I'm a freshly diagnosed LC and feel so lucky to have found this discussion/support group! I've read through some of the great posts and sections on this forum since my diagnosis, and have been very impressed with the support and knowledge. I'm so happy to meet everyone here. I look forward to getting to know all of you. Thank you for all the effort you have given to this forum!
I've been complaining to my docs for about 6 years about my D, bloating, pain, etc., but got no helpful response other than "you probably have IBS." Then diverticulosis was discovered in a colonoscopy several years ago. Eventually I ended up in hospital for what they say was a bad case of diverticulitis - had an 8 day stay and was given intravenous antibiotics. Recently had dental surgery which required antibiotics, and that led to the worst symptoms that I've had to date. So my GI ordered an urgent colonoscopy with biopsy, and now I know what the problem has been all this time. Finally a real diagnosis! And to think it took severe symptoms before MC was even considered!
On the lighter side...I think I'm moving through the 5 stages of loss - I'm somewhere between Denial and Anger at the moment - lol! I haven't started Bargaining, nor am I Depressed about it - yet. I can't wait for the Acceptance stage, though. I'm telling myself these days that I'm not going to baby my gut; not sure if there is any science to the belief that if I stop eating offending foods, that my body will eventually stop making the enzymes to process the offending foods and I'll never be able to go back to normal eating - whatever normal is. Yes, I know, I'm going to have to accept my intolerances and work around them. Just not ready yet, I suppose. I do want to send away for the tests at Enterolab. That seems like an important first step, or at the very least do the elimination diet. I will do either of those when I'm ready. But for now, I'm noting what is working and what is not working and going from there.
So I just wanted to say hello to everyone and that I'm grateful for this forum. Happy to get to know all of you! Thanks!
Newbie here - Hello All!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Newbie here - Hello All!
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
Welcome to the board. I remember in the beginning of my journey thinking a lot like you are. In hindsight I could have saved myself a lot of misery if I had just adopted the restricted elimination diet to begin with. I refused to believe it until I got my Enterolab results. With multiple intolerances it can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack of needles. I have quickly adapted to this way of eating and there are only a few foods I truly miss (and I don't miss those enough to eat them knowing I will be sick).
Just wanted to welcome you, feel free to ask anything, and also feel free to tackle MC any way you want to, it is an individual journey that is supported by the rest of us who have it.
Just wanted to welcome you, feel free to ask anything, and also feel free to tackle MC any way you want to, it is an individual journey that is supported by the rest of us who have it.
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
Hi Cinemom,
Welcome to the board!
You say that you hesitate to alter your diet. I can tell you, had I known in 2010 that changing my diet would be the answer, I would have started right away!
But, I didn't know that the food was the "big sinner".
Now I know better, and I'm slowly getting my life back.
Walking in the desert for 4 years..., well I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy.
Lilja
Welcome to the board!
You say that you hesitate to alter your diet. I can tell you, had I known in 2010 that changing my diet would be the answer, I would have started right away!
But, I didn't know that the food was the "big sinner".
Now I know better, and I'm slowly getting my life back.
Walking in the desert for 4 years..., well I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy.
Lilja
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
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Cinemom,
Acceptance becomes easier once you see that diet change works. For me there is no going back. I prefer health to sickness and no matter how much I may have liked a food in the past if it makes me sick I will not eat it. I now consider the foods I have eliminated as poisons not foods. It's easy to not ingest poisons. The Enterolab tests were very helpful for me. They make it easier to stick to the plan because they leave no doubt about what must be avoided, although there are people here who have achieved the same results by a strict elimination diet. I hope you take the plunge soon. You won't regret it.
Jean
Acceptance becomes easier once you see that diet change works. For me there is no going back. I prefer health to sickness and no matter how much I may have liked a food in the past if it makes me sick I will not eat it. I now consider the foods I have eliminated as poisons not foods. It's easy to not ingest poisons. The Enterolab tests were very helpful for me. They make it easier to stick to the plan because they leave no doubt about what must be avoided, although there are people here who have achieved the same results by a strict elimination diet. I hope you take the plunge soon. You won't regret it.
Jean
Hi Cinemom,
Like everyone else here.....diet has changed our lives. I remember when I was first diagnosed I had a heck of a time with acceptance. Although I immediately went GF, DF, I was still trying to work in a lot of packaged GF foods that still had trace amounts of gluten in them. For me, I could not wrap my mind around everything all at one time. I used a step down protocol until I realized diet was the only way. I felt like a deer in headlights while the people on this forum had to be very repetitive with me......and it worked! I am still having some issues and realize I must now do a full elimination diet to find that one bugger ( or 2 or 3 or...). Tex's book was very helpful. You can find the link to buy it on this forum in the upper right hand corner. I have sought out much guidance from naturopaths and different alternative medicine practitioners. But I keep coming back here where I find the most helpful support. Everyone is different. Go at your own pace if your health allows.
Like everyone else here.....diet has changed our lives. I remember when I was first diagnosed I had a heck of a time with acceptance. Although I immediately went GF, DF, I was still trying to work in a lot of packaged GF foods that still had trace amounts of gluten in them. For me, I could not wrap my mind around everything all at one time. I used a step down protocol until I realized diet was the only way. I felt like a deer in headlights while the people on this forum had to be very repetitive with me......and it worked! I am still having some issues and realize I must now do a full elimination diet to find that one bugger ( or 2 or 3 or...). Tex's book was very helpful. You can find the link to buy it on this forum in the upper right hand corner. I have sought out much guidance from naturopaths and different alternative medicine practitioners. But I keep coming back here where I find the most helpful support. Everyone is different. Go at your own pace if your health allows.
Vanessa
Hi Cinemom,
Welcome to our Internet family. I believe you have the right idea. After you are able to work through the five stages of grief/loss to reach the acceptance stage, you won't have to waste time questioning your motives, and it will be so much easier for you to focus your energy and your full attention on all of the details involved in getting your life back.
I never cease to be amused at how such highly-educated physicians could actually believe that food sensitivities have nothing to do with treating a digestive system disease such as MC. If they were pulmonary specialists, instead of GI specialists, would they insist that breathing polluted air has nothing to do with lung disease?
Again, welcome aboard, and thank you for joining us. I wish you the best of luck on your journey back to health.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. I believe you have the right idea. After you are able to work through the five stages of grief/loss to reach the acceptance stage, you won't have to waste time questioning your motives, and it will be so much easier for you to focus your energy and your full attention on all of the details involved in getting your life back.
I never cease to be amused at how such highly-educated physicians could actually believe that food sensitivities have nothing to do with treating a digestive system disease such as MC. If they were pulmonary specialists, instead of GI specialists, would they insist that breathing polluted air has nothing to do with lung disease?
Again, welcome aboard, and thank you for joining us. I wish you the best of luck on your journey back to health.
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.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement and kind words. It's just good knowing you are all there and understand. Thanks!
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
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UkuleleLady
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Texas
Welcome cinemom. This disease is a long haul in the making and a long haul to recovery. Yet that being said, I feel better now than I have in ten or fifteen years. My life is pretty much normal, small setbacks aside. I'm so grateful for these diet changes, which work when you discover your safe foods. Enterolab helped me so much.
As you can see there are a lot of foods I can't eat, however, I have been able to add back many veggies and fruits, and I feel there's a fai amount of diversity in my diet now. Hazelnut or coconut milk in my coffee is the best thing ever. And I love a square or three of dark chocolate as a treat. Life is good and getting better due to this recovery.
Nancy
As you can see there are a lot of foods I can't eat, however, I have been able to add back many veggies and fruits, and I feel there's a fai amount of diversity in my diet now. Hazelnut or coconut milk in my coffee is the best thing ever. And I love a square or three of dark chocolate as a treat. Life is good and getting better due to this recovery.
Nancy
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~The Dalai Lama
Hi, Cinemom. Welcome to our group. I really don't have much to add to what's been said. The dietary changes made a major impact on my life/condition. I do miss some of the food at times, but I would much rather feel good and be able to function than eat the offending foods. I have never cheated with anything that I know will make me sick. It's just not worth it! Good luck on your journey and search the boards on this site. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips.
Marcia
Marcia
Hi Cinemom:
Welcome! Changing diet is never easy, but once you see improvement, it gets easier. Healing takes time, it took you quite a while to get a diagnosis and get here, and have patience, as once you decide you want to make some changes, that takes time, as well. I didn't eat much gluten or dairy prior, but even the small amount I used to eat was an adjustment to remove. I ate lots of salad before, which had to go, as well as reducing my fiber intake overall. And yes, when I am at a good Italian restaurant, I still miss not being able to eat the fresh, warm bread. I have discovered new foods though, that I love, and have gotten creative with recipes, and feel overall that I'm eating a better and fresher diet. I did the Enterolab early on, which was very helpful.
Best wishes,
Lisa
Welcome! Changing diet is never easy, but once you see improvement, it gets easier. Healing takes time, it took you quite a while to get a diagnosis and get here, and have patience, as once you decide you want to make some changes, that takes time, as well. I didn't eat much gluten or dairy prior, but even the small amount I used to eat was an adjustment to remove. I ate lots of salad before, which had to go, as well as reducing my fiber intake overall. And yes, when I am at a good Italian restaurant, I still miss not being able to eat the fresh, warm bread. I have discovered new foods though, that I love, and have gotten creative with recipes, and feel overall that I'm eating a better and fresher diet. I did the Enterolab early on, which was very helpful.
Best wishes,
Lisa
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humbird753
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1014
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:44 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
Hi Cinemom,
Welcome to our group. I remember very well the stages of grief, as I am sure everyone else here does. I am so grateful to have found this group because although the doctors at Mayo Health System were able to give me the diagnosis of LC they really didn't have answers for me that worked to help me find comfort from the symptoms I was experiencing. It was amazing how quickly I began noticing improvement once I eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet. I do agree with Gabes in that the emotional and mental side of things are as important as the diet changes. I wish you well on your journey. We are all here for any questions you may have.
Paula
Welcome to our group. I remember very well the stages of grief, as I am sure everyone else here does. I am so grateful to have found this group because although the doctors at Mayo Health System were able to give me the diagnosis of LC they really didn't have answers for me that worked to help me find comfort from the symptoms I was experiencing. It was amazing how quickly I began noticing improvement once I eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet. I do agree with Gabes in that the emotional and mental side of things are as important as the diet changes. I wish you well on your journey. We are all here for any questions you may have.
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
Thanks all, for the hugs, best wishes, and encouragement. I am doing better with eating gluten free. But removing dairy is a challenge. I need to find a suitable milk substitute. My DS brought to my attention that my almond milk has carrageenan in it. Apparently carrageenan is a problem for the gut. I'll have to scrutinize labels more carefully. Geez!
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
MC/LC dx October 2014
Not all carrageenan is created equal. You might find Chris Kressor's take on the subject to be helpful (at the link below). It seems that virtually all almond milk products either contains carrageenan or gums (which are derivatives of legumes, and that can make them problematic for most people who are sensitive to soy). I'm not sure about all coconut milk products, but they presumably have a similar problem.Cinemon wrote:Apparently carrageenan is a problem for the gut. I'll have to scrutinize labels more carefully. Geez!
Either carrageenan or one or more gums are added to prevent the almond or coconut milk from settling out. You can easily make almond milk at home, without any additives. It works fine, and tastes great; you just have to shake it up a bit before using it. A search of the archives will turn up posts containing instructions for making almond milk.
Harmful or Harmless: Carrageenan
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.