I'm a MC newbie--LC type. I realized I was dairy intolerant 30 some years ago. Initially I could control symptoms with Lactaid, but gradually got worse so I just went non-dairy. After doing about 20 years of soy products, I believe I'm now soy-intolerant. I certainly felt better after discontinuing all soy products. When I was researching soy intolerance, I came across a product called Lactagen. It can't replace lactase productioin, but does stimulate the gut with a probiotic formula to digest dairy again. I went through that treatment about 2 years ago and could have up to moderate amounts of dairy with no problems. The joy of ice cream again!
Last summer I was beginning to have some symptoms again after dairy and called the Lactagen customer service. They suggested repeating the treatment and that would probably do it for life. I completed the 8 week treatment just about the time I also took an oral typhoid immunization series in preparation for a trip to Peru. Additionally, we'd been camping for 3 days. The day after we got back I started having runny stools which progressed to D. After a week I did all the stool samples--all negative. After 3 1/2 months, he ordered a colonoscopy with biopsies. Results were LC.
The Gastroenterologist's treatment is 8 Pepto Bismol tablets daily for 8 weeks. I'm just ending my first week. I see some improvement. No more D (though certainly not normal) but more cramping. Of course, I never went back to dairy after the Lactagen treatment. I'm betting that's gone for good. I still wonder if there was something in the oral typhoid that could have started all this. I even had some pink spots (about 1/4 inch) upper body (rose spots are found with typhoid), but not until almost 2 months after the immunization. Having gone from normal (as long as I was dairy free or post Lactagen) to MC almost overnight puzzles me.
Has anyone heard of MC starting that suddenly? Or reactions to either Lactagen or oral typhoid?
Thanks for listening--Karen
Karen's history
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Karen,
Welcome to our discussion board. Thanks for joining us, and thank you for posting your profile, so that we know a little about your medical history, relative to MC.
It's usually pretty slow around here on major holidays, but more than that, most members often/usually overlook new posts in any forums other than the Main Message Board, and Discussions on Treatment Options Using Diet, and/or Medications, because those are the most popular forums. Accordingly, I'm going to move your post to the Main Message Board, which is here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2
I've left a copy of your post in the Member's Medical Profiles forum, however, so that anytime someone needs to check your MC history, they will know where to find it.
Many/most of us are casein intolerant, (the protein in milk), and some of us are intolerant to soy, and other foods. The most prevalent intolerance here is gluten, (the protein in wheat, (we are as sensitive to gluten as celiacs, but we test negative for celiac sprue, when tested by means of the classic blood tests for celiac disease).
Dr. Kenneth Fine, (of Enterolab, in Dallas), developed the Pepto treatment a number of years ago, but he no longer recommends it as a primary treatment, because most patients will relapse a few weeks after the treatment is ended, unless they diligently follow a gluten free diet, in addition to the Pepto treatment. Any other food intolerances would also have to be avoided, (such as dairy products), of course.
MC triggers suddenly for many patients, while others have intermittent sick spells, which become more and more frequent over time. I fall into the latter class, but I believe that for most members here, the onset was rather sudden. It can be triggered by several meds, and especially NSAIDs, but there are many other causes, also, (including food intolerances). It's not impossible that the oral typhoid immunization could have triggered MC, but I don't recall reading about anyone else who reported a similar case. However, I doubt anyone else on this board has ever had an oral typhoid immunization, (I could be wrong, of course). In fact, it can even be triggered by something as seemingly unrelated as the termination of a smoking habit.
I've got company arriving, so I've got to go, but again, welcome to our group.
Tex
Welcome to our discussion board. Thanks for joining us, and thank you for posting your profile, so that we know a little about your medical history, relative to MC.
It's usually pretty slow around here on major holidays, but more than that, most members often/usually overlook new posts in any forums other than the Main Message Board, and Discussions on Treatment Options Using Diet, and/or Medications, because those are the most popular forums. Accordingly, I'm going to move your post to the Main Message Board, which is here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2
I've left a copy of your post in the Member's Medical Profiles forum, however, so that anytime someone needs to check your MC history, they will know where to find it.
Many/most of us are casein intolerant, (the protein in milk), and some of us are intolerant to soy, and other foods. The most prevalent intolerance here is gluten, (the protein in wheat, (we are as sensitive to gluten as celiacs, but we test negative for celiac sprue, when tested by means of the classic blood tests for celiac disease).
