Hi! I am not new to MC. Iv been diagnosed for a few years now. I have tried so many meds, prednisone, budesonide, Uceris, Humira and several others. The ones I mentioned helped some, but not enough to endure the side effects.
My question is, how often does everyone get a colonoscopy? I would have thought that my MC would have gotten better by now. It has not, however, I have gotten better at not pissing it off by eating the wrong things. Lately I have wondered if my MC has progressed, but don't see the doc for 2 more months.
My other question is, I have developed a semi productive cough that has lasted a few months. I always feel like there is something in my throat and have coughing fits in the morning and night. I tried antacids (incase of reflux-and I do get GERD) and allergy meds incase I was allergic, but those don't help. Could this be related to the MC?
Thank you!
Questions about MC, symptoms and colonoscopy
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Songbird,
Welcome to our Internet family. It might be MC-related in the sense that MC can cause GERD if the MC is not controlled. Another possibility is a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia tends to cause a feeling of something stuck in the throat. This involves an oversize opening in the diaphragm that allows part of the stomach to protrude through, in effect pinching off a portion of the top of the stomach above the opening in the diaphragm, thus causing the uncomfortable feeling. This condition can cause coughing and it can also promote reflux or GERD, and of course the reflux can cause the production of mucus or throat congestion.
Here's a simple trick that can be used to detect that condition, and to relieve it, if it exists:
1. Drink a glass of water (warm water is preferable to cold water).
2. While standing on a carpeted floor or rug that provides some cushioning (IOW, don't do this on a hardwood or concrete floor), raise your heels off the floor by standing on your tiptoes.
3. Allow your heels to abruptly drop to the floor (hard enough to allow the weight of the water in your stomach to yank the top of your stomach back down through your diaphragm).
4. If this eliminates the feeling of something stuck in your throat, you almost surely have a hiatal hernia.
5. If it doesn't work the first time, you may have to try again.
Your doctor can confirm the presence of a hiatal hernia with an x-ray or an upper endoscope exam.
Regarding the healing of your intestines: No medications can heal MC. Only the diet changes that totally avoid all of your food sensitivities will allow your intestines to heal. A correct diet will promote healing by preventing the production of antibodies by your immune system. By stopping the antibody production, the T-cells that cause the inflammation will no longer be produced by your immune system, and this will allow your intestines to heal. Please be aware that complete healing typically takes 3 to 5 years or more for adults (depending on our age and physical condition). Kids heal much faster. They can heal in a year or less.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. It might be MC-related in the sense that MC can cause GERD if the MC is not controlled. Another possibility is a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia tends to cause a feeling of something stuck in the throat. This involves an oversize opening in the diaphragm that allows part of the stomach to protrude through, in effect pinching off a portion of the top of the stomach above the opening in the diaphragm, thus causing the uncomfortable feeling. This condition can cause coughing and it can also promote reflux or GERD, and of course the reflux can cause the production of mucus or throat congestion.
Here's a simple trick that can be used to detect that condition, and to relieve it, if it exists:
1. Drink a glass of water (warm water is preferable to cold water).
2. While standing on a carpeted floor or rug that provides some cushioning (IOW, don't do this on a hardwood or concrete floor), raise your heels off the floor by standing on your tiptoes.
3. Allow your heels to abruptly drop to the floor (hard enough to allow the weight of the water in your stomach to yank the top of your stomach back down through your diaphragm).
4. If this eliminates the feeling of something stuck in your throat, you almost surely have a hiatal hernia.
5. If it doesn't work the first time, you may have to try again.
Your doctor can confirm the presence of a hiatal hernia with an x-ray or an upper endoscope exam.
Regarding the healing of your intestines: No medications can heal MC. Only the diet changes that totally avoid all of your food sensitivities will allow your intestines to heal. A correct diet will promote healing by preventing the production of antibodies by your immune system. By stopping the antibody production, the T-cells that cause the inflammation will no longer be produced by your immune system, and this will allow your intestines to heal. Please be aware that complete healing typically takes 3 to 5 years or more for adults (depending on our age and physical condition). Kids heal much faster. They can heal in a year or less.
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.
Hi Songbird,
I am still a newbie (was diagnosed in September of last year). But I wanted to comment on two questions that you asked.
