Newbie. I'm glad I found this site!

[Beachbum]

I've been reading posts for a couple of months and I decided to join last week. Thanks for being here.

I'm a stay at home dad for two girls, 3 years and 16 months. I've had IBS ever since I can remember. Took amoxicillin last March and have had WD ever since. Colonoscopy w/ biopsies showed collagenous MC. Resisted taking budesonide until a week ago. Started improving two days ago. I have found that as long as I avoid obvious triggers, I improve. Blood test for celiac was neg, but I react to gluten, as well as dairy in any form, soy, eggs, maybe chicken, maybe beef. Before I finish meds, I plan to be tested for food sensitivities.

I have a few concerns. I am prediabetic, blood sugar normal. I have normotensive glaucoma. IOPs are low enough now that I don't need meds. I have HBP.

Has anyone here had blood sugar problems from budesonide? Glaucoma problems? I have been checking blood sugar, so far normal.

I have read some articles on line possibly linking Ibesartan (for HBP) with MC. I've been on that for 5 years +. I have currently stopped BP meds and BP is ok. Will resume the med if BP goes up. and will change meds as necessary.

I recently started going to an integrative medicine MD who is very supportive and open to suggestions. She supported my wish to avoid steroids, and I have not yet told her I have started Budesonide.

Thanks for listening. I have to keep posts as short as possible, because kids need attention.

[tex]

Hello BB,

Welcome to our Internet family. Antibiotics are a somewhat common trigger for MC, especially in cases where the handwriting is already on the wall (history of IBS, for example).

Looking at your list of symptoms, I would have to say that you very likely have a chronic magnesium deficiency. I'm basing this on your blood sugar problems and your hypertension. I'm not a doctor, and doctors virtually never see the connection, because magnesium deficiency is almost never on their radar. Here's a quote from pages 27–28 of my Pancreatic Cancer book that explains what I'm referring to:

Magnesium and insulin are co-dependent.
One cannot function properly without the other. And this is a 2-way street in many regards. Not only does a magnesium deficiency cause insulin resistance in the cells of the body, and reduced insulin production by the pancreas, but there is a reciprocal effect. Insulin is responsible for the transport of nutrients to locations where they can either be immediately utilized or stored for future use. When the availability and effectiveness of insulin is compromised, extra magnesium in the blood cannot be properly stored, so most of it may be wasted, instead (Sircus, 2009).26

This can dramatically increase the odds that diabetes patients may develop a magnesium deficiency. And of course as the magnesium deficiency becomes worse, insulin resistance may increase and insulin production by the pancreas may decline even further.

But even stronger evidence of the association between magnesium deficiency and diabetes has been found by researchers. Research published by Hruby et al. (2014) found that higher magnesium intake reduces the risk of insulin resistance and the risk of progression from a prediabetic condition to diabetes.27 In that study, people who had the highest magnesium intake had only about half the risk (53 %) of metabolic interference or diabetes development compared with those who had the lowest magnesium intake.

And here are references 26 and 27 from that quote:

26. Sircus, M. (2009, December 8). The Insulin Magnesium Story [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://drsircus.com/medicine/magnesium/ ... um-story-2

27. Hruby, A., Meigs, J. B., O’Donnell, C. J., Jacques, P. F., & McKeown, N. M. (2014). Higher Magnesium Intake Reduces Risk of Impaired Glucose and Insulin Metabolism and Progression From Prediabetes to Diabetes in Middle-Aged Americans. Diabetes Care, 37(2), 419-427. Retrieved from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/2/419

And you may be interested in this article:

Magnesium Citrate Improves Vision in Normotensive Glaucoma

I have a hunch that glaucoma may be associated with magnesium deficiency because a magnesium deficiency can prevent the body from being able to accurately regulate such things as blood pressure, heart rate and function, body temperature, breathing, and various other vital processes controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Magnesium deficiency can cause various neurological issues, including compromising the ability of the autonomic nervous to function normally.

FWIW, when I still had a chronic magnesium deficiency, my BP was often high enough to be a stroke risk. Now that I've resolved my magnesium deficiency, my BP typically stays within the range from 110–120 without any meds, or in the range from 95–110 if I take 10 mg of Lisinopril (which was prescribed to me 7 years ago along with other meds to reduce stroke risk, following 2 unexplained TIAs). It's pretty clear now that the TIAs were probably caused by my magnesium deficiency.

Your integrative medicine doc sounds like a keeper. Medications can mask the symptoms of MC, but only diet changes can stop the inflammation from being regenerated with every meal. Most GI specialists still do not understand that simple concept.

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

Tex

[Beachbum]

I appreciate the quick response.
I have taken magnesium supplements in the past, on my wife's advice. She is a veterinarian and therefore knows a lot. I am currently trying to avoid anything that might have a laxative effect. But I will take some magnesium today and see how it sits. I have had wd for 6 months, and the budesonide has provided the first real relief. I found out real fast I am allergic to Pepto Bismol. It makes my ears ring. And when I take Imodium or Pepto for some immediate relief, the next day I have a bad wd rebound effect.

