Without NSAIDS

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Emjayn
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Without NSAIDS

Post by Emjayn »

Good Morning Everyone.
Im wondering how you cope with pain if not able to take NSAIDS? I see that you Tex, take the Centrum Multivitiamin, and Glucosamine, as I do. (Mine has the Chondroiten included.) Sometimes I take paracetamol but I dont find it very effective. My thumbs, a knee and my neck are really bothering me most days and wonder if its OK to rub Voltarin cream in, or is it as bad as the tablets. I thought at least its not going through my colon, but apparently still can effect the liver and kidneys as they are our fliters.
I take in the morns, Celiprolol tablet( heart), and 2 LevoThyroxin and after breakfast , a coated asprin and the vits/Minerals.
Im managing to modify my glutin intake now and hoping that will decrease joint pain and improve my sinuses.
Be glad to hear how others manage their body pain. Mine is osteo arthritis.
Today I remembered and purchased some Kruschens salts which my parent used( enough to cover 6d my parents said, in morning cuppa) They seem to be like electolites. My parents had no aches an pains.
"Never pray for lesser burdens but for broader shoulders."
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Post by grannyh »

Knock on wood, I rarely have pain.. and when I do.. I take tylenol with codeine. Can't remember the last time I had pain that I needed to take anything for it.
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mbeezie
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Post by mbeezie »

Emjayn,

I'm probably not much help here, but I've actually stopped taking pain relievers. I am sensitive to NSAIDS. But, the truth is, since changing my diet I have not had very much pain. My knees used to hurt terribly and I took Aleve, but then had a reaction to it. I was also starting to get arthritis in my hands and has swollen joints and stiffness. Since going GF my knee pain completely cleared up. The arthritis that was developing has also improved and I no longer have all that inflammation in my hands. When I get a headache I have been trying accupressure with some success. I still get headaches from big barometric pressure changes or PMS, but those were never greatly improved by pain releivers anyway.

I never used to think twice about popping an Advil or Tylenol, but I have become anti-drugs for minor aches and pains and fever since getting sick. I've been reading about use of NSAIDS and have come to realize that shouldn't take as much as we do. Dogtor J addresses this regarding fever and the importance of fever when we are ill. Also, I went to a nutrition/exercise seminar last year and they talked about overuse of NSAIDS for muscle aches after exercise. If you want to build muscle, don't take NSAIDS as it interferes with the muscle growth.

Others may have better ideas for you, but I have kept my focus on pain releif natural (diet, exercise/yoga and accupresure). I've never tried acupuncture but am open to it as well and have know people who have gotten pain relief from it.

Mary Beth
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Post by RUBYREDDOG »

You might consider Boswellia as an alternative for pain relief. Tex has posted on his usage and I had good results while taking it for 8 weeks last year. (no head aches during that time frame)

I agree with Mary Ann, most all my aches and pains, especially my knees, went away after a few months going GF. Good luck

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tex
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Post by tex »

Emjay,

Actually, I take two of the triple-strength Glucosamine tablets each morning, and they do contain Condroitin, also. I've been taking them for about 10 years, because some of the load-bearing work I do is very hard on joints, especially the hips and knees. I have to agree with Mary Beth, GrannyH, and Hotrod, about the pain. When my symptoms initially began, my neck would get so stiff and sore, that more than once, I was really scared that I might have contracted rabies. It kept me from sleeping at night. I felt as if I had a bad case of the flu, most of the time. I ached all over, but my neck was really bad, and my knees got so bad for a while, that I had to use two canes, just to walk around. And yes, like Mary Beth, I began to develop arthritis in a few of my fingers, and they stayed inflamed, and began to grow crooked. I had already started taking flax seed oil, and Glucosamine, for my knees, and it seemed to help, but it didn't appear to prevent the arthritis from developing in my fingers. It wasn't until I cut gluten out of my diet, that my arthritis symptoms began to really improve. It took years for all the arthritis symptoms to go away, but I am now totally arthritis-free. The only time my neck ever bothers me now, is if I accidentally eat something that contains gluten, and that very rarely happens, these days.

I also take an enteric-coated 81mg aspirin, every day, ever since last July, when I had a TIA-like event - I forgot to mention that in my previous post about the supplements and meds that I was taking.

Gluten, applied to the skin, does not affect the gut, so I am guessing that the Voltarin creme shouldn't bother the colon, either, but that's just a guess - I doubt that anyone has ever done any research on that.

