Help! Hair Loss / Excessive Hair Shedding with CC
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Me again. Sorry. I just thought of something though. If this disease is concentrated in the large colon, than most nutrients should have already been absorbed before reaching that area of the intestines. However electrolytes are not being absorbed back into the body as the thicker collagen band prevents that ( hence the large volume of liquid/ diarrhea in CC). Hmmm.....??? How does our loss of nutrients work? There definitely has got to be a loss.
The SCD is not an appropriate diet for treating MC. It allows casein, and most of us are sensitive to casein. We have to avoid all the foods that cause us to react, not just some of them.Mia wrote:Sadly, after my long 6 year gluten free effort on the SCD diet, I don’t think gluten is my problem, as this disease never resolved then, though it did improve somewhat.
You've hit upon one of the reasons why most gastroenterologists don't understand MC. The small intestine is indeed inflamed in most (maybe all) cases. There's plenty of published research to verify that. On page 50 of Understanding Microscopic Colitis I cite no less than four medical references to verify that the small intestine is also inflamed in MC patients. The disease is incorrectly described. Celiac disease is also incorrectly described, because in most cases, the colon is also inflamed in celiac patients.Mia wrote:If this disease is concentrated in the large colon, than most nutrients have already been absorbed before reaching that area of the intestines. However electrolytes are not being absorbed back into the body as the thicker collagen band prevents that ( hence the large volume of liquid/ diarrhea in CC).
When CC causes thickened collagen layers in the colon, that has no effect on most nutrient absorption because only water and electrolytes are absorbed in the colon. And the thickened collagen layers are down in the lamina propria, below the layer (the epithelium) where absorption takes place, so that wouldn't limit absorption anyway.
The diarrhea associated with MC is called secretory diarrhea. It involves the infusion of water into the colon (rather than out of it, as is normally the case). This is what causes the high volume of watery diarrhea associated with MC. And with secretory diarrhea, electrolytes are infused into the colon (rather than absorbed) along with the water, and of course this contributes to the urgency of the diarrhea.
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.
Tex. You sure know your stuff!
Would you recommend to request a scope of the small intestine, not just a colonoscopy? But then, the options on offers for treatment from the gastroenterologist are usually the same aren’t they: steroids? What do you think?
Tex. Would you recommend a course of one of the drugs? That whole drug treatments thing always scares me. Of course I understand that we all have to make our own informed choices, but I’d really like to know your personal thoughts on the drugs route.
Tex. Thank you for your wonderful input. This is the only site on the internet where responses to concerns are so forthcoming.
(I think I have to check out your book for sure)
Would you recommend to request a scope of the small intestine, not just a colonoscopy? But then, the options on offers for treatment from the gastroenterologist are usually the same aren’t they: steroids? What do you think?
Tex. Would you recommend a course of one of the drugs? That whole drug treatments thing always scares me. Of course I understand that we all have to make our own informed choices, but I’d really like to know your personal thoughts on the drugs route.
Tex. Thank you for your wonderful input. This is the only site on the internet where responses to concerns are so forthcoming.
(I think I have to check out your book for sure)
Mia,
If it were me, I wouldn't waste my time going through another invasive procedure to check my small intestine. I would just assume that it's inflamed. The treatment is the same. Drugs can temporarily relieve the symptoms if you need relief, but in the long run, the only solution that works for most people is the diet changes. And as you point out, diet changes are much safer than the drugs used to treat this disease. Many members here take budesonide for a while to relieve their symptoms while the diet changes heal their digestive system. That way you get the best of both worlds — relief of symptoms until the gut heals enough to allow long-term remission by diet alone.
My own opinion is that both celiac disease and MC are not really diseases — they are both symptoms of food sensitivities. And avoiding those foods is the only truly effective and safe way to treat these issues over the long-term.
Tex
If it were me, I wouldn't waste my time going through another invasive procedure to check my small intestine. I would just assume that it's inflamed. The treatment is the same. Drugs can temporarily relieve the symptoms if you need relief, but in the long run, the only solution that works for most people is the diet changes. And as you point out, diet changes are much safer than the drugs used to treat this disease. Many members here take budesonide for a while to relieve their symptoms while the diet changes heal their digestive system. That way you get the best of both worlds — relief of symptoms until the gut heals enough to allow long-term remission by diet alone.
My own opinion is that both celiac disease and MC are not really diseases — they are both symptoms of food sensitivities. And avoiding those foods is the only truly effective and safe way to treat these issues over the long-term.
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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SufferingLC
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2018 8:32 pm
I'm sorry that I have not been able to get on this forum as much as I would like. My life has been in chaos for two years now. I am not new to Celiac and CC. I was diagnosed 34 years ago and no the doctors have not helped at all. Just a different combination of the same 5 or 6 meds. I've been under extreme stress for years but nothing like the last two. My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer, less than a month later my mom collapsed. I had them both in the hospitals (two different hospitals an hour from home). My mother passed a month later and I've been trying to clean out her house to sell (all by my self). Meanwhile my husband was having surgery every 3 months to remove tumors. In one pre-op he told them he had weakness in his arms the night before. They canceled surgery and wheeled him over to ER and admitted him. He had 95/100% blockages of carotid arteries and had surgery on one side. So we started doing BCG treatments. Late summer he had a major stroke, They were concerned about his heart rate so they wanted him to wear a monitor for 30 days. He had a widow maker heart attack and 5 bypass surgery 25 years ago. Three weeks in to the monitor the doctor called and said to get him to a major hospital ER right away. They decided he needed to have a defibrillator implanted asap. He had a cystoscopy upcoming for the bladder cancer and wanted to wait until we had that done. He had a lot of pain with that. The stroke gave him some memory issues, right side weakness, numbness or tingling and some vision problems. So, needless to say the doctor had blamed my hair loss (which is not in patches, it's all over), on stress. I told him if that is the case I'll be bald by the time my stress reduces which he claims should start to grow back after about 3 months of lower stress. My hairdresser friend says it is normal to lose about 100 hairs daily so the amount you see in your comb or brush can change depending on how often you shampoo. I guess I can't dispute the stress level cause. I have read in Mr. Persky's books how stress can affect you healing of MC.
