I have not posted here in over a year so I must have been doing better than I currently feel like I am. I decided to "see" one of the popular online Functional Medicine MDs via video conference. After completing the quite extensive questionnaire I was scheduled with a "health practitioner" who under the MD's direction prescribed their standard DETOX protocol. This protocol included many steps... antimicrobial tea upon waking, (no coffee only lots of green tea), an Elimination Diet (which was not a lot different for me anyway, except for the fresh vegetables and salads), a daily Foundation Shake (her product containing many ingredients), Digestive Enzymes with each meal, Multi Vitamins and a probiotic. She did recommend that I continue taking the magnesium (ReMag)
Well...I should have known better... within 5 days I went from normal BM to WD and that was 5 weeks ago! I began taking Budesonide for about the 6 or 7th time in 5 years and of course it didn't work. I am not having WD now but I continue to have small Ribbon stools every time I need to pee. And also gas, lots of gas. I stopped all of her recommended products and supplements after the 5th day and I have gone back to mostly the Phase 1 diet! This disease is maddening!!
So sorry for the long background but it leads to my seemingly miscellaneous questions for this group: and thank you in advance!
1. I have lost weight and muscle. I weight 103# only a 6# loss for me that is significant; no real question here just a lament!
2. The Func Med Doc report said that I had obvious adrenal fatigue and mitochondrial dysfunction and detoxing was needed. Are there supplements for this?
3.Have any of you tried AntiMicrobial Tea and if so for how long? Did it produce diarrhea? I did so may things at once that I don't know if the tea helped or added to the problem!
4.What about the PatchMD or other topical vitamins. Do they work? Any recommendations? I obviously am not absorbing anything!
5. The Digestive Enzymes she prescribed didn't seem to make any difference to my digestion. Any experience?
6. I am sleeping poorly and about every 3rd day I will use Xanax to sleep. Does Xanax worsen MC?
7. I had Enterolab Testing done in 2013. Should I do it again?
8. Does anyone drink Dandelion Tea instead of coffee, results?
9. Also I am taking Melatonin and CBD oil at night for sleep. Can't really tell if it's helping.
10. My daughter (Celiac, too) take Restore instead of Probiotics and is having good results (she doesn't have MC) Does anyone have experience with RESTORE?
11. Also, Apple Cider Vinegar what is the recommendation/or not on ACV?
Ok I guess that's it for now.
Any help will be appreciated! Thank you so much!
Random questions as Long healing journey continues...
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Brandy here.
In general less is best for MC healing. I'm a person that can't get into remission while I'm taking oral OTC supplements.
Once I ditch the supplements I bounce back pretty quickly.
The good news you are having ribbon stool. That means you are on the mend.
1. Yes I was a weak 53 year old due to MC. Now I am a strong 58 year old due to being healed and weight lifting.
2. It is somewhat dated but I like the Adrenal Fatigue book by James Wilson. A lot of what he talks about is
sleep patterns and de-stressing. He also talks a lot about diet and eliminating sugar etc. He talks about eliminating toxic people/jobs in your life. He does not tell you to detox. I suspect most of us have adrenal fatigue when in a flare.
3. Never tried. In general things advertised "digestive ......." don't work for us.
4. Have not tried. Some members use.
5. Less is best for us. I heal when I am not supplementing.
6. I'm no expert but I think it is problematic. Try epsom salt foot baths and epsom salt baths or magnesium oil on skin.
It should help with sleep. Higher magnesium levels helps with sleep.
7. Some people do. If you already have ribbon stool you may not need to.
8. GENERALLY IF YOU DRANK COFFEE PRE MC YOU ARE OK WITH COFFEE. IF YOU DRANK HOT TEA PRE MC YOU
ARE OK WITH BLACK TEA. ANYTHING HERBAL CAN BE IFFY OR CAN BE CONTAMINATED, I.E. CONTAIN
GLUTEN. RECOMMEND STICK WITH COFFEE AND/OR TEA. I USE SWEETLEAF ORGANIC STEVIA WITH MY BLACK TEA.
