Hi Greg,
I have just had my 79 year old in-laws visiting, and dietary changes at this stage in life do seem harder. Dad has developed a intolerance to dairy, but doesn't seem willing to change what he eats to deal with it.
I found it did help to give them options - eat this brand bread, this brand margarine, this brand ham and salami, these frozen foods, these biscuits etc. They eat a lot of convenience foods, and on a very low budget so expensive GF products aren't acceptable. But some of my suggestions have 'stuck'.
But ultimately I can't force them to change what they eat. I figure watching parents make poor choices is like parents watching children make poor choices in life. Except they don't have the time to change around to good choices.
Entecort does sound like a good solution in some of these cases.
Elderly sufferers of MC, LC ... special concerns
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Fiona,
If you can get rolled rice, it makes a very quick porridge. Just boil or microwave with twice the volume of water. Add a big spoon of pure honey. This is easy to prepare and eat and is yummy and soothing. If you can't find it, then regular rice works well when overcooked to mushy.
Rice cooked in chicken stock might also go down well.
Bananas are good and the potassium helps with the dehydration.
Try some vegies really well cooked. Would she like pumpkin soup? (pumpkin, water. cook. puree.) A bit of homemade chicken stock can introduce nutrients. Bought stocks usually contain gluten, so steer away from them.
Since we generally find that dairy and gluten are a problem, you might consider not giving her bread unless it is GF/DF bread. Unless there is a reason for suspecting eggs, they are a great source of protein and generally easily digested.
Budensonide is the active ingredient in Entocort. Here is a discussion about trying a generic form:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... lk+generic
Lyn
If you can get rolled rice, it makes a very quick porridge. Just boil or microwave with twice the volume of water. Add a big spoon of pure honey. This is easy to prepare and eat and is yummy and soothing. If you can't find it, then regular rice works well when overcooked to mushy.
Rice cooked in chicken stock might also go down well.
Bananas are good and the potassium helps with the dehydration.
Try some vegies really well cooked. Would she like pumpkin soup? (pumpkin, water. cook. puree.) A bit of homemade chicken stock can introduce nutrients. Bought stocks usually contain gluten, so steer away from them.
Since we generally find that dairy and gluten are a problem, you might consider not giving her bread unless it is GF/DF bread. Unless there is a reason for suspecting eggs, they are a great source of protein and generally easily digested.
Budensonide is the active ingredient in Entocort. Here is a discussion about trying a generic form:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... lk+generic
Lyn
As always ... Thanks everyone for your prompt and thoughtful responses to my question about possible special concerns of elderly sufferers of MC, LC ... While I may have tried to be a bit provocative with my question, it was not intended to irritate. I am simply frustrated for my relative and like so many of you, I am also frustrated with the medical community for its inadequate response to this increasingly wide-spread set of diseases. Especially with how helpful everyone has been, I feel obliged to offer my apologies.
The upshot so far from this very fruitful discussion may be that age is not a strong factor either in the symptoms, treatment or side-effects of treatments for MC, LC, etc. As with many diseases and conditions however, the elderly may suffer more because of the higher sensitivity that may be expected to develop with age. The elderly are also more likely to suffer from ailments unrelated to MC, LC ... (e.g. back problems) but which make managing diet for instance that much more challenging. That's where I especially appreciate the suggestions about simple meals to order and prepare. Of course, I welcome further ideas.
Let me know if you believe I am on-track with my preliminary analysis and tentative conclusions. There's clearly much for me to still learn.
Perhaps most important, as I close for now, are the reminders about adequate hydration. Especially as we enter the hot months of the year, drinking healthy amounts of water is vital!
Thanks, again,
Greg
The upshot so far from this very fruitful discussion may be that age is not a strong factor either in the symptoms, treatment or side-effects of treatments for MC, LC, etc. As with many diseases and conditions however, the elderly may suffer more because of the higher sensitivity that may be expected to develop with age. The elderly are also more likely to suffer from ailments unrelated to MC, LC ... (e.g. back problems) but which make managing diet for instance that much more challenging. That's where I especially appreciate the suggestions about simple meals to order and prepare. Of course, I welcome further ideas.
Let me know if you believe I am on-track with my preliminary analysis and tentative conclusions. There's clearly much for me to still learn.
Perhaps most important, as I close for now, are the reminders about adequate hydration. Especially as we enter the hot months of the year, drinking healthy amounts of water is vital!
