Hello!
I was diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis in August after a colonoscopy that was done to diagnose why I had six weeks of diarrhea. This site is truly an amazing source of information, thank you! I've been working on the elimination diet for just a week or so and had a few questions, but thought I'd give a little background first, if you don't mind.
I'm 46, married, two young kids 8 and 5 (I know, I got a late start!) and I teach yoga. I started eating a paleo diet in 2011 mostly to lose a few pounds and really liked it, felt great. I noticed that knee pain that had been really bothering me and couldn't be diagnosed as anything structural went away after several weeks of being gluten free, so I assumed I was probably sensitive to gluten. But I have never had any gut or digestion problems in my life, so far as I knew.
In 2013 I started waking up with dry eyes and a dry mouth, and numbness in my fingers at night (like they were asleep), symptoms that were completely new to me. I saw an opthomologist, when I asked him if it might be sjogren's syndrome, he laughed at me. I saw my endocrinologist, my gp, an acupuncturist, etc. Nobody had anything helpful at all to offer, and I decided not to see a rheumatologist because I didn't want to go on meds anyway. I did lots of reading about the gut and autoimmune conditions.
I worked with a nutritionist and started eating the paleo AIP (auto immune protocol) in the fall of 2014 and I found it really helped. I still had some symptoms, but they were much less severe, not much of a bother at all. He also teated me for adrenal fatigue. The fingers falling asleep pretty much stopped. I did AIP for maybe four months? And then starting putting some foods back, like eggs and some butter and coffee with a splash of half and half. And some white wine, occasionally. I did have a major gluten exposure in early July, but that was after the D. had started.
This July the LC started. It was pretty rough, keeping me up at night and sometimes very painful. Very hard to lead a normal life, as you know. I went back on strict AIP, but that means many, many veggies, salads and fats. YIKES! Didn't help, obviously, things got worse and I found this site. I haven't taken any drugs for the LC yet. I would prefer not to. And by "prefer", I mean I really, really don't want to. I've had bad reactions to medications in the past.
So for the past week I've been eating chicken, beef, sweet potatoes (the white ones, sometimes called korean sweet potatoes), homemade chicken broth, and some pureed cauliflower. The first three days I was still drinking coffee, and the D was bad. I stopped the coffee last week and the next day the D stopped, totally! I don't know if it was the coffee, or the half and half. This is the only dairy that I have, but I do so enjoy it. So I cut that out and I was so incredibly relieved. My stools still had a lot of mucus, so obviously there was inflammation, but they were solid and only in the mornings. Then, the last two days my stools became softer and yesterday I had D again, once late in the day. Also, the fingers falling asleep at night thing has returned. My abdomen is also feeling slightly uncomfortable and sore, on the left side, as it has been the last few months. Today I've had some chicken, and that's about it. So, here are some diet questions, and if you've read this far I can't thank you enough!!
1. garlic? I put some in the cauliflower puree, maybe that should go?
2. spices? I used some mace and sage in my ground beef the other day, should I just skip the spices all together?
3. Is herbal tea ok? I've been drinking mint tea, seems okay.
4. I wish I could eat white rice, but the one time I tried I had a really bad reaction, but it was slightly undercooked.
5. Right now I'm not taking any supplements except for Vt. D3 with Vt. K.
And one more thing! My doc did bloodwork and one thing she flagged was a low IgA, 87. She said this number wasn't helpful to diagnose gluten sensitivity since I was already gluten free. The test was done on 8/6 and I had gluten on 7/5 or so. I actually don't understand the IgA issue, and why mine is low. She didn't really explain, and she wasn't very helpful. Actually rolled her eyes at me when I said I was eating AIP and didn't want to take the drugs, for now. She said I should go to a nutritionist and take the steroid, and that's it. I haven't been back.
Any thoughts or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I didn't mean to write such a tome, but I thought some of the info would be useful? I'm usually a pretty even keeled person, and not prone to depression, but these last months have been very hard, and seeing some improvement last week, and then a set back, is really bringing me down. Reading the stories here make me realize I've had it pretty good though, so thank you.
-Adele
Hi! Newbie, would love some feedback.
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Adele,
Welcome to our Internet family. My first suggestion is to switch from chicken to turkey, and from beef to lamb, venison, duck, goose, pheasant, quail, rabbit, or venison. You might not be sensitive to either chicken or beef, but a significant percentage of us are, so it's safer to avoid those meats while trying to initially recover from MC. After you are in remission for a while, you can test them back into your diet (one at a time of course) to see if you can tolerate them.
Also, the neurological symptoms you described (paresthesia of the fingers) is often caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12 or folate, or both. Some of us show high levels of B-12 on blood tests, and yet taking the active forms of B-12 and folate helps to relieve our symptoms. This may be due to methylation issues that prevent us from properly converting the inactive forms into the active forms so that our body can use them. That applies to me, for example. Methylation issues are very common (due to certain very common gene mutations).
That symptom can also be caused by a magnesium deficiency, and research shows that most people in the world today are magnesium deficient. In addition, the diarrhea associated with MC (secretory diarrhea) depletes electrolytes, so many of us here use supplemental magnesium, because we are definitely magnesium deficient. The standard blood tests used by doctors for detecting magnesium deficiencies are so insensitive that they are virtually worthless unless the patient's magnesium reserves are so depleted that they are at a significant risk of a heart attack or stroke. Any magnesium deficiency short of that dangerous condition is not likely to be detected by the blood tests normally used.
The low IgA means that your immune system is incapable of producing immunoglobulin A in normal quantities. That implies that you will not respond properly to either blood or stool testing based on the detection of IgA antibodies (such as the blood tests used for celiac screening, or the stool tests offered by EnteroLab for detecting food sensitivities). IOW, those tests are very likely to yield false negative results.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope that some of this is helpful.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. My first suggestion is to switch from chicken to turkey, and from beef to lamb, venison, duck, goose, pheasant, quail, rabbit, or venison. You might not be sensitive to either chicken or beef, but a significant percentage of us are, so it's safer to avoid those meats while trying to initially recover from MC. After you are in remission for a while, you can test them back into your diet (one at a time of course) to see if you can tolerate them.
Garlic might be "OK" for you, but some of us react to it, so it's best to avoid it during recovery. Think "bland and simple" as the best way to describe your recovery diet plan, and you will recover much faster.1. garlic? I put some in the cauliflower puree, maybe that should go?
Same as my previous answer. Plain salt (sea salt is best) and maybe a bit of pepper is OK, but I couldn't tolerate black pepper while I was recovering.2. spices? I used some mace and sage in my ground beef the other day, should I just skip the spices all together?
Herbal teas can be a problem because there is no way of knowing all the ingredients in them, and we tend to react to some of them. If you must drink tea, plain black tea is safest.3. Is herbal tea ok? I've been drinking mint tea, seems okay.
A sensitivity to rice is rather rare, but not impossible. I believe that most of us who are sensitive to rice are also sensitive to all of the other common grains, but this rule obviously isn't chiseled in stone.4. I wish I could eat white rice, but the one time I tried I had a really bad reaction, but it was slightly undercooked.
Do you know your vitamin D level? Fighting the inflammation in our intestines causes our immune system to consume a lot of vitamin D.5. Right now I'm not taking any supplements except for Vt. D3 with Vt. K.
Also, the neurological symptoms you described (paresthesia of the fingers) is often caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12 or folate, or both. Some of us show high levels of B-12 on blood tests, and yet taking the active forms of B-12 and folate helps to relieve our symptoms. This may be due to methylation issues that prevent us from properly converting the inactive forms into the active forms so that our body can use them. That applies to me, for example. Methylation issues are very common (due to certain very common gene mutations).
That symptom can also be caused by a magnesium deficiency, and research shows that most people in the world today are magnesium deficient. In addition, the diarrhea associated with MC (secretory diarrhea) depletes electrolytes, so many of us here use supplemental magnesium, because we are definitely magnesium deficient. The standard blood tests used by doctors for detecting magnesium deficiencies are so insensitive that they are virtually worthless unless the patient's magnesium reserves are so depleted that they are at a significant risk of a heart attack or stroke. Any magnesium deficiency short of that dangerous condition is not likely to be detected by the blood tests normally used.
The low IgA means that your immune system is incapable of producing immunoglobulin A in normal quantities. That implies that you will not respond properly to either blood or stool testing based on the detection of IgA antibodies (such as the blood tests used for celiac screening, or the stool tests offered by EnteroLab for detecting food sensitivities). IOW, those tests are very likely to yield false negative results.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope that some of this is helpful.
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 Adele,
Firstly you'll want to maintain Gluten, Dairy, Soy, and perhaps Egg free diet for a while.
A bland diet of a few ingredients is where we all start. That said, I would remove beef (as it is hard for us to digest while we are reacting) and spices except sea salt (I was able to have a little cinnamon). If you want to give rice another chance make a Sticky white rice and make sure it is really soft (if you have a reaction to it then definitely stop it). Other bland foods are over cooked red or yellow potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, green beans (but only eat one and watch for a reaction every three days). Protein is a must and needed at most meals during the day Turkey, Lamb, Pork and any wild games seem to be ok for us healing with MC.
Beyond your VitD3, Elemental Magnesium (topical works best when the gut is inflamed, Epsom salt soaks, mag oil, mag lotion) after the gut has had time to heal then internal magnesium can resume again.
I created a post way back in May 2015 http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 it has tons of newbie info in it and may even answer some of the basic thoughts we all have while trying to figure our best approach to healing.
Good luck, and keep asking questions!
Cheers
Erica
Firstly you'll want to maintain Gluten, Dairy, Soy, and perhaps Egg free diet for a while.
A bland diet of a few ingredients is where we all start. That said, I would remove beef (as it is hard for us to digest while we are reacting) and spices except sea salt (I was able to have a little cinnamon). If you want to give rice another chance make a Sticky white rice and make sure it is really soft (if you have a reaction to it then definitely stop it). Other bland foods are over cooked red or yellow potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, green beans (but only eat one and watch for a reaction every three days). Protein is a must and needed at most meals during the day Turkey, Lamb, Pork and any wild games seem to be ok for us healing with MC.
Beyond your VitD3, Elemental Magnesium (topical works best when the gut is inflamed, Epsom salt soaks, mag oil, mag lotion) after the gut has had time to heal then internal magnesium can resume again.
I created a post way back in May 2015 http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 it has tons of newbie info in it and may even answer some of the basic thoughts we all have while trying to figure our best approach to healing.
Good luck, and keep asking questions!
Cheers
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Thank you so much Tex and Erica! Very good advice, I will make the changes you suggested.
Quick question about sticky rice, is it a type of grain, or a way of cooking, or both?
I'm going to switch to turkey and make some other changes too. Today has been a better day, so we'll see what happens.
Tex, would you suggest supplementing with B-12? My Vitamin D level was low, 27, and that was after a summer spent in the sun. I'll continue to supplement with D drops.
Many, many thanks. It's good to feel less alone.
-Adele
Quick question about sticky rice, is it a type of grain, or a way of cooking, or both?
I'm going to switch to turkey and make some other changes too. Today has been a better day, so we'll see what happens.
Tex, would you suggest supplementing with B-12? My Vitamin D level was low, 27, and that was after a summer spent in the sun. I'll continue to supplement with D drops.
Many, many thanks. It's good to feel less alone.
-Adele
Sticky rice is also known as sweet rice, glutenous rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice. The following thread from about 4 years ago contains information on it and how to prepare it:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13358
You're very welcome,
Tex
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13358
You're very welcome,
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.
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Adele
welcome - (and sympathies that you have MC and that you had to find us)
I make my 'Sticky Rice' using rice cooked in home made bone broth, let the rice over cook, dont rinse or wash.
the cloudy liquid is gut healing, using the home made bone broth means it is filled with amino acids are other essential ingredients.
I buy the most traditional rice i can find (lower the risk of GMO influence etc). Anytime I am poorly, gooey rice with mince meat is my healing staple.....
good luck for your MC journey! take a few deep breathes, do some reading, be patient, nurture your body.
take care
welcome - (and sympathies that you have MC and that you had to find us)
I make my 'Sticky Rice' using rice cooked in home made bone broth, let the rice over cook, dont rinse or wash.
the cloudy liquid is gut healing, using the home made bone broth means it is filled with amino acids are other essential ingredients.
I buy the most traditional rice i can find (lower the risk of GMO influence etc). Anytime I am poorly, gooey rice with mince meat is my healing staple.....
good luck for your MC journey! take a few deep breathes, do some reading, be patient, nurture your body.
take care
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hello Tex and Gabes.............tex wrote:Sticky rice is also known as sweet rice, glutenous rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice. The following thread from about 4 years ago contains information on it and how to prepare it:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13358
You're very welcome,
Tex
I use Japanese Suhsi rice as my regular goto rice mainly because my meals are Japanese inspired. When I make Suhsi rice I add rice wine vinegar to the rice once cooled. Is that what you are referring to as gooey rice.
I couldn't find Gabes recipe for her gooey rice. Rice was going to be my next add on to my diet. Today I made lamb broth for my dogs but they may have to share it with me for my rice.
I'm dying to be able to add prawns..........what do you think?
I have the most gorgeous large prawns winking at me from the corner of my freezer!
Psoriatic Arthritis
Hypertension
Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Allergies
Severe Atopic Reactions
HIT
Elimination Diet Start : 1/9/15
Hypertension
Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Allergies
Severe Atopic Reactions
HIT
Elimination Diet Start : 1/9/15
I use Calrose Rice (in the Asian aisle) and I use my rice steamer to cook it in and it comes out sticky.
