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Thanks Tex ~ that was a nice link, it actually answered a couple of questions I had.
My Doc didn't seem concerned about the upper Lymphocytic Gastritis, so I'm thinking maybe I should just stick with the Entocort. ( I do feel sooo much better) However, what if this is the source of all my problems? Then I think I owe it to myself to seriously consider an alternative treatment. I've read where LC is perhaps an earlier stage of MC, than CC is. Upstream & Minimal? I just don't know, I think it's the "Lymphocytic" that has me a tad concerned, and in in the stomach at that. So far, the below explaination of Pentasa, in that it offers "some" release in the stomach, may be a better option than the Colazal...thats my take on it. Assuming the Antrum is in the stomach and not small intestines.
Earlier Tex post;
Pentasa uses a different technology - it is microencapsulated in a semipermeable ethylcellulose membrane, which is acid stable, and active 5-ASA diffuses through the membrane at a rate that is dependent on the ambient pH. With this system, the time to 50% release at a pH of 2 is 15 hours, whereas at a pH of 7, the time is 4 to 5 hours. IOW, not much will be released in the stomach, and the rate of release will increase as the med travels farther down the GI tract.
Again, this diagnosis is "rare", but we are a rare bunch to begin with. It makes me wonder how many others may have a similar situation. I suppose I was lucky to have an Endoscope done at the same time, so in that respect I'm sure I will benefit from it, sooner or later. It also makes me wonder if this "feeling/pain" I've had in my stomach off and on for years has been this disease rearing it's ugly head.
I'm beginning to agree with you regarding the gastritis. If I hadn't pulled the pic out last night, and noticed it said, "gastritis", I would still be in the dark. Evidently it wasn't important enough for me to know about, so I'll let it ride, for now. I do feel so much better on Entocort, so I'm a happy camper.
On days like today, when I'm feeling good, you'll definitely see it in my "style" When I'm short and to the point, you'll know I'm not feeling so hot. I don't smoke or drink (much), so I get my kicks messing with the ones I love.
Kat wrote:However, what if this is the source of all my problems?
Looking at the issue objectively, what, exactly, are all your problems?
Here are my thoughts: I agree that, as Polly mentioned, when you resolve the inflammation in your colon, the inflammation in your stomach will probably disappear along with it.
In the event that does not happen, (IOW, in the event that your gastritis actually is the source of your problems), then we need to look at the primary causes of gastritis for the general population. They are:
1. H. pylori
2. NSAIDs
Unless you are taking NSAIDs, then the most likely source of your gastritis, (outside of the influence of MC), is an H. pylori infection. It is a fact that in some cases, Crohn's disease reactions have spontaneously ended, after H. Pylori infections have been controlled. Therefore, theoretically, at least, the same could be true for MC reactions.
If you really feel that your gastritis is the source of your problems, then you should ask your doctor to test you for an H. pylori infection. It's certainly not impossible that this could be the source of your problems.
Despite the information posted here, I still believe that the odds suggest that when you resolve your MC symptoms, your gastritis will also disappear, but I thought that maybe I should mention the possibility of an H. pylori infection, just to cover my butt, in case anyone is keeping score.
As always, you're most welcome,
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.
tex wrote:
Looking at the issue objectively, what, exactly, are all your problems?
LOL ~ I'm sorry I had to laugh "a little" at that question.
Honestly, I wouldn't know where to begin in answering. All my problems are subjective, except for the MC.
Seriously though, I have been tested twice this year for H.Pylori, Neg ~ NSAIDS, Neg. I only take Tylenol and rarely at that. I do visit Jamaica yearly, so I was also tested for third world parasitic freeloaders. I'm just going to let this ride............. Take the Entocort as directed, and get well.
Just to let you know, I am at a place where I am seriously considering testing at EntroLab. I'm hesitating a tad, not because of the costs, but because of what I may find out. I know it's silly, because there is a very good chance I'll have to change the way I eat before this is all said and done, but I do like my food groups ~ all my food groups (except for Kale) Messing with my Food Pyramid will be very sad. I understand that most of you are "true believers" and I appreciate the fact that you offer Newbies just enough info on the reality of what "may" come if we don't change our diets. Thanks for your reserve in that matter, seriously.
