Hi everyone,
I'm certainly feeling like a pest these days with my constant posts. Today I was so distraught with my debilitating fatigue and the constant cramping that I just sat down and cried. And I had to cancel all of my students. Still having some D - not a lot, but enough to tell me that my body's not happy. Marsha suggested that I try to find one food that doesn't bother me, and I liked that idea. Except that I have no idea what that one food would be. Everything is bothering me. Does anyone think I need to go back in for a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy? I haven't had one done in three years. What I absolutely do NOT want is to go on medication. As awful as I feel, I really don't think that my digestive system has gone that awry to merit steroids. It's the fatigue that's the worst part. But I can't tell if the fatigue is because of my MC or whether it's something else on top of the MC. I'm desperate for answers because you all know so much and I don't trust my PCP. I will see my naturopath tomorrow, but I don't know how much she knows about MC. I guess I'll find out.
Thanks,
Beth
Feeling like a pest
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Hi Beth,
First of all, please don't ever feel like a pest around here. Sharing support and experiences is the primary reason for the existence of this site, in the first place. We've all been there, done that. Ditto on the feeling so distraught and hopeless that it brings us to tears. MCers tend to cry at the drop of a hat. I don't know why, but it comes with the turf - probably because of the depression and feeling of hopelessness that we sometimes experience because of the persistent symptoms.
I don't want to cut a GI out of a profitable job, but I seriously doubt that you would gain any worthwhile information from a colonoscopy at this point. GIs prescribe drugs to resolve digestive issues. They almost never prescribe diets, (except in the case of full-blown celiacs).
However, sometimes the clean-out prep, prior to the exam, will resolve the D for a week or two, (and occasionally longer, if a GF diet is already in place).
You're always welcome,
Wayne
First of all, please don't ever feel like a pest around here. Sharing support and experiences is the primary reason for the existence of this site, in the first place. We've all been there, done that. Ditto on the feeling so distraught and hopeless that it brings us to tears. MCers tend to cry at the drop of a hat. I don't know why, but it comes with the turf - probably because of the depression and feeling of hopelessness that we sometimes experience because of the persistent symptoms.
I don't want to cut a GI out of a profitable job, but I seriously doubt that you would gain any worthwhile information from a colonoscopy at this point. GIs prescribe drugs to resolve digestive issues. They almost never prescribe diets, (except in the case of full-blown celiacs).
However, sometimes the clean-out prep, prior to the exam, will resolve the D for a week or two, (and occasionally longer, if a GF diet is already in place).
You're always welcome,
Wayne
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.
If you can stand it you might want to try the prep without the test!!!As Tex said, you are definitely NOT a pest!! I just wish I had some good suggestions for you.
One thing I do know - GI problems generate fatigue. That's from personal experience AND from my former Dr. so apparently wanting to sleep all the time is normal for a major upset.
I'm so sorry that I don't have some good advice for you.
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Beth
Don't ever feel like you are a pest. The process of healing might be a pest and at some point self and the process get mixed up. Don't let it.
I found in the first nine months that I just needed to give my digestive system a break on occasion.
I would take a three day weekend. Thursday night make a big pot of chicken soup. Something like this
1 medium whole chicken—organic, free range or kosher chicken
3 quarts of filtered water
4-6 tablespoons of moist high mineral salt
8 organic carrots
6 stalks of organic celery
2-4 organic zucchini
3 medium-sized organic white or yellow onions
5 cloves of garlic
1 large bunch of parsley (added 30 minutes before the soup is finished)
Simmer from four to six hours . Remove chicken from the bones and add chicken meat back to the soup.
It may be best to allow the soup to cool and blend or puree all ingredients in a high-powered blender or food processor.
I would eat eat nothing but the broth Friday and Saturday. Take the time off. Read a good book. Go for a short walk and enjoy everything their is to enjoy about the out doors. To heck with laundry , bills, cleaning, projects, and the endless doing. Take as many naps as you want. Relax to the point of a limp rag.
Sunday start off with the broth and slowly add a little of the pureed chicken and vegetables back in to the broth . Take it easy. Sit and finding the greatest joy in doing nothing,enjoy the bloom of the moment.
Monday just eat the more of the broth with more of the pureed vegetables and chicken. Be proud you did something good for yourself.
I know , I know, I can hear myself as well as I might guess what you will say. “I don’t have time for that’ I always had to ask if “ I had time not to do it.”
Give yourself and your digestive system a break.
Learning how to deal with MC has been a lot about not being so hard on myself when i was really sick
Hope this helps
Matthew
Don't ever feel like you are a pest. The process of healing might be a pest and at some point self and the process get mixed up. Don't let it.
I found in the first nine months that I just needed to give my digestive system a break on occasion.
