Newbie, 36yo, LC - symptoms?

bluesdelta25lucky · Post by **bluesdelta25lucky** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:00 am

Hello y'all,

I just found this site and have some questions! I was recently diagnosed w/ LC after a colonoscopy with biopsies. I am 36 years old. Here's a little hx: dx w/ ibs in 2007 (29 yo) after colonoscopy, no biopsies. In Oct 2013, I took amoxicillin for a sinus infection and got cdiff - an infection I had never heard of and knew nothing about! I took flagyl twice for cdiff. Since then, my stomach problems have been way worse. For the past couple of years (before and after cdiff), I wake up in the middle of the night with bad stomach aches and most often need to have a bowel movement - usually bw 2-4 am, very frequently, some weeks up to 5 nights a week. I have had D but not watery and I really thought it was always a virus or something I ate (until now). But mostly I suffer from C (or straining). And my stomach pains and aches and cramps are very frequent.

Has anyone else suffered from these same symptoms? The nocturnal attacks really depress me the most. I would love to get quality sleep!

When I was first diagnosed in July, my doc put me on budesonide. I took it for 4 weeks, and during that time I slept great with no nighttime attacks, but it caused really bad constipation. I am considering going GF but haven't taken that step yet.

Oh, also since having cdiff I have had constant problems with what my doc calls anal fissures. Anybody else?

Glad to have found this group!!!

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:40 am

Good morning. I have LC as well. My symptoms were different than yours. I had horrible D for 6 weeks before my diagnosis, but no C. Totally eliminating gluten and dairy from my diet greatly helped my symptoms. I suggest that your surf this site, you will glean a lot of helpful information. Tex's book which is listed at the top of this page has been a great help to me as well. Testing done by EnteroLabs was very helpful in showing me other foods that I had been eating but I shouldn't be. I am doing very well one year post diagnosis. Best of luck to you on your journey.

Marcia

Post by **tex** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:53 am

Hi Blues,

Welcome to our Internet family. Yes, MC can present as either D, C, or alternating D and C. I have the alternating version (or rather I had the alternating version before I changed my diet.

We're seeing more and more new members with the C version, as gastroenterologists slowly learn that uncontrollable diarrhea is not the only reason for taking biopsies during colonoscopies.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:36 am

Hello!

Have you stopped eating gluten? If so, how about dairy & soy? Eggs round out the big 4 foods that are most likely problematic for us.

JamesEcuador · Post by **JamesEcuador** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:50 pm

Welcome to the place that gives you answers! We are the same age and your symptoms sound rather similar to mine although I've never had that bad D, more loose BMs and C (and straining). I believe I developed my MC from parasites and/or the nasty drugs I was prescribed to treat them. Stomach/ab pain are my worse symptoms now and I'm hoping my bland diet will fix it.

Definitely buy Tex's book via the link above, it´s explains everything in detail in terms of what the disease is and how best to treat it. And, since I went completely gluten free (and being very picky to avoid cross contamination of gluten) I've had normalish BMs. As I'm sure lots of people on here will say, a strict GF diet is totally worth giving a try. Good luck!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:57 pm

Welcome.
If you can afford to take the Enterolab tests, then do it. The results will give you definite answers about the main inflammatory food culprits. If not, I would take both gluten and dairy out to start and see if that makes things better. You are obviously reacting to something. The inflammation will not go away until you take the food out that you are creating antibodies to.
Ask anything. We are here to help
good luck
leah

bluesdelta25lucky · Post by **bluesdelta25lucky** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:34 pm

Thank you all for the responses! I am going to see a new GI doc tomorrow. I hope I will like him and get some positive insight. I have not changed my diet really at all - I have cut out most dairy, but it sounds like I really need to try GF!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:00 am

I hope you like this Doc, but don't be surprised if he/she doesn't know much about the link between food and symptoms. Most don't.
let us know how it goes!

leah

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 3:30 am

Welcome to the group.
I had the nighttime issue and WD before dx. My GI said that was a symptom of IBD urgency during the night. After enterolab testing and going GF, DF, SF, EF I have been in remission, and off all prescriptions except Nortriptyline.
I also take VSL #3 which is a probiotic. I would suggest that because the meds for the C-diff most likely killed all your good bacteria. Some of us swear by it and others can't tolerate it.
Keep reading there is a lot of info here. The main point is we are all different and we each have to find our own way to health.

lisaw · Post by **lisaw** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:50 pm

Hi, welcome to the board, and sorry you've had to find it. You've gotten good advice. Initially, go gluten and dairy free, and keep your fiber low (not a lot of raw veggies and fruits, legumes, etc...), as fiber can be irritating. You may find that you get some relief right away from giving up gluten and dairy. If affordable for you, I would also do the Enterolab tests suggested. Then, you can know your intolerances and further modify your diet, as needed. I don't know of anyone on this board, that isn't at least gluten intolerant. I got a lot of relief initially just from giving up gluten, however my symptoms escalated again, as my body adjusted to the absence of gluten, and my other intolerances came to the surface (soy, eggs). I had D in the middle of the night as well, which Entocort helped, however I was D dominant, not C. Entocort can cause C, so for those that already have it, it's not usually a great option. Be patient, it takes time to heal, and it is like solving a puzzle trying to figure it all out.

Lisa