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aquilegia wrote:although I am not sure when to decrease it to every three days. Perhaps at the first sign of constipation?
That's the method that most members have found to work best, most of the time. As soon as they begin to feel constipated, they reduce the dose.
Thank you for the update, and I hope that your progress continues.
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.
Good news that you are improving! Just a comment - aged cheddar is not dairy free. It may be lactose-free, but it contains casein, which is the dairy protein that most MCers react to.
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Time for another update. Since my last post (early November) I have been taking the budesonide every other day, occasionally every third day.
It is going quite well, so well that often I cannot tell the difference between a budesonide day and a non-budesonide day and I have to consult my notes to find out if I took a pill that morning.
Also there are fewer side effects. No more leg cramps at night, less insomnia and less tachycardia.
My next goal is to get down to a pill every third day, but I am not going to rush it this time.
Great news! I hope your symptoms continue to fade away.
Thanks for the update.
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.
Since my last post on November 25th, I have been decreasing the budesonide. I got down to taking it every third day. Then I realized that my worst days were the day and the day after I took the pill. So I started taking it only when I thought I should take it. This went on through December.
I took a pill on New Year's Day and have not taken one since. A few times I almost took a pill, but waited to see what would happen and the symptoms went away.
Yesterday I realized that my gut felt normal for the first time in years. There was no gurgling, gas, or gushing. No feelings of discomfort or sensation of imminent diarrhea or rectal pain. It was as if I no longer had lymphocytic colitis.
In retrospect I think some of my recent symptoms were side effects of the medication which I treated by taking a pill. It can be very confusing.
aquilegia wrote:Could it be that my gut has finally healed?
It isn't completely healed, because that typically takes several years for adults (though kids tend to heal in about a year or less). But obviously your healing is making good progress, and should continue.
Thank you for the update. You seem to be well on your way. And I hope that your recovery continues to stay on track.
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.
I have continued to decrease the budesonide and have been taking it every fourth or fifth day for a while.
This week I have had problems. Until this morning I had no BMs for three days. That has never happened to me. It was not uncomfortable so I was not straining to try to go.
I have been off the budesonide for seven days.
This morning I had to go but I could not. It was really uncomfortable. My anus seemed to just not open. I had to press on it and then some liquid stool came out. I had to do it a few times to get emptied out. There was no hard stool there causing an obstruction.
I don't think I have hemorrhoids or anything like that.
I am wondering if budesonide can cause motility problems in the gut and if that is what caused this.
Yes, budesonide can cause constipation if it is taken when it is not needed, but the effect should slowly fade away after the medication is discontinued. Once constipation occurs, sometimes it is difficult to get things moving again at normal motility rates. And it's not uncommon for severe constipation to cause an obstruction, resulting in liquids (diarrhea) squeezing past it.
If I were in that situation I would probably take a stool softener (such as Dulcolax) for a while, until my intestines were better able to regulate their motility. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, but if not, you might need to give some thought to trying an enema if there's an obstruction that needs to be removed.
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, thanks for your advice. Since yesterday I have decided that I may have anal stricture or stenosis. Apparently lymphocytic colitis can cause that. If that is true I would be reluctant to take Dulcolax.
Nerdhume, thanks for the links to the videos. I will try some of the suggestions although I cannot see myself being able to put my leg over the other one the way she does. I think I would fall off the toilet and break something. I would have trouble explaining to the emergency room staff just how I fell off the toilet and I would be remembered as the woman who was doing yoga on the toilet and fell off!
- increase magnesium intake - this also helps the muscles do the contracting required to push the poop out
(I would suggest a combo of oral magnesium and using the magnesium spray)
- increase water intake
- increase animal fat intake of your diet
- increase oil intake (coconut oil, rice bran oil)
- small amount of peeled apple, eaten slowly, chewed well, the pectin will help ease inflammation
- relaxation, deep breathing type things in line with what Theresa has suggested.
all of these will take 48 hours or so to work, start with small doses of things like the oil, wait 24 hours and have some more small amounts. every 48 hours if BMs are still lacking/hard to pass, increase the dosage a little bit more. Once you start pooping dont stop (as the Constipation may return), keep taking what ever amounts you are taking and slowly reduce. as Tex mentions, D is not an indicator that things have resolved, as liquids will pass the stuck poop.
Resolution is easy to pass BM's on a regular basis with minimal symptoms. This may take a few weeks to achieve...
the other cheap over the counter thing that has worked really well for myself and Lesley is Lactulose. Again it takes 24-30 hours or so to work so start on small doses and gradually increase the dosage every 48 hours.
Lactulose is a synthetic sugar used to treat constipation. It is broken down in the colon into products that pull water out from the body and into the colon. This water softens stools
It doesnt bulk the BM and makes the BM a consistency that is easier to pass.
if there is any skin discomfort at your anus - coconut oil makes for a great soother/lubricant!
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
I take 166 mgms of magnesium twice a day.
I think there is some misunderstanding about my constipation. I have not had any hard stools since I got LC in 2009. It was watery stools from day 1. I now have fewer BMs but they are not usually formed. It is just that I have trouble going sometimes. I think it is anal stenosis.
I need to read your suggestions more carefully as I think you have given me some valuable information.
Right now it is dinner time.
this is just on RDA for healthy people.
people with health issues/IBD's etc should try to have 600mgs per day.
If you are deficient of Magnesium, it takes 800mgs per day for a few months to correct deficiency
(all figures stated are 'Elemental Magnesium' amounts)
Constipation is not just hard stools, it is the bodies inability to pass BM's easily/symptom free.
My MC journey has involved both D and C, and I have had hemorrhoids and anal fissure issues. I understand the anal stenosis situation.
The thing is, digestion starts at the mouth and ends at the anus, we do have to look at the whole process. if there is inflammation, it affects the whole process, and if it continues, can impact the whole body..
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Any abnormal issues observed during the colonoscopy exam will be noted in the endoscopy report filed by the GI specialist. That's how I discovered that I had a stenosis in my sigmoid colon. Unfortunately I didn't bother to request a copy until after I had to have emergency abdominal surgery due to a blockage, 5 years later.
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.
