Hi Everyone
I was diagnosed with LC in July this year through a colonoscopy where a benign polyp was removed. My chronic diarrhea and other symptoms started in May and since then I have rapidly lost 10 kilos. The Gastroenterologist recommended I immediately stop NSAID’s (I have been taking these over a long period of time for chronic migraines) and he prescribed Entercort to address the inflammation. I decided against taking this medication due to possible side effects and consulted a naturopath in the meantime to try to find an alternative route. Since then I have done my own research and come across this wonderful site with such amazing, kind and helpful people. I have learnt so much already and am continuing to do so each time I read a post. I spoke to my Naturopath about my preference in getting tests done through Enterolabs but she has suggested Doctors Data GI360 TM Stool Analysis and also Cyrex Array 3 and Cyrex Array 4 tests (blood tests). I have read the posts here relating to tests other than Enterolabs and am somewhat confused on the best way to proceed. Any advice or thoughts would be gratefully received.
Lindsay
Newbie from UK needing advice with testing
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Lindsay,
Welcome to the group. To be honest, in my opinion, the EnteroLab tests have proven over the years to be so much more accurate than competing labs, that I would proceed with the EnteroLab tests, and do without a doctor, if necessary, in order to get accurate, dependable, food sensitivity results. As far as I can tell, the Cyrex tests are worthless for MC patients. I've never heard of the Doctors Data tests, but I would be very surprised if they were able to compete with EnteroLab for accuracy and reliability. If you're not going to take budesonide, then you don't need a doctor anyway (to write the prescription renewals). If you change your mind, it's possible to order budesonide (at a very reasonable cost) from a lab in India without a prescription.
The bottom line is: If you want to control your MC using diet changes, then the fastest, surest, most economical way to design a diet that will bring remission, is to order the A1 and C1 Test Panels from EnteroLab, and avoid the foods that they show as reactive for you. The medical approach is only a short-term treatment anyway, because without the proper diet changes, published medical research shows that 85 % of MC patients relapse shortly after the budesonide treatment is ended.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. To be honest, in my opinion, the EnteroLab tests have proven over the years to be so much more accurate than competing labs, that I would proceed with the EnteroLab tests, and do without a doctor, if necessary, in order to get accurate, dependable, food sensitivity results. As far as I can tell, the Cyrex tests are worthless for MC patients. I've never heard of the Doctors Data tests, but I would be very surprised if they were able to compete with EnteroLab for accuracy and reliability. If you're not going to take budesonide, then you don't need a doctor anyway (to write the prescription renewals). If you change your mind, it's possible to order budesonide (at a very reasonable cost) from a lab in India without a prescription.
The bottom line is: If you want to control your MC using diet changes, then the fastest, surest, most economical way to design a diet that will bring remission, is to order the A1 and C1 Test Panels from EnteroLab, and avoid the foods that they show as reactive for you. The medical approach is only a short-term treatment anyway, because without the proper diet changes, published medical research shows that 85 % of MC patients relapse shortly after the budesonide treatment is ended.
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.
Great! Sounds as though you've got a solid plan in place for your recovery. I hope everything goes smoothly, but don't be discouraged if there are a few bumps in the road to recovery. Recovery is not always a smooth trip; most of us have a setback or two along the way, but perseverance and patience pays off.
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions that come up at any time. It's much better to ask, than to make a bad choice and suffer the consequences.
Tex
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions that come up at any time. It's much better to ask, than to make a bad choice and suffer the consequences.
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.