I apologize, I'm sure there is a post somewhere here about digestive enzymes..I was wondering if they are helpful with microscopic colitis. I started a "flare up" on July 4th and Im still struggling with it.. not sure what I'm eating wrong. I have to eliminate all dairy, but seem ok with gluten..Im not gluten intol.
My husband made me a dairy free b day cake..was amazing..he used almond milk, and we could not find soy butter, so had to use regular, which usually doesnt bother me..not sure if that is the cause.
Just wondering if anyone has had luck with enzymes..probiotics.
thanks!
Digestive enzymes?
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Brenda,
Sorry to hear about the flare, and I hope it goes away soon. Many of us, (about half of us), are intolerant of soy, so that's a possibility to consider. If you're dairy intolerant, the next time you need butter in a recipe, and something like "Smart Balance" margarine won't do, try ghee, which is an old Ayurvedic, (traditional Indian medicine), development. It will work for most, (though not necessarily all), people who are casein intolerant.
If nothing else works, you might try cutting gluten out of your diet for a few weeks or so, to see if there is any improvement. I kept a food diary, but I never could tell that I was gluten intolerant - it always seemed that everything else made me sick. It turned out, though, that I am very gluten sensitive - I had just accumulated so much intestinal damage that I was reacting to so many things, that it was very difficult to tell what was happening, on a day to day basis.
I tried a high-dollar combination of enzymes while I was recovering, during a period when I was doing well, (IOW, not in a flare). The directions said to take one or two with each meal. I took the first one with my breakfast, and within less than an hour, I could see that I was in trouble. In another hour, I was vomiting, and about every two hours, or so, for the rest of the day, I either vomited, or had the dry heaves. It took me about 3 or 4 days for my stomach to return to normal. I never tried it again, and after that bad experience, I was afraid to try any probiotics, so I don't have any experience with them.
I'm not aware of any other members who have tried enzymes, but many members have tried probiotics. A few have had adverse reactions to them, but most members can handle them OK. Unfortunately, no one has reported any long-term benefits from them. A probiotic is certainly advisable, though, for a few weeks or so, if you have to take an antibiotic, in order to minimize the chances of a C. diff infection, following the antibiotic treatment.
Tex
Sorry to hear about the flare, and I hope it goes away soon. Many of us, (about half of us), are intolerant of soy, so that's a possibility to consider. If you're dairy intolerant, the next time you need butter in a recipe, and something like "Smart Balance" margarine won't do, try ghee, which is an old Ayurvedic, (traditional Indian medicine), development. It will work for most, (though not necessarily all), people who are casein intolerant.
If nothing else works, you might try cutting gluten out of your diet for a few weeks or so, to see if there is any improvement. I kept a food diary, but I never could tell that I was gluten intolerant - it always seemed that everything else made me sick. It turned out, though, that I am very gluten sensitive - I had just accumulated so much intestinal damage that I was reacting to so many things, that it was very difficult to tell what was happening, on a day to day basis.
I tried a high-dollar combination of enzymes while I was recovering, during a period when I was doing well, (IOW, not in a flare). The directions said to take one or two with each meal. I took the first one with my breakfast, and within less than an hour, I could see that I was in trouble. In another hour, I was vomiting, and about every two hours, or so, for the rest of the day, I either vomited, or had the dry heaves. It took me about 3 or 4 days for my stomach to return to normal. I never tried it again, and after that bad experience, I was afraid to try any probiotics, so I don't have any experience with them.
I'm not aware of any other members who have tried enzymes, but many members have tried probiotics. A few have had adverse reactions to them, but most members can handle them OK. Unfortunately, no one has reported any long-term benefits from them. A probiotic is certainly advisable, though, for a few weeks or so, if you have to take an antibiotic, in order to minimize the chances of a C. diff infection, following the antibiotic treatment.
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 for the discussion on enzymes. I have been taking Digestive Enzymes and I was taking Psyllium for a long time. I also am taking Probiotics. I wrote on another post about my experience with the prep for a stool test. I have been taking Entocort, probiotics, enzymes, etc. I also take expensive multivitamin tablets from Life Extension. During these few days, I quit taking all of the above mentioned supplements. Also, I have been trying to eat from 60 to 100 grams of FAT daily in prep for the 3 day test. The strange thing is that I've only had one BM a day. (Instead of my usual several) It never occurred to me that the enzymes or probiotics might be a problem. The folk who have encouraged me to take them probably don't understand the MC problem. I did quite well with the Entocort in the beginning and then started having some loose stools again. I have been spending a LOT of money on supplements and to think they could be a part of my problem. I was taking Centrum Silver (or similar) vitamins but was told that they weren't much good. My supplements have mostly come from my Chiropractor or the bio-chemist who did the Electrodermal screening. (Everyone wants to get in on the act!) Unfortunately few people understand the MC and don't realize I can't necessarily take things that are normally helpful. I wish that I could just quit taking ALL of my meds and supplements! (11 meds daily and many supplements.)
