Nuts?

[Sonia]

I noticed after reading through the enterolab results that there is a recommendation to avoid meats and instead consider using soaked nuts for protein. Just curious how this connects with most of what I've gleaned from this forum and Tex's book, which is that animal proteins are the most complete and best for healing.
Thanks!
Sonia

[Gabes-Apg]

MC is unique - the inflammation reactions are different to other IBD's etc

there are multiple reasons we encourage animal proteins rather than alternatives like nuts

1. animal protein has 75% of the essential amino acids the body need
2. nuts are high fibre / hard to digest so this causes inflammation
3. some nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds) are actually part of the legume family, which is linked to Soy if you had a high soy reaction it would be best to avoid anything that is in legume family.
4. depending on your genetic origins, animal protein has been foundation of eating plans for hundreds of years, one thing I have done with my eating plan is to go back to ingredients and cooking style that my ancestors ate, it is these ingredients that settle best.
5. For me - animal protein is easier, I have reliable MC safe sources.

[Sonia]

Thanks so much. This makes perfect sense--I didn't realize the Enterolab suggestions were for other forms of IBD.
Sonia

[Gabes-Apg]

Sonia
how did you go with your doctors appointment?

[Sonia]

Thanks so much for asking.
It went so-so I think?

I didn't mention enterolab, but said I had made significant dietary changes that I thought were starting to help based in feedback from an online forum of MC sufferers. My doc thought this was all great but didn't ask for specifics.

In terms of starting budesinide to reduce inflammation during potential pregnancy, she wanted my IVF docs to lead the way in terms of timing. I mentioned that I wanted a slower taper, and i was not sure how this would work if I started budesinide now, got pregnant in April(the scheduled date for my embryo transfer),and had to stop budesinide for the first trimester (as recommended by ivf docs). There is not enough time. She is reaching out to ivf docs for their ideas, but so far I haven't heard anything.

She also said that in terms of systemic inflammation, MC wasn't the same as crohn's or ulcerative colitis, but there were no good ways to measure this with blood or stool tests. She also asserted pretty strongly that MC is not an autoimmune condition.

So, she was kind, but in terms of what to actually do about budeside timing and dosing, not very helpful. I think she is a little out of her league in trying to come up with recommendations for pregnancy, but said that aside from that I had lots of treatment options.

Right now I'm feeling like if I don't get a definitive answer about budesinide, I won't restart. My symptoms are very slowly improving, and I don't want to risk a mast cell rebound in my first trimester if I have to stop the budesinide too quickly. I also successfully carried my son to term without taking medication during pregnancy, and my symptoms now are similar to what they were with him 5 years ago.

Whew! I think that is about it. Thanks for any feedback and for the support,
Sonia

[tex]

Hi Sonia,

Please be aware that microscopic colitis is generally classified as an autoimmune disease. That said, I agree with your doctor that technically, it's not an autoimmune disease, although it meets the medical definition of an autoimmune disease.

Also, regarding the increased consumption of nuts recommended by your EnteroLab test results, please be aware that Dr. Fine apparently makes those recommendations based on his own personal lifestyle. Somewhere along the line, after he recovered from MC, he became a vegetarian, and now he promotes a vegetarian lifestyle when treating MC. Please note that that was not his approach when he initially recovered from the disease himself. As far as I'm aware he converted to vegetarianism years after he reached remission from MC. Once our digestive system has healed for a few years, we can tolerate harder to digest foods, such as nuts, much more readily than we can early on. I just thought you should be aware of these facts. In general, everyone, doctors included, make recommendations that are influenced by their own personal experiences, and their lifestyle. Obviously, that applies to me, as well, so keep that in mind, too.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Right now I'm feeling like if I don't get a definitive answer about budesinide, I won't restart. My symptoms are very slowly improving, and I don't want to risk a mast cell rebound in my first trimester if I have to stop the budesinide too quickly. I also successfully carried my son to term without taking medication during pregnancy, and my symptoms now are similar to what they were with him 5 years ago.


if symptoms are reducing, I would encourage focusing on settling into your safe eating plan, taking the supps that will help moderate histamine and helping the body to heal.

given that stress/anxiety/unsettlement is trigger for many - I would encourage you to breathe, be patient and try not to think to much about the what ifs and what may or may not happen.
meditation, yoga, positive affirmations about your body - healing and nurturing, knowing that the diet changes and lifestyle changes are optimising health, embracing them with enthusiasm and minimal doubt etc. (easier said than done I know )