MRT vs ALCAT

[Optimystic]

Hi
I'm new to this site........

Diagnosed in November 2015 after many years of health and digestive issues. I used ALCAT for food sensitivity testing a couple of times several years ago. I found it was helpful. MRT is not available outside of the U.S.
Does anyone have knowledge of what the difference is in the laboratory tests (re: validity)?

Thanks
Jan

[tex]

Hi Jan,

Welcome to our Internet family. I have not personally tried either of those tests because blood tests are not particularly useful for accurately and reliably detecting the type of food sensitivities associated with the inflammation that causes microscopic colitis. Most members here use the stool tests offered by EnteroLab for determining food sensitivities. The IgA antibodies that are associated with the inflammation that causes MC are produced in the intestines, not in the blood, so they are not likely to show up in the blood in quantities sufficient to allow for accurate and reliable testing.

Blood tests typically measure IgE antibody levels because they are usually used by allergists for determining the type of food reactions associated with classic food allergies (the type that can sometimes result in anaphylactic reactions). With MC, the problems with these foods are usually due to intolerances based on IgA reactions, rather than allergies, which are based on IgE reactions.

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

Tex

[Optimystic]

Thanks for the lovely welcome. Feels like I've found my people

I do have one more question.

My symptoms fluctuate between diarrhea and constipation. If I don't take fibre on a regular daily basis I get constipated very quickly. The fecal matter can vary from many very soft bowel movements per day to a few, or sometimes they become very hard if I don't get enough fibre. For many years I used to oat bran which worked reasonably well. Six months ago, a dietician recommended that I switch to a low fibre diet and switch to Acacia as my fibre supplement, as I was struggling to regain some weight and found the quantity of oat bran onerous to consume. The acacia seems to work okay but my flareup wasn't settling. In desperation I went to my GP and got a 2 month course of Entocort (my first), tapered over the second month. It calmed things down and gave me a break, but I'm in the rebound stage where the symptoms are back full bore.

What are your thoughts on acacia as a soluble fibre?

My problem is that when I have active diarrhea I'm not sure when to reintroduce the fibre, as the shift from diarrhea to constipation can happen very quickly i.e. within 1-2 days. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for being a compassionate, caring soul.

Best,
Jan

[tex]

My symptoms also alternated between D and C when I was still reacting. After I got my diet perfected, my bowel movements became consistently normal, but diet (and fiber content) definitely affects stool consistency, frequency, and various other characteristics. The problem with oats is that despite claims to the contrary by most "experts", most of us who are sensitive to the gluten in wheat are also sensitive to the avenin in oats. Avenin is a weaker protein than gluten, so it typically takes much longer to develop a sensitivity to it (which is why the relatively short trials that the "experts" use to "prove" that oats are safe for celiacs, show that oats are safe. The problem is that if those trials were twice as long, they would discover that most of the subjects in the study would develop symptoms.

There is probably something remaining in your diet that is preventing complete remission, but tracking down the last items is almost always difficult. The problem is usually in one's diet, but it could also be in a medication, or cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, even skin lotion for some of us. This is especially true for those of us who have mast cell problems.

I'm not familiar with acacia, because it's not often used (here in the U. S.). I've never used a fiber supplement, but the members here who find that a soluble fiber supplement is helpful usually tend to use psyllium. It's possible that you might have better success with it. But I have no experience with fiber supplements, so I have no thoughts on the best way to regulate the dosage, especially with alternating symptoms. Hopefully your alternating symptoms will soon fade away.

You're most welcome,
Wayne

[Gabes-Apg]

I am another that has alternated between C and D

there are some foods or external enviro triggers causing the body to react.

in line with tex's suggestion, and your symptoms, finely ground slippery elm might be a safer option for you it is not fibre per say, but it will help with both the C and the D

the other ponderings i have
are you having good serves of animal protein with animal fat?
magnesium - are you supplementing with Magnesium?

Even when I had the worst C, i never had fibre supplement, as all it does is bulk up the stool and make it harder to pass, and put us at high risk of hemorrhoids etc

when you are having C issues some safer options are:
increase oral magnesium intake
increase water intake
have spoonfuls of coconut oil am and pm
slowly eat a peeled apple (raw) chew well, this is a more gentle fibre with antinflammatory properties
watered down pear juice (same as apple gentle fibre with antiinflammatory properties)

[Optimystic]

Hi Gabes

Thanks to you and Wayne for your responses. It is a challenge sorting out all the triggers. I did find the ALCAT testing in the past to be helpful in sorting.

Hasn't been my experience that the fibre is constipating. I always consume it with lots of water, and since I'm almost always dehydrated do consume a lot of fluids. Thanks for your suggestions regarding alternate options. I do use coconut oil, but apples are on my poorly tolerated list. Go figure- one of the fruits that actually grow here ;)

I am eating lots of animal protein......venison, lamb and turkey. Although lamb and turkey tested in the past as mildly irritating. Wondering if I should take them out for a few months until I get things well settled. I do tend to like the lean meat, and don't eat much of the fat. You think my body would digest the fat reasonably easily? I find oily things tend to leave an oil slick on the surface of the toilet water when I am in a flare. As I am now.

I have used magnesium supplement for 15 years, from citrate and ascorbate sources, 500-700 mg. per day. Interesting that if I miss a few hundred mg. I will have have foot/calf muscles spasms. Makes me think that I don't haven't stored much. I believe I read on the blog somewhere about the topical magnesium spray option. Was that one of your postings? Perhaps I should add that to my daily regimen.......

[Gabes-Apg]

mmmm
how is your Vit D3 level? have you had it tested in the past 6-9 months?

[tex]

Jan,

Sometimes it helps to reduce fat intake during a flare, because we have trouble absorbing it.

Tex

[Optimystic]

Have not, however I usually take about 5000 IU per day.....