WE HAVE SO LITTLE PLEASURES/VICES. ENJOY YOUR COFFEE OR BLACK TEA.
9. Eliminate anything you are not sure is helping. Use epsom salt foot baths, baths, or mag oil for sleep. You MIGHT,
be ok with oral magnesium glycinate but that is iffy until you get more solid stool. Once you get normans oral
magnesium glycinate works a charm for sleep in the evening. Take it an hour before bed. Again, it might
be too soon for you to take it.
10. Can't comment on restore. Never heard of it. Again, less is more until you get consistent Normans.
11. I add a Tablespoon of ACV to my crock pot when I am making chicken soup/broth per the recipe.
Consider eliminate all of the supplements you talked about until you get solid stool.
Overall it sounds like you are doing pretty good if you have ribbon stool.
In general less is best for MC healing. I'm a person that can't get into remission while I'm taking oral OTC supplements.
Once I ditch the supplements I bounce back pretty quickly.
The good news you are having ribbon stool. That means you are on the mend.
1. Yes I was a weak 53 year old due to MC. Now I am a strong 58 year old due to being healed and weight lifting.
2. It is somewhat dated but I like the Adrenal Fatigue book by James Wilson. A lot of what he talks about is
sleep patterns and de-stressing. He also talks a lot about diet and eliminating sugar etc. He talks about eliminating toxic people/jobs in your life. He does not tell you to detox. I suspect most of us have adrenal fatigue when in a flare.
3. Never tried. In general things advertised "digestive ......." don't work for us.
4. Have not tried. Some members use.
5. Less is best for us. I heal when I am not supplementing.
6. I'm no expert but I think it is problematic. Try epsom salt foot baths and epsom salt baths or magnesium oil on skin.
It should help with sleep. Higher magnesium levels helps with sleep.
7. Some people do. If you already have ribbon stool you may not need to.
8. GENERALLY IF YOU DRANK COFFEE PRE MC YOU ARE OK WITH COFFEE. IF YOU DRANK HOT TEA PRE MC YOU
ARE OK WITH BLACK TEA. ANYTHING HERBAL CAN BE IFFY OR CAN BE CONTAMINATED, I.E. CONTAIN
GLUTEN. RECOMMEND STICK WITH COFFEE AND/OR TEA. I USE SWEETLEAF ORGANIC STEVIA WITH MY BLACK TEA.
WE HAVE SO LITTLE PLEASURES/VICES. ENJOY YOUR COFFEE OR BLACK TEA.
9. Eliminate anything you are not sure is helping. Use epsom salt foot baths, baths, or mag oil for sleep. You MIGHT,
be ok with oral magnesium glycinate but that is iffy until you get more solid stool. Once you get normans oral
magnesium glycinate works a charm for sleep in the evening. Take it an hour before bed. Again, it might
be too soon for you to take it.
10. Can't comment on restore. Never heard of it. Again, less is more until you get consistent Normans.
11. I add a Tablespoon of ACV to my crock pot when I am making chicken soup/broth per the recipe.
Consider eliminate all of the supplements you talked about until you get solid stool.
Overall it sounds like you are doing pretty good if you have ribbon stool.
Brandy here again....also if you have not bought Tex's book in the upper right hand corner link it is highly recommended.
PS. If you feel the urge to consult a functional medicine doctor MD ignore it and pull out Tex's book and
read it. Also there is great info on our Microscopic Colitis Foundation newsletters. Read all of the old
ones. Link to the Foundation is top center.
It took a long time for me to get my physical strength back. I'm talking years. Eating a lot of protein
and then hiring a trainer in the gym.
Welcome back, your post is good by the way and will help a lot of people.
PS. If you feel the urge to consult a functional medicine doctor MD ignore it and pull out Tex's book and
read it. Also there is great info on our Microscopic Colitis Foundation newsletters. Read all of the old
ones. Link to the Foundation is top center.