- Colonoscopy: my GI told me I needed one every 5 years (not due to MC, but due to the type of polyps he removed)
- I also have a weird cough, but mine is dry. I had it for a few weeks, then I came down with the regular flu after taking care of my family who all had the flu over Easter. I was really sick with the flu, even fainted one morning and have felt kind of weak since. Now that I am getting over it, the weird cough is back!!! I can't believe it. I saw the physician assistant a few weeks ago about the cough. She was not sure whether it was due to reflux (and recommended trying out Zantac) or whether it was allergic (in that case she recommended Nasonex). She said the lungs sounded fine. It feels to me like it is more in the airways than the throat. I was wondering whether it was just another location with inflammation in my body caused by MC, but I don't know...
Love, Patricia
I am still a newbie (was diagnosed in September of last year). But I wanted to comment on two questions that you asked.
- Colonoscopy: my GI told me I needed one every 5 years (not due to MC, but due to the type of polyps he removed)
- I also have a weird cough, but mine is dry. I had it for a few weeks, then I came down with the regular flu after taking care of my family who all had the flu over Easter. I was really sick with the flu, even fainted one morning and have felt kind of weak since. Now that I am getting over it, the weird cough is back!!! I can't believe it. I saw the physician assistant a few weeks ago about the cough. She was not sure whether it was due to reflux (and recommended trying out Zantac) or whether it was allergic (in that case she recommended Nasonex). She said the lungs sounded fine. It feels to me like it is more in the airways than the throat. I was wondering whether it was just another location with inflammation in my body caused by MC, but I don't know...
Love, Patricia
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UkuleleLady
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Texas
Hi Songbird,
I wanted to echo Tex, what is your diet like? Have you eliminated gluten? It can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. The cough/feeling of something in the throat sounds like reflux. Our food sensitivities can cause inflammation throughout the entire digestive tract, mouth to the other end. When I treated MC with dietary restrictions, my reflux improved (I had a flare up recently but it's been significantly better with dietary restrictions)
Anyway food for thought.. As far as colonoscopy, my last one was in 2013. I don't plan on having another unless I have symptoms that go beyond minor mc flares.
Best wishes,
Nancy
I wanted to echo Tex, what is your diet like? Have you eliminated gluten? It can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. The cough/feeling of something in the throat sounds like reflux. Our food sensitivities can cause inflammation throughout the entire digestive tract, mouth to the other end. When I treated MC with dietary restrictions, my reflux improved (I had a flare up recently but it's been significantly better with dietary restrictions)
Anyway food for thought.. As far as colonoscopy, my last one was in 2013. I don't plan on having another unless I have symptoms that go beyond minor mc flares.
Best wishes,
Nancy
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~The Dalai Lama
Patricia,
My BP was also too low when I was recovering from the flu. I believe that my low BP (down in the mid-80s) was due to magnesium deficiency, and in my case my magnesium deficiency was mostly due to an antibiotic I was taking for a root canal, but it's possible that the flu can also cause a magnesium deficiency (because of D).
Also, believe it or not, there is a type of asthma known as cough-variant asthma. It's widely under-diagnosed, and doctors almost always miss it, and they miss asthma that's not accompanied by heavy wheezing. Magnesium deficiency can cause breathing problems almost identical to asthma (but without the wheezing), and this was my worst symptom when I went to the ER last Wednesday because of the antibiotic reaction. I know what asthma feels like, because I had it when I was a kid, and my breathing felt exactly the way asthma feels, except that I had no wheezing.
When I was in the ER, I was straining to breathe, but one of the ER docs checked out my breathing, and pronounced it fine. Apparently if the patient is not turning blue (and not wheezing) he's breathing just fine. Both he and his supervisor said all my test results were fine. But when I looked up my test results online a couple days later, my blood tests showed a magnesium deficiency, so it was obvious to me that my elevated heart rate and breathing problems were due to acute magnesium deficiency. All of that went over the heads of the 2 ER docs. They listed my diagnosis as a viral infection on my discharge papers.
The only problem is that I had no viral infection as far as I could tell. I had no throat or nasal congestion at all, and no nausea, D, or other digestive symptoms, other than loss of appetite. So what kind of viral infection could it have been? Loss of appetite is also a symptom of magnesium deficiency.
So we can't rely on our doctors to detect asthma (or conditions that mimic asthma), unless we are wheezing so loudly that they can't miss it. You might ask your PA to check out cough-variant asthma. That may not be what's causing your cough, but who knows? Something unusual is certainly causing it.