Thanks, again,
Greg
Roger I still disagree with you that elderly suffer more from MC than others in general. I do understand, for some people (I don't believe everybody) it can more difficult dealing with any disease because af an aging body and for some, but not everybody, an aging mind. I have read message here from younger an older people here, working people that had a really hard rough time because of the MC: nauseousness, serious depression, joint pians, severe diarrhea.
One reason why older people sometimes seem to suffer more, is because, (mostly being retired), they have more free time available to dwell upon their problems, and the more one dwells on health issues, (or any other problems, for that matter), the more serious the problems are perceived to be, simply because when more time and thought is devoted to them, the brain assigns a higher level of importance to those issues.
Actually, older people are, (on the average), much happier than younger people, simply because they learn to accept their lot in life, and how to deal with it, and this attitude is usually extended to all aspects of their lives, including their health. I can absolutely guarantee that if I had had to face the emergency abdominal surgery that I've gone through twice now, in the last 5 years, when I was much younger - it would have scared the crap out of me. At my age, though, while I viewed the procedures as worrisome, and definitely an aggravation, I never was actually scared, as I was rolled into the operating room. Nor was I angry - the question, "Why me?", never entered my mind. If I had been significantly younger, though, I'm pretty sure that my attitude would have been quite different. IOW, I'm happy, 'cause I'm old enough to appreciate life, warts and all.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20100 ... middle-age
Tex
Actually, older people are, (on the average), much happier than younger people, simply because they learn to accept their lot in life, and how to deal with it, and this attitude is usually extended to all aspects of their lives, including their health. I can absolutely guarantee that if I had had to face the emergency abdominal surgery that I've gone through twice now, in the last 5 years, when I was much younger - it would have scared the crap out of me. At my age, though, while I viewed the procedures as worrisome, and definitely an aggravation, I never was actually scared, as I was rolled into the operating room. Nor was I angry - the question, "Why me?", never entered my mind. If I had been significantly younger, though, I'm pretty sure that my attitude would have been quite different. IOW, I'm happy, 'cause I'm old enough to appreciate life, warts and all.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20100 ... middle-age
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.
responses to a few points made about aging and colitis
Hello Everyone,
As I re-read everyone's responses it occurred to me how much emotional support this group provides for me as a relative of one who is suffering from LC, so I have a profound sense of appreciation towards you all for reasons I didn't expect at first.
Tex wrote about the psychological orientation towards aging, with mention of recent studies, whose conclusions I definitely agree with. I'd venture to add that studies on aging are increasingly consonant with treatment that takes into account the whole person and thus the probably myriad interdependencies, psychological and physical. Perhaps with most any disease or condition, we may need to consider how it affects and is affected by any number of psychological and physical states of wellbeing. Stress and how it may induce an attack of diarrhea may be a good example. My relative faced a huge change in her healthcare insurance, which caused stress and a flare-up, for which she needed to increase her dose of Entocort and thus the out-of-pocket prescription drug expense.
With each flare-up she gets weaker and wonders what she can do with diet and otherwise to rebuild her strength. Your thoughts and ideas are especially welcome at this time, as I happen to be visiting my relative this weekend.
Another question then: Do many people in this group have limited if any interaction with their doctors about their MC, LC ...? I get the impression from what I've read so far, that many people have designed diet and treatment programs sometimes with only marginal input from their physicians. Perhaps the quality of information is better coming from this group first of all, and from carefully-selected resources on the web, that have also been discussed here.
As always ... Thanks!
-- Greg (username Roger)
As I re-read everyone's responses it occurred to me how much emotional support this group provides for me as a relative of one who is suffering from LC, so I have a profound sense of appreciation towards you all for reasons I didn't expect at first.
Tex wrote about the psychological orientation towards aging, with mention of recent studies, whose conclusions I definitely agree with. I'd venture to add that studies on aging are increasingly consonant with treatment that takes into account the whole person and thus the probably myriad interdependencies, psychological and physical. Perhaps with most any disease or condition, we may need to consider how it affects and is affected by any number of psychological and physical states of wellbeing. Stress and how it may induce an attack of diarrhea may be a good example. My relative faced a huge change in her healthcare insurance, which caused stress and a flare-up, for which she needed to increase her dose of Entocort and thus the out-of-pocket prescription drug expense.
With each flare-up she gets weaker and wonders what she can do with diet and otherwise to rebuild her strength. Your thoughts and ideas are especially welcome at this time, as I happen to be visiting my relative this weekend.
