When you guys test new foods, how soon do you generally get a reaction?
Like I wrote in another thread, I know I was exposed to gluten recently and it did not affect me. So, recently I've become a little more courageous, and on Saturday my husband really wanted to go out to lunch, and I went. The only thing on the menu that I really liked is a corn/shrimp soup, and I know for sure it has gluten in it (flour to thicken it). It also comes with a warm, fresh baked roll that is heaven! I ate it all. I've had no problem whatsoever!
Is that a sign that I'm not sensitive to gluten, or is it just a lucky coincidence? I really don't know.
Today for lunch I didn't just have my normal turkey and potato chips, I added GF bread, mayo (store bought) and swiss cheese. Still no reaction!
My gut tells me (how's that for a lame pun??) that I don't have any major food sensitivities but that my problem was caused by Aspartame.
That being said, I'm always going to remember what I read in Tex's book and no matter what, I'll avoid gluten as much as possible. But if my theory is right, it's good to know that I don't have to worry excessively about being exposed.
Any thoughts/experiences?
Trying new foods
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hello Susanne,
Your questions are tough to answer, because there are several possible reasons for your lack of a reaction.
1. As you mentioned, your MC may have been caused by aspartame or a medication. If that's true, then it is possible that you may have no food sensitivities and you may be able to remain in remission as long as you totally avoid aspartame or any medication that might have been responsible.
2. You may have food sensitivities but be asymptomatic (IOW you may be producing antibodies and you may have intestinal damage but no clinical symptoms). For example, many celiacs are asymptomatic and unaware of their disease until they have an intestinal biopsy for some unrelated reason and the biopsy reveals that they have villus atrophy. Some people (including me) are sensitive to casein (all dairy products) but they are asymptomatic.
3. You may be having a period of spontaneous remission (remission for no obvious reason). All IBDs are known to occasionally provide/allow periods of spontaneous remission in some cases. Spontaneous remission is less common with MC than with the other IBDs, but still possible in some cases.
4. Your immune system may be distracted by some other issue that it considers to be a greater threat, but if this were the case you would probably be aware of the other issue because it would typically be causing symptoms of it's own. An example of this type of diversion is a helminth infection. Helminths have been used to treat IBDs, but IMO this is somewhat akin to jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
There may be other reasons that don't come to mind at the moment, but these are the most common. There is one way to answer your question definitively — the stool tests offered by EnteroLab. If those test results are all negative (and you do not have selective IgA deficiency) then you have no food sensitivities (at least you are not producing any antibodies to those foods). If you happen to have selective IgA deficiency there is no point in ordering the tests, because your immune system would be incapable of producing normal quantities of antibodies in response to an antigen.
I hope that this is helpful.
Tex
Your questions are tough to answer, because there are several possible reasons for your lack of a reaction.
1. As you mentioned, your MC may have been caused by aspartame or a medication. If that's true, then it is possible that you may have no food sensitivities and you may be able to remain in remission as long as you totally avoid aspartame or any medication that might have been responsible.
2. You may have food sensitivities but be asymptomatic (IOW you may be producing antibodies and you may have intestinal damage but no clinical symptoms). For example, many celiacs are asymptomatic and unaware of their disease until they have an intestinal biopsy for some unrelated reason and the biopsy reveals that they have villus atrophy. Some people (including me) are sensitive to casein (all dairy products) but they are asymptomatic.
3. You may be having a period of spontaneous remission (remission for no obvious reason). All IBDs are known to occasionally provide/allow periods of spontaneous remission in some cases. Spontaneous remission is less common with MC than with the other IBDs, but still possible in some cases.
4. Your immune system may be distracted by some other issue that it considers to be a greater threat, but if this were the case you would probably be aware of the other issue because it would typically be causing symptoms of it's own. An example of this type of diversion is a helminth infection. Helminths have been used to treat IBDs, but IMO this is somewhat akin to jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
There may be other reasons that don't come to mind at the moment, but these are the most common. There is one way to answer your question definitively — the stool tests offered by EnteroLab. If those test results are all negative (and you do not have selective IgA deficiency) then you have no food sensitivities (at least you are not producing any antibodies to those foods). If you happen to have selective IgA deficiency there is no point in ordering the tests, because your immune system would be incapable of producing normal quantities of antibodies in response to an antigen.