I would take a three day weekend. Thursday night make a big pot of chicken soup. Something like this
1 medium whole chicken—organic, free range or kosher chicken
3 quarts of filtered water
4-6 tablespoons of moist high mineral salt
8 organic carrots
6 stalks of organic celery
2-4 organic zucchini
3 medium-sized organic white or yellow onions
5 cloves of garlic
1 large bunch of parsley (added 30 minutes before the soup is finished)
Simmer from four to six hours . Remove chicken from the bones and add chicken meat back to the soup.
It may be best to allow the soup to cool and blend or puree all ingredients in a high-powered blender or food processor.
I would eat eat nothing but the broth Friday and Saturday. Take the time off. Read a good book. Go for a short walk and enjoy everything their is to enjoy about the out doors. To heck with laundry , bills, cleaning, projects, and the endless doing. Take as many naps as you want. Relax to the point of a limp rag.
Sunday start off with the broth and slowly add a little of the pureed chicken and vegetables back in to the broth . Take it easy. Sit and finding the greatest joy in doing nothing,enjoy the bloom of the moment.
Monday just eat the more of the broth with more of the pureed vegetables and chicken. Be proud you did something good for yourself.
I know , I know, I can hear myself as well as I might guess what you will say. “I don’t have time for that’ I always had to ask if “ I had time not to do it.”
Give yourself and your digestive system a break.
Learning how to deal with MC has been a lot about not being so hard on myself when i was really sick
Hope this helps
Matthew
Hi Matthew,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm taking them to heart. As I write, I've got a whole chicken simmering on the stove, and I haven't eaten anything yet today. I decided to do exactly what you suggested - clear my schedule, cancel all of my students, and do absolutely nothing but sip chicken broth, sleep, read and rest for the entire weekend. You all don't know me, but this is unheard of for me to do something like this. But when I got to my naturopath today, and my blood pressure registered at 94/60, I knew I couldn't fool around anymore. Time to get in bed and stay in bed until I get myself over this flare.
Here's an update on what my doctor told me:
--Definitely have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol levels in the morning and during the day are what they should be when I'm going to bed. Explains why I am literally unable to keep my eyes open before noon.
--My neurotransmitters are completely off, probably because of the chronic anxiety attacks I've had since I was a child. My melatonin is low, my seratonin is low, and others of the neuros are too high. My doctor is starting me on melatonin, 5HTP, and licorice root. Because I'm in flare-up mode, she's starting very slowly and at low dosages. I guess there are a lot of other things she could prescribe to help correct the imbalance, but she doesn't want to be too aggressive.
Thank you all for your support during this very difficult time. I have a feeling that some very stressful news I received last week tipped me into flare mode. I really wouldn't know what to do without all of you. This site is literally life saver.
Thank you so much,
Beth
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm taking them to heart. As I write, I've got a whole chicken simmering on the stove, and I haven't eaten anything yet today. I decided to do exactly what you suggested - clear my schedule, cancel all of my students, and do absolutely nothing but sip chicken broth, sleep, read and rest for the entire weekend. You all don't know me, but this is unheard of for me to do something like this. But when I got to my naturopath today, and my blood pressure registered at 94/60, I knew I couldn't fool around anymore. Time to get in bed and stay in bed until I get myself over this flare.
Here's an update on what my doctor told me:
--Definitely have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol levels in the morning and during the day are what they should be when I'm going to bed. Explains why I am literally unable to keep my eyes open before noon.
--My neurotransmitters are completely off, probably because of the chronic anxiety attacks I've had since I was a child. My melatonin is low, my seratonin is low, and others of the neuros are too high. My doctor is starting me on melatonin, 5HTP, and licorice root. Because I'm in flare-up mode, she's starting very slowly and at low dosages. I guess there are a lot of other things she could prescribe to help correct the imbalance, but she doesn't want to be too aggressive.
Thank you all for your support during this very difficult time. I have a feeling that some very stressful news I received last week tipped me into flare mode. I really wouldn't know what to do without all of you. This site is literally life saver.
Thank you so much,
Beth
Beth,
I think your doctor is on the right track. The 5HTP should help a lot of things, once it gets the seratonin production up again. I think it's a much better choice than an SSRI.
Good luck with your "flare-bustin'" weekend. Keep us informed on how it's working.
Wayne
I think your doctor is on the right track. The 5HTP should help a lot of things, once it gets the seratonin production up again. I think it's a much better choice than an SSRI.
Good luck with your "flare-bustin'" weekend. Keep us informed on how it's working.
Wayne
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.
Actually, Wayne, I've been on an SSRI for 8 years. I asked the doctor today if I weren't on it if my seratonin would be even lower. She said no, but that because an SSRI pushes production of seratonin along that much faster it may have contributed to my running out of it sooner. My goal is to get off the SSRI, anyway. Can't be on the stuff and be pregnant at the same time. Has anyone here dealt with pregnancy and MC at the same time? I want to be in remission before I even think about putting my body through such a big change. But I also don't want to wait too long. I've watched a number of my friends go through infertility, and it's devastating.
