Hello all. I am new to this site. My husband suffers from microscopic colitis. He's been suffering for almost 3 years now - we finally got the diagnosis about 2 years ago. He has been taking cholestyramine powder three times a day which usually works, but not often enough. He seems to be having flare ups lately. Just wanted to reach out to others to see if you have any recommendations on some diets/foods we could try or avoid, or other information that might be helpful.
He seems to be worst in the morning - always wakes up with diarrhea and cramping, but that will usually stop after a couple hours. I hate to see him in pain and am just looking for information and hopefully some success stories from some of you.
New To Site - Wife of Man w/ Microscopic Colitis
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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gotogirl09
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016 6:37 am
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
hi there
welcome to our group
sorry that your hubby has had a tough time
some starting points for information:
read the posts aimed at new people and posts and subsequent discussions by other new people
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=76
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18168
we have also started a guidelines for recovery that includes suggested eating plan - has information about medications, Vit D
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=79
there is also a success stories area
this will give you an idea of what others did, how long it took etc
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=71
this text is the introduction in the guideline and is a summary type explanation about life with MC
- MC is complex
- MC is not well understood by many in the medical/health systems of various countries
- MC in a flare, can have impact on multiple parts of the body, not just the digestion system
- MC is not the same as other IBD's
There is no exact, finite black and white set protocol that will resolve MC for all. There is no quick fix. MC is for life and ongoing chronic inflammation will cause multiple heath issues.
What works for one person, may not work so well for another, and it takes a combination of inputs to minimise symptoms and attain wellness.
Because of this, we have prepared some "Guidelines to Recovery" - key topics and information to help you on your journey to wellness.
Setting up a good MC Management plan may take time, albeit as MC is for life, each person knowing what works and what doesn't work for them, is essential for long term wellness and optimising good health.
The information provided is based on the inputs of over 2000 people that have contributed to this forum at some stage over the past 11 years. (as at May 2016)
A fair amount of what you read in this guideline, and discussed in posts on this forum will seem 'out there'. In some cases it will be totally opposite to what your doctor or specialist told you. It will not align with what governments and health systems have marketed as the approved eating plan. It may be totally opposite to what your mother and grandmother told you to eat.
We ask you to open your mind, embrace the information that is provided. For some it will involve big changes, for others not so many.
As you read the information, do not become overwhelmed. A good motto in MC world is 'Progress, not perfection'. Make the changes at a pace that you can handle, meal at a time, day at a time.
There is more comprehensive detail about 'Microscopic Colitis' in the book written by Wayne Persky (aka Tex - Administrator of this forum), in the top right corner of each page of the forum, has a graphic of the book, and a link where the purchase the book. Considerable research has been invested by Tex to write the book and includes published references.
Hope this helps you and your hubby
welcome to our group
sorry that your hubby has had a tough time
some starting points for information:
read the posts aimed at new people and posts and subsequent discussions by other new people
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=76
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18168
we have also started a guidelines for recovery that includes suggested eating plan - has information about medications, Vit D
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=79
there is also a success stories area
this will give you an idea of what others did, how long it took etc
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=71
this text is the introduction in the guideline and is a summary type explanation about life with MC
- MC is complex
- MC is not well understood by many in the medical/health systems of various countries
- MC in a flare, can have impact on multiple parts of the body, not just the digestion system
- MC is not the same as other IBD's
There is no exact, finite black and white set protocol that will resolve MC for all. There is no quick fix. MC is for life and ongoing chronic inflammation will cause multiple heath issues.
What works for one person, may not work so well for another, and it takes a combination of inputs to minimise symptoms and attain wellness.
Because of this, we have prepared some "Guidelines to Recovery" - key topics and information to help you on your journey to wellness.
Setting up a good MC Management plan may take time, albeit as MC is for life, each person knowing what works and what doesn't work for them, is essential for long term wellness and optimising good health.
The information provided is based on the inputs of over 2000 people that have contributed to this forum at some stage over the past 11 years. (as at May 2016)
A fair amount of what you read in this guideline, and discussed in posts on this forum will seem 'out there'. In some cases it will be totally opposite to what your doctor or specialist told you. It will not align with what governments and health systems have marketed as the approved eating plan. It may be totally opposite to what your mother and grandmother told you to eat.
We ask you to open your mind, embrace the information that is provided. For some it will involve big changes, for others not so many.
