New Member

PamelaV · Post by **PamelaV** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 1:14 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum and so glad to have found it! Diagnosed with LC last month (was told it was CC per biopsy in 2011). Currently battling a two-month flare and C. Diff infection. Just finished course of Flagyl and now focusing on diet, eliminating gluten and dairy to start. Taking Asacol and Pepto Bismol tabs. Slow going so far, but am greatly encouraged by reading the posts on this forum. Thank you for providing this service! Most people (including many doctors) draw a blank when mentioning CC.

Post by **tex** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:50 pm

Hi Pamela,

Welcome to our Internet family. I'm sorry that you've been having to deal with C. diff on top of everything else. Hopefully the Flagyl worked, and you have it under control. Controlling MC can be tough, but if we are dedicated, and take life one day at a time, and pay careful attention to our diet, we can do it.

We're looking forward to helping you to get your life back. With any luck at all, the diet changes necessary for controlling MC will also minimize or eliminate your psoriasis, and hopefully the psoriatic arthritis.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:34 pm

Hi, Pamela. Welcome to our group. I'm approaching my two year anniversary with LC. This group is a lifesaver and you'll find a lot of helpful information to help you on your journey. I know it seems hard to believe at times, but as Tex said you will get your life back.

Marcia

PamelaV · Post by **PamelaV** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:21 pm

Tex and Marcia,
Thanks for your warm welcomes. I know I will learn much from fellow members on this site. And yes, Tex, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have already improved with gluten free regimen, particularly the joints in my hands and wrists. Have dabbled in gluten free eating before, but never really gotten serious about it -- until now. Marcia, how is your LC at the two-year mark?
Pam

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:09 pm

Hi, Pam. I am doing very well at almost two years. I am gluten, dairy and soy free along with a lot of other foods. I had a lot of energy prior to the LC and I often have days now again where I feel really good. There are days that I feel tired so I take it as it comes. I haven't had to take medication other than Pepto when I was first diagnosed. Tex's book was a big help to me as is this board. I'm still figuring things out as I go along. Hang in there and search the forums...there is a wealth of information on here.

Marcia

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:13 pm

Hi Pamela and Welcome,

I'm pretty new to this CC/MC business. I was diagnosed 5 weeks to the day that my diarrhea started and that diagnosis was on June 29th. So, I'm about 7 weeks into this. I did the Enterolab tests so I would know what to eliminate from my diet and where I could start when I was able to start adding things back in after a little healing time. I've been gluten, soy, dairy, and egg free for about 6 weeks now, and probably will be the rest of my life, so I'm learning to adjust to a new diet. This is the place to be. There are wonderful people on here and you can always get answers to your questions. It feels like family, and I guess, in a way, we are. We are the only ones that truly understand each other. I have read Tex's book from cover to cover and most of the archived posts on here, and have learned so much.

Again, welcome. We hope you'll feel right at home!

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:00 am

PamelaV wrote:Tex and Marcia,
Thanks for your warm welcomes. I know I will learn much from fellow members on this site. And yes, Tex, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have already improved with gluten free regimen, particularly the joints in my hands and wrists. Have dabbled in gluten free eating before, but never really gotten serious about it -- until now. Marcia, how is your LC at the two-year mark?
Pam

I suffered from psoriasis for more than 40 years. After having lived without gluten for approx 4 months, my psoriasis disappeared. I went from having a body 80 % covered with thick patches of white scales, to no patches at all. This summer I have been able to wear skirts and shorts for the first time in all these years.

Lilia

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:34 am

Lilja, that's wonderful! It must feel great to be able to wears skirts and shorts again. I found the same thing with my cracked, bleeding hands. My fingertips were so sore I had to wear band aids on them. Nothing I used topically helped. After the changes in my diet I no longer even use hand cream in the winter.

Marcia

PamelaV · Post by **PamelaV** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 11:37 am

Yes, I am seeing the most immediate gluten-free benefits in the areas of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis -- the joints in my hands have really improved. I really gut healing will take longer, but will def. stick with it.

PamelaV · Post by **PamelaV** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 11:41 am

Thanks for your welcome, Jari. Yes, this forum is an amazing resource, more valuable than my doctors at this point. Glad you jumped on the GF diet shortly after diagnosis. I had CC for several years and managed okay with Asacol, which completely controlled the D although I was still exhausted most of the time. Now, diagnosed with LC, this seems to be an entirely different scenario with no quick fix in sight. Am seeing slow improvements with GF, DF diet. Eating very few foods to start, per posts on this forum.
Healing thoughts to you.

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:04 am

Pamela,

I notice that you have a fairly extensive list of existing AI issues, and having multiple AI diseases can complicate treating MC, of course. Here's something to keep in the back of your mind if remission of your LC symptoms remains elusive after you've faithfully followed an elimination for what should be a sufficient length of time (6 months to a year or more) and you're unable to make any additional progress by means of diet changes or simple tricks such as taking an antihistamine. In some cases, failure to achieve remission of MC symptoms appears to be due to issues caused by some other AI disease that may be unresponsive to diet changes. Low dose naltrexone (LDN) seems to be effective for treating many AI issues, and several members here have been able to resolve their persistent MC symptoms by using LDN to treat other AI diseases that are otherwise refractive to diet changes or other conventional treatments.

So far at least, LDN appears to provide little benefit in treating MC itself, but if another AI disease is the primary reason for MC treatment failure, then LDN can sometimes be used to resolve the MC treatment impasse by eliminating whatever blocking issue due to another AI disease may have been preventing remission.

In your case, since the symptoms of some of your other AI issues appear to be responding so well to the diet changes, you seem to be well on your way toward remission by diet changes alone. But I thought that I would mention this as another option, on the remote chance that diet changes do not quite bring remission.

Tex

PamelaV · Post by **PamelaV** » Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:04 am

Tex,
Thank you for the information on LDN. I just learned of it from reading posts on this forum, and there's a doctor here in Los Angeles who seems knowledgable. Will definitely explore this option if things don't change down the road. Yes, makes me happy to know there's a possible back-up plan should all else fail in controlling my myriad AI issues. Between endocrinologist, rheumatologist, GI doc and dermo, I have not found any holistic type of approach for my condition.

Just finished week one of elimination diet and am encouraged. Thanks for providing a realistic timeframe for the healing process via diet (6-12 mos). I'm sticking with it.
Pam