New and Struggling

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:03 pm

Okay, I read the thread on "pharts" and I laughed so hard I am now wiping the tears from my eyes! I so identify with almost every post on there! Except the picture window one, but if I tell my husband about it, he's likely to try it!

He laughed when I told him what the motto of the forum is, and I am looking forward to using the abbreviation FWC with him. Thanks for the belly laugh!!!

explosive · Post by **explosive** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:30 pm

Hi lauren and welcome,

I am glad you were able to get an early diagnosis becasue for me I went years with no clue and it is really hard to explain what is happening when you don't really know yourself. The group here really is great and very helpful. I have just started my second round of Entocort. I am on medication for depression and anxiety but in all honesty it runs in my family so I don't know if mine is worse because of dealing with the unknown of LC or if I would have had to deal with the mental issues anyway. I wish you luck and as everyone has already said no question is bad here. Someone will have had to deal with it at some point and even if what they did does not work for you maybe, it is always nice to know you are not alone in this.

Sharon
:cleantoilet:

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:10 pm

Welcome Lauren!
I too had terrible gas before going GF/DF. It was much worse before i cut out lactose years earlier, especially the odor. Post lactose avoidance i just looked 4 months pregnant all the time. I wondered if I would ever be able to wear a fitted shirt or dress again. Well within 10 days of eliminating all gluten and dairy (and most soy) all the bloating was gone. I am managing with diet and have my life back for the most part. But unfotunately with MC it's often one step forward, two steps back.
Stress can definitely make MC worse , but many medications, including anti-depressants (SSRIs) can actually cause MC so you have to choose your meds carefully.

I fart very rarely now, mostly because i cant FWC yet! All farts happen over the toilet!!

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:31 pm

Hello Lauren, I'm 23 and was diagnosed with MC last year and went through the same emotions you did. I just want to let you know that once you get the symptoms undercontrol you CAN lead the life you lead before MC (Although I notice I always make sure I know where the toilets and exits are incase of a flareup)

Also to back up on the SSRI's and antidepressents that Zizzle has mentioned above me, I contracted MC through my use of anti-depressents so if you do find you need some form of anti-depressent, make sure your dr knows about the link between SSRI's and MC (A lot don't so you may have to take some info like that with you).

I hope you find all the support you need here :)

laurenla520 · Post by **laurenla520** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:51 pm

Thank you guys all so much for your input and encouragement. I finally am starting to feel optimistic because I am finally getting a grasp on whats going on. You guys have given me some great advice and I plan to move forward with the food intolerance testing. I know diet should alleviate some of the gas, is there a prescription medication that could help? Desperate for anything to work, I have found that narcotics like vicodin, that as Tex said slow motility in the gut, do help alot, but can they exacerbate the inflamation and slow my recovery??? I found that xanax does the same thing, but am also wonderng if there is any link between that and the MC. Some of you said that the anti depressants brought on the microscopic colitis, this is interesting because around the time I was prescribes xanax for anxiety, this all began. Ironically, it's one of the only things that really seems to help control the gas and other symptoms. Could that trigger the inflamation as well if I continue? But I do not want to be on these types of drugs, I was just desperate for a quick but temporary fix to the symptoms. Thanking you guys again for welcoming me into your family!

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:47 pm

Lauren,

So sorry you are here but Welcome! I can relate to the gas also. Before MC officially hit I was already having a lot of gas. For years I swear I passed gas at least every 5 minutes. The smell was horrible and I am a dental hygienist. I am surprised my patients would come back to me.

After going fructose free, all fruit and sugar, and gluten free the gas went away. I also had muscle aches which went away too. Imodium helps me, probiotics also help but the only one I have found that I can tolerate is from GI Pro Health Scdophilus. It doesn't have anything added to it like inulin or FOS. Entocort doesn't really help me but I think I am in the minority there. You will find what works for you. It may take awhile but you will get there. I wanted pills to help me not diet at first and it has taken me a long time but I am on the diet bandwagon now. It really helps the best for me.