I hope that I can identify most of my trigger foods before I have finished this round of meds. Coffee is the only one I have real trouble quitting. One cup a day sits ok. If I cut out coffee entirely, I get withdrawal headaches. Since I don't take nsaids any more, and Tylenol basically doesn't work, I don't want a headache.

Between the meds and the support of this board, I am starting to feel hopeful again.

Thanks

[Vanessa]

Dear Beachbum,

Dr. Carolyn Deans ReMag liquid product is very safe for the gut. I've had huge success with it. You can learn about and purchase product at RnAReset.com we've posted a lot about it when you get time to peruse.....

[tex]

Never take magnesium oxide — only about 2 % is absorbed, so the rest remains in the intestines where it mixes with water to form milk of magnesium (an excellent laxative). Topically-applied magnesium oils or lotions completely bypass the digestion issues and can definitely help to improve magnesium levels. Most of us who use oral magnesium use chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate). A few use ReMag, but that's pretty potent stuff, so please learn how to use it if you decide to try it, As long as you spread out the dose of magnesium glycinate throughout the day, you should be able to take at least the RDA without laxative problems.

Most of us can tolerate a cup or 2 of coffee just fine, as long as we don't put something into it that is contraindicated (such as the so-called "non-dairy" creamers that are not actually non-dairy).

You lucky devil. Most vets are typically much more knowledgeable than MDs about treating the types of health issues that plague MC patients. At the very least they recognize that diet is typically the cause of digestive system problems. Try convincing the average GI doc that diet has anything to do with MC.

You'll get there — you're on the right track.

Tex

[Beachbum]

I'll check out different magnesium recommendations.

[brandy]

Welcome! Magnesium glycinate is generally safe for us. (oral); Also epsom salt baths.

Most of us are ok with coffee and we need some kind of luxury!

[dhouts]

When I omitted dairy from my diet, I switched to almond milk. I found that if I warm the milk and add a little honey, it tastes really good in coffee. I also use a battery operated, hand held frother to mix the milk and the honey. More power to you all that can drink coffee black!

[Martha]

Welcome, Beachbum! My son is also a stay at home dad. I think it's wonderful for dads to have this kind of input into their kids' lives.

I use topical magnesium. I order the Ancient Minerals magnesium oil spray from Amazon. I am still very leery of oral magnesium, so this is a good way to get more magnesium without the laxative effect.

Sincerely,
Martha

[jlbattin]

Welcome Beachbum!

You've come to the right place to get all the support and info you'll need. We're like family here, and I, for one, have no idea what I would do without all the friends I've made on here.

I take Doctor's Best chelated magnesium and was using the Ancient Minerals magnesium spray, but recently changed to the Life Flo brand of spray and lotion to use topically (mainly because of cost and I can find it locally).

Again, welcome, and don't be afraid to ask questions!

[crervin]

Hi Beachbum,

Hope you can get relief soon! I admire you for staying home with the kids. My husband and I drew straws with our kids and I won. I'm now thinking, working might of been easier...

While the kids are sleeping, you can read all the info on here. It will help a lot!

[Beachbum]

Thanks, Brandy, Diana, Martha, Jari, Martha E.,

Good to meet you! I am blessed that I can stay home with the girls. I try to be a good daddy, and because of that my wife cuts me a little slack for my lack of housekeeping skills. Working was easier than some days of parenting are, but was a lot less rewarding.

Yesterday after reading Tex’s first post on magnesium, I enthusiastically took a dose of the supplement I stopped taking a couple of years ago. Then Tex warned me in his second post, never take magnesium oxide. I read the ingredients and sure enough, magnesium oxide plus magnesium citrate. So I wasn’t surprised by the results this a.m. I had to travel, so I ended up taking Pepto and Imodium. I’ll pay tomorrow, but I’ll be more careful.

My wife has some of the cream, and I may try the spray. My wife is a regular Amazon customer, and she would be glad to order it. I use Epsom salts baths for sore muscles. Now I’ll use it more often. Thanks for all the advice.

As for coffee, I do like it black, and strong. I used to average between 6 and 12 cups (3 to six large mugs) a day. Those days are over, I’m afraid! I started drinking coffee and tea every day when I was 14, and it’s hard to give up. I’m glad I can still drink a little. I agree with Brandy, it’s a small luxury.
I like almond milk, and I use it in baking. Now that I’ve cut out eggs, too, the Bisquick gf biscuits taste even less like traditional ones. But the vanilla flavored almond milk adds flavor.

More later!

Bill

[Vanessa]

Whoops, just deleted a silly post. Keep us posted Beachbum!

[tex]

Bill,

Here's an egg tip: Most members here who are sensitive to chicken eggs can eat duck eggs without any problems, and virtually everyone can eat duck eggs in baked goods without any problems. Duck eggs are richer (more nutritious) than chicken eggs (but of course they're much more expensive, also). A few supermarkets carry them, but the best place to find them is at Farmer's Markets.

Tex

[Beachbum]

We have chickens and organic eggs now. A friend up the road has ducks because he is allergic to chicken egss. When he has extra eggs, he shares them with us.

I may get some ducks, but neighbor warns me that ducklings are high maintenance until they are grown. I will probably go ahead and get some.

Thanks, Tex