Dr. Kenneth Fine, (of Enterolab, in Dallas), developed the Pepto treatment a number of years ago, but he no longer recommends it as a primary treatment, because most patients will relapse a few weeks after the treatment is ended, unless they diligently follow a gluten free diet, in addition to the Pepto treatment. Any other food intolerances would also have to be avoided, (such as dairy products), of course.
MC triggers suddenly for many patients, while others have intermittent sick spells, which become more and more frequent over time. I fall into the latter class, but I believe that for most members here, the onset was rather sudden. It can be triggered by several meds, and especially NSAIDs, but there are many other causes, also, (including food intolerances). It's not impossible that the oral typhoid immunization could have triggered MC, but I don't recall reading about anyone else who reported a similar case. However, I doubt anyone else on this board has ever had an oral typhoid immunization, (I could be wrong, of course). In fact, it can even be triggered by something as seemingly unrelated as the termination of a smoking habit.
I've got company arriving, so I've got to go, but again, welcome to our group.
Tex
Karen, So glad you found us and so sorry you needed to.
Sounds like you have a lot of practice dealing with food intolerances already and I know it's no fun.
I am one of the "maintaining with med" people but I can't say I feel real great. I believe I'd feel a lot better if I buckled down and followed a good diet. (Paleo, or close to it, would be my best guess for me.)
I hope you can find some info/help here that you can use and get that D under control. I'm quite sure you can but it may take some work - trial & error - etc.
Lots of helpful people on the board here.
Again, Welcome
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
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annie oakley
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
Welcome to the board! 
I'm a recent newbie too and I know how puzzled you are feeling. I'm still trying to adjust to this disease. I was fine one day, and the next, I had MC. I'm not really sure how I got it, but I have a feeling that one day, my colon just couldn't take the irritations anymore. I've read that almost half of MCers can pinpoint when they began to have problems, so you're in good company.
I've been finding it very valuable to read earlier postings by doing a topic search. Many of the questions I have were covered in prior discussions on this board. Even so, everyone here is very gracious about answering them again.
I don't think you will find better support or knowledge than you will here. You've come to the right place.
I'm a recent newbie too and I know how puzzled you are feeling. I'm still trying to adjust to this disease. I was fine one day, and the next, I had MC. I'm not really sure how I got it, but I have a feeling that one day, my colon just couldn't take the irritations anymore. I've read that almost half of MCers can pinpoint when they began to have problems, so you're in good company.I've been finding it very valuable to read earlier postings by doing a topic search. Many of the questions I have were covered in prior discussions on this board. Even so, everyone here is very gracious about answering them again.
I don't think you will find better support or knowledge than you will here. You've come to the right place.
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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kate_ce1995
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1321
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 5:53 pm
- Location: Vermont
Hi Karen,
Yes, suddenly is what happened to me. And I didn't even have a series of anything going on. Just one afternoon at the end of a work day, I was chatting with a co-worker getting ready to go home, and got that urge. That was the first episode of D and I didn't go back to "normal" until 7 or 8 months later.
For me NSAIDs was the trigger. And, while ibuprofen was my pain reliever of choice, I didn't take it every day.. maybe a couple times a week for headaches, and then for menstrual cramps. But it was enough for me.
I have since found out that I am gluten intolerant. And, not only do I get bowel symptoms if I eat gluten, but lots of muscle aches seem to be related (not related to aging as I originally suspected...and I was only 29 when it all started).
Hang out, read up. This group of people is the best. And while each person finds their own road to recovery, little pieces of each of our stories may help you find yours.
Katy
Yes, suddenly is what happened to me. And I didn't even have a series of anything going on. Just one afternoon at the end of a work day, I was chatting with a co-worker getting ready to go home, and got that urge. That was the first episode of D and I didn't go back to "normal" until 7 or 8 months later.
For me NSAIDs was the trigger. And, while ibuprofen was my pain reliever of choice, I didn't take it every day.. maybe a couple times a week for headaches, and then for menstrual cramps. But it was enough for me.
I have since found out that I am gluten intolerant. And, not only do I get bowel symptoms if I eat gluten, but lots of muscle aches seem to be related (not related to aging as I originally suspected...and I was only 29 when it all started).
Hang out, read up. This group of people is the best. And while each person finds their own road to recovery, little pieces of each of our stories may help you find yours.
Katy
You found the right place. The folks here are the most helpful you will find anywhere.
