Looking for advice and suggestions

[frank]

Hi everyone,

I've hit a few obstacles and need to share them with you. Since my last post, things remained the same, with a few upside improvements. My stool became only slightly more formed and normal, however, I continued a very limited diet that was too little and specific to continue. I did not sustain the Cholestramine (sugars seem to cause digestive issues for me). I did incorporate more cooked veggies into my diet (spagetti squash, string beans, celery, tomato sauce) all based on the SCD regiment I've been following. I also resumed coffee (1/8 cup black) only in the morning. Things seemed okay. In fact, I went away with my family to enjoy some family activity time. Everyone had a great time. We all ski, adn I felt good. I didi have two falls, one of which on my backside.

Upon our return things took a turn in the next few days - joint pain, tendonitis pain (knee and foot), and backside pain. My BM regressed back to having mucous, adn loss of form.

My doctor informed my that my earlier lab results had a positive result for ANA ( antinuclear antibodies), an indicator of inflimation, possible connective tissue disease, and autoimmune disease.

The doctor just contacted me again to share the results from my CT scan taken beginning of month - abnormal density in the small bowel (upper left side - similar in density to pancreas). MRI needed to help identify. States that it could be inflamation, leasion, or tumour. Also, a nodual (maybe a cyst) in upper left side also.

In the interim, Budesonide (3mg) has been prescribed for one month.

I was planning all this time to abopt dairy, adn adhere to a Paleo reset diet for thirty days beginning tomorrow. However, I had concerns about how to intake enough to prevent further wieght loss.

Now, with this CT finding, and the steriod perscription, I'm unsure. Am contemplating how to best proceed for the best long term benefits.
Any thoughts or similar experiences anyone?

Your time and concern is much appreciated,
Warmest regards,
Frank

[tex]

Hi Frank,

When we're concerned about upcoming lab tests (especially involving the pancreas), it's difficult to concentrate on anything else.

Actually though, many of us (possibly all of us) seem to have some degree of inflammation in our pancreas when our MC is active. The GI specialists don't seem to realize that it can be associated with MC (because they don't acknowledge that MC can affect any and all organs in the digestive system). After our MC symptoms are under control, the pancreatic inflammation fades away. An inflamed pancreas is one reason why we tend to have so much trouble digesting fats when MC is active. It's because the inflamed pancreas is unable to produce enough lipase to properly digest the fat globules in the fecal stream.

However, if you have been taking mesalazine or mesalamine in the past, the inflammation could be drug-induced, and needs to be checked out. But usually the inflammation will fade away when those drugs are discontinued.

I realize that it's not easy to assess a situation such as this, but be careful that you don't let your doctor stampede you into agreeing to one of the very invasive and risky tests that measure pancreatic function. Some of those tests carry a real risk of damage to the pancreas (during the procedure).

So far, as best I can recall, everyone here who has reported issues with her or his pancreas, has seen those issues resolve after their MC went into remission.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Frank
with the eating plan etc, my suggestion is, do not have a fixed time period allotted

when eating a bland, easy to digest, healing type eating plan, for some it can take 2 months to get good results, for others it can take 4 months to get some stability and healing happening.
what works best is 'listen to your body' we are all different.

as Tex has mentioned, people with issues elsewhere in the digestion system/body, have had good resolution of those issues once they stay with a MC Management plan that works for them.... the main ingredient of this is 'time and patience'

for the weight loss concern. Your body will not gain weight and absorb nutrients from foods/supplements until you have a calm, productive digestion cycle.
based on the experience of most here, there is no set eating plan such as BRAT or SCD or Paleo that achieves this. You have to figure out what ingredients settle best for you, stick with it and give the gut time to heal...

hope this helps