Bone Density Worsened Should I try Lactose Free Milk?

[mwt]

I recently had a bone density test which revealed decrease of 6% in my bone density. I have osteoporosis in my spine. I realize this is most likely due to undiagnosed Celiac disease but I have taken Budesonide for most of the past 20 months (since Lymphocytic Colitis).
I eat a very strict gluten free, dairy free, grain free diet with very limited amount of cooked vegetables and I have been on this diet for 3 years. I supplement with Vit D3, multi vitamin/mineral, iodine, glutathione, folate, collagen, and have tried Re-Mag magnesium supplement ( cannot tolerate at this time).
Ideally I would like to stop taking Budesonide but each time I do stop, I get about 30 good days and then the D starts again.

My question is...should I try to consume some lactose free dairy, i.e Goat's Milk? Are there those of you who can tolerate lactose free dairy?

PS I am 60 years old, female, active (gardening, hiking, golfing), thin and fair complexion (osteoporosis "traits")

[tex]

Hi M,

Unfortunately, while everyone who has active inflammation in their intestines is lactose intolerant, lactose is not the main problem with milk. The main protein in all dairy products is casein, and most of us react to casein because our immune system produces antibodies against it. This is what promotes the inflammation in our intestines (similar to the antibodies against gluten).

The genetics of sheep and goats are too similar to the genetics of cows, buffalo, bison, deer, etc. for their milk to be a safe substitute. The only safe substitutes for cow's milk is milk from cameloids (camels, guanacos, llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas) or equines (horses, zebras, asses, etc). Goat and sheep milk will not work because their milk contains enough of the same type of casein to cause us to react. That leaves nut milks as the only practical alternatives to cow's milk (for most of us). Most of us are able to safely use Almond Milk, Cashew milk, and Coconut milk. And many of us can tolerate Rice Milk and Hemp Milk. All of the nut milks are fortified with calcium so that most of them contain at least as much calcium as cow's milk. Some contain more calcium than cow's milk.

Believe it or not, someone actually set up a camel dairy in Ramona, California, but I don't believe they were ever able to obtain a permit from the state to sell the milk for human consumption.

http://www.cameldairy.com/

I hope that some of this is helpful.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Have you had your Vitamin D levels checked recently?

do you supplement with Vitamin D?
if the ReMag does not settle well have you tried topical magnesium oil??

calcium does not help to bone health - Vitamin and D and magnesium do
here are some recent discussions

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ht=calcium
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ht=calcium
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ht=calcium

[brandy]

Hi M

Are the docs talking the osteoporosis meds?

I have osteopenia. I am 3rd generation with bone issues. At 55 I am taking it very seriously.

Some additional things to explore in addition to the almond milk--

Eat a lot of protein, this is very key, see discussion in below thread
heavy lifting (start with physical therapist or personal trainer if you have osteoporosis)
Vitamin K MK4 or Vitamin K MK7
bioidentical hormones--in lieu of the osteo meds
strontium citrate--read up on this--in lieu of the osteo meds


Currently I'm do heavy lifting with personal trainer 3x per week. Vitamin K MK7 and bioidentical hormones.

[brandy]

Here is my thread where I talk about what I am doing.

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... highlight=

I live in north Florida. In the morning my gym is packed with the tiny/small built 60, 70 and 80 year old ladies lifting weights.
They are clearly the women with low bone density (because they definitely don't need to lose weight.)

[mwt]

Thank you all for your replies.

I do take Vitamin D and casually use the topical magnesium. I would like to try the ReMag again but I'm nervous about it causing D.

I am also afraid of the bio identical hormone therapy. And I'm afraid to continue the budesonide because of it's side effect of bone loss. Yet, I can't seem to get "off" of the budesonide. I am down to 3mg three days per week.

Tex I would love to try the camel milk but it is so expensive.

Brandy, Weight lifting seems to be the only hope for me. I MUST start that ASAP!

Gab, any suggestions for trying the Remag again?

Thanks again

[brandy]

M.

Several folks that had a tough time getting off of budesonide where able to get off of it with the help of LDN. There is a thread about LDN at top of the forum. It might be something to look into.

The inspire osteo forum has some links with safe "lifting" exercises on it if you look around a bit.

I don't stay on that site much as it is kind of depressing. Everyone is looking for a magical supplement.

The thread I have above has links to a lot of studies on protein and lifting for bones.

Hiking on uneven terrain and heavy gardening are some of the best activities you can do.