Have a great weekend!
Kat
One of my main problems at this point in time is Ladybugs. For some reason, at this time year, my home is their home. You did ask ;) ........... do you need any
by the way?
Kat,
I understand your reluctance to get the Enterolab tests. When I ordered them, I was sure that the report would say that I was only intolerant to gluten and possibly soy. I was stunned when it said that I tested positive to all 5 tests. Ignorance was bliss; knowledge was initially depressing. But the knowledge led to remission and I'm grateful for that. Initially I saw the restrictions as a challenge that I could overcome. I think I see them now as more of a pain, but something that I have to live with.
I've learned to be grateful for what I can eat and not focus on what I can't eat. Hope springs eternal that someday we'll be able to get back to eating like everyone else.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Perfectly understandable. Finding out about food intolerances starts a grieving process - for the way one used to be able to eat. One of our earlier members even had a funeral for the old foods she had to throw out from her pantry. Don't worry - once you have the results you can still choose to not change your diet and continue to rely on medications. Or if you decide to make changes, there are many here who can help with advice, hand-holding, or listening to rants and raves.
Love,
Polly
P.S. I have plenty of ladybugs overwintering in my house every year, so I'll decline your offer. I just LOVE watching them all winter.
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
If you've been tested for H. pylori, (reliably, hopefully), then the only realistic possibility is that your gastritis is connected with your MC. I can't think of any parasites that choose to colonize the stomach - that's a pretty hostile environment, due to the extremely low pH.
We all go through the classic stages of grief with this disease, beginning with denial, and ending with acceptance and hope, (except for those who choose to opt out, and just learn to live with the symptoms). We all have our own time schedule for going through the various stages, so some get to the end of the process faster than others, but we all have to proceed at a rate that we are comfortable with.
You don't necessarily have to change your diet, as Polly pointed out. Some of us are able to achieve and maintain remission with meds alone, and as long as the inflammation is controlled, there shouldn't be any significantly increased odds of adverse consequences somewhere down the line. Please don't feel pressured to change your diet. You have to decide for yourself, exactly how you want to "handle" this disease, for the long-term. You know your lifestyle, and your priorities, better than anyone else, so you should make all the decisions, (you and your other half, of course).
To me, the Enterolab tests seem rather "comforting", since they remove all doubt about certain possible food intolerances. I didn't order any tests at Enterolab, early on, because I was unaware of them until I had been on the diet for a couple of years. I did order some tests, over three years after I had been on the diet, just to resolve some doubts that I had, and fortunately, I tested negative to all three food intolerances that were tested, (soy, eggs, and yeast). I did still have some small intestinal damage, (according to my fecal fat test results), and it was satisfying to learn about my genes, (I have a celiac gene, and a non-celiac gluten-sensitive gene). I consider the money well spent, because from that point on, I stopped worrying about whether or not I could safely eat those foods.
As a pragmatist, I've always preferred to know the truth, and as many supporting facts as I can easily discover. I can certainly understand, though, how some might prefer not to "know" certain things. I also believe in the chaos theory, which implies that I don't expect things to turn out the way we plan, despite our best efforts. Throughout history, virtually all of the radical changes in the direction that lifeforms on this earth were going, have been due to chaotic events, (events over which we have no control), and I have no doubt that trend will continue. Sooooooo, the net result is, while I certainly plan for the future, I don't consider the outcome to be a "done deal", and nothing really surprises me. . . . More than you wanted to know, I'm sure, but that gives you an idea of my viewpoint, for better or for worse.
For the record, if I've ever eaten Kale, at any time in my life, it would have to have been when I was very, very young, because I don't recall ever eating it.
OK, now we're getting down to the real problem that's bugging you - the ladybugs. To be honest, I'm not sure at this point whether I need any ladybugs or not, so could I take a raincheck on that? Last season, a few thousand of them spent the winter with me, but so far, I haven't seen but one or two, this fall. Maybe they will still show up. I hope I didn't say something to upset 'em last season. Maybe they don't like the drought we're having this year.
I hope you have a great weekend, too.
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.
