Making a note regarding methylation - MC and Histamine:
I want to let those know that upon encouragement from Gabes to up my B6 (p5p active form) from 50 to 100mg along with my biotin, and B2 (riboflavin) I have done much much better in the histamine dept...in fact I have not used any Allegra this Spring (I am 2 years into healing as of this month).
I am not having the copious amounts of mucus like I am used to in all my years past!
I do Not have the MTHFR gene, but my husband does and he hasn't had the gut issues like I have and I haven't seen him have mucus issues either, and he has only been taking the thorne methyl-guard plus for 3/4 of a year now and I can see an improvement in his attitude, energy, and quality of life. Not sure if this has anything to do with my non-use of antihistamine but thought I would state it anyway. My husband has always dealt better in dealing with histamine than I ever have...which seems to contradict the methylation/MC theory a little bit. Perhaps because he is a County Road Dept worker who works outdoors a lot he has always gotten more VitD (and he doesn't have VDR issues uptaking it into his system as I do) and therefore that has been a contributing factor in his ability to stave off the potential histamine issue for him, who knows.
Considering myself a success story until further notice....
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Another update to this healing journey.
I must have finally made it to another echelon on this mountain we climb because I have been experiencing Bristol 4 and 5 all week long for about 7 to 8 days now...I felt maybe it was a fluke but it seems to be a new normal. I have even been able to add in some romaine lettuce and I flavor it with a little bit of veganaise and ketchup to make a thousand island mixture.
I still stick with my safe foods, and now that I am 2 full years into healing being really strict with myself and aiding my body with proper Magnesium and getting my VitD levels up they are at 84 which is outstanding compared to 19 in 2011. I am getting good absorption of my B vitamins and the histamine has tapered back (even in this wild and wacky Spring).
Healing is hidden - you don't really know it is happening until you start to see tiny flickers here an there. One day, after it feels like forever ago, the body starts to run smoother than you've ever remembered it running. It feels like it will never get better....but that never changes ;-)
I've lost muscle tone over these last two years more than I care to have leave, but I am hoping I can gain some of it back in the coming years. My new diet is taking care of me very well. I told my husband yesterday that I have met the hurdle of what kinds of foods I can eat and what I can rely on at this time, the next hurdle is how to branch that out into being able to travel and trust myself to make the right decisions and have choices that are safe for me moving forward. I think once I get comfortable with that hurdle I will feel like I have mastered my body and its new requirements to life.
Not gonna lie, the beginning was tough, I was scared, sad, angry, and not so very hopeful that I was cut out to kick this MC to the curb. But I did it!! I know it will always be lingering in the background ready to find faults in my decisions....I can deal with it now.
I'm not perfect, but I'm not as sick as I was either!
I'm living again
I must have finally made it to another echelon on this mountain we climb because I have been experiencing Bristol 4 and 5 all week long for about 7 to 8 days now...I felt maybe it was a fluke but it seems to be a new normal. I have even been able to add in some romaine lettuce and I flavor it with a little bit of veganaise and ketchup to make a thousand island mixture.
I still stick with my safe foods, and now that I am 2 full years into healing being really strict with myself and aiding my body with proper Magnesium and getting my VitD levels up they are at 84 which is outstanding compared to 19 in 2011. I am getting good absorption of my B vitamins and the histamine has tapered back (even in this wild and wacky Spring).
Healing is hidden - you don't really know it is happening until you start to see tiny flickers here an there. One day, after it feels like forever ago, the body starts to run smoother than you've ever remembered it running. It feels like it will never get better....but that never changes ;-)
I've lost muscle tone over these last two years more than I care to have leave, but I am hoping I can gain some of it back in the coming years. My new diet is taking care of me very well. I told my husband yesterday that I have met the hurdle of what kinds of foods I can eat and what I can rely on at this time, the next hurdle is how to branch that out into being able to travel and trust myself to make the right decisions and have choices that are safe for me moving forward. I think once I get comfortable with that hurdle I will feel like I have mastered my body and its new requirements to life.
Not gonna lie, the beginning was tough, I was scared, sad, angry, and not so very hopeful that I was cut out to kick this MC to the curb. But I did it!! I know it will always be lingering in the background ready to find faults in my decisions....I can deal with it now.
I'm not perfect, but I'm not as sick as I was either!
I'm living again
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
Erica, congratulations on your new level of poo! ;-). I can't wait to be able to say that myself. I've had a few formed stools in the past month or so and it's pretty funny how excited I get when that happens... it's actually possible!
I've been taking a pretty low dose (just 1.5g/day) of Cholestyramine for the past month (after having a wicked reaction to Budesonide), and it's definitely helped with controlling my symptoms, but I think it might be making me dizzy (a bit hard to tell, since I already had issues with positional vertigo, but it seems a little different than the usual). I was just wondering if you are still taking the Cholestyramine and if you've noticed any side effects...?
I've been taking a pretty low dose (just 1.5g/day) of Cholestyramine for the past month (after having a wicked reaction to Budesonide), and it's definitely helped with controlling my symptoms, but I think it might be making me dizzy (a bit hard to tell, since I already had issues with positional vertigo, but it seems a little different than the usual). I was just wondering if you are still taking the Cholestyramine and if you've noticed any side effects...?
Just adding my STICKY Post to my success story too!
Ok...since May 18 2015 I have turned my life a complete 180 degrees....
I just want to make a post to document the fact that I am no longer on Allegra antihistamine nor am I taking any Cholestyramine anymore. I do not have gut pain, I am not bloated, I am having 'normal' bowel movements according to how I perceive myself after these last 10 years when MC struck me.