Another question then: Do many people in this group have limited if any interaction with their doctors about their MC, LC ...? I get the impression from what I've read so far, that many people have designed diet and treatment programs sometimes with only marginal input from their physicians. Perhaps the quality of information is better coming from this group first of all, and from carefully-selected resources on the web, that have also been discussed here.
As always ... Thanks!
-- Greg (username Roger)
Greg,Greg wrote:With each flare-up she gets weaker and wonders what she can do with diet and otherwise to rebuild her strength.
I had exactly that same concern each time I went through a "bad" cycle, (my reactions were not continuous, but cycled, instead), because it seemed that over the long term, each episode was a little worse than the last, and I wondered how long I would be able to go on, before I got so weak and run down that I had a heart attack, or stroke, or died from the complications of dehydration. Then I discovered the diet, and my attitude completely changed. Once I realized that a solution might actually exist, I stopped worrying, and started fine-tuning my diet. Pork, chicken, eggs, mashed potatoes, and rice, (and maybe half a banana, now and then - if I overdid the bananas, I got into trouble, probably because of the additional fiber), were the basics of my diet for almost two years, before I was able to start adding foods back in.
Personally, I never had much luck with the GI docs where I live, but many people here have a so-so relationship with their GI docs, and a few are fortunate enough to have found a specialist who is understanding and quite helpful. Arguably the best GI doc in the country, (for treating MC), practices in Colorado, but unfortunately, he only accepts patients who are residents of Colorado.
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.
more weak with every flare-up
Thanks so much, Tex. Your sharing of such a similar experience will provide encouragement and hope. Right now my relative wonders how much further she can go on, but her persevering to be strict with her diet I hope will eventually turn her situation around.
My question as a follow-up to you, Tex and everyone: Does a strict adherence to a scrupulously gluten-free, soy-free, lactose-free ... diet make remission more likely and more likely to occur quickly? By "scrupulously" I mean making sure there is zero gluten in everything one puts into one's body by paying particularly close attention to ingredient labels and following the rule: If in doubt about something, don't eat it!
-- Greg
My question as a follow-up to you, Tex and everyone: Does a strict adherence to a scrupulously gluten-free, soy-free, lactose-free ... diet make remission more likely and more likely to occur quickly? By "scrupulously" I mean making sure there is zero gluten in everything one puts into one's body by paying particularly close attention to ingredient labels and following the rule: If in doubt about something, don't eat it!
-- Greg
Definitely. If we are ingesting even tiny amounts on a regular basis, it can be enough to perpetuate a reaction, and/or prevent healing. A trace amount of an ingredient that we are sensitive to, in a vitamin, for example, can be enough to frustrate our efforts to achieve remission. Be aware that despite the 2006 changes in the food labeling laws, pharmaceuticals, (drugs and vitamins), are exempt from those labeling laws. The active ingredients have to be listed, but inactive ingredients are unregulated, and even though some manufacturers voluntarily list inactive ingredients, (fillers), it is not required by law, so some manufacturers don't do a complete job of reporting ingredients.
The diet can't be successful if it is only followed on a part-time basis, or used as a reduced-gluten diet. Most of us have very low thresholds for the amount of gluten that it takes to make us react, and that applies to any other intolerances, as well. Also, if we are ingesting daily levels that are below our reaction threshold, but still significantly greater than zero, the gut may not be able to heal, even though we are not actively reacting. Evidence of this is seen when followup biopsy samples are taken from celiacs who are in remission, following treatment by the GF diet. In the study described at the following link, for example, only 17.5% of adults showed no evidence of residual damage to their small intestines, even though they were in remission of clinical symptoms. IOW, 82.5% still showed evidence of intestinal damage, even though their clinical symptoms were resolved.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/b ... 4/art00008
Tex
The diet can't be successful if it is only followed on a part-time basis, or used as a reduced-gluten diet. Most of us have very low thresholds for the amount of gluten that it takes to make us react, and that applies to any other intolerances, as well. Also, if we are ingesting daily levels that are below our reaction threshold, but still significantly greater than zero, the gut may not be able to heal, even though we are not actively reacting. Evidence of this is seen when followup biopsy samples are taken from celiacs who are in remission, following treatment by the GF diet. In the study described at the following link, for example, only 17.5% of adults showed no evidence of residual damage to their small intestines, even though they were in remission of clinical symptoms. IOW, 82.5% still showed evidence of intestinal damage, even though their clinical symptoms were resolved.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/b ... 4/art00008
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.