Hi all - GREAT website. Recently diagnosed with LC...trying to do my best to cope but it is hard. I have a lot of neurological issues that predate diagnosis and may or may not be related (no doctor has given an opinion on that). Currently, I have tingling in certain fingers, one finger twitches frequently, I have bouts of twitching in other parts of my body, and I sometimes have foot cramps. I take encourt and it is helping a bit, but I am still far from normal.
Too much info, I know. But I wanted to ask the group: what supplements should I be taking? I'm on a high dose of vitamin d, talk a multivitamin, and am on probiotics. Anything else I should take now that I know of my LC? Do I skip the multi?
I very much appreciate any and all advice. You are such a kind and generous group. This has been a difficult time and your insight will mean a lot to me.
Newbie question: what supplements should I take?
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Hi BT,
Welcome to our Internet family. To skip straight to the chase, your neurological issues are indirectly related to LC and they are almost surely due to a magnesium deficiency. Been there, done that, and I can virtually guarantee that your doctors will never figure out a magnesium deficiency, because they aren't trained to look for it so they don't recognize the symptoms. The blood tests they use to detect magnesium deficiency are almost useless because they will almost always show normal blood levels of magnesium until the body is almost completely out of magnesium (which is a dangerous condition). Most people in this country are magnesium deficient and virtually all MC patients are magnesium deficient because IBDs deplete magnesium, and many drugs deplete magnesium, including the drugs most commonly used to treat IBDs (corticosteroids).
A vitamin B-12 deficiency can also cause the paresthesia and twitching symptoms, but the foot cramps scream, "Magnesium Deficiency" loud and clear. I'm a bit short on time, so please read the thread at the following link to get you started with some general pointers for treating a magnesium deficiency.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22335
Vitamin D and magnesium are the only supplements necessary during the early stages of recovery. The fewer supplements we take, and the simpler our diet, the faster and more likely we are to recover. Probiotics rarely help MC patients. We learned that many years ago. Even the American Gastroenterological Association institute now recommends against the use of probiotics for treating MC (their guidelines were changed last December).
For some MC patients, Entocort will not help until after most of the major food sensitivities have been removed from the diet.
I hope that some of this is helpful. Again, welcome aboard and please feel free to ask anything. I apologize for writing such a brief response, but I've got to get to bed.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. To skip straight to the chase, your neurological issues are indirectly related to LC and they are almost surely due to a magnesium deficiency. Been there, done that, and I can virtually guarantee that your doctors will never figure out a magnesium deficiency, because they aren't trained to look for it so they don't recognize the symptoms. The blood tests they use to detect magnesium deficiency are almost useless because they will almost always show normal blood levels of magnesium until the body is almost completely out of magnesium (which is a dangerous condition). Most people in this country are magnesium deficient and virtually all MC patients are magnesium deficient because IBDs deplete magnesium, and many drugs deplete magnesium, including the drugs most commonly used to treat IBDs (corticosteroids).
A vitamin B-12 deficiency can also cause the paresthesia and twitching symptoms, but the foot cramps scream, "Magnesium Deficiency" loud and clear. I'm a bit short on time, so please read the thread at the following link to get you started with some general pointers for treating a magnesium deficiency.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22335
Vitamin D and magnesium are the only supplements necessary during the early stages of recovery. The fewer supplements we take, and the simpler our diet, the faster and more likely we are to recover. Probiotics rarely help MC patients. We learned that many years ago. Even the American Gastroenterological Association institute now recommends against the use of probiotics for treating MC (their guidelines were changed last December).
For some MC patients, Entocort will not help until after most of the major food sensitivities have been removed from the diet.
I hope that some of this is helpful. Again, welcome aboard and please feel free to ask anything. I apologize for writing such a brief response, but I've got to get to bed.
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.
