Hi.
First, I hope that nothing we posts here is able to be searched and found by Google through our username...? That's correct, right?
A little about me, I am 28 years old, and recently diagnosed with lymphocytic microscopic colitis. Actually, I've had this since I came back from a study abroad trip to Mexico in the summer of 2007. I was only 21 years old. I ignored my symptom, which was only diarrhea, until in 2013 when I realized that my diarrhea stopped when I would take antibiotics. Through the help of 3 doctors, I took every test under the sun, until we realized that I wasn't allergic to anything, I didn't have any bug, nor did I have either of the two types of IBD. I went in for a colonoscopy last December, a sigmoidoscopy to be exact, and they found that I have LMC.
I guess my symptoms are not as bad as some people's I have read here. I simply have diarrhea. It's noisy, which is hard to manage when I'm staying at family's on vacation or they are here. I don't have any pain, and I don't have to stay in bed or miss school/work. I guess I am fortunate. However, I think it's time I begin to try to heal my gut.
Something else about me, I have had psoriasis on my scalp since I was 5. I think there's a connection, as it says psoriasis is a type of autoimmune disorder associated with microscopic colitis. I was so surprised, too, when once I saw the advertisement for a drug called Humira being advertised for both IBD and scalp psoriasis! There is definitely a connection.
I am so happy to find this forum, because you all believe in the effects of the diet on MC! I don't want to blame the doctors, this is what they are taught in med school and in training, to prescribe medicines. My doctor said he'd be happy to write a series of prescriptions for me, one being an anti-diarrheal and another a steroid, but I'm not interested. Psoriasis is also affected by what we eat, and I have learned a lot about that.
What I have tried so far is a lactose-free diet. This did not change my symptoms at all. I already have cut out coffee, I do not eat meat, I don't drink or smoke, and I am cutting out artificial sweetners, diet drinks, and foods with excessive sugars (I love ice cream).
so now, as of yesterday I started a gluten-free diet. This is my second day of it. It is NOT cheap either! I spent almost $100 at the grocery store yesterday, because I am also vegetarian too. So far, my gut has been quiet and still, and not all rambunctious like usual. I hope being gluten-free works.
I am really looking forward to reading everyone else's posts, tips, achievements, and struggles. I hope to share mine as well. Please share any suggestions you have for me.
Thank you for your time in reading my post!
I'm new to LMC and to this forum, but so happy I found it!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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mooshgigila
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:06 pm
Hi Sara,
We're glad you found this board. It is a wealth of information, and greatly helped me to get my LC under control. Like most of us, I'm sure it will take you some time, but good for you to be keyed into the diet factor!
I am not vegetarian, but my experience, and that of most others here, has been that fiber is not necessarily our friend, at least in the beginning. So you may find yourself needing to cook your veggies a little more than usual, and needing to control how much fruit you eat.
As to the expense of gluten-free foods, I have found that I just don't buy a lot of them. There are foods that are GF that don't cost the exorbitant prices that the food industry has discovered they can charge. After a little time, and a lot of label reading, I'm sure you will be able to find an assortment of GF foods that work for you.
I take a couple Immodium a week (I don't like taking it daily) and that helps with D.
Also, regarding the lactose-free thing not helping, for most of us (including me) who have dairy issues, it's not the lactose/sugar--it's casein, the protein in milk. There are dairy-free alternatives, like almond milk products, that work for me and others.
Also consider soy as a possible trigger. Many of us cannot tolerate it.
I know that you will get lots of help from the people here! They are good folks.
We're glad you found this board. It is a wealth of information, and greatly helped me to get my LC under control. Like most of us, I'm sure it will take you some time, but good for you to be keyed into the diet factor!
I am not vegetarian, but my experience, and that of most others here, has been that fiber is not necessarily our friend, at least in the beginning. So you may find yourself needing to cook your veggies a little more than usual, and needing to control how much fruit you eat.
As to the expense of gluten-free foods, I have found that I just don't buy a lot of them. There are foods that are GF that don't cost the exorbitant prices that the food industry has discovered they can charge. After a little time, and a lot of label reading, I'm sure you will be able to find an assortment of GF foods that work for you.
I take a couple Immodium a week (I don't like taking it daily) and that helps with D.
Also, regarding the lactose-free thing not helping, for most of us (including me) who have dairy issues, it's not the lactose/sugar--it's casein, the protein in milk. There are dairy-free alternatives, like almond milk products, that work for me and others.
Also consider soy as a possible trigger. Many of us cannot tolerate it.
I know that you will get lots of help from the people here! They are good folks.
Suze
Hi Sara,
Welcome to our Internet family. You are correct — no person and no search engines (or bots) can see our personal contact information. Only registered members who have written a certain minimum number of posts can see that information, and only when they are logged in.
You are definitely on the right track. Virtually all of us here are sensitive to gluten, and it is the primary cause of our food sensitivity issues. While there are a few lucky exceptions, most of us also have to avoid all dairy products because we react to the casein in all dairy products. This is nothing like lactose intolerance. To expand on what Suze posted about this, with lactose intolerance, not enough lactase enzyme is produced by the brush border region of the small intestine to digest normal amounts of lactose (the primary sugar in milk). Most people who are lactose-intoerant can still digest a cup of milk or slightly more without any noticeable digestive symptoms (because they still produce a small amount of lactase).
