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Just thought I would give an update on where I am. Not that you all are waiting with baited breath. I toyed around with trying to do every other day on budesonide or even every 3rd day, but every time I did that I went back to watery D or at least mush. I resign myself to just taking one pill a day and have done that for 3 weeks now. I am doing well. Daily solid BM's. Once in a while an "off" looser day, but that's when I know I wasn't as careful as I should have been. Like using a canned cream soup for a casserole or something on that order. Even then, no urgency or discomfort and then by next day back to solid again. Energy is improving but still not what I'd like but getting there. Would still like to wean off the budesonide but right now, I am just enjoying feeling and doing better.
Meanwhile, my husband has received a diagnosis of cancer of his right kidney. Will be having surgery in a few weeks. Went for some routine blood work which showed reduced gfr (kidney function) so they did an ultra-sound of kidneys and found it. It is 4.4 cm which is just under 2 in diameter. My biggest concern is that he has stage 3 almost stage 4 COPD. I worry about the anesthesia. But the surgeon said there will be a Pulmonologist on hand. They will do the surgery laproscopically so that will help. Anyway, I'm thankful that I am at least doing better right now going into this. Always something, but can't imagine how hard it would have been to deal with this back when I was in much worse shape.
Thanks for the update. I'm glad you're feeling better.
Best of luck to your husband. Hopefully the surgery will go smoothly. I have an appointment for tomorrow morning to get a scan of my kidneys to try to figure out why my eGFR fluctuates.
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.
Sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. My 88 year old uncle has COPD (not sure of the stage but is on oxygen 100% of the time) had to have his gall bladder removed laproscopically last year. He came through his surgery just fine. I hope your husband does the same.
Regarding canned cream soups, I have found gluten free condensed soups at my local WalMart. They have cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, and tomato. I am only gluten intolerant so they are great for me. They are the WalMart brand.
Thanks all for comments and encouragement. Thanks for that prayer (I'm a firm believer in its power) and the flowers Janie! :) Brenda that's encouraging about your uncle. My husband is only 70 and not on oxygen. But his lung function is very bad and has to do 4 breathing treatments a day. I will definitely look for that soup - thank you. Tex please let us know what you find out. My own gfr is actually worse than my husband's. His 39 and mine is 37. They did a scan of mine too a while back. No growths, but I was told they are thin, scarred and small. Hope you get good information about yours and a solution to deal with it.
I have another thread about my kidney function (f age 57). I can't remember my numbers but they were not good. If I recall I tested at stage 3-stage borderline stage 4 kidney disease.
I test now at borderline normal. High end stage 2 kidney disease.
I drink about 80% more water. I eat a lot less protein. Meat and pork are rare for me now. I eat fish/chicken but small quantities.
I try to have 1-2 vegan days per week.
I've added stinging nettle tea to my daily regimen.
Tex....if I eat meat the morning of the test or the day before a test I get very high results.
I need to test again as it has been 6 months but I just had to step away from this as it was so stressful.
My worst scores were when I had meatballs the morning before a test. The nephrologist implied I was getting ready to kick off.
I rest --don't lift weights for 3 days before testing.
The following causes my egfr to fluctuate: dehydration and/or hard physical labor 3-4 days b/f test and/or eating
meat morning of test or day b/f test. It took me awhile to figure this out. I got no guidance from nephrologist.
Thanks for the insight. I have a hunch that those same items are causing my eGFR problems. We did the scan to see if my kidneys are shrinking, or if any other physical issues are apparent. I eat a lot of pork, and an ileostomy makes it tough to regulate hydration.
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 would check with your nephrologist on both these things but my functional medicine doc wanted me to have a large glass of
water first thing in the morning since I've been fasting all night. The nephrologist said salt is important to upload
water into our system and wanted me to sip about 1/2 cup of chicken broth (for the salt) throughout the day to help regulate hydration. I have not been doing this lately but should restart. I probably should have some sips of chicken broth for the salt when I'm out in the heat for several hours. Those with kidney issues should run this by their nephrologist.
I'll certainly ask about that. Thanks for the tips.
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.
So sorry to hear about your husband, Granny! Wishing you both well!
Tex: please keep us posted on your kidneys!
I am wondering...are kidney issues/GFR decreases somehow related to MC?
I have noticed that my GFR has been lower than what it should be. My PCP did not seem to be too concerned, but the last test was the lowest it ever was. It was 59 (and 30-59 is considered stage 3).
Brandy: thanks for all the info. I will follow your guidelines before the next GFR test!
Love,
Patricia
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are all you’ve got to work with.
- Bhante Gunaratana
I believe it's indirectly associated with MC. My eGFR issues first began to show up when I had the kidney stone problem back in the Fall of 2014 due to a chronic magnesium deficiency. The values were worse the next Spring when I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic Bactrim (which caused a severe magnesium deficiency).
Love,
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.
Thanks everyone for all this info. I will certainly remember it before I get retested. I'm suppose to go on Oct 5th but hubby's surgery is the 8th so will probably put it off unless she can get me in a week or two earlier. Its an hours drive and just think I will be too busy getting us packed up for the hospital and my 2 dogs packed up for the boarding place. I am glad his blood work showed his low gfr otherwise the cancer would not have been found until possibly too late.
I toyed around with trying to do every other day on budesonide or even every 3rd day, but every time I did that I went back to watery D or at least mush. I resign myself to just taking one pill a day and have done that for 3 weeks now. I am doing well. Daily solid BM's. Once in a while an "off" looser day, but that's when I know I wasn't as careful as I should have been. Like using a canned cream soup for a casserole or something on that order. Even then, no urgency or discomfort and then by next day back to solid again. Energy is improving but still not what I'd like but getting there. Would still like to wean off the budesonide but right now, I am just enjoying feeling and doing better.
