Hi Gigi,
Welcome to the forum. Here's a link to a previous discussion, and it also contains a link to a previous discussion about the use of turmeric by MC patients.
Tumeric... does it help?
Tex
Attn newbies or anyone struggling....
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
New here
Hi. I am new to MC and have found this board to be a godsend. As many people have said my GI doctor hasn't been much help. I have finally gotten the diarrah somewhat under control by using immodium and my blood tests have finally come back saying everything is in the normal range. I have search the site and see that a lot of people deal with fatigue. I am so tired and shaky all the time. I'm also having a lot of leg cramps. How is that possible if my blood indicates that the potassium and magnisium are now in the normal range? I'm sorry if this has been addressed somewhere and I just have missed it. Thanking you in advance for any help you can give.
Hi Vivian,
Welcome to the group. MC causes fatigue, but at least part of your fatigue, your shakiness (low blood sugar due to insulin resistance) and leg cramps, are due to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency causes all of those symptoms (low endurance, insulin resistance, muscle cramps), and many more.
The problem is that MC depletes magnesium, corticosteroids deplete magnesium, many antibiotics deplete magnesium, coffee depletes magnesium, etc., etc. And doctors continue to be in the dark about magnesium deficiency — it isn't even on their radar, strangely enough.
The serum magnesium test (which is what doctors always select for some strange reason) is almost totally useless. 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 % or the total magnesium in the body and the amount is closely regulated because magnesium is a vital electrolyte. So that so-called test result is always going to show a "normal" result unless there's virtually no more magnesium left in your body, which means that you are at a serious risk of having a heart attack.
So you would need to get an RGB magnesium test which measures the amount of magnesium in your red blood cells. It's a much more accurate test. But the so-called "normal" range listed 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
But it's obvious that you are magnesium deficient, so rather than getting more testing, it's much simpler to just take a magnesium supplement, like the rest of us.
Again, welcome aboard and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. MC causes fatigue, but at least part of your fatigue, your shakiness (low blood sugar due to insulin resistance) and leg cramps, are due to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency causes all of those symptoms (low endurance, insulin resistance, muscle cramps), and many more.
The problem is that MC depletes magnesium, corticosteroids deplete magnesium, many antibiotics deplete magnesium, coffee depletes magnesium, etc., etc. And doctors continue to be in the dark about magnesium deficiency — it isn't even on their radar, strangely enough.
The serum magnesium test (which is what doctors always select for some strange reason) is almost totally useless. 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 % or the total magnesium in the body and the amount is closely regulated because magnesium is a vital electrolyte. So that so-called test result is always going to show a "normal" result unless there's virtually no more magnesium left in your body, which means that you are at a serious risk of having a heart attack.
So you would need to get an RGB magnesium test which measures the amount of magnesium in your red blood cells. It's a much more accurate test. But the so-called "normal" range listed 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
But it's obvious that you are magnesium deficient, so rather than getting more testing, it's much simpler to just take a magnesium supplement, like the rest of us.
Again, welcome aboard and please feel free to ask anything.
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 Tex for the information. I was so pleased to learn that my magnesium was in the normal range that it is disappointing to find out that the test results aren't worth much. At one time I didn't have any reading for potassium or magnesium and so have been working so hard to get my levels back up. Guess I will just have to keep taking supplements and hope for the best. What a weird disease this mc is. It's only been 2 months for me so I guess that really isn't so long based on what others are saying. At least I'm no longer in the hospital and am able to work part-time again. That's a blessing. Vivian
Hi Rusty,
Welcome to the group and I hope your recovery is going well. Please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group and I hope your recovery is going well. Please feel free to ask anything.
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 Diane,
Welcome to the forum. Actually, most cases of MC normally don't develop because of food sensitivities —the food sensitivities develop later, because of the MC. The food sensitivities are due to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut), which develops because of the inflammation. MC (like all autoimmune diseases) is caused by chronic inflammation. But of course after the food sensitivities develop, they also cause inflammation, which makes the disease self-perpetuating.
