Hello Everyone,
I had received my Enterolab results a few weeks ago and it def showed a gluten sensitivity. I am staying away from certain foods that were listed on the results and am trying to stick to my 'safe' meats etc. I have been gluten free since I received the results.
After two weeks, my stools are actually formed - but there is still a high volume. I know that it is going to take a long time for my intesines to heal - but does anyone know why there is such a large volume when I'm still not eating at the level I was before this all started. Last night I had a bad case of diarrhea, very bad pains etc, which I actually havent had for a long time. I keep a food diary, and I'm wondering if it was peanut butter - I have been avoiding that and ate it 2 days straight for lunch. My movements are usually always in the morning/afternoon, high volume, and although not diarhhea, they are very muddy, soft serve type. So I am happy that I do at least see some shape to them now - lol - but I still cannot put on a pound and it upsets me so much. As I said, the volume of the stool is still there as is the nausea, although the nausea seems to have dissipated a bit. But when the nausea is there, it is horrible - and it comes on without warning. It makes it almost impossible to work.
I had about every test in the book and have to see my Gastro doc soon. He still believes that it is just IBS and stress related. (This is the 4th doc I have been to - 2 said I have LC and the other 2 have said IBS. Very frustrating to say the least)
Started Gluten Free Diet
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
If your EnteroLab test results show that you're sensitive to soy, then you're probably sensitive to peanut butter. Most people who are sensitive to soy are also sensitive to most legumes, and peanuts are a legume.
The high volume is due to a type of diarrhea that is common with MC — secretory diarrhea. With secretory diarrhea, water and electrolytes are secreted into the colon (rather than being removed), resulting in a high volume. Bowel movements will return to normal diarrhea (osmotic diarrhea) and then normal stools, as the inflammation subsides.
It sounds as though your gastroenterologist doesn't have a clue. LOL.
Tex
The high volume is due to a type of diarrhea that is common with MC — secretory diarrhea. With secretory diarrhea, water and electrolytes are secreted into the colon (rather than being removed), resulting in a high volume. Bowel movements will return to normal diarrhea (osmotic diarrhea) and then normal stools, as the inflammation subsides.
It sounds as though your gastroenterologist doesn't have a clue. LOL.
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.
Barbie,
why would 2 gastros say IBS, when you had colonoscopy with biopsies that show MC? That's just crazy.
I haven't tried PB. I have been okay with almond butter, want to try cashew butter too.
Yes the volume is crazy for me too, even when it's formed! Thanks Tex, that makes sense about the volume.
why would 2 gastros say IBS, when you had colonoscopy with biopsies that show MC? That's just crazy.
I haven't tried PB. I have been okay with almond butter, want to try cashew butter too.
Yes the volume is crazy for me too, even when it's formed! Thanks Tex, that makes sense about the volume.
The 2nd and 4th gastro docs did not agree with the pathology report because it stated "appears to be similar to the findings/characteristics of LC "- and it was only one small biopsy site - it was a biopsy of a polyp.
I think it is also because of the frequency of my bowel movements. When I explained that as soon as awakening in the morning, I have a loose bowel movement, followed by about 1 or 2 others, they felt that it was more consistent with an IBS diagnosis. They said that I would have much more frequent bowel movements with LC (and I told him that there are some days where I do), and it would be more in the consistency of diarrhea as opposed to "muddy" stools. I told him about the weight loss, but nobody seems to be listening to me. I am eating enough where I should be maintaining at least 105 pounds, but I can't gain an ounce. They now have me on anti-spasmodics which seem to be helping a little bit. I only take them twice a day. This is the first one that I have been able to take without having a bad reaction. My enterolab test had showed that there is no malabsortion problems, but I can't understand how that could be. Isn't that one of the reasons that I cannot put on weight?
Tex, with the secretory diarrhea, would the stools be formed? Because for the past week or so, I actually have pretty well formed stools, but the volume is high - my stools are never formed like they have been. Would this mean that the inflammation is getting a little better? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just so confused at this point. Are you saying that if you have the high volume, formed stools, that that is considered to be secretory diarrhea?
I think you are right about the peanut butter - I believe cashews are my safest legume.
I think it is also because of the frequency of my bowel movements. When I explained that as soon as awakening in the morning, I have a loose bowel movement, followed by about 1 or 2 others, they felt that it was more consistent with an IBS diagnosis. They said that I would have much more frequent bowel movements with LC (and I told him that there are some days where I do), and it would be more in the consistency of diarrhea as opposed to "muddy" stools. I told him about the weight loss, but nobody seems to be listening to me. I am eating enough where I should be maintaining at least 105 pounds, but I can't gain an ounce. They now have me on anti-spasmodics which seem to be helping a little bit. I only take them twice a day. This is the first one that I have been able to take without having a bad reaction. My enterolab test had showed that there is no malabsortion problems, but I can't understand how that could be. Isn't that one of the reasons that I cannot put on weight?
Tex, with the secretory diarrhea, would the stools be formed? Because for the past week or so, I actually have pretty well formed stools, but the volume is high - my stools are never formed like they have been. Would this mean that the inflammation is getting a little better? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just so confused at this point. Are you saying that if you have the high volume, formed stools, that that is considered to be secretory diarrhea?