It took a long time for me to get my physical strength back. I'm talking years. Eating a lot of protein
and then hiring a trainer in the gym.
Welcome back, your post is good by the way and will help a lot of people.
Hi mwt,
I don't really have much to add to Brandy's suggestions, she appears to have answered most of your questions, and the ones she didn't, I can't answer either.
Regarding digestive enzymes — they made me very sick at a time when I was doing well without them.
The vitamin/mineral patches work, according to those who use them.
In my opinion, detox-based treatment programs are far more beneficial for the bank accounts of practitioners who recommend them, than they are for the health of the patients who use them. I view them as a form of cruel and unusual punishment (but that's just my opinion).
Tex
I don't really have much to add to Brandy's suggestions, she appears to have answered most of your questions, and the ones she didn't, I can't answer either.
Regarding digestive enzymes — they made me very sick at a time when I was doing well without them.
The vitamin/mineral patches work, according to those who use them.
In my opinion, detox-based treatment programs are far more beneficial for the bank accounts of practitioners who recommend them, than they are for the health of the patients who use them. I view them as a form of cruel and unusual punishment (but that's just my opinion).
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.
The magnesium in Centrum Silver (and most multivitamins) is magnesium oxide, as I recall. The human digestive system can only absorb about 4 % of magnesium oxide, making it a great laxative, but a poor magnesium supplement. Most members here use magnesium glucinate, for maximun benefits with the least risk of diarrhea. Or magnesium citrate, for maximum absorption, but be careful if you choose magnesium citrate, because larger doses act as a laxative.
Charlene should be taking at least around 3,000–4,000 IU of vitamin D. MC depletes vitamin D and magnesium, and most of us are low on both. Keeping their levels up (above normal) helps the immune system to function better. Healing is controlled by the immune system, and if vitamin D and/or magnesium levels are below normal, the immune system cannot perform very well.
Tex
Charlene should be taking at least around 3,000–4,000 IU of vitamin D. MC depletes vitamin D and magnesium, and most of us are low on both. Keeping their levels up (above normal) helps the immune system to function better. Healing is controlled by the immune system, and if vitamin D and/or magnesium levels are below normal, the immune system cannot perform very well.
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.
Most of us use Doctor's Best brand chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate). The labeled dose is 200 mg (a dose is considered to be 2 tablets), so it contains 100 mg of magnesium per tablet. I would suggest 2 to 3 tablets per day, divided between meals (IOW, 200–300 mg per day). The body can only absorb so much at a time, so the excess is wasted, and taking too much at one time can overwork the kidneys, and might even cause diarrhea for some patients while they still have active MC.
Hopefully, the doctor will order the RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test, because the serum test that doctors have traditionally ordered is virtually worthless except in an Emergency Room setting.
Tex
Hopefully, the doctor will order the RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test, because the serum test that doctors have traditionally ordered is virtually worthless except in an Emergency Room setting.
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 Tex, Paul here, I got an RBC magnesium test and a complete metabolic panel done on Charlene. Her magnesium levels are 2.3 mg/dl. Her PCP (a nurse practitioner) says that she is in the "normal" range, (which the lab says is 1.8 to 2.4.) and that she doesn't need a magnesium supplement.
I seem to recall in one of your post (can't find that post now) you said in order to promote proper healing, she should be in the 6.0 to 6.8 range. Am I recalling that correctly?
I seem to recall in one of your post (can't find that post now) you said in order to promote proper healing, she should be in the 6.0 to 6.8 range. Am I recalling that correctly?
Hi Paul,
Yes, she is in the low normal range, and could use magnesium. See the article at the following link for an explanation by Dr Carolyn Dean.
https://drcarolyndean.com/2014/05/magne ... lood-test/
Tex
Yes, she is in the low normal range, and could use magnesium. See the article at the following link for an explanation by Dr Carolyn Dean.
https://drcarolyndean.com/2014/05/magne ... lood-test/
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.