I was diagnosed about 10 days ago with Microscopic Lymphocytic Colitis. I have been reading here on the forum and also on the Foundation Website. I must be in the "denial" / "ignorant" phase, as I had no idea that this might be a chronic illness. It has all happened so fast. I had 2 weeks of awful diarrhea (sudden onset one Sunday night), went to the endocrinologist, got a colonoscopy, diagnosis, was immediately prescribed budesdine for 30 days, told to cut back on gluten and dairy, and come back in 30 days. I've been on the pills for 10 days and since day 4 I am +90% better. Because I have felt like the pills were curing me, I haven't really changed my eating at all. I was thinking that this was just a "fluke" issue that would be resolved as quickly as it started. It has been somewhat of a shock to read everything and begin to get the sense that I may now have a lifelong issue to deal with.
I am 65, exercise strenuously at least 5x per week, great physical health. I've always had a digestive system that didn't object to anything I put into it. Before "D" day, I had a rock solid digestive system. So, my question is, now what do I do? Do I still adjust my eating while on the medication and feeling recovered? Or, do I wait and deal with diet later if it comes back? It is hard to fathom changing my eating. I am pre-disposed to diabetes 2 (runs in family), so I eat a strict diet to keep my glucose in check - low carbs and sugars, and very high on the protein which includes mostly chicken, fish, greek yogurt, eggs, and cheese. I love cheese, and I eat eggs most mornings. I eat tons of greens, including a salad a day and tons of raw and cooked vegies. From what I've read on this forum, everything I eat appears to be highly suspect of being a trigger.
In fact, the diarrhea occurred after I had been on a stringent 4 week program to stick to the above diet and lose a few pounds to improve my glucose count. Maybe there's a correlation?
If it is my diet, at least I have a pretty clear set of food triggers, as I know exactly each type of food I was eating the month before I got sick. It horrifies me to think of cutting out gluten, dairy, and the many other trigger foods, while also avoiding all carbs, fruits and other sugars. I'd like to think that I've got the "one time only" version of colitis, and not the chronic one....(is that even possible)?I'd appreciate any comments, encouragement, and suggestions you veterans have. Thanks so much!
Canada
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