The food sensitivities that we have to deal with are completely different. Certain proteins in the foods that cause us to react prompt our immune system to produce antibodies against those proteins. This means that unlike the case with lactose intolerance, we cannot tolerate any amount of those proteins without suffering with a reaction. Even trace amounts (such as a tiny crumb of bread) can trigger a reaction for many of us. Because of that, we have to be extremely careful about anything and everything that we put into our mouth, and on our skin, if we want to remain symptom-free.
As Suze pointed out, instead of spending a lot of money on processed GF foods, we are way ahead if we simply shop the perimeter of the grocery stores. IOW, buy whole, pure foods, and do your own cooking. That will eliminate a lot of sources of cross-contamination. Processed foods with more than just a few ingredients are not our friends. Avoid processed foods that contain more than 5 ingredients, and if you can't pronounce, or don't understand what any particular ingredient is, don't buy that product.
And as Suze also mentioned, while we are healing, we have to minimize fiber, because it irritates our hyper-sensitive intestines. We also have trouble digesting sugars, especially fructose, so this means that most fruits (with the exception of bananas) should be avoided or at least minimized (only small portions), and any eaten should be overcooked. Certain vegetables such as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, etc., are usually safe when overcooked and eaten in relatively small amounts. Most of us can also tolerate white potatoes, but some of us have problems with nightshades. Since you don't seem to have arthritis symptoms, you might be able to tolerate them, but if you want to get rid of they psoriasis, it might be good idea to avoid nightshades for a while (long enough to verify whether or not they are a problem).
Typically, a GF diet will eliminate the psoriasis problem. As your intestines slowly heal, so will your skin/scalp.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. You are correct — no person and no search engines (or bots) can see our personal contact information. Only registered members who have written a certain minimum number of posts can see that information, and only when they are logged in.
You are definitely on the right track. Virtually all of us here are sensitive to gluten, and it is the primary cause of our food sensitivity issues. While there are a few lucky exceptions, most of us also have to avoid all dairy products because we react to the casein in all dairy products. This is nothing like lactose intolerance. To expand on what Suze posted about this, with lactose intolerance, not enough lactase enzyme is produced by the brush border region of the small intestine to digest normal amounts of lactose (the primary sugar in milk). Most people who are lactose-intoerant can still digest a cup of milk or slightly more without any noticeable digestive symptoms (because they still produce a small amount of lactase).
The food sensitivities that we have to deal with are completely different. Certain proteins in the foods that cause us to react prompt our immune system to produce antibodies against those proteins. This means that unlike the case with lactose intolerance, we cannot tolerate any amount of those proteins without suffering with a reaction. Even trace amounts (such as a tiny crumb of bread) can trigger a reaction for many of us. Because of that, we have to be extremely careful about anything and everything that we put into our mouth, and on our skin, if we want to remain symptom-free.
As Suze pointed out, instead of spending a lot of money on processed GF foods, we are way ahead if we simply shop the perimeter of the grocery stores. IOW, buy whole, pure foods, and do your own cooking. That will eliminate a lot of sources of cross-contamination. Processed foods with more than just a few ingredients are not our friends. Avoid processed foods that contain more than 5 ingredients, and if you can't pronounce, or don't understand what any particular ingredient is, don't buy that product.
And as Suze also mentioned, while we are healing, we have to minimize fiber, because it irritates our hyper-sensitive intestines. We also have trouble digesting sugars, especially fructose, so this means that most fruits (with the exception of bananas) should be avoided or at least minimized (only small portions), and any eaten should be overcooked. Certain vegetables such as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, etc., are usually safe when overcooked and eaten in relatively small amounts. Most of us can also tolerate white potatoes, but some of us have problems with nightshades. Since you don't seem to have arthritis symptoms, you might be able to tolerate them, but if you want to get rid of they psoriasis, it might be good idea to avoid nightshades for a while (long enough to verify whether or not they are a problem).
Typically, a GF diet will eliminate the psoriasis problem. As your intestines slowly heal, so will your skin/scalp.
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.
Hello and welcome!
I'm fairly new here also, just dx in June of this year. I second everything Tex, Brenda, & Suze have suggested to you. I am a different person since finding this new family. I was like you, not as severe as some here but definitely was getting to where it was causing a problem.
After cutting out gluten and dairy I no longer have D. I can go to work or shopping without worrying about accidents. The one thing I miss is eating out with friends but HEY I'm getting healthy!!! Like Tex mentioned, shop the perimeter of the store. I eat more meat now, since it's very good for healing the gut. I also make bone broth from the meat and add vegetables. That is mainly what I have done since joining this family. I am starting to branch out now and try more veggies and fruits.
Good luck and happy healing!
