Hey everyone,
I am sure some similar message may have been posted or discussed in the past, but I am a bit overwhelmed with all the topics available - so apologies if I am repetitive.
I have been diagnosed with MC this week. Initially, doctors suspected I had IBS as I am relatively young and had lighter symptoms (i would go to the bathroom once or twice a day mostly right after I woke up, stool level 6 on Bristol scare, no abdominal pain) but after measuring my calprotectin levels (returned over 400), a colonoscopy with biopsy was done... And here I am.
While the investigation was in progress, I have started a diet and supplements focused on reducing or removing inflamatory food. So far, my results have been good: I would say my stool is now on level 5.
Now, trying to get into remission with diet, supplements and medication prescribed by my doctor, but curious to know on what I should be looking for, specially considering my light symptoms. For those of you who are in remission and actively checking calprotectin levels, do they ever go very low (or lowish)? Or remissions would be mostly focused on symptoms? Anything in particular you think may be helpful?
Truly appreciate this forum's existence. I feel less invisible dealing with this now.
Newbie Questions about Remission, Calprotectin and Symptoms
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Re: Newbie Questions about Remission, Calprotectin and Symptoms
Hi Dan,
Welcome to the group. Most of us were probably diagnosed without our calprotectin level ever being checked. In cases where it is checked, it's rarely that high. Apparently you have a rather high inflammation level, which can hardly be classified as a "light" case. Definitions of remission tend to vary by the individual, but in my opinion, remission is a return to the health status we had before we ever developed MC, or before we ever developed any clinical symptoms associated with it. That said, any food sensitivities that have developed because of the "leaky gut" associated with the chronic inflammation that causes MC to develop, will be with us for the rest of our lives, so we'll have to continue to avoid at least the "big four" food sensitivities (gluten, casein, soy, and chicken eggs) if we have developed a sensitivity to them. All of us are sensitive to gluten, but only about two thirds of us are sensitive to one or more of the others.
If you're looking for diet guidelines, in addition to the guidelines we have posted here, you might review a newsletter published by the Microscopic Colitis Foundation a couple of years ago to help when selecting safe foods. For your convenience, here's a direct link where you can download or read a copy of that newsletter:
https://www.microscopiccolitisfoundatio ... 479987.pdf
I hope this helps. Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. Most of us were probably diagnosed without our calprotectin level ever being checked. In cases where it is checked, it's rarely that high. Apparently you have a rather high inflammation level, which can hardly be classified as a "light" case. Definitions of remission tend to vary by the individual, but in my opinion, remission is a return to the health status we had before we ever developed MC, or before we ever developed any clinical symptoms associated with it. That said, any food sensitivities that have developed because of the "leaky gut" associated with the chronic inflammation that causes MC to develop, will be with us for the rest of our lives, so we'll have to continue to avoid at least the "big four" food sensitivities (gluten, casein, soy, and chicken eggs) if we have developed a sensitivity to them. All of us are sensitive to gluten, but only about two thirds of us are sensitive to one or more of the others.
If you're looking for diet guidelines, in addition to the guidelines we have posted here, you might review a newsletter published by the Microscopic Colitis Foundation a couple of years ago to help when selecting safe foods. For your convenience, here's a direct link where you can download or read a copy of that newsletter:
https://www.microscopiccolitisfoundatio ... 479987.pdf
I hope this helps. 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: Newbie Questions about Remission, Calprotectin and Symptoms
Truly appreciate your reply, Tex!
I agree with you that the calprotectin levels I had were quite high and can't consider it a light inflamation, which is one of the main reasons I am concerned: my clinical symptoms are rather light and I fear that even if I see improvements, high levels of inflamation may still be around.
One thing I recalled, however, is that I had started using a SSRI medication near the timeframe I took that test (which had made my symptoms much worse), so I am sure that contributed to it. Now, thinking back, I am also very certain that stress and medication were my trigger to MC: I had a lot of ibuprofen (a LOT) and antibiotics sometime before my symptoms appeared. If only I had realized sooner *sigh*.
To be on a safe side (and most of all, satisfy my curiosity), now that I will be working towards remission with medication and diet, I will keep an eye on calprotectin levels every few months, regardless of how I feel clinically.
Appreciate the links and tips on the diet guidelines. I will be reading all the newsletters available and the content here as well. This forum and community is a gem.
I agree with you that the calprotectin levels I had were quite high and can't consider it a light inflamation, which is one of the main reasons I am concerned: my clinical symptoms are rather light and I fear that even if I see improvements, high levels of inflamation may still be around.
One thing I recalled, however, is that I had started using a SSRI medication near the timeframe I took that test (which had made my symptoms much worse), so I am sure that contributed to it. Now, thinking back, I am also very certain that stress and medication were my trigger to MC: I had a lot of ibuprofen (a LOT) and antibiotics sometime before my symptoms appeared. If only I had realized sooner *sigh*.
To be on a safe side (and most of all, satisfy my curiosity), now that I will be working towards remission with medication and diet, I will keep an eye on calprotectin levels every few months, regardless of how I feel clinically.
Appreciate the links and tips on the diet guidelines. I will be reading all the newsletters available and the content here as well. This forum and community is a gem.
Re: Newbie Questions about Remission, Calprotectin and Symptoms
You're quite correct, NSAIDs, antibiotics, and stress appear to be the main causes for the chronic inflammation that leads to MC.
Best of luck on your journey to remission.
Tex
Best of luck on your journey to remission.
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.