I need encouraagement

JulieHaggy · Post by **JulieHaggy** » Thu Jul 04, 2019 12:49 pm

Hi! I've been at this for many months and feel like I am stuck. I was diagnosed 2 yrs. ago. I did enterolab testing and have been following a very restricted diet for about 20 months. I take methylguard plus and vit D3. I get magnesium through epsom salts baths. I also take an antihistamine/decongestant for seasonal allergies.I tried all the meds and couldn't tolerate the side effects. I am 72 years old and have had D for many years so I know I have a lot of inflammation . I realize it will take a long time to heal. I'm definitely better than I was. I feel decent about 80% of the time. My stools are still very loose and I usually go between 3-6 times a day. The worst problem is the urgency. I still plan my life around my pooping and the nearest bathroom. I'm afraid to travel by plane and dread long car trips. My diet consists of beef, pork, cornish hens, sweet potatoes, one banana a day, duck eggs, some cashew butter , peppermint tea and iced tea made with regular black tea.I make some muffins with cashew butter, eggs, bananas, a few drops of stevia, baking soda and vanilla. I am extremely tired of eating the same thing day after day :( Do I have hope for remission or is this the best I will be? Any suggestions for adding/deleting things? I worry that I'm not getting adequate nutrition. Thanks for your feedback.

Post by **tex** » Thu Jul 04, 2019 4:40 pm

Hi Julie,

I can understand your frustration. Your diet is very limited, but something in it is probably causing the problem by perpetuating the inflammation. I wonder about the duck eggs. They might not be a safe substitute for you. Have you tried a week or so without them?

Also, I wonder about the antihistamine/decongestant. Specifically, what are you using? In certain persistent cases, it can be necessary to stop all (oral) supplements, in order to reach remission. In case I'm overlooking something, I hope someone else will spot it.

Tex

JulieHaggy · Post by **JulieHaggy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 6:47 am

Thanks for your response, Tex. I have wondered about the duck eggs but hated to give them up because I will be even hungrier without them!! But, I will do without them for a while and see if things improve. The otc med is loratidine/pseudaphedrine (?sp). I actually just started taking it this spring so I don't think it is the culprit. I forgot to mention that I cook with olive oil and the sweet potato chips I buy say they are made with canola oil and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil. Thoughts? Thanks again.
Julie

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:36 am

Hi Julie,

Sorry you are suffering.

Some things to try--

I'd eliminate the muffins and chips for now until you get solid stool.

Foods to try (not all at once)

warmed canned pumpkin (plain) with smidge cinnamon
canned beets, puree them
rutabagas and turnips, make them like mashed potatoes, salt and pepper
uncured bacon (most of us can tolerate this)
overcooked squashes, puree
overcooked zuchini...cook until mush or puree...could be questionable
cooked carrot puree, in fact, puree any of the veggies with your electric mixer
rice or potatoes?
Avacodos--be aware these may be questionable
olive oil,--I can tolerate this when in remission, when not in remission I have to go to the refined coconut oil
I don't like coconut so the refined is flavorless

In general I do better with the few food regimen when I am healing to get in remission.

Eat a lot of protein. Eat mostly protein, this will help get solid stool.

Eliminate the oral D and oral B for 4-6 weeks and see how you do. Sit out in sun for 30 minutes a day wearing shorts and sleeveless top to get vitamin D. I had to eliminate all oral supplements to get out of a 9 month flare.

Are you working? In any case work on meditation/stress relief. At work I set my cell phone every 2 hours to do
a meditation/prayer 5 minutes every 2 hours to help lower stress. There are some on line meditation things on you tube.
Anything you can do for stress relief will help. Meditation class, easy yoga/senior class that has a meditative bent,
tai chi, prayer, etc. Positive self talk etc

Say no to things and don't worry about it. Say no to long car travel. Say no to airplanes for now. There is plenty
to do locally. That kind of stuff just adds to the stress, higher stress minimizes recovery.

Read our success story section. In particular check out JFR's success story posts. She had D for decades. She ate
mostly protein. She has been in remission for a number of years now.

The good news are you are doing better than before. Keep up your positive self talk.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:37 am

Some people eat quail eggs and my grocery sells the quail eggs.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:39 am

There are some patch vitamins you can get if you are worried about nutrition. Taking things orally for nutrition while
we have WD is a waste of money as things go right through us.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:40 am

Also, reread Gabes stage 1 and stage 2 diet plans. There is good info in there.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:43 am

Also, check the peppermint tea box, if it has "flavorings" eliminate it and find one with just peppermint leaves.

JulieHaggy · Post by **JulieHaggy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:22 am

Hey, Brandy! Thanks so much for all the helpful ideas...many things to consider. I will switch to refined coconut oil and try out some of your other suggestions. I so appreciate this forum!

dolson · Post by **dolson** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 12:23 pm

I am having a bad flair. Mostly watery diarrhea with food that I did not absorb. Can we talk, Julie? I eat mostly healthy meats, well-cooked veggies, and fruits. I have done what Gabes has instructed, but this flair will not go away. I live wearing diapers but I have to get out of the house. Being house bound, is causing depression again. Dorothy

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 3:51 pm

Julie,

Another thing you can do is make a cornish game hen soup/broth.

2-3 cornish game hens in a crock pot
1 bay leaf
1 carrot don't chop
1 celery stalk don't chop
1 onion, and maybe 1 garlic clove (optional)
Add water to your crock 3/4 filled

put crock pot on your back porch,

4-8 hours later, using your tongs

discard carrot
discard celery
discard onion
discard garlic clove
fish out bones and skin/fat using tongs

You are left with broth and cornish game hen meat
Add some salt and pepper

Enjoy

I did this a lot with chicken when I was struggling. It is gentle on the gut and gives you some flavor.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 3:52 pm

Julie, We have walked in your shoes.

JulieHaggy · Post by **JulieHaggy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:47 pm

Thanks again, Brandy. I will definitely make the cornish hen soup!

JulieHaggy · Post by **JulieHaggy** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:55 pm

Dorothy, I am sorry you are having a bad time also....this disease is rotten. Perhaps the above suggestions will help you, too I do know the only fruit i can tolerate is bananas. Have you done any food sensitivity testing? The enterolab testing is expensive but I have improved a lot by eliminating foods that it identified as sensitivities. This situation can definitely lead to depression. It is so isolating and most other people don't understand. I belong to the microscopic colitis support group on facebook and find it helpful to interact with others who have this disease. I hope you can find some joy each day....even if it is a little one.
Julie

dolson · Post by **dolson** » Sat Jul 06, 2019 8:19 am

Yea, I've done the enterolab testing. Doing a little better now. Thanks Julie