intestinal tract

[lori temanson]

is anyone familiar with the intestinal tract and can one section be constantly inflamed but not other part?

[tex]

Hi Lori,

Welcome to the forum. If you're referring to the inflammation pattern associated with microscopic colitis (MC), sure, almost any pattern of inflammation is possible. Normally the inflammation shows up as a random pattern of inflamed areas containing lymphocytic infiltration. Typically, the right side colon and the terminal ileum contain more patches of inflammation than the left side colon and the transverse colon, but this can vary by the individual. Similar to Crohn's disease, MC can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but gastroenterologists tend to focus only on the inflammation in the colon because that's where the diagnostic markers can be found. Most of them are not even aware of the associated inflammation in the rest of the GI tract. However, published research shows that for most MC patients, the small intestine is also inflamed with a Marsh 1 level of villus damage and for others, the esophagus and/or the mouth can even be involved (inflamed).

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

Tex

[mthoom]

Good Morning!

I'm not sure if I had another "ah-ha" moment while trying to wrap my head around this disease... but, had I some thoughts. :)

I've been struggling with a lot of bloating since this whole thing started "to explode" - literally. ha ha ha.
So, was thinking about MC and the damage to the GI tract and thus the correlation of "leaky gut."
After I was diagnosed, I had already experienced about 6-8 months of symptoms... so, this disease was definitely in progress when I started my course of Uceris.

So, while I was taking Uceris, my GI refused to believe that I had systemic effects from the Uceris because the medication is broken down in the colon and shouldn't affect anything other than treating the colon, in a nonsystemic way. so... if I had leaky gut already present, and started taking Uceris... why couldn't I make the connection that the leaky gut "leaked" the medication, thus causing systemic effects. (on top of the MC symptoms I had swelling of the face, extremities, legs felt super heavy, retained fluids, decrease urine & then body would compensate - I was taking strict I/Os because I was so miserable).

I'm no longer taking the medication... I was just putting together what may had been happening. Hindsight is much clearer. Maybe Uceris and other medications like it, shouldn't be referred to as "nonsystemic" 100% of the time....then again, wouldn't it have been nice to see MC as a possible side effect listed on associated medications.

So, just another example of how important it is to focus on a diet to fix the leaky gut, which will hopefully reduce the bloating, inflammation, pain in the belly... And, how this disease affects so many people differently... I've seen a lot of comments from individuals with MC on social media complain of side effects from medications, while others don't experience it at all... perhaps it is related to the level of damage in their guts.

I'm currently waiting for results from Enterolabs, which I'm hoping will guide me in my food choices. I've had a hard time identifying specific foods that are doing harm.

Just a little "food for thought" so to speak. Happy Monday!!

Thanks!
Melissa

[tex]

Hi Melissa,

This is an interesting possibility — you might be on to something. Uceris was tested for safety on ulcerative colitis patients (not MC patients), and UC patients may not have a leaky gut problem that's as serious as with some MC patients. Quite a few MC patients have reported good results with Uceris, but their intestinal permeability may not have been as bad as yours, or maybe they just assumed that the Uceris side effects were due to their MC.

Tex

[dolson]

I have noticed when I have the Big D, I have undigested food in my diarrhea. Have I damaged my intestines? The villi is flat! Am I not digesting my food? I had 2 small patties of Jimmy Dean Sausages with one Corn Tortillas for breakfast. BAM - Diarrhea started and I saw food particles in my D. This is disturbing. I think my late father had the same thing. Undigested food particles in the D. What's going on?????? I feel as though MC will be my demise. It was part of my father's demise on his death certificate at age 49. I need help.

[tex]

Hi Dorothy,

Undigested food in the toilet is common when our intestines are inflamed and we are in an active MC flare. I saw that often back when I was still recovering. It's just another symptom of the disease. It indicates that your intestines are very inflamed.

Tex

[dolson]

Thanks Tex! This is disturbing! I gotta get on the ball and eat a super strick diet. I copied what you ate for breakfast. Corn Tortilla with Jimmy Dean Sausage. Okay the first time but the second time I was a disaster. Undigested food particles and tons of watery diarrhea. I was and still EXHAUSTED! Dorothy Olson Williams

[tex]

You must have misread my post. I don't eat Jimmy Dean Sausage for breakfast; I only intended to try the All Natural version. I eat bacon and eggs wrapped in a corn tortilla for breakfast, but that's because I don't react to eggs, pork, or corn. About half of us react to chicken eggs, and a few members react to pork and/or corn. Other members have tried Jimmy Dean All Natural Sausage and it works fine for them, but I've never tried it because I've never seen it in the stores around here.

If you try it, skip the corn tortilla unless you're very sure that you don't react to corn. I had to avoid corn back when I was recovering, but I can eat it now.

Tex

[brandy]

Corn can be problematic until you get into remission.

[dolson]

Thanks Tex. I thought I read on your site that Jimmy Dean Original was what you consumed with a corn tortilla. I think corn is not a problem but the sausage patty was a problem. It was undigested in my D. This diarrhea dilemma will wear you slap out. I am Tired! Dorothy

[tex]

I hear you. Back when I was reacting I was still working, delivering feed. Sometimes I would have to pull the truck off the road and take a short nap — I just couldn't go on.

Tex