Hello everyone. I am a new member of this board and I was diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis about 1.5 years ago, although I suspect I've had for over 10 years. I've had 4 colonoscopies and every one came back clean but only on the last colonoscopy did my new GI decide to do a biopsy and behold, she found CC.
For the past 10 years I've been plagued with high anxiety and hot flashes (I'm 78 yrs old) which I still suffer from. Most days I waken in the morning with anxiety and it worsens around noon and finally dissipates about 4pm. Evenings are usually fine and I usually sleep very well. This anxiety has been very debilitating and all the doctor wants to do is give me anti-depressants. But I react badly to all medication. In fact it was back in 2005 that a dentist insisted that I take an antibiotic (Clindamycin) before he would do a root canal. That gave me my first C Difficile infection. Even though the C Diff was eliminated with Vancomycin, the explosive diarrhea has persisted ever since then, with sporadic remissions.
Fast forward to May 2017 and my new dentist is putting in dental implants and I insisted that I didn't want Clindamycin.. Fine no antibiotic. A week later I have a severe infection, so he gave me Amoxicillin to kill the infection. That worked but I got C Difficile again and of course the ever-present diarrhea. This time I am trying Fecal Microbial Transplants (FMT) and it looks like the C Diff is eliminated, but my FMT doctor is hopeful that it can also be effective against CC. Right now my BMs are mushy, not explosive and down to 2 per day. My next colonoscopy is in 3 days to check the status of my CC.
Thanks to this forum, and Tex, I have been introduced to the idea that anxiety is associated with magnesium deficiency , and I have just purchased the Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil spray. Even though I have been taking Magnesium Biglycanate for about 2 years, I have never noticed that it might be effective in relieving anxiety. I probably wasn't taking enough or it wasn't being absorbed. Hopefully this oil spray will be better at relieving anxiety.
Introduction for kizzy
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Kizzy,
Welcome to our Internet family. Yes, your symptoms suggest a classic chronic magnesium deficiency.
Doctors never diagnose a magnesium deficiency, it's not even on their radar. So you have to figure it out for yourself. There's no money in prescribing magnesium. It makes doctor's drug reps much happier when they prescribe an antidepressant.
Unfortunately we've found that FMT only helps for about a week or two for LC/CC/MC, but it works very well for eliminating C. diff.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. Good luck with resolving your anxiety symptoms. It's tricky to resolve a magnesium deficiency, because too much oral magnesium can act as a laxative. Topically-applied magnesium does not cause diarrhea, but it takes a lot of applications to get much magnesium.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. Yes, your symptoms suggest a classic chronic magnesium deficiency.
I had the same symptoms in the morning, except that mine usually woke me up around 1 or 2 am and wouldn't let me get back to sleep. I too was taking magnesium and thought I was taking enough. But the problem is the way that some magnesium is labeled is misleading. The front label said 200 mg, so I assumed that 2 tablets was 400 mg. But the back label said 200 mg was a "dose" and was actually 2 tablets. So when I took 2 tablets I was actually only getting 200 mg, and I continued to run out of magnesium, especially after I had a root canal and had to take an antibiotic. Some antibiotics deplete magnesium.Kizzy wrote:For the past 10 years I've been plagued with high anxiety and hot flashes (I'm 78 yrs old) which I still suffer from. Most days I waken in the morning with anxiety and it worsens around noon and finally dissipates about 4pm.
Doctors never diagnose a magnesium deficiency, it's not even on their radar. So you have to figure it out for yourself. There's no money in prescribing magnesium. It makes doctor's drug reps much happier when they prescribe an antidepressant.
Unfortunately we've found that FMT only helps for about a week or two for LC/CC/MC, but it works very well for eliminating C. diff.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. Good luck with resolving your anxiety symptoms. It's tricky to resolve a magnesium deficiency, because too much oral magnesium can act as a laxative. Topically-applied magnesium does not cause diarrhea, but it takes a lot of applications to get much magnesium.
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.
"Yes, your symptoms suggest a classic chronic magnesium deficiency. "
Thanks for cluing me into this. That's the first time that I've heard that high anxiety was associated with magnesium deficiency.
Just a further question: Are there any preferred body locations to spray the magnesium oil for best absorption?
Thanks for cluing me into this. That's the first time that I've heard that high anxiety was associated with magnesium deficiency.
Just a further question: Are there any preferred body locations to spray the magnesium oil for best absorption?
When it would wake me up during the wee hours of the morning, I would be sweating like a pig, even though the room was cool, and I would have the symptoms of a panic attack — my heart would be racing, my blood pressure would usually be very low, and I would have rapid, shallow breathing. I would be conscious of every breath, and I would feel anxious, but I didn't know why. As soon as I ate breakfast, the symptoms would go away because I took my vitamins (including magnesium) as soon as I finished breakfast.