H.pylori tests were done at 2 separate locations/times, so I'm assuming they are both correct. Parasite testing was done strictly because of my Jamaica travel, when my initial bouts with intermittent diarrhea began.
You have to decide for yourself, exactly how you want to "handle" this disease, for the long-term. You know your lifestyle, and your priorities, better than anyone else, so you should make all the decisions, (you and your other half, of course).
At this point in time Tex, all I know for sure is, that I don't really want to be on drugs the rest of my life. The thought of taking drugs now, and then weaning off is fine. However, if say a year from now, after the drug treatment, I find myself back where I was a couple of weeks ago ~ I'll have only myself to blame, especially if there was "something" I could have done to prevent it. So, if I choose to test now, it will give me several months (while on Entocort) to start weaning off any foods I can't tolerate. My "other half" justs wants me to be happy and healthy, when I'm not, he suffers too.
Is there such thing as too much of a good thing? I know my yearly pets just want a warm home, and my sunny south side is providing them an escape from freezing, but it's the constant "sucking-up" of the ones that don't make it that is bugging me. Lady Asian Beetles, hey ~ the dog enjoys playing with them. Yes Tex, a rain-check is in the mail. If you ever have an aphid problem, look no further.
I also was recently diagnosed with gastritis, after being diagnosed with cc 6 years ago. I have been unable to reach remission in those 6 years, the gastritis may or may not have been there the entire time since there is no way to tell, I am currently wating on the biopsy results so we will see what new treatment options they want me to try. currently taking 4.8mg of lialda, pepto 8 a day, ranitidine, and some other anti nausea pill. However its not working nor has anything else i have taken which has been entocort, prednisone, imuran, questeran, and im sure a few more that i have forgotten. I hope they have better answers for me in a few weeks, they are also sending me to get a test done to see how fast I digest my food, I can't remember what he called it though. He said my stomach may be too small also. Earlier I had read Tex saying that some learn to live with this disease, I don't have any idea how anyone can learn to live with this disease. The amount of pain and fatigue everyday keeps me from living a happy life, and I refuse to roll over and think that it is an exceptable way of life. Hope all goes well for you with treatment
Tex wrote: In the colon, the inflammation will present as slightly more intensely hued splotches of pink, scattered against a background of a normal, lighter shade of pink. If anything more obvious is visable to the naked eye, (such as redish, obviously inflamed areas, or lesions, or whatever, then something else is going on, (IOW, something other than MC).
Tex
Let's see if I quoted this right. ;) This is interesting because my pictures and the GI's notes showed areas of raised white plaque. I immediately suspected C. diff (although I believe I tested negative for it in my stool sample), but the dr. never mentioned the white plaque later and only mentioned lc. Can LC show up as raised white plaque areas and not just pink? I'm sure he biopsied those since it was in his notes. I assume they must not have concerned him for him not to mention them if they weren't LC.
Areas of white or yellow-white plaque on the mucosa of the intestine is typically associated with pseudomembranous colitis (PMC), which I'm sure you recognize as the result of one or more toxins produced by a C. diff infection. Those areas of plaque are the pseudomembranes for which the condition is named.
The pink patches associated with MC cannot be mistaken for the plaque associated with PMC. Not only is the color different, but pseudomembranes are raised above the surface of the mucosa, sort of in the shape of nodules.
I don't understand why your GI doc wasn't more aggressive with his investigation of the plaque, because in many cases 2 or even 3 stool cultures are required before a positive result can be detected. I would assume that biopsy samples would offer a much more reliable way to test for active disease, though, so perhaps he was sure that the plaque was left over from a previous infection, and not due to an active infection. Or maybe he didn't realize what they represented.
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.
Interesting, and certainly something I need to check into more. I have a general distrust for dr.s :) My primary care physician diagnosed and treated me for a yeast infection I never had, then tried to treat me for a bacterial infection I also never had, prescribing antibiotics my pharmacist said were extremely dangerous for people with colitis. So...
If it is C. diff, or another infection, that would certainly explain why I'm not getting a whole lot better. I see a new dr. on Thurs and my GI on the 6th. Now I have educated questions to bring with me. :)
Or maybe he didn't realize what they represented.