Hi Dana,
I'm sorry to hear about the continuing problems. Major stress is often enough to trigger a relapse of symptoms by itself for many of us, unfortunately.
It's also possible that you may have picked up a virus that's going around. That would certainly explain the upset stomach symptoms.
If we are sensitive to dairy and/or soy, just limiting them in our diet will not help. With this disease, treating food sensitivities requires an all-out avoidance. Most of us react to even trace amounts, unfortunately. So if you are sensitive to soy or dairy, then even tiny amounts in your diet could either start a reaction, or keep one going.
Also, when ordinary diet restrictions don't seem to help, many of us have mast cell issues that cause histamine problems associated with MC. We have to limit high-histamine foods in our diet, and many of us find that taking an antihistamine (or 2), can help. Here are links to some short articles that might help you to determine whether or not you might be having problems with histamines:
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
Tex
Flare up advice?
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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Noimnotpregnant!
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2015 5:08 pm
- Location: Georgia
First time on the site. Need lots of help and support, plz.
Hi everyone, I'm a 47 yr. old who has been diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis for about 3 yrs. now. My GI dr. prescribed me a med. Welchol. Used it daily 2 x's a day for over a yr. at least, and it seemed to keep things in check. A state of remission, I guess. My dr. has taken me off the med., its been a few months now, and my symptoms are back with a vengeance. Im reading on this forum about people trying endocort, a steroid, reading Wayne Persky's book, etc. even trying a chicken soup and rice diet. I'm tired of the diahrrhea, extended stomach, that convinces people Im in my third trimester of pregnancy, telling my young children to not sit on my lap because mommy's tummy hurts too bad! Sorry for whining, it just depresses me so much! If someone could give me advice on where to start, to get my body in a better state of health, it would help me more than you know. My GI dr. all but dismisses any complaints I have when I see him, it's usually "its par for the course" type of response. The only time my body felt wonderful was for a period of 6 months, when I was doing Nutrisystem, I lost 30 lbs. and adhering to there foods, I had no ghastly symptoms. Can't stay on that diet forever, needing help on eating for myself and cooking for my family and just trying to feel much better all around. Thanks in advance guys! Look fwd. to hearing from ya! Karen
Al'ls well that ends well.... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! *Stay positive, things can ALWAYS be worse....*
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Karen,
Welcome to our group....
Start by reading the posts aimed at newbies... You will see our 'stock standard' advice for minimising symptoms and getting your life back....
Remove major triggers from your diet, and Follow a gut healing eating plan.
Not many doctors understand MC, your best bet is following the advice of people here...
MC is very individual, a med that works for one, may not work for another and likewise with figuring out safe foods and trigger foods. We can provide some short cuts to figuring it out, but you have to come up with what works for you....
Grab a cuppa, do some reading and feel free to ask questions...
The success stories are is another place you will see what others have done, and how long it took...
Healing hugs
Welcome to our group....
Start by reading the posts aimed at newbies... You will see our 'stock standard' advice for minimising symptoms and getting your life back....
Remove major triggers from your diet, and Follow a gut healing eating plan.
Not many doctors understand MC, your best bet is following the advice of people here...
MC is very individual, a med that works for one, may not work for another and likewise with figuring out safe foods and trigger foods. We can provide some short cuts to figuring it out, but you have to come up with what works for you....
Grab a cuppa, do some reading and feel free to ask questions...
The success stories are is another place you will see what others have done, and how long it took...
Healing hugs
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi Karen,
Welcome to our Internet family. I hear you. Back before I managed to recover, I almost always had to go to work with the top button or 2 of my Levis unbuttoned, and hope that my wide belt buckle hid that little indiscretion. I previously slept on my stomach, but after the advent of MC I had to learn to sleep on my back, and I continued to react for so long before I figured out a solution that I developed the habit of sleeping on my back and so I still sleep on my back these days.
I'm sorry that you haven't had better success with your treatment. It sounds as though your GI specialist is lost (which is not an uncommon problem). The odds are high that you have food sensitivities in addition to (or instead of) some of the foods that you have listed. Some members use an elimination diet for their recovery diet, but that can be tricky, because it is virtually impossible to find a safe diet that will work for all of us, so we each have to find a diet that is safe for us on an individual basis. If you would like to cut to the chase, and you can afford the testing at EnteroLab, those test results would probably save you much time in your recovery, because they make it much easier to select a safe recovery diet. Most members find that a combination of Panel A1 and Panel C1 work well for them, and the combination is available at a discounted price, to provide more bang for our buck.
The problem is that if we do not avoid all of the foods that cause our immune system to produce antibodies, our digestive system cannot heal, and medications only mask the problem — the anti-inflammatory drugs can suppress inflammation, but they cannot stop it from being regenerated. Only the correct diet changes can do that.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. I hear you. Back before I managed to recover, I almost always had to go to work with the top button or 2 of my Levis unbuttoned, and hope that my wide belt buckle hid that little indiscretion. I previously slept on my stomach, but after the advent of MC I had to learn to sleep on my back, and I continued to react for so long before I figured out a solution that I developed the habit of sleeping on my back and so I still sleep on my back these days.
I'm sorry that you haven't had better success with your treatment. It sounds as though your GI specialist is lost (which is not an uncommon problem). The odds are high that you have food sensitivities in addition to (or instead of) some of the foods that you have listed. Some members use an elimination diet for their recovery diet, but that can be tricky, because it is virtually impossible to find a safe diet that will work for all of us, so we each have to find a diet that is safe for us on an individual basis. If you would like to cut to the chase, and you can afford the testing at EnteroLab, those test results would probably save you much time in your recovery, because they make it much easier to select a safe recovery diet. Most members find that a combination of Panel A1 and Panel C1 work well for them, and the combination is available at a discounted price, to provide more bang for our buck.
The problem is that if we do not avoid all of the foods that cause our immune system to produce antibodies, our digestive system cannot heal, and medications only mask the problem — the anti-inflammatory drugs can suppress inflammation, but they cannot stop it from being regenerated. Only the correct diet changes can do that.
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 Karen,
I'm new here also, but not new to the MC/LC life. I just recently as of March 2015 (yes after being strong headed for nearly 8 years) got testing done from Genova (for parasite/enzyme/ bacteria), then a blood test from Meridian Lab-Renton, WA (for food sensitivities - allergens), and I finally decided I needed to dig deep and do the Enterolab which I hope to get my kit some time this week to finally zero down on my gut allergens period. I do not take any meds except Allegra 180mg. I am taking Vit D 6-7000 daily, and a probiotic (which doesn't seem to be bothering me).
My daily constant foods have been (only in the last 4 weeks), eating a microwaved potato with Turkey on top, or I make steamed rice and Turkey on top, I eat Chex/Cinnamon with Coconut milk. I have learned to make Bone Broth with just enough salt for taste (chicken at the moment, I may just change that to Turkey if I don't see better results soon - and it tastes way better than store bought soup any day). I also cut out lots of sugar all kinds fake, real, all of it. A yeast overgrowth in the gut will eat sugar and keep creating the bloating big time.
You'll notice I don't say when I eat these as I will eat them any time of the day I need to.
I am hopeful that since I have been GF, DF, SoyF, and Egg Free, plus cut out all my offenders (that blood test I mentioned-and then the Enterolab results when I get them, that is another three weeks) for the time being (March) I will see more progress than I am currently. I still have D, but it has slowed waaayyy down to the point that I have gone a whole day without an urgent trip the bathroom
This is certainly a new way of life for me and many others I have read about. I see a light at the end of the tunnel, it just seems kinda long at the moment.
Keep reading at this site when you feel lost - it has helped me soooo much, I'd probably still be floundering around wondering what to do had I not come across here.
With Much understanding,
Erica
I'm new here also, but not new to the MC/LC life. I just recently as of March 2015 (yes after being strong headed for nearly 8 years) got testing done from Genova (for parasite/enzyme/ bacteria), then a blood test from Meridian Lab-Renton, WA (for food sensitivities - allergens), and I finally decided I needed to dig deep and do the Enterolab which I hope to get my kit some time this week to finally zero down on my gut allergens period. I do not take any meds except Allegra 180mg. I am taking Vit D 6-7000 daily, and a probiotic (which doesn't seem to be bothering me).
My daily constant foods have been (only in the last 4 weeks), eating a microwaved potato with Turkey on top, or I make steamed rice and Turkey on top, I eat Chex/Cinnamon with Coconut milk. I have learned to make Bone Broth with just enough salt for taste (chicken at the moment, I may just change that to Turkey if I don't see better results soon - and it tastes way better than store bought soup any day). I also cut out lots of sugar all kinds fake, real, all of it. A yeast overgrowth in the gut will eat sugar and keep creating the bloating big time.
You'll notice I don't say when I eat these as I will eat them any time of the day I need to.
I am hopeful that since I have been GF, DF, SoyF, and Egg Free, plus cut out all my offenders (that blood test I mentioned-and then the Enterolab results when I get them, that is another three weeks) for the time being (March) I will see more progress than I am currently. I still have D, but it has slowed waaayyy down to the point that I have gone a whole day without an urgent trip the bathroom
This is certainly a new way of life for me and many others I have read about. I see a light at the end of the tunnel, it just seems kinda long at the moment.
Keep reading at this site when you feel lost - it has helped me soooo much, I'd probably still be floundering around wondering what to do had I not come across here.
With Much understanding,
Erica