I hope that this is helpful.
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.
Thank you, Tex, that was very helpful.
I am not aware of anything else going on and I feel fine.
But I am new to this, and having read your book about MC, I know these things are very complex. I will do ANYTHING to avoid going back to where I was 5-6 months ago and I will be very cautious about what I eat.
I will look into the EnteroLab testing.
Thanks again!
I am not aware of anything else going on and I feel fine.
But I am new to this, and having read your book about MC, I know these things are very complex. I will do ANYTHING to avoid going back to where I was 5-6 months ago and I will be very cautious about what I eat.
I will look into the EnteroLab testing.
Thanks again!
I have continued to be courageous and I still feel fine. I am at another agility trial and the food options are limited. Yesterday for lunch I had a turkey sandwich - white bread, mayo, lettuce and all, and today I had a pulled pork sandwich. I feel great and have plenty of energy to run! My BM's are firm and regular. I still eat my "dirty rice" at night but I'm so encouraged. With every new food I try, I get more convinced that Aspartame was my bane and I will avoid it forever.
My thought about this is that you may not react the first, the second or the third time eating gluten. But, our immune system will build up, and the fourth or fifth time, our antibodies will kick in. Unless you are not gluten intolerant at all in the first place, and your initial reaction was just a reaction to something quite else, like to medications.
Lilja
Lilja
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Susanne,
Thanks for the update. You certainly seem to be doing well so far. It's about time someone had some good luck with this disease.
What Lilja mentioned is certainly possible. Time will tell.
I hope you continue to do well. Please keep us updated — we learn from each other.
Tex
Thanks for the update. You certainly seem to be doing well so far. It's about time someone had some good luck with this disease.
What Lilja mentioned is certainly possible. Time will tell.
I hope you continue to do well. Please keep us updated — we learn from each other.
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.
-
hingbretson
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:11 am
- Location: Roseville, MN
We will all live vicariously through you... lol
It sounds delightful to be able to eat a little here and there, but trust your gut (pardon the pun) and be cautiously optimistic. Excited for your testing. Keep us updated! I'm still in week 1 of eliminating all my sensitivities...new to the Dx of MC (CC)
-Heather I, Roseville, MN
I would like to be in your circle with the gluten acceptance one day.....I gave my system a test after 18 months of being gluten free and didn't eat alot of gluten, just a few bites here an there, and by the 5th day my right jaw had inflamed to the point I could barely open my mouth, my knees, elbows, ankles ALL got joint pain in them it was the weirdest pain and as soon as I stopped the gluten and went back to my "safe foods" just like a tide the pain started to ebb away each day over the course of the next 3-4 days.....so after chiming in with Gabes and sharing my experience with her, I think the conclusion was pretty straight forward that my gut is not ready for gluten yet, it still needs time to heal, and I'm probably one of many that should not eat gluten ever again. Glad it didn't affect my BM's or my sleeping pattern...but the pain was proof enough that I don't care to feel that way at all!
Cheers
Erica
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
Update: I have continued to try new foods and so far I have had no reactions whatsoever. I'm really starting to be convinced that I do not have food sensitivities. I decided against spending a minor fortune with the Enterolab tests as long as I feel fine.
When eating at home, I do mostly stick to the diet that seemed to heal me. Keeping it very simple. But when I eat out (which was pretty much out of the questions several months ago), I go for what I feel like and I don't have to worry.
I'm so encouraged by this, but I will always keep in mind the content of Tex's book. There is too much research behind it to ignore it even if you feel fine.
When eating at home, I do mostly stick to the diet that seemed to heal me. Keeping it very simple. But when I eat out (which was pretty much out of the questions several months ago), I go for what I feel like and I don't have to worry.
I'm so encouraged by this, but I will always keep in mind the content of Tex's book. There is too much research behind it to ignore it even if you feel fine.