Most people spray areas on their legs and arms, and around their belly. It may sting somewhat when you first begin to use it. Some people do, some don't. On some people it dries. I always found that it left an oily, sticky residue on my skin, so I apply it about 20 minutes before I'm planning to take a shower. But some people add Epsom salts to their bathwater or soak their feet in it.
Tex
Most people spray areas on their legs and arms, and around their belly. It may sting somewhat when you first begin to use it. Some people do, some don't. On some people it dries. I always found that it left an oily, sticky residue on my skin, so I apply it about 20 minutes before I'm planning to take a shower. But some people add Epsom salts to their bathwater or soak their feet in it.
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.
I no longer have any anxiety spells. The increase in the magnesium supplement completely stopped that. I took about 600 mg of magnesium glycinate plus using topical magnesium for about 5 or 6 months I now take 300 mg of magnesium glycinate every day as a maintenance dose.
If you take any oral magnesium, be sure to take magnesium glycinate, and divide it up with meals during the day. It's the form of magnesium that's the least likely to cause diarrhea. And splitting up the dose helps to prevent getting too much — we can only absorb so much at any given time, and when we take more than we can absorb, too much of it remains in our gut where it can cause diarrhea. The magnesium that we absorb cannot cause diarrhea — only the part that remains unabsorbed in our intestines can cause diarrhea. Don't take high doses because that can overwork the kidneys — the kidneys have to remove any excess amounts in the bloodstream. They keep the blood level of magnesium in the normal range in order to protect the heart and other organs, because magnesium is a vital electrolyte.
Tex
If you take any oral magnesium, be sure to take magnesium glycinate, and divide it up with meals during the day. It's the form of magnesium that's the least likely to cause diarrhea. And splitting up the dose helps to prevent getting too much — we can only absorb so much at any given time, and when we take more than we can absorb, too much of it remains in our gut where it can cause diarrhea. The magnesium that we absorb cannot cause diarrhea — only the part that remains unabsorbed in our intestines can cause diarrhea. Don't take high doses because that can overwork the kidneys — the kidneys have to remove any excess amounts in the bloodstream. They keep the blood level of magnesium in the normal range in order to protect the heart and other organs, because magnesium is a vital electrolyte.
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 for your speedy comments.tex wrote:I no longer have any anxiety spells. The increase in the magnesium supplement completely stopped that. I took about 600 mg of magnesium glycinate plus using topical magnesium for about 5 or 6 months I now take 300 mg of magnesium glycinate every day as a maintenance dose.
If you take any oral magnesium, be sure to take magnesium glycinate, and divide it up with meals during the day. It's the form of magnesium that's the least likely to cause diarrhea. And splitting up the dose helps to prevent getting too much — we can only absorb so much at any given time, and when we take more than we can absorb, too much of it remains in our gut where it can cause diarrhea. The magnesium that we absorb cannot cause diarrhea — only the part that remains unabsorbed in our intestines can cause diarrhea. Don't take high doses because that can overwork the kidneys — the kidneys have to remove any excess amounts in the bloodstream. They keep the blood level of magnesium in the normal range in order to protect the heart and other organs, because magnesium is a vital electrolyte.
Tex
I have just finished reading your book which has helped me tremendously.
Do you mind me telling you the supplements that I'm on so you can comment on them?
No I don't mind, but I don't consider myself any sort of expert on supplements, even though I take a lot of them because I don't eat any vegetables other than potatoes.Kizzy wrote:Do you mind me telling you the supplements that I'm on so you can comment on them?
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.
These are my current supplements:
Vitamin Strength Dosage Comments
Taurine 500mg 1 Heart
B Complex 1
Nattokinase 2000 FU's 1 Blood thinner
Co Q10 400mg 1 Heart
Seraplus ? 1 Anxiety
Lecithin 1200mg 3 MC
Magnesium 200mg 3 Elememtal. Mag BisGlycinate. (Just increased as of today.)
Omega 3 1 With Krill, Heart
Question: Did your anxiety gradually abate over the 5 months?
Vitamin Strength Dosage Comments
Taurine 500mg 1 Heart
B Complex 1
Nattokinase 2000 FU's 1 Blood thinner
Co Q10 400mg 1 Heart
Seraplus ? 1 Anxiety
Lecithin 1200mg 3 MC
Magnesium 200mg 3 Elememtal. Mag BisGlycinate. (Just increased as of today.)
Omega 3 1 With Krill, Heart
Question: Did your anxiety gradually abate over the 5 months?
Here are my impressions, but again, I don't claim to be an expert, and there can be a lot of ifs, ands, and buts about vitamins and minerals.
Do you have any heart or cardiovascular issues?
