Help, no insurance

[MAC123]

You all are very infomative! Thanks again.

I have a question regarding the GF diet. I know that when celiacs follow the GF diet that even trace amounts or cross contamination can cause damage, but is that the case for this too? Or should I just do my best to adhere to a strict GF diet and still be ok? Is it necessary to buy new cookware like they suggest for celiacs?

Also, when I take anti-d medicines, I have a tendency to get constipated while using them. If that happens while taking pepto, what should I do? Reduce the dose, continue the recommended dose, or stop using it? If I stopped the pepto, is it possible to gain remission by GF diet alone? I'm just unsure about this whole method, since I've not been officially diagnosed with MC or any issues with gluten in general. I guess I'm just hesitant because if I really do have IBS (though I agree that it isn't exactly the ideal diagnosis) then how will I tell the difference between symptoms of MC and IBS if I have both?

I understand why a GF diet helps celiacs, but what is the connection with gluten and MC?

[tex]

I have a question regarding the GF diet. I know that when celiacs follow the GF diet that even trace amounts or cross contamination can cause damage, but is that the case for this too?

Yes. Not 100% of us are gluten-sensitive, but a very high percentage of us are. Among the members here, the rate seems to be over 95%, at least. Those who are gluten-sensitive, are just as sensitive as celiacs, and some of us are more sensitive than most caliacs.

Is it necessary to buy new cookware like they suggest for celiacs?

Not if you carefully clean the ones you have, and they don't have any cracks or crevices where tiny particles of food might hide. That's true for celiacs, also. New cookware just makes it easier, obviously.

Also, when I take anti-d medicines, I have a tendency to get constipated while using them. If that happens while taking pepto, what should I do? Reduce the dose, continue the recommended dose, or stop using it? If I stopped the pepto, is it possible to gain remission by GF diet alone?

Reduce the dose. Yes, many of us here, (including myself), originally achieved remission by diet changes alone, and we maintain remission by diet alone. Medications simply help to bring remission faster, in most cases.

I guess I'm just hesitant because if I really do have IBS (though I agree that it isn't exactly the ideal diagnosis) then how will I tell the difference between symptoms of MC and IBS if I have both?

Didn't you read my first post? I was serious. There is no such thing as IBS. Really. IBS is a catch-all "diagnosis", when a doctor can't figure out what is wrong with a patient. There is absolutely no definitive test in existence, that can diagnose IBS, (and the reason is because IBS does not exist). From my first post in this thread:

FWIW, IMO, there is no such thing as IBS. IBS is simply a default diagnosis that a doctor gives a patient, when he or she can't find anything else wrong with a patient. When a doctor diagnoses a patient with IBS, he or she is really saying, "I don't have the foggiest idea what is wrong with you". Virtually all cases of "IBS", are either undiagnosed gluten sensitivity, or undiagnosed MC, or both.

The answer is, "you can't tell the difference". The difference between MC and IBS, is a biopsy sample from the epithelium of the colon, examined under a microscope. Don't misunderstand me, the doctors who hand out diagnoses of IBS, mean well, they are just ignorant, and don't understand MC. Being ignorant is not a crime, it's just an unfortunate fact of life, for anyone who does not continually seek to learn all they can about the issues that they are dealing with.

I understand why a GF diet helps celiacs, but what is the connection with gluten and MC?

When a gene that predisposes to MC is triggered, gluten-sensitivity is also triggered, in most cases. From Dr. Fine's website:

This occurs because the genes causing microscopic colitis are also programmed to react with gluten if they are triggered to do so. This is why people can go their whole lives withjout apparent gluten sensitivity and then suddenly become gluten intolerant.

http://www.finerhealth.com/Educational_ ... c_Colitis/

It appears that this is not just true for MC, it seems to be true for virtually all autoimmune diseases. Most people with MC, also have other autoimmune diseases - it goes with the turf. See the results of this poll:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3715

The mainstream medical community hasn't gotten around to realizing the gluten connection with autoimmune diseases yet, but they will, some day - hopefully sooner, rather than later, because once they incorporate that fact into their thinking, treatments for all autoimmune diseases will drastically change, and most patients will begin to see some real relief, rather than just temporary relief of symptoms.

You're most welcome,
Tex

[ant]

Dear Mac

Re-posting the following link. Hope it is useful

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1770777/

Note, it confirms a close relationship between celiac and MC.

All best wishes, Ant