Hello,
I have been sticking to a gluten free, dairy free diet for the last 2 months or so, after receiving my Enterolab results and staying away from the food that seems to be affecting me in a bad way.
Since being gluten free, I have noticed a change in my stools. What used to be consistently muddy, soft-serve type of stools have changed to formed stools. They are still a large volume though, it seems like I don't even eat that much too have that much volume. In addition, I still have this intermittent nausea, which can be quite debilitating. Last night, for example, I ate chicken, which I had prepared in a slow cooker, with potatoes and green beans. I had a good appetite, ate a good amount. I felt nauseous a few hours after eating, bloated and gaseous. I seem to experience this gas every night several hours after dinner. Every morning before work, I feel fine, but as soon as I eat and head off to work, the nausea begins. It is so frustrating because I am being so careful with what I have been eating. I sometimes wonder if it has to do with my high blood pressure medication. My gastro does not know what the nausea is from - he says stress and anxiety.
In addition to all this, the tenesmus is killing me! It is there constantly, 24/7, and my insides feel inflamed. I also have been experiencing joint pains in the morning, especially in my hands and my jaw. I cannot open my mouth fully without being in pain. This is a constant also.
It is so hard to work feeling this way. Although I am happy that my stools are finally formed!!, I still feel very sick. Any advice?
QUESTIONS ON RECOVERY
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jessica329
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It takes a long time for the inflammation to settle down. Have you tried smaller meals? I tend to spread out My food. I'll have a banana with water when I wake up, then some chicken soup about an hour later. I eat slow. At dinner, I'll start with a small plate. Get more later on if I'm still hungry.
Jessica
Lymphocytic colitis August 2012
Lymphocytic colitis August 2012
Hi, Barbie Ann. I ate a lot of chicken prior to the EnteroLab testing and then I found out that chicken was one of the worst foods for me. It was well worth it to have the testing done.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
BarbieAnn,
I agree with Jessica, Marcia, and Terry — eating smaller meals (more frequently) usually helps to reduce gas, nausea, and bloating. When our intestines are inflamed, they're not able to produce normal amounts of enzymes, so we can't fully digest a large meal. In other words, if we eat too much at one time, the meal can't be fully digested and some of it tends to ferment, resulting in gas, bloating, and nausea. Smaller meals usually avoid that problem because we don't run out of enzymes.
Also, if you're not taking a magnesium supplement, a chronic magnesium deficiency can cause nausea.
Even if you're not sensitive to chicken, chicken can be a high-histamine food, and many of us have histamine buildup problems due to the fact that MC depletes diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme, and the body relies on DAO enzyme to purge excess histamine. As the histamine level increases it can also cause gas, bloating, and nausea. For most MC patients, turkey is a much safer choice than chicken.
Tex
I agree with Jessica, Marcia, and Terry — eating smaller meals (more frequently) usually helps to reduce gas, nausea, and bloating. When our intestines are inflamed, they're not able to produce normal amounts of enzymes, so we can't fully digest a large meal. In other words, if we eat too much at one time, the meal can't be fully digested and some of it tends to ferment, resulting in gas, bloating, and nausea. Smaller meals usually avoid that problem because we don't run out of enzymes.
Also, if you're not taking a magnesium supplement, a chronic magnesium deficiency can cause nausea.
Even if you're not sensitive to chicken, chicken can be a high-histamine food, and many of us have histamine buildup problems due to the fact that MC depletes diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme, and the body relies on DAO enzyme to purge excess histamine. As the histamine level increases it can also cause gas, bloating, and nausea. For most MC patients, turkey is a much safer choice than chicken.
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.
Is there a test that would show a magnesium deficiency?
What would you suggest as far as dinner? Should I eat a smaller portion after work and then another small portion later on? I don't know yet how to schedule my meals. It is somewhat difficult at work because of the type of job that I have. I tend to get periods of being very busy, and literally have no time to eat. Any suggestions for smell quick meals at work?
What would you suggest as far as dinner? Should I eat a smaller portion after work and then another small portion later on? I don't know yet how to schedule my meals. It is somewhat difficult at work because of the type of job that I have. I tend to get periods of being very busy, and literally have no time to eat. Any suggestions for smell quick meals at work?
Meals depend on what you can tolerate well keep it simple make it from scratch most of the things will have to be warmed up some times I snack on cold chicken or turkey breast take some bone broth with you and warm it up in A coffee cup it would always calm my gut in the beginning I lived on skinless chicken breast white rice white potato well cooked baby carrots if you don't know yet there is GF pasta DF Earth Balance butter that you can get SF Daiya cheese DF I hope this helps it took me A while to discover these i'm bored been laid up to long
yesterday I made A batch of potato soup chicken bone broth white potato French cut green beans and Daiya cheese pinch of salt
Terry
yesterday I made A batch of potato soup chicken bone broth white potato French cut green beans and Daiya cheese pinch of salt
Terry
Barbie Ann, protein is essential to heal the gut. My lunch at work is typically turkey, butternut squash and steamed broccoli. I often have to eat on the fly and as long as I have protein I am good to go. If you don't have time to sit down, can you eat something out of a baggie? I've stood in line at places eating tuna out of a pouch or turkey breast in a baggie. Epic bison bars and Nick's sticks (turkey) are also items that I carry with me. If you can tolerate them they would be easy to eat while you're working.
Terry, the EnteroLab testing showed that I reacted the most to chicken. We're all different and will have different results.
Terry, the EnteroLab testing showed that I reacted the most to chicken. We're all different and will have different results.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
Thank you Terry and Marcia =
I have actually been eating alot of squash, parsnips, broccoli, but I think I may have to cut back on the chicken. Pork and turkey seem to be my safe meats. I have been eating the GF pasta and bread - have any of you been eating the bread?
I guess I'm just impatient. As long as I know I'm in the process of healiing and that it just takes time I would be fine with that. But I get discouraged because even though I'm eating better I still don't feel good and cannot put on any weight. Tex told me not to worry about the weight, that my gut has to heal first and then the weight will come back on.
I will try those snacks that you've mentioned. Do either of you take probiotics?
I have actually been eating alot of squash, parsnips, broccoli, but I think I may have to cut back on the chicken. Pork and turkey seem to be my safe meats. I have been eating the GF pasta and bread - have any of you been eating the bread?
I guess I'm just impatient. As long as I know I'm in the process of healiing and that it just takes time I would be fine with that. But I get discouraged because even though I'm eating better I still don't feel good and cannot put on any weight. Tex told me not to worry about the weight, that my gut has to heal first and then the weight will come back on.
I will try those snacks that you've mentioned. Do either of you take probiotics?
I don't take probiotics. Vitamin D3 and magnesium glycinate helped my gut to heal and my hair stopped falling out. I don't eat gf bread often. I keep a loaf in the freezer but you have to be careful of some of the ingredients. Even though it's gf there could be ingredients that you don't tolerate. The weight will come back on. I ate a sweet potato every day and still do, that helped. My co-workers were looking at me out of the corners of their eyes. I know they were thinking that I had an eating disorder. Slow and easy wins the race.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
Hi BarbieAnn,
Sorry, I got sidetracked yesterday and didn't get back to this thread to answer your question, but yes, dividing up your meals that way should help. Marcia and Terry had some excellent suggestions. It's usually best to judge our progress on a monthly basis rather than a daily basis because there will be daily ups and downs. But your monthly progress should be evident when you look back at how you were doing a month ago.
Here's the situation on testing for magnesium:
The serum magnesium tests that doctors usually order are next to useless because they are so inaccurate. You can get an RBC (red blood cell) test for magnesium that is not ideal, but it's far better than the serum test that doctors usually order by default. But you'll have to interpret the results yourself.
The reason why the serum test is almost useless is because it measures magnesium in the bloodstream even though the blood contains only about 1 to 2 % of the total magnesium in the body and that amount is closely regulated because magnesium is a vital electrolyte. The so-called "normal" range for magnesium is just plain wrong. Why? Because approximately 80 % of the subjects in that study were magnesium deficient, so the "normal" range for magnesium is based on corrupt data. I agree with Dr. Carolyn Dean who says that the correct normal range for the RBC test should be at least 6.0–6.5 mg/dL. Most labs show the "normal" range as 3.9-5.8 mg/dL. Here's a reference:
Magnesium RBC Blood Test
A more accurate magnesium blood test is a test known as the ionized magnesium test. But unfortunately this test is not available to most people because it is only available at a few select locations.
The most accurate magnesium test of all is known as an EXA test. EXA stands for Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis. This test is based on tissue samples scraped from the mouth. But similar to the ionized magnesium test, finding a physician or a lab set up to do the EXA test is likely to be difficult. Consequently, the most practical magnesium test is the RBC magnesium test. And as I mentioned, you will probably need to interpret the results yourself because the listed "normal" range is too low.
I hope this helps.
Tex
Sorry, I got sidetracked yesterday and didn't get back to this thread to answer your question, but yes, dividing up your meals that way should help. Marcia and Terry had some excellent suggestions. It's usually best to judge our progress on a monthly basis rather than a daily basis because there will be daily ups and downs. But your monthly progress should be evident when you look back at how you were doing a month ago.
Here's the situation on testing for magnesium:
The serum magnesium tests that doctors usually order are next to useless because they are so inaccurate. You can get an RBC (red blood cell) test for magnesium that is not ideal, but it's far better than the serum test that doctors usually order by default. But you'll have to interpret the results yourself.
The reason why the serum test is almost useless is because it measures magnesium in the bloodstream even though the blood contains only about 1 to 2 % of the total magnesium in the body and that amount is closely regulated because magnesium is a vital electrolyte. The so-called "normal" range for magnesium is just plain wrong. Why? Because approximately 80 % of the subjects in that study were magnesium deficient, so the "normal" range for magnesium is based on corrupt data. I agree with Dr. Carolyn Dean who says that the correct normal range for the RBC test should be at least 6.0–6.5 mg/dL. Most labs show the "normal" range as 3.9-5.8 mg/dL. Here's a reference:
Magnesium RBC Blood Test
A more accurate magnesium blood test is a test known as the ionized magnesium test. But unfortunately this test is not available to most people because it is only available at a few select locations.
