Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
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.
Is it worth pursuing the yeast/bacterial overgrowth perspective? I don't have appropriate article's handy, but we have often read about yeast, especially candida, being involved in both leaky gut and conditions such as cancer. It certainly sounds like Rene has a fungal problem.
The herbals remedies I favour would probably not do the trick here, but there are some serious antifungals out there that the docs can prescribe.
We have also discussed the research about using fecal transplants to get a colony of 'good' bacteria to set up home in the gut.
Is this a case where an experimental routine to use some powerful antifungals then repopulate from the bottom up, so to speak, with good bacteria might help to establish a more normal GI environment?
Combine that with checking all the ingested ingredients might be worth considering.
Lyn wrote:Is it worth pursuing the yeast/bacterial overgrowth perspective? I don't have appropriate article's handy, but we have often read about yeast, especially candida, being involved in both leaky gut and conditions such as cancer. It certainly sounds like Rene has a fungal problem.
Yes, I definitely agree with you. I should have gone into greater detail in my post when I mentioned that I agreed with Rene that the Candida is probably a part of her problem. Diflucan, (fluconazole), is probably the most favored treatment for Candida overgrowth, in this country.
I fecal transplant might indeed be beneficial, though surely her doctors have checked for dysbiosis.
Lyn wrote:Is this a case where an experimental routine to use some powerful antifungals then repopulate from the bottom up, so to speak, with good bacteria might help to establish a more normal GI environment?
Combine that with checking all the ingested ingredients might be worth considering.
I agree that a thorough antifungal regimen, followed with an antibiotic treatment, (to clean house, so to speak), and then topped off with a fecal transplant, (along with the diet), may well be an effective treatment to get her digestive system back on the right track. Thanks for your insight.
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.
Shirley, Joan, Tex, Ant, Karen, Gloria, Zizzle, Lyn and all who devote so much of your time to help Rene and others on this board, thank you for the advice, info and links provided on verapamil, yeast, fecal transplant, etc. Rene has tried flucanazole for yeast control for extended periods in the past and her GI has her taking it at present. She has considered fecal transplant in the past.
Excuse me for being so breif in my reply. I have a familial tremor in my hands and am very slow at typing. It is always good to hear from folks who arent "a thousand miles from the cornfield."
Rene made her visit to the Ochsner GI on Wed, the 20th. Essentially, he discouraged her from going through with ileostomy, as had Tex, Shirley and Joan, with good reason. Rene was very discouraged; she had hoped that in spite of it being an extreme measure, she might have received some encouragement (even knowing that the procedure might not be in her best interest). She is just so tired and feels so sick for so long - just wants a chance for some relief.
Although it was a very difficult decision, Rene has decided to go through with the ileostomy. She is scheduled for the procedure at Ochsner with Dr. Beck at 1pm on Mon, Oct, 25th. She is also considering the insertion of a stomach feeding tube at the same time. Tex, thank you for the first hand info you provided. At least she has an idea of what to expect, afterward. Thanks again to all. Any thoughts and prayers will be greatly appreciated.
It is Rene's decision, of course. She is the one who has had to live through all this and who knows what they would do in a bad situation until actually living it.
Please don't just "disappear" from the board. We are truly interested about how Rene is doing and the outcome. We all wish the best for her.
I know she must be so grateful to have your love and support.
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
Louis, you sister must be feeling very desperate after such a long and miserable siege with MC. You are a wonderful brother, exploring options for her when she is so sick and unable to do much herself. I certainly hope that she is able to see some improvement. She is in my thoughts as she prepares for a stressful surgery and recovery.
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
I will certainly keep Rene in my prayers. She is fortunate to have a brother who is working in her best interests. I hope the surgeries go well and she can begin to resume a more normal life. As Shirley wrote, please keep us posted.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Even though that wasn't the plan that we were hoping for, we respect her choice, and we will certainly continue to offer support, as needed. It's a shame that you didn't discover us sooner, before she became so exhausted and frustrated, from such a long period of treatment with limited results.
Good luck to her during the procedure and recovery.
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 pray for a good surgery and that Rene will find relief. It makes my little problems quite insignificant. Please stay with us and hopefully we can help in the next phase, which I wish and pray will be a better quaity of life for Rene.
From your posts I get the impression that you're an amazingly loving and caring person, doing everything in your power to help your sister with her tough battle. It must be so difficult to be a helpless bystander watching someone you love go through so much suffering. I just want to commend you for your caring and attentiveness, Rene is certainly very fortunate to have you at her side.
My best wishes to both of you as you embark on a new chapter in a very difficult struggle.
Warm regards,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein