Lymphocytic Colitis Question

[annie2552]

Hi Everyone, I have had LC for many years and recently I have been feeling my intestines (or something) feeling swollen when I lie on my stomach. Is this anything anyone else has experienced? I don't know if this could be a progression of the disease so I was hoping for some insight before my Dr appt next week.
Thanks so much for any help!
Ann

[tex]

Hi Ann,

Welcome to the group. I'm somewhat confused by your question so I may be misunderstanding it. Are you saying that you have had MC for years but this is the first time that you have experienced gas/bloating from the poor digestion caused by the disease? If so, that would be unusual. For most of us, gas and bloating were almost always frequent/constant symptoms early on and whenever the disease is active. I used to sleep on my stomach, but that became impossible when my symptoms began.

Again, welcome aboard, and please fee free to ask anything.

Tex

[annie2552]

Hi Tex, thanks so much for replying, sorry for the confusion. I have experienced gas and bloating throughout the years I have been diagnosed. When I try to lie on my stomach i feel a mass of something instead of it feeling flat. i don't know if that is from the intestines being irritable or if it could be something else. What did you experience trying to lie on your stomach?

Thanks, Ann

[tex]

I was initially bloated so badly that the pain was unbearable if I tried to lie on my stomach.

Thanks for the clarification. If it feels solid (like a lump) you may have a partial blockage due to a stenosis likely caused by diverticulitis or diverticular colitis. I experienced that also. The inflammation pattern with diverticulitis is similar to MC (lymphocytic infiltration). It eventually required surgery to remove a section of colon (in the sigmoid area), in my case. If this is the case, the stenosis would probably be located in the descending colon (left side colon).

Or, if you have taken any opioid painkillers, they are notorious for causing impaction problems in the colon.

Tex

[annie2552]

Thanks Tex,
Went to my Dr yesterday and she said what I am experiencing is intestinal inflamation and has referred me to a gastroenterologist. My question now is, will any help come from that appt, or is it all diet? I know they will want to do a colonoscopy and maybe an MRI.

Does colotis actually have stages to it?

[Gabes-Apg]

In my opinion, Yes there are stages,
mild inflammation = mild symptoms.
Chronic inflammation = chronic symptoms.

[tex]

My question now is, will any help come from that appt, or is it all diet? I know they will want to do a colonoscopy and maybe an MRI.

Whether there will be any help (or not) depends on the doctor. For the tests to show anything new would be extremely rare. Over the years I have seen many, many posts about retests for MC patients, but I don't recall ever seeing any test that revealed anything new.

Does colotis actually have stages to it?

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this question. The markers of microscopic colitis can segue back and forth between lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis over the years for some patients. With very careful attention to diet however, after at least 5 years or more it's possible to achieve enough intestinal healing to reach pathological healing — in other words, biopsy samples from the colon will appear entirely normal under the microscope. At this point there will be no evidence of any of the markers of MC. But of course anyone who has continuing inflammation will never reach this point.

Tex