Pat,
This is a minor detail, but I believe your dietician may be confused. Other than alcohol, virtually no "nutrients" are absorbed by the stomach. Even water passes through it without absorption. Since medium chain triglyceride oils are obviously not alcohol-based, they will pass through the stomach, unabsorbed. It is true, however, that medium chain triglycerides are much more easily absorbed by the small intestine, because they do not require bile salts for digestion. Patients who have malnutrition, or malabsorption issues, are benefited by medium chain triglycerides, because they do not require energy for absorption, utilization, or storage. IOW, her suggestion to use medium chain triglycerides is valid, even though she is a bit confused about where it is absorbed.
Tex
so happy to finally have a diganosis
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Wow - I didn't even think about checking my medicines for soy... I am VERY careful about gluten in everything, but never check for corn, soy and dairy, even though they all bother me in 'food'. Do you think even a microscopic amount in one pill a week of Vitamin D would make a difference in my tolerance of it? (This is prescription Vitamin D, since it's 50,000 IU.) I hate to have to call a compounding pharmacy to get all my stuff, and I doubt the insurance company would pay for that, since I do not have documented allergies to soy or corn... only gluten, egg white, and lots of ordinary foods (spinach, squash, and 50 more...).
Pat,
another question: you mentioned you took diflucan for 6-7 weeks. I had to BEG the ER to even give me one dose, and then my General Physician gave me two more doses. That's it. The Gastro had only prescribed mycelex troches tablets to dissolve in the mouth for the thrush. It didn't work at all, since the yeast is more systemic. How in the world would one even really check for systemic yeast? and if found, how do you get a a doctor to actually prescribe for it!?
another question: you mentioned you took diflucan for 6-7 weeks. I had to BEG the ER to even give me one dose, and then my General Physician gave me two more doses. That's it. The Gastro had only prescribed mycelex troches tablets to dissolve in the mouth for the thrush. It didn't work at all, since the yeast is more systemic. How in the world would one even really check for systemic yeast? and if found, how do you get a a doctor to actually prescribe for it!?
I also traced my onset of MC to a dinner of medium rare pork that I had eaten out the week before. I told the GI and I assume that he tested me for parasites and didn't find any. I'll never know if that meal caused my problems or not. Supposedly, rare pork is no longer the concern that it used to be and in fact, is considered avant garde in culinary circles today.
Kat,
The small amount of soy in a vitamin E capsule caused problems for me.
Gloria
Kat,
The small amount of soy in a vitamin E capsule caused problems for me.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
The problem I have with the whole 'parasite' issue is that I have had them TWICE before - confirmed with testing - and I hadn't left the country either time (which is the 'gold standard' reason why you would get them). The current testing for ova & parasites only tests for a small percentage of possible parasites. I read somewhere this week that parasites can actually cause LC and can cause all sorts of auto-immune issues and viruses. I am wondering if mine just never went away. I am hoping they find something in all the cultures I am giving them!
Kat,
I don't know if a small amount will cause problems but I am assuming so because I am still struggling so. I found an alternative MD who gave me the prescriptions for the antifungal- her idea. She actually thought I may have to stay on them for 3 months but since I was still having D she told me to stop in case they were causing it to be worse. I do think what I took made a difference but I still struggle. I talk to her this week, will see what she says. She did a blood test to test for overgrowth of yeast and it was negative but she said that didn't always mean that it wasn't there. I had taken so many antibiotics and had terrible D afterwards and had vaginal indications as well so she felt justified in giving them to me.
I got my Vitamin D from the alt MD, the brand is Complementary Prescriptions. Ask your pharmacist about one that doesn't have soy. Maybe yours doesn't have it in there at all! It's always best to tell your pharmacist of any food allergies - most if not all will be willing to help you.
I've been tested for parasites from the traditional doctors and nothing was found but my alternative dr may do some other testing since I am still having so much trouble. I certainly don't hope you have parasites, Kat, but if you do I hope they find them and can treat them and this LC will just go away! Wouldn't that be nice!?
Pat
I don't know if a small amount will cause problems but I am assuming so because I am still struggling so. I found an alternative MD who gave me the prescriptions for the antifungal- her idea. She actually thought I may have to stay on them for 3 months but since I was still having D she told me to stop in case they were causing it to be worse. I do think what I took made a difference but I still struggle. I talk to her this week, will see what she says. She did a blood test to test for overgrowth of yeast and it was negative but she said that didn't always mean that it wasn't there. I had taken so many antibiotics and had terrible D afterwards and had vaginal indications as well so she felt justified in giving them to me.