I can only guess what caused your MC, but if it occurred following surgery, it was probably triggered by one or more of the antibiotics associated with the surgery. Or, if you were given a PPI, or NSAIDS, or certain other medications following the surgery, they may have triggered the disease. Many/most of us can trace the origins of our disease to a similar situation where antibiotics or certain other medications were used. Lactose is only an irritation — the main protein in all dairy products (casein) is the main issue that we have with dairy products.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the forum. Actually, most cases of MC normally don't develop because of food sensitivities —the food sensitivities develop later, because of the MC. The food sensitivities are due to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut), which develops because of the inflammation. MC (like all autoimmune diseases) is caused by chronic inflammation. But of course after the food sensitivities develop, they also cause inflammation, which makes the disease self-perpetuating.
I can only guess what caused your MC, but if it occurred following surgery, it was probably triggered by one or more of the antibiotics associated with the surgery. Or, if you were given a PPI, or NSAIDS, or certain other medications following the surgery, they may have triggered the disease. Many/most of us can trace the origins of our disease to a similar situation where antibiotics or certain other medications were used. Lactose is only an irritation — the main protein in all dairy products (casein) is the main issue that we have with dairy products.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Diet- Thank you so much!!!
Gabes: your knowledge and experience along with Tex and many others have given me so much hope and I cant tell you how much I appropriate your advice. I have been dealing with MC for 12 years and have been casein free, but now taking your advice on other solutions Have never had as much advice and support. I was just Diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma so I will need you love and support. Thank you . Starting from beginning! Will keep you posted. Debonlake Life is 10% what you happens to you and 90% how you react to it. 
Hi Deb,
Sorry to hear of the new diagnosis. I certainly hope that your treatment and recovery goes well.
I wish you all the best.
Love,
Tex
Sorry to hear of the new diagnosis. I certainly hope that your treatment and recovery goes well.
I wish you all the best.
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.
Hello!
Good morning, I was diagnosed with MC last April after having D for 9+ months. Anit-diarrheal helped for a while. The Dr. prescribed budesonide which was cost prohibitive. Next to try was the cholestyramine which was hit or miss and I've stopped taking it. Now that I see these medications are just to mask the symptoms and not helping the problem I'm not worried about not taking it.
My only real symptom, the big D, started with some form to it, now pretty much straight liquid. Rarely do I have any pain and zero bloating. I found your website (and wow, am I thankful I did so much great information!!) because the last two days my D has been very yellow and I was curious if the "meant anything"?
I'm curious, my GI told me to stop dairy for two weeks, if no change then I'm ok with dairy. Having spent a few hours here on the boards I'm guessing that dairy might still be a problem as the "no change" could be because other triggers were present?
I'm still adjusting to this being my new reality. I like food. I like lots of food that may be triggers. Ugh, sorry, just venting.
Very thankful to have found you!
My only real symptom, the big D, started with some form to it, now pretty much straight liquid. Rarely do I have any pain and zero bloating. I found your website (and wow, am I thankful I did so much great information!!) because the last two days my D has been very yellow and I was curious if the "meant anything"?
I'm curious, my GI told me to stop dairy for two weeks, if no change then I'm ok with dairy. Having spent a few hours here on the boards I'm guessing that dairy might still be a problem as the "no change" could be because other triggers were present?
I'm still adjusting to this being my new reality. I like food. I like lots of food that may be triggers. Ugh, sorry, just venting.
Very thankful to have found you!
Karen
H Karen,
Welcome to the group. When we develop MC, here's basically what happens:
Something (PPIs, NSAIDs, antibiotics, pathogens, parasites, food sensitivities, etc.) cases a chronic inflammation condition in the intestines. This eventually leads to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut). This allows peptides of medium length chains of amino acids from partially-digested food to enter the blood stream. That provokes a response from the immune system (because they shouldn't be there, so they are perceived as foreign invaders). This provokes a chronic inflammation cycle that leads to the development of MC.