As you read the information, do not become overwhelmed. A good motto in MC world is 'Progress, not perfection'. Make the changes at a pace that you can handle, meal at a time, day at a time.
There is more comprehensive detail about 'Microscopic Colitis' in the book written by Wayne Persky (aka Tex - Administrator of this forum), in the top right corner of each page of the forum, has a graphic of the book, and a link where the purchase the book. Considerable research has been invested by Tex to write the book and includes published references.
Hope this helps you and your hubby
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Welcome,
As one who has dealt with MC for a long time before learning how to live with it, I hope you find what works for your husband very soon.
If you have had time to lurk a bit I'm sure you may have read lots of things by now. I started a post a year ago because my Dr just wasn't able to get me to a point of feeling me best so that lead me to create a place to help go thru the emotions and food learning curve http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 It seems rather long but if one quick reads what speaks to them there is much information from many contributors in the post.
I'm very much one who believes it is all about the progress and not perfection with MC.
Warmly,
Erica
As one who has dealt with MC for a long time before learning how to live with it, I hope you find what works for your husband very soon.
If you have had time to lurk a bit I'm sure you may have read lots of things by now. I started a post a year ago because my Dr just wasn't able to get me to a point of feeling me best so that lead me to create a place to help go thru the emotions and food learning curve http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 It seems rather long but if one quick reads what speaks to them there is much information from many contributors in the post.
I'm very much one who believes it is all about the progress and not perfection with MC.
Warmly,
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
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gotogirl09
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016 6:37 am
Thank you all so much for the warm welcome! I've been browsing around the site the last couple of days and finally posted today. I seem to be reading a lot about magnesium and how that seems to help a lot of people. He struggles with anxiety and insomnia as well so I'm wondering if it all could be linked ot some magnesium deficiencies. Not sure if we should start with trying the magnesium or start with the diet first...any suggestions?
Hello GoToGirl,
Welcome to our Internet family. To provide a brief overview of what makes the disease tick, many different things can trigger the disease, but once the genes that predispose to MC are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten sensitivity (but not necessarily celiac disease) are also triggered in almost all cases. Gluten sensitivity causes increased intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut), and this leads to the development of additional food sensitivities in most cases. Because eating these foods cause the immune system to produce antibodies against them, this causes the inflammation that perpetuates the MC symptoms. IOW, we have to avoid those foods in order to stop the inflammation and allow our gut to heal.
Virtually all of us are vitamin D deficient and magnesium deficient, and both vitamin D and magnesium are vital for the proper functioning of the immune system. Because the immune system is in charge of healing, the damage to our intestines cannot heal properly unless the immune system is working well. So that's why all 3 of those items are vitally important:
1. diet changes to stop the inflammation from being regenerated each time we eat
2. vitamin D and magnesium to allow the immune system to recover so that it can promote healing.
In a nutshell, IBDs exist as a chronic condition because the gut suffers an insult (inflammation) and healing is compromised because of a condition of perpetuated inflammation caused either by ingested foods or medications, plus poor healing capabilities due to a weakened immune system (because of a deficiency of vitamin D and magnesium).
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. To provide a brief overview of what makes the disease tick, many different things can trigger the disease, but once the genes that predispose to MC are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten sensitivity (but not necessarily celiac disease) are also triggered in almost all cases. Gluten sensitivity causes increased intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut), and this leads to the development of additional food sensitivities in most cases. Because eating these foods cause the immune system to produce antibodies against them, this causes the inflammation that perpetuates the MC symptoms. IOW, we have to avoid those foods in order to stop the inflammation and allow our gut to heal.
Virtually all of us are vitamin D deficient and magnesium deficient, and both vitamin D and magnesium are vital for the proper functioning of the immune system. Because the immune system is in charge of healing, the damage to our intestines cannot heal properly unless the immune system is working well. So that's why all 3 of those items are vitally important:
1. diet changes to stop the inflammation from being regenerated each time we eat
2. vitamin D and magnesium to allow the immune system to recover so that it can promote healing.
In a nutshell, IBDs exist as a chronic condition because the gut suffers an insult (inflammation) and healing is compromised because of a condition of perpetuated inflammation caused either by ingested foods or medications, plus poor healing capabilities due to a weakened immune system (because of a deficiency of vitamin D and magnesium).
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.