glad there is improvements Erica,
and yes going back to the 'safe staples' when feeling poorly has been part of my management plan all along. that is why i encourage people to find what their safe staples are, as there are many times that you revert back to them.
Any time there is mental, physical, emotional stress - it helps to go back to the bland easy to digest safe meals.
the other aspect is, 'perfect normans' every day may not be the only benchmark of healing.
my poop changes through the week, no two days are the same. Yet my digestion is the best it has been in over 30 years.
Need Input that I'm not going to get from Dr.
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
True....the Normans are not the same for me every day either, they change in color, size, shape you name it. My digestion it has improved, and my gut no longer aches or has tons of gas rolling in it.
I plan to stay on my safe regimen, I am finding no need to sway to far from those foods, there really isn't any need for it, them seem to be doing just fine for me and keeping me going.
It's not that much fun when I decide to go out with my husband to eat, but feeling good trumps the beautiful dish of food that I used to enjoy when going out. I'm more open minded about more places having something I can have these days, so am staying positive. One day I will be able to enjoy a salad again, it may just take another year to get there ;-)
I plan to stay on my safe regimen, I am finding no need to sway to far from those foods, there really isn't any need for it, them seem to be doing just fine for me and keeping me going.
It's not that much fun when I decide to go out with my husband to eat, but feeling good trumps the beautiful dish of food that I used to enjoy when going out. I'm more open minded about more places having something I can have these days, so am staying positive. One day I will be able to enjoy a salad again, it may just take another year to get there ;-)
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
Eight months....lots of trial and error....hormones....supplement experimenting...a virus cold/flu...recovery....WOW.
Lost weight I didn't know I had to, and it took some of my muscle with it (I throw myself a pity party about this often, as it is so hard to 'regain' that muscle back once you are in your later 40's!) I am working on this aspect of myself now as I used to be 145lbs now I am 135lbs, those 10# really make a huge difference in how I feel. Some of it feels good and some feels foreign as to where did I go last year? It must have been inflammatory water and toxin that left the cells and what was left over I have to start new again with. I guess I can't expect to lift or do what I used to all my life, lol.
This post is basically a reality check I am having and how my body is feeling after all this time. After al this time I am still eating only these items:
White rice
Gluten free noodles
Bone broth - different variations from bones ie: Cornish hen, turkey so far
Turkey - and the variations that can be made with it ie: sausage.
Chicken
Pork - and the variations of it too ie: bacon, pork chops etc...
Carrots
Squash
Cashews
Gluten Free Cinnamon bread
Cinnamon Chex
Earthbalance spread
Coconut Oil
Coconut Milk
Cashew Milk
Sea salt
Coconut Aminos
Coconut Teriyaki Aminos
Coffee with Nesquik syrup
Hot Tamales
Corn tortilla chips with sea salt
This is it folks! I have the most BORING food pyramid in the world, but it seems to work for me and I am having Normans.
I shake my head at what I eat now....I used to be the most diverse food eater and never gained weight, people were always in awe at my metabolism....I work at a college food service and have eaten plenty for 22 years....gained 0.00 weight, only what the MC attributed to.
Lost weight I didn't know I had to, and it took some of my muscle with it (I throw myself a pity party about this often, as it is so hard to 'regain' that muscle back once you are in your later 40's!) I am working on this aspect of myself now as I used to be 145lbs now I am 135lbs, those 10# really make a huge difference in how I feel. Some of it feels good and some feels foreign as to where did I go last year? It must have been inflammatory water and toxin that left the cells and what was left over I have to start new again with. I guess I can't expect to lift or do what I used to all my life, lol.
This post is basically a reality check I am having and how my body is feeling after all this time. After al this time I am still eating only these items:
White rice
Gluten free noodles
Bone broth - different variations from bones ie: Cornish hen, turkey so far
Turkey - and the variations that can be made with it ie: sausage.
Chicken
Pork - and the variations of it too ie: bacon, pork chops etc...
Carrots
Squash
Cashews
Gluten Free Cinnamon bread
Cinnamon Chex
Earthbalance spread
Coconut Oil
Coconut Milk
Cashew Milk
Sea salt
Coconut Aminos
Coconut Teriyaki Aminos
Coffee with Nesquik syrup
Hot Tamales
Corn tortilla chips with sea salt
This is it folks! I have the most BORING food pyramid in the world, but it seems to work for me and I am having Normans.