It has been almost 2 years to the day since I started this MC journey and I have to say it has been the longest, loneliest, confusing road I have ever been on in my life!
Since I was one that never did try to help symptoms with medication I can truly say that 'going cold turkey' with diet and sticking to it and learning how to supplement along the way people can get to a new normal within 2 years
I've learned so much, I now know what foods I can deal with, and which ones I better stay away from. It is nice to actually jump in the rig and not go thru a list a mile long in my head to cover all the basis should I not feel 'well'.
I'm loving my life again
Ok...since May 18 2015 I have turned my life a complete 180 degrees....
I just want to make a post to document the fact that I am no longer on Allegra antihistamine nor am I taking any Cholestyramine anymore. I do not have gut pain, I am not bloated, I am having 'normal' bowel movements according to how I perceive myself after these last 10 years when MC struck me.
It has been almost 2 years to the day since I started this MC journey and I have to say it has been the longest, loneliest, confusing road I have ever been on in my life!
Since I was one that never did try to help symptoms with medication I can truly say that 'going cold turkey' with diet and sticking to it and learning how to supplement along the way people can get to a new normal within 2 years
I've learned so much, I now know what foods I can deal with, and which ones I better stay away from. It is nice to actually jump in the rig and not go thru a list a mile long in my head to cover all the basis should I not feel 'well'.
I'm loving my life again
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
You bet Angela 
I hope many others feel inspired to take control of their healing as it does happen. Because we can't see it happening like in a scientific petri dish experiment doesn't mean it isn't working. All the people that have visited at this forum are a testament to the facts about diet, supplementation and changes to life in order to heal one self.
and Thank you, it takes faith and perseverance because there are days it just doesn't feel like anything is working....it just takes patience and time.
Hugs
Erica
I hope many others feel inspired to take control of their healing as it does happen. Because we can't see it happening like in a scientific petri dish experiment doesn't mean it isn't working. All the people that have visited at this forum are a testament to the facts about diet, supplementation and changes to life in order to heal one self.
and Thank you, it takes faith and perseverance because there are days it just doesn't feel like anything is working....it just takes patience and time.
Hugs
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
A month into the new Normal and I can say that all is still pretty good....B6 is working well in conjunction with remaining supplements mentioned in above posts.
The heat and extra activity I get myself into does seem to shift the Bristols between a 5 and 6 at times....so I am watching that I don't over heat myself this Summer.
I still feel I am healing, but my overall health is so much better these days.
The heat and extra activity I get myself into does seem to shift the Bristols between a 5 and 6 at times....so I am watching that I don't over heat myself this Summer.
I still feel I am healing, but my overall health is so much better these days.
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
Great update Erica! I have started to watch the weather channel to see when I can plan my time out of the a/c house. We are already doing 90's here and that's just a bit over my comfort level. Keep up the good work!
Laura Turner
.........
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in". - Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
.........
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in". - Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
Thanks Laura 
Yes the heat really is a factor....wish it wasn't. Spent all my reproductive years not getting enough heat...now I have to be careful with to much
Geez.
I hope you have a great Spring/Summer!
Yes the heat really is a factor....wish it wasn't. Spent all my reproductive years not getting enough heat...now I have to be careful with to much
Geez. I hope you have a great Spring/Summer!
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
Question about supplements
Hi Erica, I'm not sure if you will see this, but I was just wondering if you could share the supplements/brands you were taking for the B vitamins and biotin... I feel like I'm starting to have histamine reactions to everything I'm eating, and it's getting a bit scary. I think I'm going to try taking some allegra as well... Thanks for any help!
Re: Question about supplements
Me too Erica! And what are Bristols?DB wrote:Hi Erica, I'm not sure if you will see this, but I was just wondering if you could share the supplements/brands you were taking for the B vitamins and biotin... I feel like I'm starting to have histamine reactions to everything I'm eating, and it's getting a bit scary. I think I'm going to try taking some allegra as well... Thanks for any help!
Hi Db....
I am also taking a strong Probiotic by Dr. Mercola.com now that I have given my intestines a long while to heal and this seems to be helping me now also.
Tasimtairy,
a bristol is a scale of levels of stool softness, from constipated to water diarrhea. A level 4-5 is ideal....but in MC world normal is pretty much up to the individual. Take myself for example...if I am in a 5-6 range that is my new normal and I have 4-5 once in a while....so that tells me I am still healing
I've been doing well with Vitacost.com brands of the Riboflavin, P5P - B6, Methylcobalamin - B12, Biotin too....I also moved from Allegra to Cetirizine (zyrtec) and learned that it may take double the dosage at first to relieve symptoms of high histamine. I was able to back off the double intake after a few days.Hi Erica, I'm not sure if you will see this, but I was just wondering if you could share the supplements/brands you were taking for the B vitamins and biotin... I feel like I'm starting to have histamine reactions to everything I'm eating, and it's getting a bit scary. I think I'm going to try taking some allegra as well... Thanks for any help!
I am also taking a strong Probiotic by Dr. Mercola.com now that I have given my intestines a long while to heal and this seems to be helping me now also.
Tasimtairy,
a bristol is a scale of levels of stool softness, from constipated to water diarrhea. A level 4-5 is ideal....but in MC world normal is pretty much up to the individual. Take myself for example...if I am in a 5-6 range that is my new normal and I have 4-5 once in a while....so that tells me I am still healing
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