How Long Did it take you to heal after diet and or meds?

Hopeliveshere · Post by **Hopeliveshere** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:28 pm

Just wondering how long it took for those of you who are in remission to heal?

And if you had a repeat colonscopy years later what it showed?

Gas Bag · Post by **Gas Bag** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:00 pm

After the constant D stopped it was only a couple weeks or so before I felt better.

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:04 pm

Still waiting on remission after a year. I have done so much better since going gluten, casein and soy free. I still am very limited in what I can eat without a problem.

Hopeliveshere · Post by **Hopeliveshere** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:28 pm

Thanks and I hope others chime in....

Joan...what foods can you eat, what are you BMs like and are you on any meds?

THANKS!!

Jeannine

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:31 pm

It took me a year and a half to reach remission, and a year and a half later, (IOW, 3 years after I started the diet), I still showed some signs of small intestinal damage, by means of a fecal fat test, at Enterolab. I haven't had a colonoscopy, since a year before I started the diet, (IOW, 9 years ago), but if biopsies had been taken, when I had that fecal fat test, I have no doubt that they would have shown abnormal histology, in the mucosa of my intestines, 3 years after beginning the diet.

Tex

Gas Bag · Post by **Gas Bag** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:27 pm

Hope, do you have any food intolerances? Both times now when mine has been flared up, everything runs through me! When it stops, then nothing seems to bother me.
I am pretty sure what set me off after a remission of 2 and a half years was Ibuprofen (yeah what a dummy!) starting a statin drug (which I have stopped !) and I have also cut out Vodka.
I have started eating probiotic yogurt, after a month long bout of D it has stopped, almost immediately, and my intestional pain is pretty much gone now too. No more gut rumbling, bloating or gas. I have also cut out gluten for a bit, but plan on eating some in a few days, I'll see what happens then.

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:51 pm

Hi Hope,

I am one of the lucky ones - pretty much a couple of days after stopping all dairy I started to improve, and it kept getting better for a couple of months. To be honest, I think the reason it took that long is because I wasn't looking for minor traces of dairy in things to start with. As I got stricter, I got better.

My last relapse was due to a drug, and once again, I started to improve within days and was back to perfect within a couple of weeks.

In my cases I was lucky enough to get the diagnosis and work out the cause quickly - my first bout was only about 8 weeks which is nothing compared to some here. I suspect the length of time you have problems before identifying and eliminating the intolerances, the worse the damage and the longer it takes to heal.

I haven't redone the colonoscopy - no reason to while I am well.

Lyn

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:39 pm

Lyn wrote:I suspect the length of time you have problems before identifying and eliminating the intolerances, the worse the damage and the longer it takes to heal.

I agree with that statement 100%. If you were only reacting for a few weeks, before starting treatment, then you should recover much faster than someone who suffered for years, before starting treatment.

Lyn wrote:I haven't redone the colonoscopy - no reason to while I am well.

I totally agree with that comment, also. Colonoscopies are not much fun, (especially the prep), and they are not without risk, (of perforation, hemorrhaging, etc.), so most of us avoid them, unless/until they are absolutely necessary.

Tex

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:28 am

Hi Hope,

Not one of the lucky ones yet to fully achieve remission. I have been dealing with this for over 8 years now and am getting to a point where things are looking better and hopefully with a few more minor diet changes I will achieve the big R. I was a vegan for over 30 years when I got CC and I really feel that has impacted my means of getting where I need to be. Diet was almost all grain and soy and have since found out that I am intolerant to soy and many other foods.

Hopefully, this will not be the road you travel.

Maggie

Hopeliveshere · Post by **Hopeliveshere** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:02 pm

Thanks much!

I have cut out everything except meat, squash, and broccoli well cooked.

I still have tingling(rumbling) some pain....and bowels are still loose with about 2 to 3 BM a day.

I also see little yellow crumbs in my stool ...anyone have any idea what that is?

I am also struggling to find a antidepressant that I can take....and I have read the links and combed through the board. I am on Cymbalta and praying that will help.

Lyn what medication caused you to relapse?

Thanks for all in the info and hope to even more!

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:10 pm

Hi Jeannine,

My problem was with HRT, first with Kliovance tablets, and then with the skin patches. It took about 5 months of intermittent D before it became constant, so it took a while to realise what was causing the problem. A specialist menopause doctor I found recently blamed the oestrogen in them.

I am now trying Effexor XR for it's ability to stop the flushes. It has an interesting impact - now the hot flush starts and mostly turns into mild nausea instead!!

Don't think I've been on it long enough to sort out all the side effects or positive effects yet, but no D so that is good. If this doesn't work the next thing on doc's list is an epilepsy drug! Oh, and considering this is an antidepressant I was surprised to find it made me feel down to start with - no wonder they list suicide as a side effect.

Lyn

Hopeliveshere · Post by **Hopeliveshere** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:21 pm

Thanks Lyn,

Interesting that you are taking Effexor...How long have you been taking it?

How bad was your D at its worst?

Thanks much for your support!!!!!

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:26 pm

Hi Jeannine,

I did one week on 32.5m Effexor, and just over two weeks on 75mg. Not sure how long it takes to get to maximum effect.

Have to admit, when I was depressed, stopping the pill was what made the big difference.

You asked about frequency of BMs.

On bad days when I was reacting I would have had maybe 5 or 6 BMs during the morning, and about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Occasionally 1 or 2 overnight. It seemed to get worse the longer the bout went for.

It is some of the experiences that make it really bad. (gross warning) Like not making it home from a run in time and feeling it trickle down.. Running out of the shower twice - even though I had gone just before hand. Pooping my pants at work. Not being able to stop really putrid farts at work (as it got better). Forgetting to put the lid down before flushing, and realising how widely I have to clean.... Having to use some pretty disgusting facilities in emergencies. Taking stool samples. (gross bit ended)

It is a very humbling condition.

Lyn

Hopeliveshere · Post by **Hopeliveshere** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:42 pm

Thanks Lyn for sharing!

So are you still taking Effexor?

Jeannine

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:36 pm

Hi Jeannine,

Yes, I am still taking the Effexor. My hot flushes have been getting worse the past two days - don't know if it is becoming less effective as my body gets used to it.

I probably didn't make myself clear last post - it was the contraceptive pill that caused my depression.

Are you thinking of taking Effexor? I recall others here have taken it for depression.

Lyn