I got my Vitamin D from the alt MD, the brand is Complementary Prescriptions. Ask your pharmacist about one that doesn't have soy. Maybe yours doesn't have it in there at all! It's always best to tell your pharmacist of any food allergies - most if not all will be willing to help you.
I've been tested for parasites from the traditional doctors and nothing was found but my alternative dr may do some other testing since I am still having so much trouble. I certainly don't hope you have parasites, Kat, but if you do I hope they find them and can treat them and this LC will just go away! Wouldn't that be nice!?
Pat
I just wanted to let you all know how much better I am feeling. I have more energy and have been able to keep up my performance & teaching schedule since the diagnosis. I even sang 2 opera performances yesterday (!).
So, I am still eating almost entirely PALEO, but have also been eating steamed white rice and some gluten free rice bread. I have been cooking my apples, but actually was able to eat 2 raw apples in the past 24 hours, with no dire consequences.
This entocort and pepto combination appears to be working (well, on top of the prednisone, as well, right?).
No word yet about parasites...
K
So, I am still eating almost entirely PALEO, but have also been eating steamed white rice and some gluten free rice bread. I have been cooking my apples, but actually was able to eat 2 raw apples in the past 24 hours, with no dire consequences.
This entocort and pepto combination appears to be working (well, on top of the prednisone, as well, right?).
No word yet about parasites...
K
It's good to see that you're feeling so much better, and your energy level is improving.
Thanks for the update.
Tex
Thanks for the update.
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.
So, at this point, I would like to know how long you all had to eat very-low fiber with overcooked veggies and overcooked fruits before you could go back to a more normal diet. I like eating paleo, but honestly, I tried some raw apples last Saturday and I have never felt so awful as I felt on Sunday. Pain all over again... shooting pain...almost unbearable.
I called a nutritionist today at the Celiac Disease Center and will see her in 2 weeks to set up a better diet program for now.
I am getting REALLY REALLY sick of eating steamed rice and baked chicken and rice bread toast. That has been nearly EVERY meal lately. I just can't stomach much else. (I have SUCH a craving for pizza & chocolate).
Thanks everyone,
Kat
I called a nutritionist today at the Celiac Disease Center and will see her in 2 weeks to set up a better diet program for now.
I am getting REALLY REALLY sick of eating steamed rice and baked chicken and rice bread toast. That has been nearly EVERY meal lately. I just can't stomach much else. (I have SUCH a craving for pizza & chocolate).
Thanks everyone,
Kat
That's a very tough question. The answer probably depends primarily on how long you have been accumulating damage, how much damage has accrued, and various other things. An optimistic guess might be about 6 months, a more realistic guess would probably be longer - maybe a year, or longer.
I used diet only, (no meds at all), and it took me a year and a half to achieve remission. Once I was in remission, I stuck to the same diet, and after about a year, I tried to reintroduce some foods, but I didn't have much luck. I finally got tired of getting sick, so I stopped "testing" myself every few weeks or so, and just stuck to the highly restricted diet for another year. Then, I was able to begin slowly adding foods, again. However, I had a lot of damage, because it had been accumulating for years. Everyone is different.
Are you sure you can't eat chocolate. Many/most of us can eat it, so long as we are very careful that it does not contain any gluten, dairy, or soy. Be careful, though, because almost all chocolate contains soy lecithins.
Sorry for the bad news. I wish I could tell you that it only takes a week or so, but unfortunately, that would be very misleading.
Tex
I used diet only, (no meds at all), and it took me a year and a half to achieve remission. Once I was in remission, I stuck to the same diet, and after about a year, I tried to reintroduce some foods, but I didn't have much luck. I finally got tired of getting sick, so I stopped "testing" myself every few weeks or so, and just stuck to the highly restricted diet for another year. Then, I was able to begin slowly adding foods, again. However, I had a lot of damage, because it had been accumulating for years. Everyone is different.
Are you sure you can't eat chocolate. Many/most of us can eat it, so long as we are very careful that it does not contain any gluten, dairy, or soy. Be careful, though, because almost all chocolate contains soy lecithins.
Sorry for the bad news. I wish I could tell you that it only takes a week or so, but unfortunately, that would be very misleading.
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.
Well, my doctor said to go ahead and go to my parties this weekend and eat whatever I want... just take some immodium along in case. I just don't think I can do that. I broke down last night and bought a frozen GF pizza and my gut hurts today. It is better as the day progresses, but I shouldn't have eaten that pizza. I just had such a craving!