There are two types of immune system response, innate response, and adaptive response. We are born with certain innate immune system response abilities. Our body learns adaptive immunity in response to exposure to foreign substances that are perceived as threats. It's why vaccines work. With the exception of one sugar (known as alpha-gal, which causes a condition known as mammalian meat allergy), all allergies are caused by proteins. So our adaptive immune system very quickly develops an allergy to those proteins that leak into our bloodstream.
For MC patients, those foods are (in the normal order of probability that they will be a problem), gluten, casein, soy, and chicken egg, and all derivatives thereof. Therefore an exclusion diet that can be followed to recover from MC would totally exclude all traces of those particular foods. There can be additional food sensitivities, and not everyone is sensitive to all those foods, but in a nutshell, that's what causes MC, and that's what causes the ensuing development of food allergies.
Avoiding the foods that provoke an immune system response will allow the inflammation to fade away, and the symptoms will resolve. In essence, controlling the disease is very simple. Out in the real world though, identifying the problematic foods and totally avoiding them tends to be very difficult. It's doable, but it takes dedication and perseverance.
I hope this helps.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. When we develop MC, here's basically what happens:
Something (PPIs, NSAIDs, antibiotics, pathogens, parasites, food sensitivities, etc.) cases a chronic inflammation condition in the intestines. This eventually leads to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut). This allows peptides of medium length chains of amino acids from partially-digested food to enter the blood stream. That provokes a response from the immune system (because they shouldn't be there, so they are perceived as foreign invaders). This provokes a chronic inflammation cycle that leads to the development of MC.
There are two types of immune system response, innate response, and adaptive response. We are born with certain innate immune system response abilities. Our body learns adaptive immunity in response to exposure to foreign substances that are perceived as threats. It's why vaccines work. With the exception of one sugar (known as alpha-gal, which causes a condition known as mammalian meat allergy), all allergies are caused by proteins. So our adaptive immune system very quickly develops an allergy to those proteins that leak into our bloodstream.
For MC patients, those foods are (in the normal order of probability that they will be a problem), gluten, casein, soy, and chicken egg, and all derivatives thereof. Therefore an exclusion diet that can be followed to recover from MC would totally exclude all traces of those particular foods. There can be additional food sensitivities, and not everyone is sensitive to all those foods, but in a nutshell, that's what causes MC, and that's what causes the ensuing development of food allergies.
Avoiding the foods that provoke an immune system response will allow the inflammation to fade away, and the symptoms will resolve. In essence, controlling the disease is very simple. Out in the real world though, identifying the problematic foods and totally avoiding them tends to be very difficult. It's doable, but it takes dedication and perseverance.
I hope this helps.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Re: Hello!
Budesonide is the first line medical protocol for microscopic colitis among American gastroenterologists, and probably now among gastroenterologists worldwide. I am on a 40-48 week budesonide taper for biopsy diagnosed LC, and it worked to stop the watery diarrhea immediately. I can essentially eat what I want without symptoms, but stay away from all high fiber foods, caffeine, all dairy except hard cheeses, artificial sweeteners, and NSAIDs.KarenT wrote:The Dr. prescribed budesonide which was cost prohibitive.
Budesonide is inordinately expensive in the USA even with drug plans. I get my budesonide from this Canadian pharmacy, which sources the budesonide from Sun Pharma in India. The cost, including $9 for shipping, is $129 U.S. for 250 capsules.
The entire medical community and almost everyone else admits that the cause of MC is unknown -- call it X. Some speculate that once the colon is inflamed by X, then other things such as food sensitivities can further inflame the colon. However, it makes no medical or logical sense to me that one can alleviate all the inflammation simply by avoiding suspect foods, because the inflammation from X will still remain. Budesonide can alleviate the inflammation from almost all sources, including X, which is why it is prescribed. Some people will go into remission after a long enough course of budesonide. Others, who have genuine food intolerances such as celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, may have to stay on elimination diets after the budesonide treatment ends. From what I read, some people are unfortunately resistant to any treatment, pharmaceutical or dietary, and simply have to suffer with the disease episodically or even constantly.
I encourage you to try budesonide if you can afford the Canadian pharma prices, and also to try to get your doctor to agree to a very long taper.
40 week budesonide taper begun on 11 July 2018