Just discovered I probably have MC

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:37 am

I had a colonoscopy yesterday. The doctor informed me that there are nodules on my sigmoid and the results will probably show that I have MC. I had never heard of this condition. I went home and researched it in between bouts of cramps, running to the rest room and nausea. Today I feel like crying. I have not felt well in over 2 months. This thing started on December 18th while Christmas shopping with my daughter. I will do everything I can to live my life, running, skiing, taking care of my family and my elder parents. I am wondering if stress comes into play here. Anyway, I am grateful it was discovered and that I found this site. I know I have much to learn.

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:55 am

Welcome to our little internet family! You have come to the right place. Learning stuff here is sort of like drinking from a fire hose, but invaluable. I have learned years' worth of information in just the few months I've been here, and the compassion from having "been there and done that" is unrivaled. And the encouragement.

Your experience sounds similar to mine. I had a node, too, that turned out to be a precancerous polyp, and when the diagnosis came back that I have collagenous colitis, I was totally at sea, having never heard of such a thing. We are of a similar age as well.

Welcome again!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:04 pm

Welcome Peggyanns!
Wow, you and your GI moved quickly on the colonoscopy! Good for you! Most people here wait for months, if not years, before getting a diagnosis. Yes, stress can certainly aggravate MC symptoms. But with the right elimination diet and possibly medication, you can get your life back.

Welcome aboard and keep us posted on your final pathology report.

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:11 pm

I was where you are about 2 1/2 years ago. It has been the wisdom, advice, and support of this board that has brought me to remission. For me it was adopting the gf, df, sf, and eg diet. I discovered I had these intolerances by getting tested through Enterolab recommended by this board and using entocort. It's a journey with lots of ups and downs, forwards and backwards, but eventually finding your way. Stress is definitely a factor in causing MC problems. Good luck on working your way through this. As you pass through the different stages of dealing with this, things will improve and get better. There's lots of help and hope on this board and will help you on your way,
JoAnn

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:26 pm

Weldome Peggyanns,

Well I must say that you have a doctor that did not fool around like many here have had. It is a disease that can definitely be aggravated by stress but once you find your way of handling both the stress and disease, you will be on the right path. I have been here for over 10 years and one of the original members and have found this to be a family I continue to stay with for the support, encouragement and knowledge that resides here. I handle my disease totally by diet and am gf, df (for the most part), cf and lots of other things free.

I don't think there is any place - better yet know there - is no place that has the information that we have here.

Please do stick around and though at times this disease may seem overwhelming you can get a handle on it.

Maggie

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:45 pm

Thank you all for your kind Welcome and encouraging words. I am feeling completely over-whelmed. There is so much conflicting information all over the internet. I am slightly nervous that the pathology report will show pre-cancer. I am afraid to eat anything. I have been passing mucus all day. I feel very tired when I get home from school. My father is dying and I am helping to take care of him. I do have a very supportive husband. He has some understanding of what I am going through. He has RA and is gluten and dairy intolerant. Goodness, our daughter has lovely DNA thanks to us. I am strong, I will find my way though this. I will be starting a food diary tomorrow morning. There is a bright side with this. I am a bodybuilder and eat a very strict diet. At work other people give me a hard time when I don't eat pizza and ice cream and chocolate. Today when I was offered candy I explained that I really can't because of the MC. The response was completely different than in the past. I got sympathy, not eye rolling. LOL

peggyanns1955

califgranny · Post by **califgranny** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:18 pm

Hi Peggy,Im new here too,so I know a little how you are feeling.Sometimes its just a little to much.Today was not a good day my whole body hurts not sure why all the pain.My doctor has me on predisone and lialda.Seems to work a little.But Im still not back to normal but I have only been on the meds a little over a week.I just hope to get through the many doc appts I have coming up. Oh well I will put on my depends and get going.LOL.At least I can laugh.The one thing that helps me is my faith in God.If not for that I would lose it.I hope all gets better for you soon.Take care.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:56 pm

Hi PeggyAnn welcome to the group Certainly don't despair it does get better from here. Now you have a diagnosis, from here addressing your diet and if needed finding a medication to help you will help bring this into remission. Initially when things are flaring like this it can seem pretty overwhelming, the good news is you have found the best group of people around who are all dealing with the same issue as you are now and have lots to offer in advice and encouragement.

Take care and please keep us updated with your progress and of course feel free to ask anything

--Joe

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:54 pm

Welcome PeggyAnn!!

You sound very determined, and that will go a long way in treating your MC.

I sympathize with your trying to teach and deal with MC. What level do you teach? Can you leave the classroom quickly when necessary? Hopefully your urgency will stop quickly after you begin managing your MC.

We are all at different stages of management. Some of us use diet alone and some of us use diet in combination with medication. Whatever path you choose, you will get better, and you will get your life back.

I'm sure you're reading a lot on this site. This is the most comprehensive site on MC on the Internet, with years of experience of managing MC amongst us. Feel free to ask questions - we are here to help you.

Gloria

Foxnhound8 · Post by **Foxnhound8** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:28 am

Hi PeggyAnn

Hang in there. The same thing happened to me near the end of October last year. Fine one day and the next...diarrhea like no tomorrow. I didn't get my colonoscopy until December and got my crummy CC diagnosis. Read, read, read here and be prepared to have your Dr. look at you like you have two heads when you mention diet really helps with your symptoms. At least that's what mine did.

foxnhound

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:23 am

Post by **tex** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:32 am

Hi Peggy Ann,

Welcome to the group. I'm very sorry to hear of the high stress level that you are having to deal with while caring for your father, because yes, stress can definitely make the symptoms of MC worse, and I suspect that it might possibly even trigger the disease, in the first place, in some cases.

I don't mean to try to predict the outcome of your pathology report, but if it is any comfort, it is quite rare for people with MC to have colon cancer, so the odds are definitely in your favor on that issue, if you do have MC. (It's tough to try to find a silver lining related to MC, but sometimes we can find them in unexpected places).

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. Please let us know what the pathology report shows, when it becomes available.

Tex

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:31 am

Thank you for the kind welcome to this group. I am reading everything I can about this interesting challange in my life. I teach special ed, middle school and high school. I do have challanges in that part of my life. However, I can't imagine doing anything else. I feel blessed to be able to take care of my father at the end of his life. He was an amazing man. Brilliant, strong, brave. He was in WWII, he was "The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit". He was there for his family. I am taking each day as it comes. I feel weepy a lot, but I will find a way through the boulder in the road. I am planning on running a 1/2 marathon in May. I am training for a cross country ski marathon (25K) in 2 weeks. I need these goals. They help me focus on happy days. I can't just think about illness. So, again thank you for reading about me. I look forward to learning and feeling better.

peggyanns1955

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:33 am

Peggy Ann,

Welcome. I think the 1/2 marathon will be good for you. Something to look forward to, something to train for (and that is good for both mind and body). And now that you have found this site, you WILL get to tools to improve your quality of life.

Regards,

Rich

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Just discovered I probably have MC

Just discovered I probably have MC

Thank you all som much