My Collagenous Colitis came on suddenly as well .. I can pinpoint the day. I am on Entocort EC and have my life back. It wasn't an easy road since finding a doctor who knows anything about these illnesses is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Hope you find something that will work for you. No one thing works for everyone but usually there is something on this site that will bring about relief. Took me three years of living in diapers to find what worked for me.. but I did finally find relief... YEAH!!!!
grannyh
My Collagenous Colitis came on suddenly as well .. I can pinpoint the day. I am on Entocort EC and have my life back. It wasn't an easy road since finding a doctor who knows anything about these illnesses is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Hope you find something that will work for you. No one thing works for everyone but usually there is something on this site that will bring about relief. Took me three years of living in diapers to find what worked for me.. but I did finally find relief... YEAH!!!!
grannyh
Thanks!
Thanks for the welcome and all the supportive comments. I seem to be tolerating the Pepto just fine, other than now I'm getting constipated! That's pretty weird after 4 months of D. I've cautiously started re-introducing ground flax which I've had daily for several years. No bad reactions so far.
It seems like everyone here has needed a gluten free diet. I've never noticed any intolerance to gluten in the past, but I suppose that could start as suddenly as the MC. Once I'm off my Pepto regime I'll have to see what happens. If the symptoms start again, I'll try gluten free to see what that does. I don't actually eat much gluten as I've had high triglycerides so have needed to cut down on processed and refined carbs. Without this forum I don't think I could even contemplate going GF. Thanks everyone. Karen
It seems like everyone here has needed a gluten free diet. I've never noticed any intolerance to gluten in the past, but I suppose that could start as suddenly as the MC. Once I'm off my Pepto regime I'll have to see what happens. If the symptoms start again, I'll try gluten free to see what that does. I don't actually eat much gluten as I've had high triglycerides so have needed to cut down on processed and refined carbs. Without this forum I don't think I could even contemplate going GF. Thanks everyone. Karen
Karen
Karen,
That's good news that the Pepto is working. If C is a problem, you might be able to reduce the dosage slightly, in order to reduce the C, while still maintaining control, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to reduce it more than just a slight amount. I think it works to reduce inflammation by coating the mucosal surface of the intestines, (and therefore effectively segregating it from the fecal stream), and you wouldn't want to cause any breaks in that coating.
A high percentage of patients with MC are gluten sensitive, but I'm not sure that applies to all MCers. Yes, gluten sensitivity is triggered suddenly, by the same genes that trigger MC or celiac sprue, (and it is also triggered at the same time that MC or celiac sprue is triggered).
Trust me, you will never "notice" that you are intolerant of gluten. Foods to which we are intolerant, have a way of tricking us into craving them, and believing that something else is the problem.
For example, I was/am very gluten sensitive, but it never occurred to me that I might be intolerant to gluten, until I read about the diet, tried it, and found that it made a difference. I'll bet a GF cookie that everyone here who follows the diet, will say virtually the same thing - that they never had a clue that they were gluten sensitive, before they tried the diet.
By the way, don't let Grannyh fool you - she ain't all that old. LOL. I suspect she started referring to herself as "old", sometime after she got out of her teens.
Please keep us informed of your progress - we learn from each other here, and the more feedback we get, (whether it's good or bad), the more we learn about this treacherous disease. We definitely appreciate your input.
Tex
That's good news that the Pepto is working. If C is a problem, you might be able to reduce the dosage slightly, in order to reduce the C, while still maintaining control, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to reduce it more than just a slight amount. I think it works to reduce inflammation by coating the mucosal surface of the intestines, (and therefore effectively segregating it from the fecal stream), and you wouldn't want to cause any breaks in that coating.
A high percentage of patients with MC are gluten sensitive, but I'm not sure that applies to all MCers. Yes, gluten sensitivity is triggered suddenly, by the same genes that trigger MC or celiac sprue, (and it is also triggered at the same time that MC or celiac sprue is triggered).
Trust me, you will never "notice" that you are intolerant of gluten. Foods to which we are intolerant, have a way of tricking us into craving them, and believing that something else is the problem.
For example, I was/am very gluten sensitive, but it never occurred to me that I might be intolerant to gluten, until I read about the diet, tried it, and found that it made a difference. I'll bet a GF cookie that everyone here who follows the diet, will say virtually the same thing - that they never had a clue that they were gluten sensitive, before they tried the diet.
By the way, don't let Grannyh fool you - she ain't all that old. LOL. I suspect she started referring to herself as "old", sometime after she got out of her teens.
Please keep us informed of your progress - we learn from each other here, and the more feedback we get, (whether it's good or bad), the more we learn about this treacherous disease. We definitely appreciate your input.
Tex