Love,
Connie
I'm fairly new here also, just dx in June of this year. I second everything Tex, Brenda, & Suze have suggested to you. I am a different person since finding this new family. I was like you, not as severe as some here but definitely was getting to where it was causing a problem.
After cutting out gluten and dairy I no longer have D. I can go to work or shopping without worrying about accidents. The one thing I miss is eating out with friends but HEY I'm getting healthy!!! Like Tex mentioned, shop the perimeter of the store. I eat more meat now, since it's very good for healing the gut. I also make bone broth from the meat and add vegetables. That is mainly what I have done since joining this family. I am starting to branch out now and try more veggies and fruits.
Good luck and happy healing!
Love,
Connie
Live, Laugh & Love Much
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twirlitgirl
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:46 am
- Location: Canada
Hi Sarah,
Welcome to this wonderful community. I am a newbie too and come here everyday to be lifted up by the support from others.
I was in shock when I was diagnosed with this disease by my GI, he said now, don't worry this is only a little thing , that is why they call it microscopic colitis, it will heal on it own with time, you don't have to stop eating your foods that you have always eaten
just have a bit of patience and enjoy your life. I was in denial that anything was wrong with me for quite a while after that, thinking well he is the expert, I am going to get better like he said with time and I continued to eat the same food and sure enjoy them while I was eating them, but afterwards really not enjoy the constant trips to the bathroom. It wasn't making any sense to me and I needed to find answers so I googled microscopic colitis and found this amazing group of people. I was so surprised to learn all I have about this disease that it really is real and it does take work to get it under control, not cured as flare-ups can and do happen sometimes so
this subject and see what I was up against and I found these amazing other people with this disease. I felt very alone leaving that office because I didn't feel I was being taken seriously or not understood at all. It wasn't in my head ,it is real.
Welcome to this wonderful community. I am a newbie too and come here everyday to be lifted up by the support from others.
I was in shock when I was diagnosed with this disease by my GI, he said now, don't worry this is only a little thing , that is why they call it microscopic colitis, it will heal on it own with time, you don't have to stop eating your foods that you have always eaten
just have a bit of patience and enjoy your life. I was in denial that anything was wrong with me for quite a while after that, thinking well he is the expert, I am going to get better like he said with time and I continued to eat the same food and sure enjoy them while I was eating them, but afterwards really not enjoy the constant trips to the bathroom. It wasn't making any sense to me and I needed to find answers so I googled microscopic colitis and found this amazing group of people. I was so surprised to learn all I have about this disease that it really is real and it does take work to get it under control, not cured as flare-ups can and do happen sometimes so
this subject and see what I was up against and I found these amazing other people with this disease. I felt very alone leaving that office because I didn't feel I was being taken seriously or not understood at all. It wasn't in my head ,it is real.
HI Sara. Welcome.
It's too bad you don't eat meat because it's what best helps to heal the gut. Most of our diets revolve around meat.
I agree with buying fresh food and eating simple, but I guess since you are a vegetarian, you are looking for something to fill you up! Potatoes and white rice should help ( if you tolerate these foods). You might also tolerate corn products like corn tortillas, corn chips, and GF Corn Chex. Rice Chex , rice cakes ( almond butter and jam yum), and rice crackers and chips are good also. Those are the few "processed" foods I use. I use almond and coconut milks. Otherwise, I cook.
The good news is that after about a year, I was able to add some fiber back in. I am now able to eat small salads, white and black beans, raw veggies, but only small quantities of fruit. I lake the enzymes that break down the fructose I think.
we are all a bit different. I have always been OK with eggs, so if you eat eggs…. but some of us are not. That goes with lots of other foods also. The most common is gluten and dairy. Soy is a close third ( and it's cousin- peanuts).
Good luck in figuring it all out. I hope you heal fast!
leah
It's too bad you don't eat meat because it's what best helps to heal the gut. Most of our diets revolve around meat.
I agree with buying fresh food and eating simple, but I guess since you are a vegetarian, you are looking for something to fill you up! Potatoes and white rice should help ( if you tolerate these foods). You might also tolerate corn products like corn tortillas, corn chips, and GF Corn Chex. Rice Chex , rice cakes ( almond butter and jam yum), and rice crackers and chips are good also. Those are the few "processed" foods I use. I use almond and coconut milks. Otherwise, I cook.
The good news is that after about a year, I was able to add some fiber back in. I am now able to eat small salads, white and black beans, raw veggies, but only small quantities of fruit. I lake the enzymes that break down the fructose I think.
we are all a bit different. I have always been OK with eggs, so if you eat eggs…. but some of us are not. That goes with lots of other foods also. The most common is gluten and dairy. Soy is a close third ( and it's cousin- peanuts).
Good luck in figuring it all out. I hope you heal fast!
leah
Hi, Sara. I have LC as well. I have eliminated many food items, with gluten & dairy being the worst offenders for me. I didn't eat a lot of meat before, but now its my mainstay. You've come to the right place for help. Search the posts and you'll find a lot of great information to help you on your journey. I just passed the one year anniversary of the start of my symptoms and I am doing fine as long as I watch what I eat.
Marcia
Marcia