If any of those are specifically prescribed to treat a deficiency, then they shouldn't be changed without consulting with whoever prescribed them. If you are just taking them because you think you need them, or a friend suggested them, I would look very closely at all of them except the magnesium, because you probably do not need them. When treating MC, generally less is more. Many supplements contain inactive ingredients that cause us to react. The fewer supplements we take, the less likely we are to be reacting to something we don't need anyway. The fewer foods and ingredients we ingest, the sooner we are likely to recover. We can always add them back into our diet later, after we determine that they don't cause us to react.
Both the Nattokinase and Krill oil interfere with blood clotting. That might or might not lead to bleeding problems, depending on circumstances. As someone who once came close to bleeding to death (my colon was removed to stop the bleeding), things like that concern me because you have no way of knowing how effective or ineffective they might be.
I don't know much about taurine, except that a lot of it is used in energy drinks (which suggests it is a stimulant) and most ingredients used in energy drinks are not good for us, especially in larger doses. Taurine crosses the blood/brain barrier (which means it may have neurological effects). If your diet contains a reasonable amount of meat, you should be able to get more than enough taurine from your diet.
I don't know whether Co Q10 is helpful unless you are taking a statin. If you're taking a statin, it's probably a good idea to take Co Q10, or better yet, Ubiquinol.
Seraplus should be unnecessary. Macrophages and other white cells in the body naturally dispose of clots and dead tissue. And the best anti-anxiety medicine is magnesium.
Lecithin is usually derived from soy, and many of us react to it.
"B" complex vitamins are seldom very useful as we get older unless they are in the active form to help overcome methylation issues. You shouldn't be short of the "B" vitamins unless you've been following a vegetarian or vegan diet, or you've had diarrhea for several years.
My anxiety disappeared within a day or so after I doubled or tripled my magnesium intake, but it took a long time to slowly absorb enough magnesium to restore my body reserves so that I didn't get leg cramps at night and so that fatigue was no longer such a problem.
Tex
Do you have any heart or cardiovascular issues?
If any of those are specifically prescribed to treat a deficiency, then they shouldn't be changed without consulting with whoever prescribed them. If you are just taking them because you think you need them, or a friend suggested them, I would look very closely at all of them except the magnesium, because you probably do not need them. When treating MC, generally less is more. Many supplements contain inactive ingredients that cause us to react. The fewer supplements we take, the less likely we are to be reacting to something we don't need anyway. The fewer foods and ingredients we ingest, the sooner we are likely to recover. We can always add them back into our diet later, after we determine that they don't cause us to react.
Both the Nattokinase and Krill oil interfere with blood clotting. That might or might not lead to bleeding problems, depending on circumstances. As someone who once came close to bleeding to death (my colon was removed to stop the bleeding), things like that concern me because you have no way of knowing how effective or ineffective they might be.
I don't know much about taurine, except that a lot of it is used in energy drinks (which suggests it is a stimulant) and most ingredients used in energy drinks are not good for us, especially in larger doses. Taurine crosses the blood/brain barrier (which means it may have neurological effects). If your diet contains a reasonable amount of meat, you should be able to get more than enough taurine from your diet.
I don't know whether Co Q10 is helpful unless you are taking a statin. If you're taking a statin, it's probably a good idea to take Co Q10, or better yet, Ubiquinol.
Seraplus should be unnecessary. Macrophages and other white cells in the body naturally dispose of clots and dead tissue. And the best anti-anxiety medicine is magnesium.
Lecithin is usually derived from soy, and many of us react to it.
"B" complex vitamins are seldom very useful as we get older unless they are in the active form to help overcome methylation issues. You shouldn't be short of the "B" vitamins unless you've been following a vegetarian or vegan diet, or you've had diarrhea for several years.
My anxiety disappeared within a day or so after I doubled or tripled my magnesium intake, but it took a long time to slowly absorb enough magnesium to restore my body reserves so that I didn't get leg cramps at night and so that fatigue was no longer such a problem.
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.
I had a TIA in October 2010 that is why I am taking anything that is related to heart. Plus I have afib attacks usually once a month. I am seeing an homeopathic doctor who prescribes most of my supplements. I am not taking a statin in fact I am not taking any meds. The lecithin is made from sunflower oil and I just started to take it because I read somewhere that it is good when treating MC.
Did I read it correctly when you said that you take a lot of vitamins because you do not eat any vegetable but potatoes?
Again thank you for your time.
Kizzy,
Did I read it correctly when you said that you take a lot of vitamins because you do not eat any vegetable but potatoes?
Again thank you for your time.
Kizzy,
Yes. Because my colon was removed (in February, 2010) due to a bleeding disorder, I can't handle much fiber with an ileostomy.Kizzy wrote:Did I read it correctly when you said that you take a lot of vitamins because you do not eat any vegetable but potatoes?
I had a TIA in July 2009, started taking baby aspirin, had another TIA in May, 2010, switched to Plavix, but had a stroke anyway, almost 6 months ago. Lemme tell you, dealing with an ileostomy after you've had a stroke is not for the faint of heart.
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.