The most accurate magnesium test of all is known as an EXA test. EXA stands for Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis. This test is based on tissue samples scraped from the mouth. But similar to the ionized magnesium test, finding a physician or a lab set up to do the EXA test is likely to be difficult. Consequently, the most practical magnesium test is the RBC magnesium test. And as I mentioned, you will probably need to interpret the results yourself because the listed "normal" range is too low.
I hope this helps.
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.
No, unfortunately I don't have any suggestions on tenesmus (other than to take an antiinflammatory medication). It's caused by intestinal inflammation, so all IBD patients are at risk of developing the symptom. The usual drugs that are prescribed to treat MC (such as mesalamine and budesonide) should control or minimize it, but I don't know of any natural way to control it.
When I was recovering it was sometimes persistent and really aggravating. But at other times it was hardly noticeable. Finally it just faded away as I began to heal more.
Tex
When I was recovering it was sometimes persistent and really aggravating. But at other times it was hardly noticeable. Finally it just faded away as I began to heal more.
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.
Hi BarbieAnn,
I’m another who’s had nausea issues as well as all the classic symptoms of MC after eating chicken, which I now realize was involved in some of my worst episodes. Just before I did the Enterolab tests, I recall preparing chicken bone broth for the first time thinking how great it would be for healing. Instead I got so nauseous from just smelling it while it simmered, that I can’t imagine ever eating chicken again. It was just a “1” on my stool tests, but I think its more of a histamine issue. No problems at all with turkey though, which I prepare almost every day. Also started eating cornish game hens recently. My husband prefers them to both chicken and turkey. They’re tiny (and cheap), so I generally do 2 at a time for us, which surprisingly yields enough bones and leftovers for a small pot of broth/soup.
Although most of the time I continue to feel like I’m “in remission,” I do continue to have intermittent issues with nausea. It seems to come and go, often in conjunction with headaches, etc. but at least the episodes don’t seem to last as long anymore. Over the years I've found that probiotics either had no effect on digestion or made things worse
Another thought—how are your electrolytes. Mine have all been depleted for the last few years, and nausea and dizziness are symptoms of sodium deficiency. I’ve been told to consume lots of salt—which I’ve never done before. So I’ve salted everything (heavily) for over a year now but still tested my lowest ever, just last month—even after pigging out on tortilla chips repeatedly. I was told to double my KCL Rx and needed a saline/chloride infusion before they could proceed with my Reclast infusion.
I’m surprised you’re able to eat all those veggies. Potatoes and carrots were all I could handle for months. Now I‘m eating broccoli, kale, green beans, asparagus, beets and squash, and am working up the courage to try salad.
Hope you’re starting to feel better and the nausea fades as you continue to heal. As you progress you’re likely to get a better idea of what’s causing your various symptoms.
Teri
I’m another who’s had nausea issues as well as all the classic symptoms of MC after eating chicken, which I now realize was involved in some of my worst episodes. Just before I did the Enterolab tests, I recall preparing chicken bone broth for the first time thinking how great it would be for healing. Instead I got so nauseous from just smelling it while it simmered, that I can’t imagine ever eating chicken again. It was just a “1” on my stool tests, but I think its more of a histamine issue. No problems at all with turkey though, which I prepare almost every day. Also started eating cornish game hens recently. My husband prefers them to both chicken and turkey. They’re tiny (and cheap), so I generally do 2 at a time for us, which surprisingly yields enough bones and leftovers for a small pot of broth/soup.
Although most of the time I continue to feel like I’m “in remission,” I do continue to have intermittent issues with nausea. It seems to come and go, often in conjunction with headaches, etc. but at least the episodes don’t seem to last as long anymore. Over the years I've found that probiotics either had no effect on digestion or made things worse
Another thought—how are your electrolytes. Mine have all been depleted for the last few years, and nausea and dizziness are symptoms of sodium deficiency. I’ve been told to consume lots of salt—which I’ve never done before. So I’ve salted everything (heavily) for over a year now but still tested my lowest ever, just last month—even after pigging out on tortilla chips repeatedly. I was told to double my KCL Rx and needed a saline/chloride infusion before they could proceed with my Reclast infusion.
I’m surprised you’re able to eat all those veggies. Potatoes and carrots were all I could handle for months. Now I‘m eating broccoli, kale, green beans, asparagus, beets and squash, and am working up the courage to try salad.
Hope you’re starting to feel better and the nausea fades as you continue to heal. As you progress you’re likely to get a better idea of what’s causing your various symptoms.
Teri
TeriM
“Sometimes the light’s all shining on me,
other times I can barely see.” Robert Hunter
“Sometimes the light’s all shining on me,
other times I can barely see.” Robert Hunter