Love,
Tex
My BP was also too low when I was recovering from the flu. I believe that my low BP (down in the mid-80s) was due to magnesium deficiency, and in my case my magnesium deficiency was mostly due to an antibiotic I was taking for a root canal, but it's possible that the flu can also cause a magnesium deficiency (because of D).
Also, believe it or not, there is a type of asthma known as cough-variant asthma. It's widely under-diagnosed, and doctors almost always miss it, and they miss asthma that's not accompanied by heavy wheezing. Magnesium deficiency can cause breathing problems almost identical to asthma (but without the wheezing), and this was my worst symptom when I went to the ER last Wednesday because of the antibiotic reaction. I know what asthma feels like, because I had it when I was a kid, and my breathing felt exactly the way asthma feels, except that I had no wheezing.
When I was in the ER, I was straining to breathe, but one of the ER docs checked out my breathing, and pronounced it fine. Apparently if the patient is not turning blue (and not wheezing) he's breathing just fine. Both he and his supervisor said all my test results were fine. But when I looked up my test results online a couple days later, my blood tests showed a magnesium deficiency, so it was obvious to me that my elevated heart rate and breathing problems were due to acute magnesium deficiency. All of that went over the heads of the 2 ER docs. They listed my diagnosis as a viral infection on my discharge papers.
The only problem is that I had no viral infection as far as I could tell. I had no throat or nasal congestion at all, and no nausea, D, or other digestive symptoms, other than loss of appetite. So what kind of viral infection could it have been? Loss of appetite is also a symptom of magnesium deficiency.So we can't rely on our doctors to detect asthma (or conditions that mimic asthma), unless we are wheezing so loudly that they can't miss it. You might ask your PA to check out cough-variant asthma. That may not be what's causing your cough, but who knows? Something unusual is certainly causing it.
Love,
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 Tex and Hopeful!
Yes, I think I fainted because my blood pressure was too low. My blood pressure has always been on the low side and I fainted quite a bit as a teenager and young adult, but the last time I fainted was many years ago.
A few weeks ago, when I had the flu, I woke up in the morning soaking wet from the fever, woke up the kids and decided that a hot shower might make me feel better. I guess that was not the brightest idea. In hindsight I think that I was dehydrated from the fever, the hot shower must have dilated my blood vessels and lowered my already low blood pressure even more. I made it out of the shower, but not much further, and hit my nose on the wall when I fell.
I haven't seen the PCP since, but during one of my last visits my blood pressure was 90/58 on a day that I was generally feeling fine. I just ordered a blood pressure monitor to see what my blood pressure usually is. Also, I lowered the water temperature of my showers for fear of fainting again. I read your magnesium info in the different posts with great interest and do think that I am probably deficient. I now ordered magnesium glycinate and magnesium citrate. I will increase it slowly and see how I tolerate it.
I don't know if it is due to MC but it took me a while to get over the flu and I still don't feel great. It didn't help that I had reactions to food this week and last week. One was a trial with sweet potatoes after leaving them away for a while, it definitely did not go over well. And the other one I am not sure, but I think it was the corn. Even though I do not introduce more than one food every three days, I don't always find it very clear cut what the offending food was. I think sometimes it might be a combination of things.
Love, Patricia
Yes, I think I fainted because my blood pressure was too low. My blood pressure has always been on the low side and I fainted quite a bit as a teenager and young adult, but the last time I fainted was many years ago.
A few weeks ago, when I had the flu, I woke up in the morning soaking wet from the fever, woke up the kids and decided that a hot shower might make me feel better. I guess that was not the brightest idea. In hindsight I think that I was dehydrated from the fever, the hot shower must have dilated my blood vessels and lowered my already low blood pressure even more. I made it out of the shower, but not much further, and hit my nose on the wall when I fell.
I haven't seen the PCP since, but during one of my last visits my blood pressure was 90/58 on a day that I was generally feeling fine. I just ordered a blood pressure monitor to see what my blood pressure usually is. Also, I lowered the water temperature of my showers for fear of fainting again. I read your magnesium info in the different posts with great interest and do think that I am probably deficient. I now ordered magnesium glycinate and magnesium citrate. I will increase it slowly and see how I tolerate it.
I don't know if it is due to MC but it took me a while to get over the flu and I still don't feel great. It didn't help that I had reactions to food this week and last week. One was a trial with sweet potatoes after leaving them away for a while, it definitely did not go over well. And the other one I am not sure, but I think it was the corn. Even though I do not introduce more than one food every three days, I don't always find it very clear cut what the offending food was. I think sometimes it might be a combination of things.
Love, Patricia
Wow, thank you all so much for the replies and consideration.
To answer some questions, I'm completely gluten free as of a year and a half ago. I don't eat dairy, beans, onions, garlic, soy, chickpeas, Brussels, cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower. Basically too much of anything is bad for me.
The cough stems from my lung area so maybe it's asthma,
I hated prepping for the colonoscopy but I feel so much worse than 2 years ago, I just need more answers. Now I have back pain and it feels like I was punched in my stomach some mornings.
To answer some questions, I'm completely gluten free as of a year and a half ago. I don't eat dairy, beans, onions, garlic, soy, chickpeas, Brussels, cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower. Basically too much of anything is bad for me.
The cough stems from my lung area so maybe it's asthma,
I hated prepping for the colonoscopy but I feel so much worse than 2 years ago, I just need more answers. Now I have back pain and it feels like I was punched in my stomach some mornings.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
the symptoms you mention are related to inflammation - so something you are ingesting or having frequent contact with is causing issues for you.
have you checked toiletries, makeup, etc
are you in environments with mold, chemicals?
have you had exposure to excess heavy metals/pollutants?
are you taking any medications?
are you taking vit d3? have you had your vit d3 level checked?
as per tex's post today about magnesium, there are quite a few articles linking things like asthma with magnesium deficiency.
(sorry for shortish reply, i have a sprained finger and struggling to type.)
the answers are there, frustratingly it takes time to figure out what our individual triggers are, eliminate/minimise them and then allow our bodies to heal.
have you checked toiletries, makeup, etc
are you in environments with mold, chemicals?
have you had exposure to excess heavy metals/pollutants?
are you taking any medications?
are you taking vit d3? have you had your vit d3 level checked?
as per tex's post today about magnesium, there are quite a few articles linking things like asthma with magnesium deficiency.
(sorry for shortish reply, i have a sprained finger and struggling to type.)
the answers are there, frustratingly it takes time to figure out what our individual triggers are, eliminate/minimise them and then allow our bodies to heal.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
what sort of feed do you give the bird?
manganese or magnesium? Many use topical magnesium - spray/lotion and/or epsom salt foot soaks etc... to minimise issues to the gut.
if your D is always low either you are not absorbing the supplement you are taking, or the inflammation is so high it is using all you are taking (or a combo of both)my D is always low and I take a good supplement but Manganse does bad things to my tummy.
manganese or magnesium? Many use topical magnesium - spray/lotion and/or epsom salt foot soaks etc... to minimise issues to the gut.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
The reason Gabes asked about what you feed your bird, we have a member who was frequently reacting and she finally tracked the problem to her bird. The feed contained gluten, and when she handled it, she contaminated her hands and then contaminated her own food afterward.
Also, exchanging "kisses" with the bird was contaminating her lips with traces of the feed, and causing her to react. It only takes trace amounts for many of us.
Tex
Also, exchanging "kisses" with the bird was contaminating her lips with traces of the feed, and causing her to react. It only takes trace amounts for many of us.
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.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Yep, that's where I was heading, thanks Tex..
Also the dust from the seed, when you are changing it, or cleaning the cage, you would be inhaling gluten, soy etc.
You don't have to get rid of the bird, just change how you do things, and be more aware of the things you are having contact with.
Store and handle the seed away from the kitchen, use gloves to handle the seed, and clean the cage. Maybe wear a mask to minimise inhalation of seed dust. Change the seed mix so there are less of your irritants in it etc.
I know it is very overwhelming to think a bit of seed could be causing this much issue, and the amount of changes we have to implement to live in MC world. Sadly, it is what it is...
I would also check medications, makeup, bathroom products etc.
Also the dust from the seed, when you are changing it, or cleaning the cage, you would be inhaling gluten, soy etc.
You don't have to get rid of the bird, just change how you do things, and be more aware of the things you are having contact with.
Store and handle the seed away from the kitchen, use gloves to handle the seed, and clean the cage. Maybe wear a mask to minimise inhalation of seed dust. Change the seed mix so there are less of your irritants in it etc.
I know it is very overwhelming to think a bit of seed could be causing this much issue, and the amount of changes we have to implement to live in MC world. Sadly, it is what it is...
I would also check medications, makeup, bathroom products etc.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
