The right diet strategy to heal

Post by **tex** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:28 pm

You probably have a little-known phase of MC connected with constipation, rather than diarrhea. Some people have both. My reactions, for example, always cycled between constipation and diarrhea. It is possible to have only constipation, though, as a symptom, (pain/cramps are common markers of constipation).

Coffee is not really an irritant for MC. It is a secretagogue, and doctors think that secretagogues should be avoided by anyone with MC, because most people with MC experience a form of diarrhea known as secretory diarrhea. However, we have found that coffee has nothing to do with this reaction. Coffee causes some people to have D, whether they have MC, or not, but it makes no difference for most of us. (IOW, if you were able to drink coffee without any problems before you developed MC, then you should be able to drink it without any problems now).

The main irritant for someone with MC is fiber. Most foods that are high in fiber, are irritants, and foods that are low in fiber, are not. It's that simple.

I'm not familiar with argilla, but bentonite clay is often used as you suggest, (to mask toxins in the lumen). Bentonite clay is very effective at sequestering certain mycotoxins, (such as aflatoxin, which I have experience with), but I have no idea if it will sequester gluten, (I doubt that it will). Bentonite clay has been successfully used to sequester aflatoxin in swine feed, for example, but proteins such as the gliadin peptides in gluten that we react to, are not mycotoxins. I see no reason why it would be very effective at masking fiber, either, but just because I see no logical reason, does not mean that it cannot do so. Bentonite is a very fine clay, so it's not impossible that it might provide some benefit, but eating dirt, seems like a rough way to handle the problem. Wouldn't it be better to just not eat the foods that irritate your gut, than to eat clay, to try to cover it, after it is in your intestines?

On the other hand, since you do not have diarrhea as a symptom, some form of fiber substitute, might possibly help to prevent constipation, (if you actually do have constipation - maybe you don't - maybe you have normal bowel movements, for all I know). At any rate, bentonite is a pretty safe "filler" that might substitute for fiber, (except that it is a lot denser than fiber).

More than one member here, has had to stop using flax seed, because of it's laxative properties. It is the hull, (fiber), from the seed, that causes it to have laxative properties. Fiber, in general, is a laxative.

Tex

takef586 · Post by **takef586** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:43 am

Well, I do not have much contipation, unles I eat too much rice... I can get a little constipation or some D in function on how much fiber I eat. However, the Bedelix clay at times gives me impression that it diminishes a bit the pain. Coffee, for example, can give me a little more pain, so I am trying to drink it sparingly.
The pain I have, which is located mainly in the lower left part of the abomen, usually gets wose when I walk, while it subsides and goes away if I am seated or I lay down. When I asked my GE if it is normal not to have D with LC, he said there were many types of reactions, D type being just one of them.

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:45 am

Usually, if the pain from MC is localized, it is located in the lower right quadrant, where the inflammation in the colon is typically the most prominent. Pain in the lower left quadrant is often connected with diverticulitis, (speaking from experience). I don't know how old you might be, but many people over about 40 years of age, have diverticulosis, which makes diverticulitis a possibility. (Diverticulitis is inflammation in a diverticulosis "pouch", usually due to food getting stuck there). Of course, if you have any diverticuli, they should be mentioned in your endoscopy report, written by your GI doctor, after your colonoscopy examination. Many GI docs refer to them as simply "tics", in their reports.

Your GI doctor seems to know more about MC than most doctors. In this country, most of them still think that MC is a disease of "older women", resulting in chronic diarrhea.

Tex

takef586 · Post by **takef586** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:40 pm

I've had a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, blood tests and a scan of the torso made, and all was normal, apart the biopsy result, which gave the basis for the diagnosis. Now I am waiting for results of the Enterolab test, so we will see what it says. I know I am relatively lucky without an explosive D, so I am taking this with some philosophy.I am 53. Thank you again for your patience Tex.

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:26 pm

Those test results should be very interesting, since you have different symptoms than most of us. I'm curious to see how they turn out, also.

You're very welcome,
Tex

kimtg68 · Post by **kimtg68** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:08 pm

Takef586, may I ask if you are male or female. I've read that often female problems can be misdiagnoses. I was wondering about the pain in your lower left area and thought of ovaries. Just throwing out a thought. Sorry if I'm off the mark.

takef586 · Post by **takef586** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:16 am

I am a male...

kimtg68 · Post by **kimtg68** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:00 am

Well with that said....I don't think you need to worry about your ovaries

takef586 · Post by **takef586** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:18 pm

I am not aware if this has ben allready posted, but I have found this internet site with plenty of well laid out information about the different types of food intollerances and their implications for your health:

http://www.frot.co.nz/dietnet/basics/gluten.htm

There is an array of indications on how to test your intollerances (Enterolab is also mentioned). I would be curious of Tex's comments about this material.

Thanks

Marek

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:33 pm

Marek that's a good link

Thanks

--Joe

harma · Post by **harma** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:42 pm

Marek I think it is an excellent link where a lot of useful information can be found. Very basic down to earth and with an open eye to all development in the food and health world without ending up pseudo science. Thank you very much for mentioning it here.

harma

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:49 pm

MAREK, I agree, it is an excellent site. I have it book marked so I can find it later. I haven't read the whole article yet but I will. Thanks for sharing. I am wondering if the author is from New Zealand, and I always like to look for a date the article was written or updated because I like it to be current.. I couldn't find a date.

Post by **tex** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:10 pm

Marek,

I agree with everyone else who has commented on that site. I believe that is the best discussion of the topic that I have ever come across, and I didn't notice a single error in it. It's very well done, and logically organized.

Charlotte, the author is surely in New Zealand, considering that this quote comes from that page, (toward the end):

If you're in Wellington, NZ, and think you may have allergies to gluten, casein or other foods, contact me for a free 15 minute consultation to go through your options.

Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Tex

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:30 pm

I went a couple of years before dropping to two entocort a day.. and it took me that long or longer to go to one a day.

I am wondering what kind of side effects people are getting with entocort that causes them not to be able to take it. I have never had a problem .. at least I don't think so. Is there something I should be watching for after all these years?
grannyh

Post by **tex** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:51 pm

GrannyH,

The usual reason for discontinuing the drug, (if it's working, otherwise), is neurological issues, such as dizziness, balance problems, blurred vision, etc., side effects that are either unlisted, or listed as rare events. I believe those were the symptoms reported by Barbara, Maggie, and several other members.

Tex