Wow. Thanks so much for the quick response, and for taking the time to give your thoughts. I'm so lucky to have your insight. I'll follow the advice on the magnesium supplementation, stick with the vitamin d, and drop the probiotic (I was required to take antibiotics recently so I was on a probiotic to recover from that - suggested by the doctor's office, who are great people but not very knowledgeable about MC). I'll also likely take some B12, just in case. Does anyone have recommendations regarding what brand of B12 to take and how much? What a great group. I'm so lucky I found you all and appreciate the help. I hope to pay it back as I learn more.
I didn't realize that you were taking the probiotic because of an antibiotic regimen. That's an exception. Your doctor is quite correct — it's always a good idea to take a probiotic for a couple of weeks or so following an antibiotic treatment. The antibiotic will kill most of the bacteria in your gut and that frees up about a zillion bacteria "parking spaces" in your gut that can allow pathogenic bacteria to attach and become established. By temporarily filling those parking spaces with probiotic bacteria, this gives non-pathogenic bacteria an opportunity to become re-established again.
When they are being used, probiotics need to be taken every day because laboratory-produced probiotic bacteria cannot attach to the wall of the intestine to establish a viable colony. Only bacteria that were raised in a human gut can properly attach and become established.
There are various safe brands of B-12. For MC patients, it's best to take the active form of B-12 (methylcobalamin) rather than the much cheaper inactive form (cyanocobalamin), because when MC is active we may be unable to convert the inactive form into the active form so that our body can use it. I use Source Naturals brand of sublingual methylcobalamin 1 mg lozenges. Sublingual lozenges are designed to dissolve under the tongue where they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This bypasses any malabsorption problems that might occur in the gut. I use 2 lozenges per day.
Tex
When they are being used, probiotics need to be taken every day because laboratory-produced probiotic bacteria cannot attach to the wall of the intestine to establish a viable colony. Only bacteria that were raised in a human gut can properly attach and become established.
There are various safe brands of B-12. For MC patients, it's best to take the active form of B-12 (methylcobalamin) rather than the much cheaper inactive form (cyanocobalamin), because when MC is active we may be unable to convert the inactive form into the active form so that our body can use it. I use Source Naturals brand of sublingual methylcobalamin 1 mg lozenges. Sublingual lozenges are designed to dissolve under the tongue where they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This bypasses any malabsorption problems that might occur in the gut. I use 2 lozenges per day.
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 again for the helpful information. I'll try the magnesium first, and stick with that if it resolves the issues. If not, I'll try out the B12 as well. I really appreciate you taking the time to set me on the right course. Your website is amazing. Such a knowledgeable and generous group of people.
Supplements
Tex,
I am wondering if I'm starting the elimination diet, do I need to stop my supplements? Magnesium, Vit D, fish oil and calcium? The dizziness and faint feelings I have from the constant WD is just too much for me. I'm just eating the chicken, bananas and potatoes now but I'm worried about my supplements. What do you suggest?
I am wondering if I'm starting the elimination diet, do I need to stop my supplements? Magnesium, Vit D, fish oil and calcium? The dizziness and faint feelings I have from the constant WD is just too much for me. I'm just eating the chicken, bananas and potatoes now but I'm worried about my supplements. What do you suggest?
Diagnosed with LC, GERD, Celiac Disease, and Thyroid Disease
If those supplements are free of any suspicious ingredients they should be OK. Be careful with the fish oil especially, because many/most brands contain soy oil.
It might be best to limit the magnesium and calcium to about 300–400 mg of each, while you are recovering. Or better yet, use magnesium oil or lotion applied to your skin instead of oral tablets. Then after you have been in remission for a while you can add some oral magnesium to increase your intake. That way if it should happen to cause D you'll be able to notice it immediately.
Tex
It might be best to limit the magnesium and calcium to about 300–400 mg of each, while you are recovering. Or better yet, use magnesium oil or lotion applied to your skin instead of oral tablets. Then after you have been in remission for a while you can add some oral magnesium to increase your intake. That way if it should happen to cause D you'll be able to notice it immediately.
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.