My GYN dr referred me to an allergist who had helped another of her patients who had D. I went today and it was very interesting. First I must tell you that 20 years ago I was treated by an allergist ( the new one bought the first one's practice 15 years ago) for sinus allergies. 20 years ago I was allergic to everything and he said they would treat me for the top 5 things. I took shots for 4 years and they really helped me. I still have had some allergy problems but seemed to be able to handle them. This new guy said after looking in my throat, nose, ears that I had a lot of drainage and that he thought I should have some skin testing. He did a test just to see if I was testable since I am on Entocort. I am testable. He doesn't know for sure if he can help me but he said he has had a few patients in the last 15 years that he has helped with digestive problems from pollen and food allergies. This might not be all of my problems but relieving these may enable the other things to work like diet and/or meds for MC. He can't do the testing until Jul 8 because of his and my schedule and in the mean time he wants me to take Singulair. He said it might help some, could take a month. He said it works differently than Prednisone which only helped minimally. We'll see what happens!
Pat
Appointment with allergist today
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Pat,
The fact that he found you to be "testable" is interesting. It suggests that, (just as we assume), only a relatively small amount of budesonide is absorbed into the bloodstream, with Entocort EC. That's good news.
If a significant amount were being absorbed, you wouldn't be very sensitive to skin tests.
What the heck, it can't hurt, and there's always a chance that the mast cell issue may make a difference. It will be interesting to see how it goes.
Tex
The fact that he found you to be "testable" is interesting. It suggests that, (just as we assume), only a relatively small amount of budesonide is absorbed into the bloodstream, with Entocort EC. That's good news.
If a significant amount were being absorbed, you wouldn't be very sensitive to skin tests. What the heck, it can't hurt, and there's always a chance that the mast cell issue may make a difference. It will be interesting to see how it goes.
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,
On that subject of mast cells the allergist said that he has another med in mind that he may resort to called Gastrocrom. He said it is not used very much any more but that he could probably find some for me if necessary. http://www.gastrocrom.com/productInfo.cfm Interesting.
Pat
On that subject of mast cells the allergist said that he has another med in mind that he may resort to called Gastrocrom. He said it is not used very much any more but that he could probably find some for me if necessary. http://www.gastrocrom.com/productInfo.cfm Interesting.
Pat
I believe that Faith, (faithberry), was/is taking Gastrocrom. Also, Carole, (tyes_mom), mentioned that her son had taken it.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... gastrocrom
Tex
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... gastrocrom
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.
Pat,
If I remember correctly, they can only be reliably detected by means of a special stain. IOW, it's kind of like MC, in that you can't find it, unless you specifically look for it.
Okay, I looked it up, and here's what Dr. Lewey says about it:
http://www.dieticiansblog.com/2008/02/0 ... ease-mibd/
This appears to be the original documentation on the disease, published in the fall of 2005, and it contains actual images of stained mast cells:
http://arpa.allenpress.com/arpaonline/? ... 5(2006)130[362:MEIMMC]2.0.CO%3B2
The system does not correctly convert the URL into a link that will work, so go to this search, and go down to link number 6, and click on it.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=ISO-885 ... gle+Search
Tex
If I remember correctly, they can only be reliably detected by means of a special stain. IOW, it's kind of like MC, in that you can't find it, unless you specifically look for it.
Okay, I looked it up, and here's what Dr. Lewey says about it:
This is a rather newly-described disease, so the question is, "did your doctor and/or pathologist realize that a special stain is required when preparing the slide for examination?" If not, if they still have a tissue sample, they could still prepare a slide with the correct stain, and analyze the sample. That quote comes from here, by the way:HOW IS MASTOCYTIC ENTEROCOLITIS DIAGNOSED?
The diagnosis is made by determining that there are 20 or more mast cells per high power field in the superficial intestinal lining or mucosa. However, in order to see these mast cells, which are otherwise “covert” or hidden behind other cells, special stains are required. Until recently these stains were either expensive or not readily available. Mast cells in mucosa contain an enzyme tryptase that stains with a special immunohistochemical making the mast cells easy to see and count. However, these stains typically must be requested by the doctor obtaining intestinal biopsies at the time of endoscopic procedure is performed or by alerting the pathologist that the condition is suspected. The stains can also be performed on tissue previously obtained by special request as long as the tissue is available and the pathology department has the stain.
http://www.dieticiansblog.com/2008/02/0 ... ease-mibd/
This appears to be the original documentation on the disease, published in the fall of 2005, and it contains actual images of stained mast cells:
http://arpa.allenpress.com/arpaonline/? ... 5(2006)130[362:MEIMMC]2.0.CO%3B2
The system does not correctly convert the URL into a link that will work, so go to this search, and go down to link number 6, and click on it.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=ISO-885 ... gle+Search
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.
Thanks, Tex, you you have a gift for research!
I really don't know if a special stain was used or not after my 2 colonoscopies, but this could be why I have had so much more trouble after 2nd GI gave me Neomycin which was after the 2nd colonoscopy. From Dr. Lewey's article: (I made the bold letters)
WHAT CAUSES MASTOCYTIC ENTEROCOLITIS?
It appears that infections and stress are causes. Food allergy and sensitivity are also suspected. There may be a genetic risk, in particular DQ genetic risk common to celiac disease. Leaky gut or increased gut permeability is a risk factor and the presence of increase mast cells in the gut. This predisposes or increases leaky gut so that a vicious cycle may result. Altered gut microbes likely also play a role. Either having a gastrointestinal infection or receiving antibiotics for an infection appears to be a risk factor. Mast cell levels tend to vary in the gut. They are increased the most during active symptoms, especially periods of stress and altered gut permeability.
This whole idea gives me renewed hope that I will find relief! This new allergist said to me that allergists have to think outside the box and that is what I need. Thanks again.
Pat
I really don't know if a special stain was used or not after my 2 colonoscopies, but this could be why I have had so much more trouble after 2nd GI gave me Neomycin which was after the 2nd colonoscopy. From Dr. Lewey's article: (I made the bold letters)
WHAT CAUSES MASTOCYTIC ENTEROCOLITIS?
It appears that infections and stress are causes. Food allergy and sensitivity are also suspected. There may be a genetic risk, in particular DQ genetic risk common to celiac disease. Leaky gut or increased gut permeability is a risk factor and the presence of increase mast cells in the gut. This predisposes or increases leaky gut so that a vicious cycle may result. Altered gut microbes likely also play a role. Either having a gastrointestinal infection or receiving antibiotics for an infection appears to be a risk factor. Mast cell levels tend to vary in the gut. They are increased the most during active symptoms, especially periods of stress and altered gut permeability.
This whole idea gives me renewed hope that I will find relief! This new allergist said to me that allergists have to think outside the box and that is what I need. Thanks again.
Pat