Concerning the paracetamol: many/most of us have difficulty getting pain relief with paracetamol/acetaminophin, (Tylenol). I discovered that if I took it early enough, I could even stop a migraine with it, but if I waited until the headache was too far along, it didn't provide much relief. I also found that I absolutely had to take it with food, or right after a meal. If I took it alone, on an empty stomach, it did little good. If I took it with food, and I took it soon enough, it even cut the neck pain down to a tolerable level, (so that I could sleep). I always took 2 of the maximum strength Tylenol, (500 mg each), and I would take them 2 or 3 times daily, if needed. As Hotrod suggested, Boswellia seratta, (a natural remedy), can also be used. You may have to experiment to find a dose that works for you. The capsules are pretty small, and one or two didn't seem to be enough to have much of an effect on me. I wasn't able to do much experimentation with it, because I very rarely have any pain anymore, these days.

I believe that you are on the right track, in cutting gluten out of your diet. Personally, I could never tell that it was making me sick, when I was eating it, but after I cut it out of my diet, it took a long time, but all of my problems finally went away. I no longer have any pain, my fingers stopped growing crooked, my neck, back, and knees are fine, my brain fog went away, and the diarrhea stopped. In short, I got my life back.

You have to be patient with the diet, because it takes a long, long time for the immune system to stop producing antibodies to gluten, (up to 2 years, for it to completely stop), so it takes a long time for all of the symptoms to go away, (especially if you have had the symptoms for years), but the symptoms will go away, one at a time, and one day you will wake up and realize that you feel better than you've felt in decades. You'll feel like going places and doing things, again. To make it work, though, you have to perfect your skills at reading labels, because even traces of gluten can keep the reaction going. That applies to any other foods or food ingredients that you may be intolerant of, also.

It's not easy, at first, but eventually, avoiding gluten becomes second nature, and you will do it without even having to think about it, and your reward will be living without pain, D, migraines, or any of those other symptoms that gluten can cause. You truly can get your life back.

Tex
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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.
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teagirl
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Post by teagirl »

Emjayn, I don't know how Voltaren cream works and if rubbing it onto skin might somehow make the colon hurt, but I have used it on my bad shoulder without any problem that I know of, i.e. I haven't had any colon pain or nausea or D. I've used it several times over the last 6 months.
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Em

similar to others, niggling joint pains have reduced considerably since i have implemented a strict gluten free diet.

For times when i have had bad headache (noting their frequency has also dramaticallly reduced since going GF) i have been using panadol with codine, yes these can make you a bit blocked so i dont use any of the BM binding type meds if I have taken the panadol with codine.

Mindful that while there is a bit of D, how well your digestion system absorbs nutrients/supplements/meds is compromised. i think tex's point that once the pain or the headache is really bad it seems like the meds are barely working. I think treatment at the source and not relying on our guts is possibly best solution.

and like most things withe MC, it is a case of try and see, what works for one may not work for another
(the delightful maze of MC!)
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Emjayn
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Post by Emjayn »

Wow, Thankyou all muchly , for your so very helpful responses. I feel very encouraged by all you've said. Our 'knee man' who replaced my hubby's knee years ago, said 5 yrs ago that Id need a replacement" furthur down the track" but to start on 4 months Joint FOOD( not Joint care) which has 1500 Mg Glucosomine and 1200 Mg Chondroitin. (the dose of 3 capsules)Then go on the lighter dose. I think I will do the strong ones for 4 months again now.
Dr gave me the generic form of paracetamol/ codiene combination( paracode) I took one dose of 2, and my tum was sort of pins and needly and unsettled for almost 24 hrs so havent tried them since. But will to see if they do the same.
As a pianist, playing in a hospital one hour weekly , I apply voltarin Emugel to thumbs and forefinger joints and take paracetamol before leaving home which helps. (Some people go to the gym...I go to the piano... tho I do walk as well) Am cutting down to playing just 3/4 hr now as my neck and back protest and my eyes and brain fog up.
Have just shared your messages with my man and told him I think he should join me going GF as hes worse than me getting around. Is on Warfarin and is type 2 diabetic tho, so we do try to keep his diet on an even keel. I will win him over. Would be easier if both eating the same.

Thankyou again. I feel dedicated to reading labels. Im taking a wee magnifying glass to the markets to help me. :cool:
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tex
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Post by tex »

Yes, it will definitely be very helpful if he will join you in the diet. That will cut the risk of cross-contamination waaaaaaaaaay down, and hopefully, he will derive some benefit from the diet, also. The diet can't undo any damage already done by arthritis, but it can help to reduce the inflammation, and in some cases, it can stop it, and prevent future damage. IOW, some of my fingers grew crooked and twisted, and they will always be that way, but at least they haven't changed in years, and they're no longer swollen, inflamed, and painful.

The small print used in many ingredient lists, and the color combinations used, are some of my pet peeves, too. They make me think that they're trying to hide something. Generally, the shorter an ingredient list, the safer the product. Some of us won't buy a product if it has over 5 ingredients. The problem is, these days, there aren't many foods with such short ingredient lists. Of course, if you cook from scratch, you don't have to be concerned about long, hard-to-read ingredient lists.

Tex
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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.
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

poop watching
triple checking labels
we all got lots of new interesting hobbies when we got MC!


be careful there are some products here in Austrlalia where on the front the label says 'gluten free' but on the back i note that it has wheat based ingredient..

I have a good resource of information is manufacturer websites. the rules regarding manufacturer of these products have got quite strict. Hence products now say gluten free or 'low in gluten'

In the past 6 months i have noticed gourmet pizza places now advertise low gluten products as they can not guarentee the products as being gluten free.

I am reasonably lucky, i live alone and my partner and I only spend Fri and Sat nights together. when we are together the meals are based on my eating principles which are very limited, we do cook hugo some greens to have with his dinner. He has just stopped whinging about not having real butter and milk in mashed potato. He has even started having the lactose free milk in his coffee (namely becauase i forgot to buy some of his milk)
We have cooked breakfast together on saturday mornings and this does have its slight complications with keeping my ingredients and his ingredients seperate.

On Sundays I do big cook up, so that my meals are prepared for the week (i work full time)

eating gluten free is pretty easy, the range of pre prepared products are quite good (pasta etc) it is the other considerations such as dairy free or yeast free that make it a bit more complicated
most gluten free breads are so so, not good fresh and have to be toasted. if you have been big bread eaters then this probably the one thing you may 'miss' (especially if you walk past a bakery and smell bread cooking)

I have been using a gluten free/ yeast free sav muffin mix as a bread replacement. you can adapt it with more liquid and make savory crepes,
it has been so long now since i have had real bread i dont really miss it.

depending on your cooking styles and tastes the main impact of gluten free diet is the limitations of quick easy prepared ingredients/meals, takeaways and eating out.

due to my limited ingredient base at the moment, i carry gabe snacks with me all the time and if i am having a coffee out and about i take a small jar of my own milk. It takes a bit of planning and organisation and seems a bit full on at first, now it is way of life.....

hope you get the pain under control, make sure you take the tabs with a meal...
Gabes Ryan

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Olivia-Micro-Colitis
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AAAHHH

Post by Olivia-Micro-Colitis »

Okay so i've been doing thro a Motrin withdraw. My whole life i've taken it and now i can't it sucks. I've been in severe pain all the time. So i've been on vicadine a lot. tylenol just hasn't done anything for me. its not strong enough i guess. i hate resorting to narcotics but them seem to help and i don't really get that stopped up at all. besides sometimes its a nice break from my 20 d spells a day!
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mbeezie
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Post by mbeezie »

Olivia,

Where is your pain? Do you have fibromylagia? If so, it often responds well to diet changes and figuring out what foods cause inflammation.

Mary Beth
Emjayn
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Post by Emjayn »

Well Ive taken 2 double doses of paracetamol/ codiene today, as you suggested Tex and Gabes, AFTER food and they helped.And before the pain builtup. I must remember that. Ive been used to just taking paracetamol at any time I needed ( not closer that 4 hrly tho)
I miss being able to take the naproxen but Im almost positive it would be the trigger for my LC as Ive had them for years.

Olivia, I hope you get some relief soon. To be in pain is such a lonely condition, isnt it. I used to ask my friends, even over 30 years ago, why dont they have the pains I have. Now Im thinking it might have always been glutin that was the cause.

Gabes, Ive had the GF pasta and we loved it. Im finding heaps of products on the shelves over here, so going GF is not as daunting as I thought itd be. I love the GF bread TOASTED. with honey, or avocado or peanut butter on.
Ive found a mention of local Restaurants and cafes that serve GF meals for dining out. Not that we do that often, but was good to see that sort of help online for special occasions.

Must away to bed now. Trying to rest more and get a good nights sleep.Gnite all... ( I know you'll all be fast asleep in early hours)
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tex
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Post by tex »

I'm glad to see that the paracetamol/codiene worked better that way, and that you're finding a good selection of GF foods on the grocery store shelves in NZ.

I hope you got a good night's rest.

Tex
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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.
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Post by grannyh »

I ran across someone whose doctor was treating them with tylenol w codein! Yes the generic is cheaper than entocort. BUT it is addictive. BUT is impairs thought and impairs motor skills. The bottle even says not to drive. I question any doctor who would use codein to control any form of colitis.. and I certainly would not want to be in a vehicle with that person. It is amazing how little doctors know about CC!

Right after my colitis started after the visicol prep for colonoscopy I was taking lomotil. It was the only way I could get out of the house for even an hour or so. The problem with that is that I slept most of the time. My life was either no lomotil and trips to ER for rehydration.. or take lomotil and be able to leave the house briefly once in awhile..and sleep lots. It wasn't much of a life.

There are all kinds of ways to find a way to get your life back.. so many suggestions on this site. Mixtures of any number of suggestions help people find a way back to a more normal life with a disease that is not curable at this time.
grannyh
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