Pat

P.S. That old thread that Tex posted is hilarious. I think we all can relate!

Post by **tex** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:12 pm

Lauren,

Xanax is not an SSRI, and as far as I am aware, it has not been documented as a known trigger for MC. The gas is a result of fermentation of undigested food in the gut. Wheat gluten and dairy products are probably the main causes of gas/bloating. IOW, the best way to eliminate a gas problem, is by diet changes.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:36 am

P.S. In that hilarious old thread on farts that tex posted above, just thought you'd like to know that HE (tex) is "self-diagnosed". That was his user name on the original board. Tee Hee. Every time I re-read that thread, it puts me in a good mood! Thanks Tex!

Love,

Polly, who believes it's important to be able to laugh at our disease, as well as ourselves!

klhale · Post by **klhale** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:46 pm

Hi laurenla520,

I am sorry you have this dread disease at such a young age. I have had this illness for 10 years, and like you was very sick with lots of gas. I discovered, on my own, that I cannot eat wheat/gluten, dairy (can eat eggs), meat. I went into remission in 2006 and recently MC came back. I use Entocort. It works great for me. It stops the D, stops the pain, and stops the gas.

There is hope to go into remission, but only if you stop eating foods that are making you sick. I also took Xanax, and it did not cause my MC. I took it throughout my first bout with MC with no problems at all, and I even went into remission while taking it.

I hope you get better soon.

karen

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:55 am

Wow that was fun reading the old post and I cannot figure why I never posted on that thread. Probably shy at that point in time but that doesn't sound like me.

Love, Maggie

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:11 am

I believe it contains dairy.

BTW,

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:00 pm

Lauren!

So sorry that you have this disease but am glad you found this site. It changed my life.

Oh, don't we all know about the gas!! In spades, I'm sure!

I find even though I don't have D. anymore, the gas comes back with a vengeance if I eat foods that I am sensitive to .. mainly certain veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflour ( the brassicas, they are called) or if I accidently eat foods I am intolerant of, in particular eggs( I don't get accidently "poisoned " by my other intolerances very often but I know I would react the same if I did.) If you continue to have bad gas you might start to keep a food diary of everything you eat, and pay attention to what you ate just before you get the gas. Then avoid that food and see if it helps. For some people just going gluten, soy or dairy free is not enough to get rid of the gas ( or even the D.) For me I was not able to get better until I found out about the Egg intolerance I have even tho I had been free of all the other things for months and was not eating a lot of veggies or fruit ( fibre) .

You will get your life back, although it may take some time to figure out what is making you sick. Just be patient and don't give up!

Linda

laurenla520 · Post by **laurenla520** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:01 am

Thanks again guys! Although I am eliminating gluten in the mean time, I need to find out what other foods I may be sensitive to. Can I have my dr. order the test or are the tests at enterolab better/more efficient??

Post by **tex** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:44 am

Unfortunately, the stool tests offered by Enterolab are the only tests available anywhere in the world, that will accurately and reliably detect food sensitivities of this type. Their gluten antibody test, for example, will typically detect gluten-sensitivity, several years before the antibodies in the blood reach a level sufficient for the classic celiac blood tests to show a positive result.

Most doctors are unfamiliar with these tests, since they are relatively new, (actually, they have been available for over 10 years, but that's "new" in the medical world). and most doctors have had negative experiences with stool tests that were offered by other labs in the past, so as a result, it is rare to find a doctor who will recommend the tests at Enterolab, but here and there, there are a few doctors who are beginning to see the light.

Tex

laurenla520 · Post by **laurenla520** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:32 pm

ok, thanks ill proceed with that. BTW did anyone else have this experience? Before I was prescribed the Asacol,when I would eat gluten i would get the gas and watery stools,but now on the medication ive gone a day or so GF and do fine and feel better, then the next day break down and have breads and wham watery D but way worse than before im wondering if therese any corloation with the asacol and eating gluten worsening the D anyone else experience this. Well i know i couldve saved this post and just determined to stay GF, which I am now because man the doughnut today put everything in persepective lol.