I shake my head at what I eat now....I used to be the most diverse food eater and never gained weight, people were always in awe at my metabolism....I work at a college food service and have eaten plenty for 22 years....gained 0.00 weight, only what the MC attributed to.
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
Erica wrote:This is it folks! I have the most BORING food pyramid in the world, but it seems to work for me and I am having Normans.
It's hard to argue with success.It's good to see that you're back on track after being sidetracked for so long by the virus.
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 
I am doing much better....and I forgot to add that I am eating a little bit of avocado and potato too.
I am experimenting with 10mg daily of pregnenolone right now too, its been a week and I don't seem to have any side effects from it yet. I'm trying to see if it will help balance any of the hormones naturally that are off right now. Its a low dose so I think I should be ok with it, may take more time overall to see if it benefits me in the long run though.
Also with my food pyramid I have stopped taking an antihistamine for the time being except an 'occasional' Benadryl for night use if I seem to have more mucus going on (like last night, and it had tapered off by this morning). We will see if Spring makes me bump back up to taking the Claritin redi-tab again, but I just haven't felt like it was doing anything for me lately.
I am doing much better....and I forgot to add that I am eating a little bit of avocado and potato too.
I am experimenting with 10mg daily of pregnenolone right now too, its been a week and I don't seem to have any side effects from it yet. I'm trying to see if it will help balance any of the hormones naturally that are off right now. Its a low dose so I think I should be ok with it, may take more time overall to see if it benefits me in the long run though.
Also with my food pyramid I have stopped taking an antihistamine for the time being except an 'occasional' Benadryl for night use if I seem to have more mucus going on (like last night, and it had tapered off by this morning). We will see if Spring makes me bump back up to taking the Claritin redi-tab again, but I just haven't felt like it was doing anything for me lately.
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
Hi Erica!
Sounds like you're still having a pretty rough time. I live in Southern New Mexico and the "hurricane force wind season") also known as "spring" here), has started. I had the full-blown allergy scratch/shot test done in 2009, and I'm pretty much highly allergic to every weed and tree in this state! I did the shots for four years, then decided to give it a go without them. Unfortunately, at this time of year (especially after having 80+ mph winds yesterday), I still suffer with some pretty bad allergy symptoms. My allergies have kicked into high gear and my MC has gotten much, much worse. I get sinus and ear infections if I don't take massive amounts of antihistamines so your story sounds pretty familiar to me.
Tex - what is your take on our problem? Do all those massive amounts of histamine in our systems trigger worse MC? It doesn't matter what I eat right now...it goes in one end and out the other. And I mean 15-20 minutes after I eat, I'm running for the commode. I was starting to feel a little better, by starting to modify my diet, but I've lost a LOT of ground. It sounds like the same thing is happening to Erica.
Hang in there, Erica. This disease makes you feel so afraid and alone but know that you're NOT! We're all here for you on this wonderful site.
Take care and keep your chin up!
Kim
Sounds like you're still having a pretty rough time. I live in Southern New Mexico and the "hurricane force wind season") also known as "spring" here), has started. I had the full-blown allergy scratch/shot test done in 2009, and I'm pretty much highly allergic to every weed and tree in this state! I did the shots for four years, then decided to give it a go without them. Unfortunately, at this time of year (especially after having 80+ mph winds yesterday), I still suffer with some pretty bad allergy symptoms. My allergies have kicked into high gear and my MC has gotten much, much worse. I get sinus and ear infections if I don't take massive amounts of antihistamines so your story sounds pretty familiar to me.
Tex - what is your take on our problem? Do all those massive amounts of histamine in our systems trigger worse MC? It doesn't matter what I eat right now...it goes in one end and out the other. And I mean 15-20 minutes after I eat, I'm running for the commode. I was starting to feel a little better, by starting to modify my diet, but I've lost a LOT of ground. It sounds like the same thing is happening to Erica.
Hang in there, Erica. This disease makes you feel so afraid and alone but know that you're NOT! We're all here for you on this wonderful site.
Take care and keep your chin up!
Kim
Kim "The Outhouse Polka Queen"
Raynaud's Disease, 1982
Thyroid Disease, 2007
Collagenous Colitis, 2010
Raynaud's Disease, 1982
Thyroid Disease, 2007
Collagenous Colitis, 2010
HI Kim,
In the bathroom dept, I'm doing pretty good now that my cold/virus has completely gone. The remnants of sporadic mucus and a little pop in my right ear once in a great while are all that's left over from it. I'm sure once the pollen starts up around the SE Washington area I will be back with the antihistamine. I'm kinda testing myself right now to see if the foods I'm eating are contributing to high histamine yet, I should know the outcome of this test within this month
If you are having bouts of BR trips within 15 minutes of eating then you are getting into something your body can't tolerate right now. Those immediate reactions only happened when my MC was fully active and I was still ingesting my Unsafe foods ie: dairy, soy or egg....as I don't eat gluten as a cheet ever since last May 2015.
I sure hope your system calms down for you soon
Thanks for rooting me on!!
cheers
Erica
In the bathroom dept, I'm doing pretty good now that my cold/virus has completely gone. The remnants of sporadic mucus and a little pop in my right ear once in a great while are all that's left over from it. I'm sure once the pollen starts up around the SE Washington area I will be back with the antihistamine. I'm kinda testing myself right now to see if the foods I'm eating are contributing to high histamine yet, I should know the outcome of this test within this month
If you are having bouts of BR trips within 15 minutes of eating then you are getting into something your body can't tolerate right now. Those immediate reactions only happened when my MC was fully active and I was still ingesting my Unsafe foods ie: dairy, soy or egg....as I don't eat gluten as a cheet ever since last May 2015.
I sure hope your system calms down for you soon
Thanks for rooting me on!!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
Kim,
MC reactions that occur in less than 2 or 3 hours are typically prompted by histamine/mast cell issues, rather than by the classic IgA reactions associated with MC as defined by the official medical description of the disease. I'm currently writing a book that devotes a significant amount of space to exploring the association between histamine/mast cells and MC, so yes, I definitely believe there is a strong association. In the meantime, have you seen these short articles that provide some basic information about mast cells, and how mast cell issues are associated with microscopic colitis:
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?
Incidentally, magnesium deficiencies are associated with (among many other problems) allergies. I find that my life-long pollen allergies are much less of a problem now that I've resolved my long-standing magnesium deficiency.
Tex
MC reactions that occur in less than 2 or 3 hours are typically prompted by histamine/mast cell issues, rather than by the classic IgA reactions associated with MC as defined by the official medical description of the disease. I'm currently writing a book that devotes a significant amount of space to exploring the association between histamine/mast cells and MC, so yes, I definitely believe there is a strong association. In the meantime, have you seen these short articles that provide some basic information about mast cells, and how mast cell issues are associated with microscopic colitis:
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?
Incidentally, magnesium deficiencies are associated with (among many other problems) allergies. I find that my life-long pollen allergies are much less of a problem now that I've resolved my long-standing magnesium deficiency.
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.
Ok, the pregnenolone just seems to enhance more frustration and bouts of anger than I like, it must be enhancing the testosterone and nothing else, I even backed it off to barely anything.
In my perpetual learning according to my DNA I actually don't process exterior aids of progesterone and estrogen to the best of my ability hence that could be why I have had all the trouble with hormone supplementation during 2014, and quite possibly Waaay back when in my early 20's too. Luckily for me I made it thru the child bearing years and my dear husband elected to have a vas for both our sakes and that has helped me to not have to be on any hormones until recently....which now I've concluded I really can't take.....so extra steroid supplementation is off my radar now, onto learning how to just live with my body and its idiosyncrasies.
In my perpetual learning according to my DNA I actually don't process exterior aids of progesterone and estrogen to the best of my ability hence that could be why I have had all the trouble with hormone supplementation during 2014, and quite possibly Waaay back when in my early 20's too. Luckily for me I made it thru the child bearing years and my dear husband elected to have a vas for both our sakes and that has helped me to not have to be on any hormones until recently....which now I've concluded I really can't take.....so extra steroid supplementation is off my radar now, onto learning how to just live with my body and its idiosyncrasies.
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
I ate out today!!
It was a Mexican resturant and I had tortilla chips, a side of guacamole (avocado, onion and chucks of tomato that I scooted to the side, lol) and a side of plain pulled chicken that only tasted of a little salt. I was specific about no gluten or soy and was reassured none of that would be in it. It has been 8 hours and no side effects!!
I'm so relieved to get to this point...one more hurdle I've gotten over. First time I've left the house without packing some safe food.
It was a Mexican resturant and I had tortilla chips, a side of guacamole (avocado, onion and chucks of tomato that I scooted to the side, lol) and a side of plain pulled chicken that only tasted of a little salt. I was specific about no gluten or soy and was reassured none of that would be in it. It has been 8 hours and no side effects!!
I'm so relieved to get to this point...one more hurdle I've gotten over. First time I've left the house without packing some safe food.
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
Erica,
That's wonderful! It feels so good when you can do that! It must have been the day for Mexican as we tried Chipotle. Interesting, I never cared much for it before my MC, and I ate the barbacoa beef on corn tortillas with a little of the white rice and some fresh salsa. It was really good. Funny how your taste changes after an illness and an absence of different foods. I did really well with it also.
I would encourage any of you to give Chipotle a try if you have one in your area. They are really very gluten, dairy, and soy friendly!
That's wonderful! It feels so good when you can do that! It must have been the day for Mexican as we tried Chipotle. Interesting, I never cared much for it before my MC, and I ate the barbacoa beef on corn tortillas with a little of the white rice and some fresh salsa. It was really good. Funny how your taste changes after an illness and an absence of different foods. I did really well with it also.
I would encourage any of you to give Chipotle a try if you have one in your area. They are really very gluten, dairy, and soy friendly!
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
It was a refreshing feeling, because there are a few Mexican places in Walla Walla. It made my husband feel better too, knowing at most Mexican restaurants I can find something that will satisfy me. We don't have a Chipotle here though...
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
Debilitating Flare up!
Hi, Cristina here. I was diagnosed with LC this past October, 2016 after suffering from off and on explosive WD since December, 2014, when 30 minutes after eating some sushi, which didn't taste right I was on the toilet with explosive WD.
My GI, as usual, put me on Pepto tablets 3x/day for 6 weeks during which time I tried to restrict my diet although he assured me that diet had no effect on my LC, HA! I already knew that I was gluten intolerant and had been pretty much avoiding it.
After reading Elaine's Gottshall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" I started to eat more SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). That worked while on the Pepto but shortly thereafter I began to go down hill again. I have now been working with a Naturopath doctor for about a month, and have had off and on success.
I was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico earlier this month but was so afraid to travel, for obvious reasons, that I ended up cancelling the trip. For 2 weeks before that I had been suffering from insomnia along with hot flashes and horrible night sweats. WHAT? I'm 65 and have been menopausal for 14 years w/o any of those symptoms.
My naturopath is a certified accupunturist and that seems to help some. She also has ordered some homeopath meds called UNDAs that help the body and certain organs get rid of toxins. She has me taking what seems like a lot of EFAs, probiotics, and eating 2 T of coconut oil daily.
Since I was so depressed last weekend when I had WD constantly for 4 days along with fatigue, no motivation, cramping, and pretty much on the couch or the toilet she ordered some Chinese herbs to help with the depression and some different UNDAs.
Today, Thursday, the 3rd day after my sick days I finally feel somewhat normal again. My BMs are no longer 7s on the Bristol chart, more like 5s and 6s, but my energy is back and the night sweats and hot flashes have diminished. I'm going to give this treatment at least 3 months and see what happens.
The problem is that I'm a retired teacher and live on a limited pension and her treatment is super expensive since neither Medicare nor my supplemental Ins. cover any of her charges. She had me do a thorough GI test, both stool testing and saliva for food sensitivities, but don't have results yet.
Since this past weekend I have returned to a very restricted diet of bananas, eggs, rice cakes with almond butter and/or coconut oil, peppermint/spearmint/raspberry leaf teas, chicken, rice, pot roast (carrots and potatoes), sweet potatoes, salmon, and rice crackers. Boring but effective thus far. Sure hope I don't learn I'm reactive to eggs!
