Hello,
I am so thankful to have found this group and this is my first post. I was diagnosed with MC about six months ago however I have had symptoms for over twenty years( progressively worse, especially the past two years).
My 13 year old daughter has been complaining of nausea, often when she first wakes up but it can also be at random times of the day, it has been going on for months. She also complains of hand pain and leg pain when she wakes up in the morning. She also gets headaches and has times of extreme fatigue. All of her recent bloodwork to check for autoimmune dx was normal. I just started reading the Microscopic Colitis book and just read today that these can all be symptoms of MC even without diarrhea.
Does anyone know if this can run in families and if it can start in the teen years?
Thank you,
Elaine
Can teens have MC?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Re: Can teens have MC?
Hi Elaine,
Yes, we have seen instances where microscopic colitis does seem to run in families, although this has not been confirmed by medical research. Even pets (dogs, at least) in some families, have been known to develop the disease. And yes, teens can get microscopic colitis. One of our members joined because her 2 1/2-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with microscopic colitis.
But looking at the symptoms you've described for your daughter, I note that those are all symptoms of magnesium deficiency. I can tell you from my own experience that doctors are virtually never able to diagnose magnesium deficiency, regardless of how obvious the symptoms might be, and how severe the deficiency might be. They couldn't even diagnose my own magnesium deficiency in the Emergency Room, and my symptoms were obvious. If she were my daughter, I would try giving her 300 mg of magnesium glycinate, daily, divided between meals. Her symptoms should be much improved in just one or two days. If they're not, then that's not the problem. Untreated, a magnesium deficiency can lead to microscopic colitis, eventually.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Yes, we have seen instances where microscopic colitis does seem to run in families, although this has not been confirmed by medical research. Even pets (dogs, at least) in some families, have been known to develop the disease. And yes, teens can get microscopic colitis. One of our members joined because her 2 1/2-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with microscopic colitis.
But looking at the symptoms you've described for your daughter, I note that those are all symptoms of magnesium deficiency. I can tell you from my own experience that doctors are virtually never able to diagnose magnesium deficiency, regardless of how obvious the symptoms might be, and how severe the deficiency might be. They couldn't even diagnose my own magnesium deficiency in the Emergency Room, and my symptoms were obvious. If she were my daughter, I would try giving her 300 mg of magnesium glycinate, daily, divided between meals. Her symptoms should be much improved in just one or two days. If they're not, then that's not the problem. Untreated, a magnesium deficiency can lead to microscopic colitis, eventually.
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.
Re: Can teens have MC?
Hello Tex,
Wow, this is so very helpful, thank you. I saw the post about Magnesium and actually purchased one of the recommended brands, Doctor's Best. I have not started taking it because I was afraid that it would cause diarrhea but I am going to try it. I am going to have her start too.
I myself started walking up with hand and wrist weakness/discomfort about ten + years ago and it always seemed worse depending on what I ate the night before ( gluten, high carbs even fruit). It progressed to the point that certain foods eaten during the day would also trigger it ( fruit, dairy, chocolate and others). I also started having knee pain and sometimes foot pain. When I went to the doctor for all of this they dismissed it, my x-rays were all normal. I also had exhaustion and brain fog It has been interesting reading the book ( did you write it?) because it also mentions TMJ which I also suffered with a couple years ago and back pain. It all is making sense.
We will definitely start the Magnesium. Should we take with food or on an empty stomach?
Thank you again for all of this amazing information.
Thank you,
Elaine
Wow, this is so very helpful, thank you. I saw the post about Magnesium and actually purchased one of the recommended brands, Doctor's Best. I have not started taking it because I was afraid that it would cause diarrhea but I am going to try it. I am going to have her start too.
I myself started walking up with hand and wrist weakness/discomfort about ten + years ago and it always seemed worse depending on what I ate the night before ( gluten, high carbs even fruit). It progressed to the point that certain foods eaten during the day would also trigger it ( fruit, dairy, chocolate and others). I also started having knee pain and sometimes foot pain. When I went to the doctor for all of this they dismissed it, my x-rays were all normal. I also had exhaustion and brain fog It has been interesting reading the book ( did you write it?) because it also mentions TMJ which I also suffered with a couple years ago and back pain. It all is making sense.
We will definitely start the Magnesium. Should we take with food or on an empty stomach?
Thank you again for all of this amazing information.
Thank you,
Elaine
Re: Can teens have MC?
Yes, I've written a few books.
Regarding the magnesium: be cautious at first, because some of us can't tolerate oral magnesium while our microscopic colitis is active. in those cases we have to use topical magnesium in the form of magnesium oil or magnesium lotion. Or we can soak our feet in a pan of water saturated with Epsom salts, or we can add Epsom salts to our bathwater, and soak for 15 or 20 minutes. Some forms of oral magnesium supplements are much more likely to cause diarrhea than others. Magnesium glycinate is one of the safest and most effective magnesium supplements commonly available. Magnesium chloride is also absorbed well, but it's more likely to cause diarrhea, especially in larger doses. The worst form of magnesium is magnesium oxide, because we can only absorb about 3 or 4 percent of the elemental magnesium in magnesium oxide. The rest remains un-absorbed in our intestines, where it proceeds to do an excellent imitation of a good laxative.
Magnesium probably works best when taken with or after a meal, but it's also safe to take without food. For example, I don't eat anything after about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but I take a magnesium tablet somewhere Between 8 and 10 o'clock each night. Taken right before bedtime, magnesium helps to relax our muscles, and it helps us get to sleep, and stay asleep. And it helps to prevent those leg and foot cramps that sometimes occur during the wee hours of the morning.
Tex
Regarding the magnesium: be cautious at first, because some of us can't tolerate oral magnesium while our microscopic colitis is active. in those cases we have to use topical magnesium in the form of magnesium oil or magnesium lotion. Or we can soak our feet in a pan of water saturated with Epsom salts, or we can add Epsom salts to our bathwater, and soak for 15 or 20 minutes. Some forms of oral magnesium supplements are much more likely to cause diarrhea than others. Magnesium glycinate is one of the safest and most effective magnesium supplements commonly available. Magnesium chloride is also absorbed well, but it's more likely to cause diarrhea, especially in larger doses. The worst form of magnesium is magnesium oxide, because we can only absorb about 3 or 4 percent of the elemental magnesium in magnesium oxide. The rest remains un-absorbed in our intestines, where it proceeds to do an excellent imitation of a good laxative.
Magnesium probably works best when taken with or after a meal, but it's also safe to take without food. For example, I don't eat anything after about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but I take a magnesium tablet somewhere Between 8 and 10 o'clock each night. Taken right before bedtime, magnesium helps to relax our muscles, and it helps us get to sleep, and stay asleep. And it helps to prevent those leg and foot cramps that sometimes occur during the wee hours of the morning.
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.
Re: Can teens have MC?
Thank you!