I have a dirt trail in my neighborhood that I walk during the winter (too hot in summer) but I jog about 20 steps then walk aways then jog a little more etc.

I have not tried the weight vests but they are also supposed to help.

[brandy]

M.

You may already know this but at low dose when you are ready you can open budesonide capsule and pour out half then put lid on so that you are taking half of a capsule. (For when you are ready to step down again.)

[mwt]

Brandy thanks!
I tried a weight vest a few years ago and pulled a muscle so badly that it took years to return to normal! Be careful if you try one!!

[mwt]

I thought LDN was primarily for pain. I don't have pain...just D. Should I still consider LDN and try to wean off budesonide?

[tex]

I thought LDN was primarily for pain. I don't have pain...just D. Should I still consider LDN and try to wean off budesonide?

LDN seems to be helpful in cases where other AI issues are preventing remission from MC. Here's how LDN is useful for some MC cases. This is quoted from the Microscopic Colitis Foundation "Treatment Using Medications" page:

Treating Difficult Cases

Some cases are unresponsive to conventional treatments. There can be many reasons for this, but it can be especially problematic when additional autoimmune (AI) diseases are present. There doesn't seem to be any medical research available to either support or disprove this observation, but epidemiological evidence appears to suggest that in cases where various conventional treatments have been tried without success, there is a possibility that one or more issues associated with other AI diseases may be preventing remission of MC symptoms.

Low dose naltrexone

In situations such as this, some patients have been able to resolve their MC symptoms by the use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN). While still in the experimental stages, and not yet accepted by most mainstream medical practitioners, treatments using LDN have established a surprisingly good success rate among many AI diseases that are otherwise refractory to treatment.

This is an off-label treatment for naltrexone, using doses that are only a small fraction of the amount normally prescribed for it's labeled uses. But if taken properly, it is said to reset the immune system nightly, resulting in the suppression of autoimmune-induced inflammation. Since LDN does not appear to be effective for patients who have only MC (and no additional AI diseases), and yet it does seem to be effective at relieving MC symptoms for many patients who also have other AI diseases, it seems likely that LDN may be capable of resolving MC symptoms by virtue of effectively treating other AI issues (other than MC) that have been preventing the remission of MC symptoms, despite a treatment program that would normally be expected to resolve the MC symptoms.

Treating mast cell issues

Most gastroenterologists currently have inadequate training regarding treating mastocytic enterocolitis (if they have even heard of the term previously), so many of them have a minimal working knowledge of ME. Because of that, GI specialists who know how to properly treat the condition may be somewhat difficult to locate. Those who are sufficiently knowledgeable about mast cell issues to understand how to diagnose and treat ME, or other related mast cell issues of the GI tract, typically prescribe either Gastrocrom (cromolyn sodium), or a type 1 or type 2 antihistamine for controlling mast cell symptoms.

http://www.microscopiccolitisfoundation ... tions.html

Tex

[brandy]

Thanks for the tip on the weight vest. At this point I think I am going to steer clear of them.

Two other things you can try if you attempt another elimination of budesonide.

1. Start taking antihistamine about 3 days before your last budsonide pill and stay on antihistamines for 45 days or so.
2. Eliminate all supplements unless they are a life or death supplement three days before last budesonide. Stay off all supplements for 45 days or so. Resume one supplement at a time for 10 days then keep adding another supplement.

I had a four month flare last spring/summer. I was not able to begin to kick out of the flare until I eliminated all supplements. Within 48 hours of eliminating oral supplements I had the last of my WD. I stayed off of supplements for about 6 weeks. I'm now in controlled remission after about 5 months of working on things. I now can take supplements.

Anyways....just a couple of things you can try if you decide another attempt of getting off of budesonide.

[mwt]

Brandy which antihistamine did you use or which work best in your scenario? The only time I have taken antihistamine is Benadryl at night for periodic insomnia (and it puts me to sleep for the night!)
Thanks!

[brandy]

mistake see below

[brandy]

I think Zyrtec or Claritin. I stopped using Benedryl as it is linked to memory issues. Benedryl is an anti cholinergic drug and memory affects over lifetime are cumulative. (Although I loved the way Benedryl put me to sleep)

I think if you stay on the antihistamine for 14 days or so after last budesonide that should be enough. If the antihistamine is extremely "drying" take half dose. I think 45 days might not be necessary.

The antihistamine is supposed to help with rebound effect when you get off of budesonide.