I think you are right about the peanut butter - I believe cashews are my safest legume.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
barbieAnn
if you have read through our suggested stage 1 eating plan, you will see that we encourage people to stick with safe proteins and well cooked veges.
small amounts of nut butters may be ok for some, but this would depend on your enterolab results if you reacted to any nuts like almond etc,
if you have read through our suggested stage 1 eating plan, you will see that we encourage people to stick with safe proteins and well cooked veges.
small amounts of nut butters may be ok for some, but this would depend on your enterolab results if you reacted to any nuts like almond etc,
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
BarbieAnn, I’m still pretty much a newbie here but wanted to let you know that I have had times when the volume is a bit extreme. Especially when it was time for me to lower the Budesonide dose and I wasn’t going every day. When I did go, everything was formed but it would kinda go on and on and on. I don’t have days like that too often now.
Listen to Gabes’ advice ~ forget the nut butters and gluten free bread for now. In the beginning, find your few safe foods and eat them for every meal. For me, protein (turkey, beef, fish) and rice/sweet potato/white potato. I also ate bananas. I like to go out to eat with my husband each week, no gluten free menu (too many chances for hidden things like soy or dairy) ~ I order fish cooked dry, baked potato, steamed veggies if they have them. Chicken and beef is usually marinated so I stay away from it. About four months into this journey, I tried almond butter and rice cakes.
Good luck ~ give it time and I think you’ll see improvement!
Pam
Listen to Gabes’ advice ~ forget the nut butters and gluten free bread for now. In the beginning, find your few safe foods and eat them for every meal. For me, protein (turkey, beef, fish) and rice/sweet potato/white potato. I also ate bananas. I like to go out to eat with my husband each week, no gluten free menu (too many chances for hidden things like soy or dairy) ~ I order fish cooked dry, baked potato, steamed veggies if they have them. Chicken and beef is usually marinated so I stay away from it. About four months into this journey, I tried almond butter and rice cakes.
Good luck ~ give it time and I think you’ll see improvement!
Pam
barbieAnn,
High volume is a symptom of MC. If you are having picture-perfect blue ribbon class stools though, that wouldn't be consistent with MC (but it wouldn't be consistent with IBS, either).
Tex
High volume is a symptom of MC. If you are having picture-perfect blue ribbon class stools though, that wouldn't be consistent with MC (but it wouldn't be consistent with IBS, either).
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 definitely do NOT have picture perfect blue-ribbon stools LOL - (I did once - those were the days!) it sounds similar to what Pam was saying - that the stools are formed but a large amount. Yes, I have been eating the gluten free bread for breakfast and lunch. I basically eat chicken, pork, salmon, rice, potatoes and well cooked veggies. I eat the same things every day. I do occasionally eat gluten free pasta - the problem is that I am so underweight right now and I'm afraid if I completely cut out the bread/pasta, that I will lose even more weight. I will look at the stage 1 diet again that Gabes referred to.
Thank you all!
Thank you all!
Almost everyone seems to worry about weight when they are recovering, so they eat contraindicated foods in a futile attempt to gain weight. But that's letting your emotions overrule your goal. And it's not going to happen — you're not going to gain weight until your intestines heal so that they can absorb nutrients normally again.
Your goal is to stop the inflammation as quickly as possible and allow your intestines to heal. If you focus on that, you'll recover faster, because your ability to absorb nutrients normally will return faster. Eating contraindicated foods only slows down intestinal healing. And no matter how many calories those foods might contain, many of those calories are out of reach and and they're going to provide very limited benefit. Those calories are like sound in a forest — it's meaningless if no one can hear it.
You need protein for healing power, and you need fat for energy. You absolutely do not need carbohydrates. We can't digest carbs properly while our intestines are inflamed, so carbs can only slow down the healing process.
The number one rule for recovering from MC can be stated succinctly as:
1. Recover first.
2. Balance your diet and try to gain weight after you have recovered (not before).
At least that's how I see the process.
Tex
Your goal is to stop the inflammation as quickly as possible and allow your intestines to heal. If you focus on that, you'll recover faster, because your ability to absorb nutrients normally will return faster. Eating contraindicated foods only slows down intestinal healing. And no matter how many calories those foods might contain, many of those calories are out of reach and and they're going to provide very limited benefit. Those calories are like sound in a forest — it's meaningless if no one can hear it.
You need protein for healing power, and you need fat for energy. You absolutely do not need carbohydrates. We can't digest carbs properly while our intestines are inflamed, so carbs can only slow down the healing process.
The number one rule for recovering from MC can be stated succinctly as:
1. Recover first.
2. Balance your diet and try to gain weight after you have recovered (not before).
At least that's how I see the process.
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.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Tex said pretty much what I was going to say....
only other aspect to this... be patient.. healing (good healing) takes TIME! and good environment ie minimal stress
further to the stage 1 eating plan, the other key thing in the guidelines to recovery is our mental and emotional wellbeing - in the guidelines to recovery there is a 'good reads' section, please peruse this, there is suggested reading along with lots of other resources to help with the healing journey
only other aspect to this... be patient.. healing (good healing) takes TIME! and good environment ie minimal stress
further to the stage 1 eating plan, the other key thing in the guidelines to recovery is our mental and emotional wellbeing - in the guidelines to recovery there is a 'good reads' section, please peruse this, there is suggested reading along with lots of other resources to help with the healing journey
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama