Forgive me--I'm new to the board! I've looked in the search engine and can't find what I'm looking for. I have to know if this is normal or not. Can you have MC and IBS?
I've had D for 10 months, but right before Christmas, we had some family emergencies which required several early morning (always bad!!) 2 hour car trips. I took a lot of Immodium and Pepto...and drank a lot of coffee...
Then, I returned to "normal" D, but again, I needed to go on a trip the first week of Feb. This trip was supposed to help me relax. Hah! I got sick (as my kids call it) in the hotel, and so I resorted to drinking Immodium.
Since then, I'm sort of constipated. I go a few days without movement, then I have crampy, bad episodes. Then for the past week, I only go once a day (or not) but it is foul..and .. I've gained 6 pounds, I feel bloated, and I'm in the middle of a huge flare of the fibro!! Stress is high around here right now, and my being a mess is not helping me!
Is it possible to have MC and IBS together? Or is this just another aspect of MC and I'm suffering a fallout from taking the Immodium?
I know I have a lot to learn about this...Thanks for all your input.
Is this normal?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Trace
Not a problem I have ever suffered, the Immodium did not stop my D let alone give me constipation. I have heard of doctors telling people that they have an IBD and IBS at the same time, so guess it is possible. Hopefully someone else on the forum can give more information on this question for you.
Not a problem I have ever suffered, the Immodium did not stop my D let alone give me constipation. I have heard of doctors telling people that they have an IBD and IBS at the same time, so guess it is possible. Hopefully someone else on the forum can give more information on this question for you.
Hi Trace,
Mini is correct - MC does not make us immune to any other disease, so we can have virtually any other disease that anyone in the general public might develop, including another IBD, (such as Crohn's or UC). Normally, though, that would be pretty rare. There are many people who believe that IBS is almost always MC that has not been properly diagnosed, (usually because the GI doc did not take biopsy samples during a colonoscopy). The problem is that IBS is typically diagnosed simply by considering the symptoms, whereas, in order to diagnose MC, biopsy samples from the mucosa of the colon must be examined under a microscope. When this is done, a diagnosis of IBS is very often changed to MC.
In fact, some of us doubt that IBS actually exists. Historically, IBS is the diagnosis when the doctor can't find anything else to call it. Still, if IBS does indeed exist, then yes, you could have both MC and IBS together. One thing that makes me believe that it might actually exist, is the fact that extra fiber in the diet is claimed to help with IBS. With MC, extra fiber in the diet is an invitation to disaster, and will usually make symptoms worse.
Many people with MC have alternating D and C. I am one of them, (dairy products, especially, can cause predominately C for me, with only occasional D), and there are other members here who also find that sometimes their symptoms alternate. According to the literature, it is even possible for MC to present with C only, but D is by far the most common symptom.
FYI, foul-smelling, often greenish or grayish BMs are a pretty strong indication of gluten intolerance.
Tex
Mini is correct - MC does not make us immune to any other disease, so we can have virtually any other disease that anyone in the general public might develop, including another IBD, (such as Crohn's or UC). Normally, though, that would be pretty rare. There are many people who believe that IBS is almost always MC that has not been properly diagnosed, (usually because the GI doc did not take biopsy samples during a colonoscopy). The problem is that IBS is typically diagnosed simply by considering the symptoms, whereas, in order to diagnose MC, biopsy samples from the mucosa of the colon must be examined under a microscope. When this is done, a diagnosis of IBS is very often changed to MC.
In fact, some of us doubt that IBS actually exists. Historically, IBS is the diagnosis when the doctor can't find anything else to call it. Still, if IBS does indeed exist, then yes, you could have both MC and IBS together. One thing that makes me believe that it might actually exist, is the fact that extra fiber in the diet is claimed to help with IBS. With MC, extra fiber in the diet is an invitation to disaster, and will usually make symptoms worse.
Many people with MC have alternating D and C. I am one of them, (dairy products, especially, can cause predominately C for me, with only occasional D), and there are other members here who also find that sometimes their symptoms alternate. According to the literature, it is even possible for MC to present with C only, but D is by far the most common symptom.
FYI, foul-smelling, often greenish or grayish BMs are a pretty strong indication of gluten intolerance.
Tex
Thanks, MImi and Tex! I had to laugh b/c before I had my biopsies, I was told I only had IBS. My GI told me to increase my fiber...OMG!! I can't even begin to tell you what that did to me! After about 2 days, I knew he was wrong!!
I've always wondered about the IBS diagnosis myself. It all started for me when I was 28, and Dr. after Dr. told me it was IBS. I tried to eat more fiber, but it was soooo bad! I had three colonoscopies before this present Dr. decided to do biopsies....TA DA! However, he doesn't have a lot of experience with MC. I'm his only patient that has it, and he just finds it "odd" that I was only 40 when I was diagnosed. He's not much help. (I'm 42 now) So, for the last two years, I've been pretty reactive to this MC....now I want to be proactive and get a life!!! I"ve been to Dr. Fine's site, and I'm going to try his way of eating. I'm also going to talk with my DH about these tests...Sounds like I have some intolerance going on, Tex!
I'm relieved about the fact that this can present with D or C...I thought maybe I had been taking too much of the Immodium and Pepto and just made matters worse.
Thank you for your response. I'm really glad I've found this board!
I've always wondered about the IBS diagnosis myself. It all started for me when I was 28, and Dr. after Dr. told me it was IBS. I tried to eat more fiber, but it was soooo bad! I had three colonoscopies before this present Dr. decided to do biopsies....TA DA! However, he doesn't have a lot of experience with MC. I'm his only patient that has it, and he just finds it "odd" that I was only 40 when I was diagnosed. He's not much help. (I'm 42 now) So, for the last two years, I've been pretty reactive to this MC....now I want to be proactive and get a life!!! I"ve been to Dr. Fine's site, and I'm going to try his way of eating. I'm also going to talk with my DH about these tests...Sounds like I have some intolerance going on, Tex!
I'm relieved about the fact that this can present with D or C...I thought maybe I had been taking too much of the Immodium and Pepto and just made matters worse.
Thank you for your response. I'm really glad I've found this board!
Hi Tace!!
I have to agree with Tex when he states that GI's or PCP's jump to telling a patient, due to symptoms, that they have IBS.
I have always felt when someone is given the IBS diagnosis it's because the doctor is saying I BE STUMPED!!!!! (IBS),
So, it is very advisable for any patient that is having our types of symptoms to make sure when a colonoscopy is done that you request that biopsies be taken.
Dee~~~~~
I have to agree with Tex when he states that GI's or PCP's jump to telling a patient, due to symptoms, that they have IBS.
I have always felt when someone is given the IBS diagnosis it's because the doctor is saying I BE STUMPED!!!!! (IBS),
So, it is very advisable for any patient that is having our types of symptoms to make sure when a colonoscopy is done that you request that biopsies be taken.
Dee~~~~~
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harvest_table
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Hi Trace,
There are a couple of articles posted here in the current research forum regarding MC's association and overlap with IBS.
Welcome, glad you found us.
Joanna
There are a couple of articles posted here in the current research forum regarding MC's association and overlap with IBS.
Welcome, glad you found us.
Joanna
THE GLUTEN FILES
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
I am very certain that most cases of IBS and MC are one in the same. And to be honest, I don't think I've heard of anyone with IBS that was helped with fiber even though it is one of the things drs say to take. I was diagnosed with IBS before finally getting a colonoscopy with biopsies that showed inflamation and thus I had MC. Dr told me to take fiber and boy was that a mistake, I got much worse.
FWIW Imodium backs me up big time. I won't go for a day or two even if I take only a little bit. From my research it appears that MC can be either constipation or diarrhea, with it being about 50/50 for each.
Mike
FWIW Imodium backs me up big time. I won't go for a day or two even if I take only a little bit. From my research it appears that MC can be either constipation or diarrhea, with it being about 50/50 for each.
Mike
Hi Trace
Like you also I was told I had IBS for a few years and encouraged to eat lots of fibre!, from reading a lot of the post on this forum it seems most of us have followed the same path to a dx. I now often wonder when I hear people say I have IBS D, if in fact they are suffering from MC?
Also my dx for MC lol at the age of 47 years. My GP told me he only has one other patient with MC a lady who is much older than me. The only reason I can think why the medical profession seem to associate this condition with older people is due to bowel screeening for the over 55's, while it seems if you are younger you are another casualty of IBS!?
Like you also I was told I had IBS for a few years and encouraged to eat lots of fibre!, from reading a lot of the post on this forum it seems most of us have followed the same path to a dx. I now often wonder when I hear people say I have IBS D, if in fact they are suffering from MC?
Also my dx for MC lol at the age of 47 years. My GP told me he only has one other patient with MC a lady who is much older than me. The only reason I can think why the medical profession seem to associate this condition with older people is due to bowel screeening for the over 55's, while it seems if you are younger you are another casualty of IBS!?
Thanks everyone! The jury is still out for me on whether or not I think IBS is a proper diagnosis. I know I didn't have it, and all those Drs. told me I did for years! I've often thought they kept telling me IBS b/c they just didn't know. I remember when the biopsies came back with MC, and the Doctor I was seeing told me that he thought the pathologist just put that comment in there to make me feel better! (I had the slide reports read by someone else...it's MC).
Yes, Mike, Immodium does the same to me! I hate to take it for that reason! I know there might be immediate relief, but later I have to pay.
Yes, Mike, Immodium does the same to me! I hate to take it for that reason! I know there might be immediate relief, but later I have to pay.
Mini,
I believe you have hit the nail right square on the head with your explanation of why doctors have traditionally thought this is a disease for older people. The medical profession has made many mistakes related to this disease, right from the start, and some doctors continue to make mistakes because of those original mistakes.
You can't find MC if you don't look for it, and you gotta look for it where the sun don't shine, and use a microscope to boot. Originally, they never looked for it in younger people, nor did they look for it in men, so they called it a disease of older women. When it was first described, they were only aware of a very few cases, (since they didn't look for it in the general population), so they called it a rare disease. Rare diseases only receive a passing mention in the textbooks used in medical school, so most doctors never bothered to learn about it, (since they figured they would never encounter any "rare" diseases, anyway, while they were practicing medicine.
So, about 30 years after it was originally described, doctors are just now beginning to learn about MC, and apparently, many of them are still being taught obsolete information. They're slowly learning, though, because we are now seeing a surge of new members here in their 40s, 30s, and even 20's. We've had one member whose daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid teens, and I believe we've had a couple of members who had a child diagnosed with MC - one was only two or three years old, if my memory is correct.
Trace,
That's incredible that your doctor would make that remark about the pathologist who examined your biopsies. Hahahaha. I seriously doubt that any pathologist anywhere in the world has ever put anything in their report to make a patient feel better. They don't even talk with the patient, so there's no reason why they would put anything but the facts in their reports. It's the patient's doctor's job to try to make the patient feel better, but of course, most of them are totally unskilled at making the patient feel better. LOL.
Tex
I believe you have hit the nail right square on the head with your explanation of why doctors have traditionally thought this is a disease for older people. The medical profession has made many mistakes related to this disease, right from the start, and some doctors continue to make mistakes because of those original mistakes.
You can't find MC if you don't look for it, and you gotta look for it where the sun don't shine, and use a microscope to boot. Originally, they never looked for it in younger people, nor did they look for it in men, so they called it a disease of older women. When it was first described, they were only aware of a very few cases, (since they didn't look for it in the general population), so they called it a rare disease. Rare diseases only receive a passing mention in the textbooks used in medical school, so most doctors never bothered to learn about it, (since they figured they would never encounter any "rare" diseases, anyway, while they were practicing medicine.
So, about 30 years after it was originally described, doctors are just now beginning to learn about MC, and apparently, many of them are still being taught obsolete information. They're slowly learning, though, because we are now seeing a surge of new members here in their 40s, 30s, and even 20's. We've had one member whose daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid teens, and I believe we've had a couple of members who had a child diagnosed with MC - one was only two or three years old, if my memory is correct.
Trace,
That's incredible that your doctor would make that remark about the pathologist who examined your biopsies. Hahahaha. I seriously doubt that any pathologist anywhere in the world has ever put anything in their report to make a patient feel better. They don't even talk with the patient, so there's no reason why they would put anything but the facts in their reports. It's the patient's doctor's job to try to make the patient feel better, but of course, most of them are totally unskilled at making the patient feel better. LOL.
Tex
Hi Trace,
After losing 35 pounds to diarrhea, a year later I found myself in the hospital with constipation. I think I preferred the diarrhea. Hmm, no, I think I preferred Norman (a little colitis joke).
I was given cholestyramine granules for the colitis, and I think they help. They are pretty benign in any case. After the hospital thing, I was put on docusate sodium (stool softener) and daily milk of magnesia, both of which regulate me pretty well.
I also have myofascial pain (chronic pelvic pain), and chronic fatigue that came on at the same time. The pain meds (lyrica and opiods) are a real contributor to constipation, of course.
I've been off gluten and dairy for a year now, too. I've never had the immediate reactions to them that some get, but my Enterolab tests showed anti bodies.
Welcome to board. It's a great group.
After losing 35 pounds to diarrhea, a year later I found myself in the hospital with constipation. I think I preferred the diarrhea. Hmm, no, I think I preferred Norman (a little colitis joke).
I was given cholestyramine granules for the colitis, and I think they help. They are pretty benign in any case. After the hospital thing, I was put on docusate sodium (stool softener) and daily milk of magnesia, both of which regulate me pretty well.
I also have myofascial pain (chronic pelvic pain), and chronic fatigue that came on at the same time. The pain meds (lyrica and opiods) are a real contributor to constipation, of course.
I've been off gluten and dairy for a year now, too. I've never had the immediate reactions to them that some get, but my Enterolab tests showed anti bodies.
Welcome to board. It's a great group.
No Gluten,casein,soy,eggs,yeast