Jean
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Before I was diagnosed with MC, I tried taking digestive enzymes for the gas and bloating. The more I took the worse I felt, and finally quit. I didn't have the dramatic reaction that Tex had, fortunately. Would you believe that some of them contained sorbitol, a big gas maker by itself? You have to wonder what some of these manufacturers are thinking?? 
Also, I had been increasing my use of various supplements and herbal remedies before my diagnosis. My GI doctor had mentioned before my colonoscopy that fish oil could cause D, so I decided to stop all supplements. Within 2 days I was in a remission!! It was after my diagnosis and discovery of this forum that I learned about gluten, and I already was dairy intolerant. I got tested at Enterolabs and was positive for gluten, soy and yeast. I'm doing even better since eliminating them. I would encourage you to see if eliminating your supplements help your symptoms. There may be something in the mix that you are sensitive to, like I was.
Rosie
Also, I had been increasing my use of various supplements and herbal remedies before my diagnosis. My GI doctor had mentioned before my colonoscopy that fish oil could cause D, so I decided to stop all supplements. Within 2 days I was in a remission!! It was after my diagnosis and discovery of this forum that I learned about gluten, and I already was dairy intolerant. I got tested at Enterolabs and was positive for gluten, soy and yeast. I'm doing even better since eliminating them. I would encourage you to see if eliminating your supplements help your symptoms. There may be something in the mix that you are sensitive to, like I was.
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
Ain't that the truth.Jeanie wrote:Everyone wants to get in on the act!
I take Centrum Silver, and I don't see anything wrong with them. They seem to be free of all the common allergens that many of us have to avoid.
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.
I will try to continue the Enzymes - for a while at least. I don't know if I mentioned, but the doctor also told me that I am allergic to Carageenan. I can't believe how many things it is in. I also wonder about frozen orange juice and apple juice. It's 100% juice but I'm wondering if they have put something else in there or if it's just because they are so acidic. Anyway, I tend to burp after I drink it and I can really taste the juice. It may just be the acid which I guess I probably shouldn't have.
Jean
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Jean,
Many of us react to frozen orange juice, while we are recovering. It would practically turn me inside out, when I was still healing. I suspect the citric acid is the problem. Some of us can handle apple juice, and some can't, especially in significant amounts. Apples contain sorbitol, a lot of fructose, and malic acid.
Tex
Many of us react to frozen orange juice, while we are recovering. It would practically turn me inside out, when I was still healing. I suspect the citric acid is the problem. Some of us can handle apple juice, and some can't, especially in significant amounts. Apples contain sorbitol, a lot of fructose, and malic acid.
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,
I had noticed trouble long ago and that's why I started using Grape Juice. Still not sure if that is much better but it doesn't taste as acidy. My hairdresser knows a lot about nutrition. In fact, he knows more than most doctors I have gone to. He said that most of us have too much acid and we should be more alkaline. He gave me a list showing the foods, etc. for optimum. Such a complicated world!
Jean
I had noticed trouble long ago and that's why I started using Grape Juice. Still not sure if that is much better but it doesn't taste as acidy. My hairdresser knows a lot about nutrition. In fact, he knows more than most doctors I have gone to. He said that most of us have too much acid and we should be more alkaline. He gave me a list showing the foods, etc. for optimum. Such a complicated world!
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
That's for sure, and when you throw in the fact that those of us with MC, all seem to be different, in the ways that we respond to various things, it can really be tough to figure out.Jean wrote:Such a complicated world!
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,
That reminds me of an incident. I was having an evening meal at a friend's house. She had several over and served a pasta dish and also a salad. I had to pass up the pasta and also the dessert. One of the guys said "I sure would hate to eat out with you!" Now that's really a bit of sympathy isn't it!! I don't need sympathy - just understanding and not what almost seemed like criticism. He's a gourmet cook but so what.
Jean
That reminds me of an incident. I was having an evening meal at a friend's house. She had several over and served a pasta dish and also a salad. I had to pass up the pasta and also the dessert. One of the guys said "I sure would hate to eat out with you!" Now that's really a bit of sympathy isn't it!! I don't need sympathy - just understanding and not what almost seemed like criticism. He's a gourmet cook but so what.
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Jean,
That may have been intended as a joking statement, but it was really thoughtless, and inconsiderate, and it certainly reflects the lack of understanding and compassion shown by so many people, regarding food intolerances.
On the other hand, if he was serious, why should your food choices offend him? A good chef should consider something like that a challenge, not an insult. Shame on him.
Tex
That may have been intended as a joking statement, but it was really thoughtless, and inconsiderate, and it certainly reflects the lack of understanding and compassion shown by so many people, regarding food intolerances.
On the other hand, if he was serious, why should your food choices offend him? A good chef should consider something like that a challenge, not an insult. Shame on him.
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.