Wow! I certainly agree with Mia. You've had way more than your fair share of stress. I hope things settle down, it's high time that you've had some relief from such constant severe stress. That much stress would probably make anyone lose a lot of hair.
Tex
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.
A technical tangent, but of interest to me: It seems that MC diarrhea can sometimes be osmotic or both secretory and osmotic.tex wrote: The diarrhea associated with MC is called secretory diarrhea. It involves the infusion of water into the colon (rather than out of it, as is normally the case). This is what causes the high volume of watery diarrhea associated with MC. And with secretory diarrhea, electrolytes are infused into the colon (rather than absorbed) along with the water, and of course this contributes to the urgency of the diarrhea.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16222750
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11961340
High volume D
Tex. I have always wondered about that very high volume of the D. Really. Sometimes there is SO much that it’s astounding. Oddly, sometimes there is such high volume, even when I didn’t eat much. And often, there was a high volume of very soft ‘poo’ when not the watery D; I mean PILES ( sorry; where else can such thoughts and wondering be expressed?). I don’t really understand what’s happening with that. This is why I would hesitate to use medications that SLOW the transit ; thinking that ‘slowing’ is to allow more absorption of the water, and that the high volume is often what causes discomfort in the colon ( so slowing it down would not be helpful). This is why I avoided evenover the counter medications that slow transit ( even though my gp often suggests them). What are your thoughts?
By the way; I am still in remission; yahoo; almost afraid to say so in case I jinx it; being so scientific and all in my approach :)
By the way; I am still in remission; yahoo; almost afraid to say so in case I jinx it; being so scientific and all in my approach :)
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dolson
- Gentoo Penguin
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Suffering LC
Suffering LC, you've had your share of stress and suffering. I've noticed when I'm under extreme stress my hair falls out. I develop patches. When things calm down, I make sure I take my enzymes, probiotics, eat sufficient protein and my hair returns. I've felt all my life if I did not have bad luck, I've have no luck at all. Keep us informed on how things are going. Thinking of you, Dorothy
Mia,
Secretory diarrhea is the hallmark of MC, and it's what sends many of us to the ER with dehydration. To add my own interpretation to Kilt's post, here's how I view secretory diarrhea:
Normally, the colon's primary function is to extract water and electlytes from the fecal stream. With secretory diarrhea, instead of extracting water from the colon, water is injected into the colon, thus causing the massive volume so common with active MC. But probably the most serious risk is due to the electrolyte injection, because when high levels of electrolytes are present, this promotes diarrhea. Normally, this is how the body purges the contents of the intestines when it reacts to toxic substances, pathogens, over-exertion, or panic — it just injects electrolytes into the intestines, and this triggers diarrhea.
Medications are unlikely to be effective against secretory diarrhea. And starving oneself is not a safe defense because secretory diarrhea will continue regardless, and when the body runs out of water, that usually has severe health consequences. It's virtually the only opportunity that MC has to cause fatal consequences (due to the lack of water and vital electrolytes). And of course, this is why so many of us are magnesium deficient). The only practical and safe remedy for secretory diarrhea that I'm aware of is to stop the inflammation that's causing it. As the inflammation fades, the secretory diarrhea will slowly dissipate.
The problem appears to be that the body interprets (or misinterprets) the inflammation that causes MC to be due to a pathogen, so it tries to flush the system to get rid of the pathogen. Since it can't get rid of MC this way, the result is endless diarrhea, as long as the inflammation continues. At least that's how I view the situation.
Tex
Secretory diarrhea is the hallmark of MC, and it's what sends many of us to the ER with dehydration. To add my own interpretation to Kilt's post, here's how I view secretory diarrhea:
Normally, the colon's primary function is to extract water and electlytes from the fecal stream. With secretory diarrhea, instead of extracting water from the colon, water is injected into the colon, thus causing the massive volume so common with active MC. But probably the most serious risk is due to the electrolyte injection, because when high levels of electrolytes are present, this promotes diarrhea. Normally, this is how the body purges the contents of the intestines when it reacts to toxic substances, pathogens, over-exertion, or panic — it just injects electrolytes into the intestines, and this triggers diarrhea.
Medications are unlikely to be effective against secretory diarrhea. And starving oneself is not a safe defense because secretory diarrhea will continue regardless, and when the body runs out of water, that usually has severe health consequences. It's virtually the only opportunity that MC has to cause fatal consequences (due to the lack of water and vital electrolytes). And of course, this is why so many of us are magnesium deficient). The only practical and safe remedy for secretory diarrhea that I'm aware of is to stop the inflammation that's causing it. As the inflammation fades, the secretory diarrhea will slowly dissipate.
The problem appears to be that the body interprets (or misinterprets) the inflammation that causes MC to be due to a pathogen, so it tries to flush the system to get rid of the pathogen. Since it can't get rid of MC this way, the result is endless diarrhea, as long as the inflammation continues. At least that's how I view the situation.
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.