I know the Rice noodles and they are good, just isn't sticky rice ;-)
I know the Rice noodles and they are good, just isn't sticky rice ;-)
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
it was in the post aboveI couldn't find Gabes recipe for her gooey rice.
I make my 'Sticky Rice' using rice cooked in home made bone broth, let the rice over cook, dont rinse or wash.
the cloudy liquid is gut healing, using the home made bone broth means it is filled with amino acids are other essential ingredients.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Jen,
Prawns should be safe, unless you happen to be allergic to shellfish, but if they were a safe food before MC, they should still be safe.
Tex
Prawns should be safe, unless you happen to be allergic to shellfish, but if they were a safe food before MC, they should still be safe.
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.
Hello!
I'm having excellent results with the sticky rice and turkey. Thanks!
Two questions, if anyone has info:
1. I took half an allegra 12 hour allergy pill on Wednesday on whim, after reading about mast cell issues. My gut pain was much better and the next day had an almost totally normal BM, the most normal since this whole thing started in June. Yippee! Then down side was it made my eyes very dry, which is already a problem for me, and although I took it in the morning the dry eyes were waking me up all night. Any recommendations for a shorter acting anti-himstimine, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I'd like to sleep too!
2. Magnesium. I've ordered the spray, but I was wondering if these weird symptoms sound like low magnesium to anyone: at night I've been waking up feeling like my heart is racing, but it's not really, when I take my heart rate. It's fast, but not crazy. I also feel, and this is very hard to describe, like waves of fear, or panic, but I don't actually feel afraid or panicky?? Like the physical feelings without the emotion to go along with it. It comes in waves, over and over, and makes it very hard to sleep. This started in the last month or so. It's very unpleasant. I hope you don't think I'm crazy!
Thanks, I feel so much better already, I don't really care at this point if I'm eating four foods. (Of course, it's only been 2 weeks…)
-Adele
I'm having excellent results with the sticky rice and turkey. Thanks!
Two questions, if anyone has info:
1. I took half an allegra 12 hour allergy pill on Wednesday on whim, after reading about mast cell issues. My gut pain was much better and the next day had an almost totally normal BM, the most normal since this whole thing started in June. Yippee! Then down side was it made my eyes very dry, which is already a problem for me, and although I took it in the morning the dry eyes were waking me up all night. Any recommendations for a shorter acting anti-himstimine, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I'd like to sleep too!
2. Magnesium. I've ordered the spray, but I was wondering if these weird symptoms sound like low magnesium to anyone: at night I've been waking up feeling like my heart is racing, but it's not really, when I take my heart rate. It's fast, but not crazy. I also feel, and this is very hard to describe, like waves of fear, or panic, but I don't actually feel afraid or panicky?? Like the physical feelings without the emotion to go along with it. It comes in waves, over and over, and makes it very hard to sleep. This started in the last month or so. It's very unpleasant. I hope you don't think I'm crazy!
Thanks, I feel so much better already, I don't really care at this point if I'm eating four foods. (Of course, it's only been 2 weeks…)
-Adele
Hi Adele,
For a short-duration antihistamine, many of us have good results with Chlor-Trimeton 4 mg. However, it may not be effective enough at that low dosage to control mast cell issues that affect your digestion.
Yes, you definitely have a severe magnesium deficiency. Your symptoms are a very close match to what I experienced last spring when my magnesium deficiency finally became bad enough that I was able to figure out what was actually causing the problems I was having. The details are in the 3-page thread at the link below.
Even ER Docs Don't Recognize The Importance Of Magnesium
Tex
For a short-duration antihistamine, many of us have good results with Chlor-Trimeton 4 mg. However, it may not be effective enough at that low dosage to control mast cell issues that affect your digestion.
Yes, you definitely have a severe magnesium deficiency. Your symptoms are a very close match to what I experienced last spring when my magnesium deficiency finally became bad enough that I was able to figure out what was actually causing the problems I was having. The details are in the 3-page thread at the link below.
Even ER Docs Don't Recognize The Importance Of Magnesium
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.
Thank you Tex, that is invaluable information. The thread you linked was quite a scary story! So glad you worked it out. If I break my arm, I'm definitely going to a doctor, but if I'm unwell, I find there is just not much for western medicine to offer. At least that has been my experience.
Hopefully the magnesium I ordered is coming today, or I can find some right here in NYC today, because my sleep has been really bad. But digestion is much better, which is fantastic.
I'll also track down anti histamine you recommended and give it a try.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions, it is a blessing.
-Adele
Hopefully the magnesium I ordered is coming today, or I can find some right here in NYC today, because my sleep has been really bad. But digestion is much better, which is fantastic.
I'll also track down anti histamine you recommended and give it a try.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions, it is a blessing.
-Adele