I have a family history of depression (3 generations) and have been on an anti-depressant for about 30 years with no negative effects. In fact, I've tried getting off slowly 4xs before and always slid back into a black tunnel, hopeless and one time suicidal.
Can IBS develop into MC? When I was going through a divorce back in 1988-1990 with 3 little girls and an absent husband I had digestive issues and was told by my doctor (not the naturopath) that I had IBS and had to get rid of the stress in my life - HA!
Thanks so much to all of you for your support and posts. It's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this disease.
Hoping to continue improving,
Cristina
My GI, as usual, put me on Pepto tablets 3x/day for 6 weeks during which time I tried to restrict my diet although he assured me that diet had no effect on my LC, HA! I already knew that I was gluten intolerant and had been pretty much avoiding it.
After reading Elaine's Gottshall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" I started to eat more SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). That worked while on the Pepto but shortly thereafter I began to go down hill again. I have now been working with a Naturopath doctor for about a month, and have had off and on success.
I was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico earlier this month but was so afraid to travel, for obvious reasons, that I ended up cancelling the trip. For 2 weeks before that I had been suffering from insomnia along with hot flashes and horrible night sweats. WHAT? I'm 65 and have been menopausal for 14 years w/o any of those symptoms.
My naturopath is a certified accupunturist and that seems to help some. She also has ordered some homeopath meds called UNDAs that help the body and certain organs get rid of toxins. She has me taking what seems like a lot of EFAs, probiotics, and eating 2 T of coconut oil daily.
Since I was so depressed last weekend when I had WD constantly for 4 days along with fatigue, no motivation, cramping, and pretty much on the couch or the toilet she ordered some Chinese herbs to help with the depression and some different UNDAs.
Today, Thursday, the 3rd day after my sick days I finally feel somewhat normal again. My BMs are no longer 7s on the Bristol chart, more like 5s and 6s, but my energy is back and the night sweats and hot flashes have diminished. I'm going to give this treatment at least 3 months and see what happens.
The problem is that I'm a retired teacher and live on a limited pension and her treatment is super expensive since neither Medicare nor my supplemental Ins. cover any of her charges. She had me do a thorough GI test, both stool testing and saliva for food sensitivities, but don't have results yet.
Since this past weekend I have returned to a very restricted diet of bananas, eggs, rice cakes with almond butter and/or coconut oil, peppermint/spearmint/raspberry leaf teas, chicken, rice, pot roast (carrots and potatoes), sweet potatoes, salmon, and rice crackers. Boring but effective thus far. Sure hope I don't learn I'm reactive to eggs!
I have a family history of depression (3 generations) and have been on an anti-depressant for about 30 years with no negative effects. In fact, I've tried getting off slowly 4xs before and always slid back into a black tunnel, hopeless and one time suicidal.
Can IBS develop into MC? When I was going through a divorce back in 1988-1990 with 3 little girls and an absent husband I had digestive issues and was told by my doctor (not the naturopath) that I had IBS and had to get rid of the stress in my life - HA!
Thanks so much to all of you for your support and posts. It's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this disease.
Hoping to continue improving,
Cristina
mcaguie
Debilitating Flare up!
Hi, Cristina here. I was diagnosed with LC this past October, 2016 after suffering from off and on explosive WD since December, 2014, when 30 minutes after eating some sushi, which didn't taste right I was on the toilet with explosive WD.
My GI, as usual, put me on Pepto tablets 3x/day for 6 weeks during which time I tried to restrict my diet although he assured me that diet had no effect on my LC, HA! I already knew that I was gluten intolerant and had been pretty much avoiding it.
After reading Elaine's Gottshall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" I started to eat more SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). That worked while on the Pepto but shortly thereafter I began to go down hill again. I have now been working with a Naturopath doctor for about a month, and have had off and on success.
I was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico earlier this month but was so afraid to travel, for obvious reasons, that I ended up cancelling the trip. For 2 weeks before that I had been suffering from insomnia along with hot flashes and horrible night sweats. WHAT? I'm 65 and have been menopausal for 14 years w/o any of those symptoms.
My naturopath is a certified accupunturist and that seems to help some. She also has ordered some homeopath meds called UNDAs that help the body and certain organs get rid of toxins. She has me taking what seems like a lot of EFAs, probiotics, and eating 2 T of coconut oil daily.
Since I was so depressed last weekend when I had WD constantly for 4 days along with fatigue, no motivation, cramping, and pretty much on the couch or the toilet she ordered some Chinese herbs to help with the depression and some different UNDAs.
Today, Thursday, the 3rd day after my sick days I finally feel somewhat normal again. My BMs are no longer 7s on the Bristol chart, more like 5s and 6s, but my energy is back and the night sweats and hot flashes have diminished. I'm going to give this treatment at least 3 months and see what happens.
The problem is that I'm a retired teacher and live on a limited pension and her treatment is super expensive since neither Medicare nor my supplemental Ins. cover any of her charges. She had me do a thorough GI test, both stool testing and saliva for food sensitivities, but don't have results yet.
Since this past weekend I have returned to a very restricted diet of bananas, eggs, rice cakes with almond butter and/or coconut oil, peppermint/spearmint/raspberry leaf teas, chicken, rice, pot roast (carrots and potatoes), sweet potatoes, salmon, and rice crackers. Boring but effective thus far. Sure hope I don't learn I'm reactive to eggs!
I have a family history of depression (3 generations) and have been on an anti-depressant for about 30 years with no negative effects. In fact, I've tried getting off slowly 4xs before and always slid back into a black tunnel, hopeless and one time suicidal.
Can IBS develop into MC? When I was going through a divorce back in 1988-1990 with 3 little girls and an absent husband I had digestive issues and was told by my doctor (not the naturopath) that I had IBS and had to get rid of the stress in my life - HA!
Thanks so much to all of you for your support and posts. It's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this disease.
Hoping to continue improving,
Cristina
My GI, as usual, put me on Pepto tablets 3x/day for 6 weeks during which time I tried to restrict my diet although he assured me that diet had no effect on my LC, HA! I already knew that I was gluten intolerant and had been pretty much avoiding it.
After reading Elaine's Gottshall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" I started to eat more SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). That worked while on the Pepto but shortly thereafter I began to go down hill again. I have now been working with a Naturopath doctor for about a month, and have had off and on success.
I was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico earlier this month but was so afraid to travel, for obvious reasons, that I ended up cancelling the trip. For 2 weeks before that I had been suffering from insomnia along with hot flashes and horrible night sweats. WHAT? I'm 65 and have been menopausal for 14 years w/o any of those symptoms.
My naturopath is a certified accupunturist and that seems to help some. She also has ordered some homeopath meds called UNDAs that help the body and certain organs get rid of toxins. She has me taking what seems like a lot of EFAs, probiotics, and eating 2 T of coconut oil daily.
Since I was so depressed last weekend when I had WD constantly for 4 days along with fatigue, no motivation, cramping, and pretty much on the couch or the toilet she ordered some Chinese herbs to help with the depression and some different UNDAs.
Today, Thursday, the 3rd day after my sick days I finally feel somewhat normal again. My BMs are no longer 7s on the Bristol chart, more like 5s and 6s, but my energy is back and the night sweats and hot flashes have diminished. I'm going to give this treatment at least 3 months and see what happens.
The problem is that I'm a retired teacher and live on a limited pension and her treatment is super expensive since neither Medicare nor my supplemental Ins. cover any of her charges. She had me do a thorough GI test, both stool testing and saliva for food sensitivities, but don't have results yet.
Since this past weekend I have returned to a very restricted diet of bananas, eggs, rice cakes with almond butter and/or coconut oil, peppermint/spearmint/raspberry leaf teas, chicken, rice, pot roast (carrots and potatoes), sweet potatoes, salmon, and rice crackers. Boring but effective thus far. Sure hope I don't learn I'm reactive to eggs!
I have a family history of depression (3 generations) and have been on an anti-depressant for about 30 years with no negative effects. In fact, I've tried getting off slowly 4xs before and always slid back into a black tunnel, hopeless and one time suicidal.
Can IBS develop into MC? When I was going through a divorce back in 1988-1990 with 3 little girls and an absent husband I had digestive issues and was told by my doctor (not the naturopath) that I had IBS and had to get rid of the stress in my life - HA!
Thanks so much to all of you for your support and posts. It's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this disease.
Hoping to continue improving,
Cristina
mcaguie