I didn't realize that you were taking an SSRI. I just assumed that your aversion to taking meds for MC, applied to meds in general. I don't know which SSRI you are taking, of course, but some of them have been implicated in triggering MC - Paxil, for example. I'm not sure how much hard evidence of this exists, or how strong the correlation might be, but there are a lot of rumors floating around. Also, are you aware that some SSRIs cause increased and frequent hunger? This is just a WAEG, but I would suspect that 8 years of SSRI use may well be a significant contributing factor to your current problems with diarrhea, and related issues.
You might be interested in this past topic:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ight=ssris
I'm not certain, but I think that CAMary may have had that experience, (pregnant after MC diagnosis). I believe that Magyar also had planned to do that, but she hasn't posted in over a year.
Wayne
You might be interested in this past topic:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ight=ssris
I'm not certain, but I think that CAMary may have had that experience, (pregnant after MC diagnosis). I believe that Magyar also had planned to do that, but she hasn't posted in over a year.
Wayne
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.
Interesting, Wayne. I didn't know that SSRIs increase hunger. Maybe that's why I have to eat every few hours or my blood sugar plummets. I'm taking celexa, and it has helped with the anxiety attacks and depression, although I'm pretty sure that it hasn't been working as well as it used to. Every time I try to go off, though, I can't stand myself. I turn into a raging warrior woman, and that's not fun to live with at all! Either for myself or my poor husband.
Beth,
Celexa is one that "rarely" causes colitis. Usually something like that shows up within a few days or weeks of initiating usage. I have no idea what the risks might be with long-term use. I doubt that true long term use trials have ever been done with a sizeable population.
I understand your position. If it should turn out that Celexa is causing gastrointestinal problems for you, and you can't find a satisfactory substitute, you could end up in the somewhat common position of having to take another med, to counteract the side effects of the first med. I hope not, because that can become a process that slowly spirals out of control, but some doctors don't seem to be concerned about things of this nature. They're hapy, as long as they're writing prescriptions.
You definitely can't afford to just stop using it, without finding a reasonable substitute, because MC makes the need for a med like Celexa even more necessary, with all it's depressing attributes.
Wayne
Celexa is one that "rarely" causes colitis. Usually something like that shows up within a few days or weeks of initiating usage. I have no idea what the risks might be with long-term use. I doubt that true long term use trials have ever been done with a sizeable population.
I understand your position. If it should turn out that Celexa is causing gastrointestinal problems for you, and you can't find a satisfactory substitute, you could end up in the somewhat common position of having to take another med, to counteract the side effects of the first med. I hope not, because that can become a process that slowly spirals out of control, but some doctors don't seem to be concerned about things of this nature. They're hapy, as long as they're writing prescriptions.
You definitely can't afford to just stop using it, without finding a reasonable substitute, because MC makes the need for a med like Celexa even more necessary, with all it's depressing attributes.
Wayne
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.
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bobh
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Wow - what tests are providing all that good info?? I have done a lot of blood tests over the years, never got cortisol results - let alone for the particular time of day. I have low thyroid symptoms, yet the blood tests are often in the "normal range". They can't really determine the body's ability to CONVERT the hormones and put them to use though. But I'm used to seeing T-3, T-4, etc, not cortisol.Beth wrote:Here's an update on what my doctor told me:
--Definitely have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol levels in the morning... what they should be when I'm going to bed... --My neurotransmitters are completely off... My melatonin is low, my seratonin is low, and others of the neuros are too high.
I often feel like my neorotransmitters are "whacked out", do you get that on a routine blood test?
Bob H
Hi Bob,
I had a test done for adrenal fatigue and another test called an Insomnia Basic that tested cortisol, melatonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glycine, GABA, glutamate, PEA, histamine and creatinine. All of them were off, some glaringly so, especially the melatonin and serotonin. That test was performed through a saliva and a urine sample. The adrenal fatigue test was performed through saliva samples only four times throughout the day. I would definitely recommend getting them done - it gives you a good marker of where your hormone/neurotransmitter levels are.
Best,
Beth
I had a test done for adrenal fatigue and another test called an Insomnia Basic that tested cortisol, melatonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glycine, GABA, glutamate, PEA, histamine and creatinine. All of them were off, some glaringly so, especially the melatonin and serotonin. That test was performed through a saliva and a urine sample. The adrenal fatigue test was performed through saliva samples only four times throughout the day. I would definitely recommend getting them done - it gives you a good marker of where your hormone/neurotransmitter levels are.
Best,
Beth