can trigger MC). Is she taking any medications or supplements? Many of them can trigger MC.
Yes, the Fodmap diet seems to help some members here. The problem is that we all have different sensitivities, so no single diet works for everyone. And if she has been having problems with D most of her life, then her digestive system may have to "learn" to have normal bowel movements. It may not happen automatically, because the longer we react (and the more damage we accrue) the longer it takes for the damage to heal.
The diet that works best for most of us is a paleo diet, or a modified paleo diet, but most modern versions of the paleo diet include far too much fiber, and too much fruit, and we have to limit fiber and sugar until our gut is able to do some healing.
Does she seem to have mast cell issues? Here are links to a few short articles about how mast cell issues are associated with MC for many of us:
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
And possibly the most important question is, how long has she been avoiding gluten? Anti-gliadin antibodies have a half-life of 120 days, so it can take a long time for the antibody level to diminish after gluten is eliminated from the diet. And the longer we have been reacting, the higher our antibody level will be, so the longer it will take to decline to a level below which we will no longer react.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to the discussion board. If your daughter is already avoiding gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs, then a prescription from her doctor for budesonide (Entocort EC), which is probably what her doctor has in mind, would probably promptly bring remission. The problem is, unless she finds out what is still causing her diarrhea (D), and eliminates it, after her doctor weans her off the budesonide, the symptoms will return. Medications are only a temporary fix, because the inflammation is being caused by something in her diet, or something else she is using (such as lipstick, shampoo, conditioner, skin cream, oral contraceptives, etc., that contains gluten, soy, or something else that causes her to react (even some hormone treatments can trigger MC). Is she taking any medications or supplements? Many of them can trigger MC.
Yes, the Fodmap diet seems to help some members here. The problem is that we all have different sensitivities, so no single diet works for everyone. And if she has been having problems with D most of her life, then her digestive system may have to "learn" to have normal bowel movements. It may not happen automatically, because the longer we react (and the more damage we accrue) the longer it takes for the damage to heal.
The diet that works best for most of us is a paleo diet, or a modified paleo diet, but most modern versions of the paleo diet include far too much fiber, and too much fruit, and we have to limit fiber and sugar until our gut is able to do some healing.
Does she seem to have mast cell issues? Here are links to a few short articles about how mast cell issues are associated with MC for many of us:
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
And possibly the most important question is, how long has she been avoiding gluten? Anti-gliadin antibodies have a half-life of 120 days, so it can take a long time for the antibody level to diminish after gluten is eliminated from the diet. And the longer we have been reacting, the higher our antibody level will be, so the longer it will take to decline to a level below which we will no longer react.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Wayne,
Thanks so much for your reply. This is a complicated issue and we've decided to start working with a nutritionist specializing in IBD at the end of the year. In a few days my daughter will be leaving for Europe for a semester abroad and we feel it's not realistic to start figuring out what is causing her issues right now. Gluten free in Europe is hard.
I'm not sure about mast cells. I will do some reading as I don't really understand what they are. I'm grateful that her symptoms are mild and that she's young, so should have a good chance of healing her gut once we determine what she's sensitive to.
Do you find that EnteroLab's testing is reliable? It's very expensive, though.
I will keep learning with her and in a few months, we'll get to the bottom of this.
Best,
Maryse
Thanks so much for your reply. This is a complicated issue and we've decided to start working with a nutritionist specializing in IBD at the end of the year. In a few days my daughter will be leaving for Europe for a semester abroad and we feel it's not realistic to start figuring out what is causing her issues right now. Gluten free in Europe is hard.
I'm not sure about mast cells. I will do some reading as I don't really understand what they are. I'm grateful that her symptoms are mild and that she's young, so should have a good chance of healing her gut once we determine what she's sensitive to.
Do you find that EnteroLab's testing is reliable? It's very expensive, though.
I will keep learning with her and in a few months, we'll get to the bottom of this.
Best,
Maryse
Maryse wrote:Do you find that EnteroLab's testing is reliable? It's very expensive, though.
Yes, they are a fully-accredited lab, regulated by the state of Texas, with many thousands of satisfied clients over the years that they have been offering these tests. They hold world-wide patents on these tests, and no other lab is licensed to use them.
This discussion board has been here for over 9 years now, and we have been extremely well satisfied with the test results that members here have received from them. Their stool tests are by far the most accurate, the most sensitive, and the most reliable (repeatable) of any tests available anywhere in the world for determining the type of food sensitivities that are associated with MC.
I've had those same symptoms for most of my life, but it never occurred to me that they might be associated with MC. They certainly might be, because skin problems (eczema, etc.), are definitely associated with MC. Of course, other things can cause those problems, also.Maryse wrote:The only other symptom she has that might be related is dandruff and itchy eyebrows (sometimes). Are you aware of this being linked to MC?
You're very welcome. I hope she enjoys her stay in Europe, and when she returns I hope that the 2 of you can track down the sources of her symptoms so that she can resolve them. Anytime you have any questions that I might be able to help with, please don't hesitate to ask.
All my best,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.