Lots of Questions

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:56 am

On Tuesday I had a colonoscopy. The doctor took biopsies of nodules he found in my sigmoid. He told me that he believes I have MC. I have been feeling more ill each day. I am wondering if some of the following are common symptoms of MC: little to no appetite, chills, swollen joints, aching back pain, especially on the right side up to the shoulder, daily nausea, passing mucus, feeling like crying much of the time, feeling tired.

Any insights will be appreciated.

Thanks;

peggyanns1955

Jan · Post by **Jan** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:30 am

Welcome Peggy Anns

I will say that some, if not all, the symptoms you listed are related to MC. I had a few of those before they did my colonoscopy and more of them after. Ask all the questions you want and read all you can absorb on this website. There is a lot of information here. Just remember we are all somewhat different.

Jan

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:43 am

Peggyanns,

I'm new here too but have had my diagnosis of MC for several years. What you are describing is exactly how I have been feeling for the last week and a half. For me, these symptoms are much more severe than anything I have ever experienced before. I feel like I may have something more going on in addition to MC or it could be that it is a severe flare.

Has your doctor called with definitive results from your colonoscopy yet? Have they prescribed any meds?

It sounds like you have a lot going on right now so I'm sure the stress isn't helping. I have found that spending time reading through the many posts on this board from some truly selfless, intelligent people who have the same misfortune of being diagnosed with MC has helped me tremendously.

I hope your days start getting better for you.

Post by **tex** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:45 am

Peggy Ann,

Yes, I had all of those symptoms, though not always at the same time. Be aware, though, that most of them can also be caused by other issues, so we can never be 100 % certain.

MC can affect virtually any organ in the body.

Tex

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:01 pm

No, the doctor has not gotten the pathology report back yet. He told my husband and, I while I was still waking up from the colonoscopy, that he believes I have MC. This doctor is considered the "god" of colonoscopys in our area. I am waiting for a call from the doctor's office to see what the next step is. I don't understand why my back hurts. Could my gallbladder be effected? Anyway, I find myself living on protein shakes. I am thinking I should re-think this. I am not even getting 1000 calories a day. I feel so full. I forced myself to have a snack tonight to get to around 800 calories. I love root vegetables, parsnips, turnips, and rutabagas. I think I will roast some tomorrow and have a little natural pork, perhaps flavored with Vermont Maple Syrup.

peggyanns1955

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:34 pm

Is the protein shake milk based? A good percentage of people with MC have problems with anything dairy. Perhaps meat, rice, potatoes, well cooked vegs might be better. I eat a LOT of rice.

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:25 am

Yes, it has ingredients from milk and soy. It also has cocoa powder, natural an artificial flavor, acesulfame potassium, guar gum, sucralose and whey. It is in the back of my head that this might not be the best thing
for me to be ingesting. It is gluten free, however I am learning that 'gluten free' must be looked at with
suspicion. I have a bloated and full feeling at the end of the day and even in the morning. It is made in a facility that processes milk, soy and wheat and eggs. I am thinking there could be cross-contamination.

The one food I really, really, hope I can continue with is tea. I come from a family that whenever there is a problem to be dealt with, we sit around the kitchen table with a pot of tea. We can solve the biggest world problems over a nice hot pot of tea. Right now even 72% chocolate is not all that enticing.

One more thing, how about rice cakes and Japanese rice crackers?

peggyanns1955

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:38 am

Tea, in general, is usually beneficial with this disease. Some of the more exotic blends, however, sometimes contain troublesome ingredients. We always have to read the label carefully.

Plain rice cakes are usually fine, and Edward & Sons makes a product called Rice Snaps, which are quite good for snacks. Again, we have to read the label, because while several "flavors" are safe for almost all of us, some versions contain various ingredients that many of us cannot tolerate, (soy, dairy, etc.).

http://www.edwardandsons.com/es_info_snaps.itml

Tex

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:13 pm

Hello Peggyanns1955 and Welcome!

Recently, Polly posted that she found out her herbal tea with "natural flavourings" contained soy (in the natural flavourings) so do try to find out just what is in your favourite tea. Sometimes it is listed on the company's web site.

I used protein shakes for a while to get calories into me ( because I couldn't seem to find any "real" food that I could eat), but I used a rice protein powder. Be careful of whey, soy or pea protein powders until you figure out just what, if anything you are intolerant of (besides gluten.. you are probably intolerant of gluten just by virtue of the fact that you have MC if it's not drug -induced). some people get MC from certain drugs they have taken ( nsaids, PPI's and others.) When they stop taking the drug, sometimes they return to normal. The rest of us have probably gotten it from gluten and other proteins we are intolerant of. Also , I mixed mine with Silk almond milk.

I hope you start to feel better soon,
Linda

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:23 pm

My favorite teas are the black teas, Earl Grey, Red Rose, English Breakfast. I drink the hot herbal drinks because I think they are good for me. I drink black teas because I love them. I had no idea that soy would be an additive in herbal teas. The protein powder I use does have soy in it. I feel full and bloated afterwards. I a thinking it is a reaction to the soy.

peggyanns1955

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:40 pm

I wouldn't worry too much about the tea. I love coffee and have never given it up, just the stuff ( cream ) that I used to put in it. Stress is also a very important factor in this disease and high stress can really excaberate symptoms. It sounds to me like you need that tea to help deal with stress! :-)

Linda

ant · Post by **ant** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:46 am

Dear Peggy Anns

Welcome from Hong Kong...... Tea.......it is great to settle down with a "nice cuppa tea". I am British so I totally approve!!

I think that pure black teas, e.g. Assam, Ceylon etc. are fine. As is Earl Grey and pure green teas. However, some of the more specialist teas you probably need to be careful of - i.e. check the ingredients.

Wishing you all the best on your journey to remission, ant

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:09 am

Thank you. What a relief. I never put anything in my tea except lemon sometimes. Now, what tasty bit will I eat with it while solving the world's problems?

peggyanns1955

ant · Post by **ant** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:55 am

Now, what tasty bit will I eat with it while solving the world's problems?

Possibly (if you can find it) and you are not intolerant to coco, 75% pure dark chocolate with pure cain sugar, coco butter and no soy lecithin as the emulsifier.

Best ant

Peggyanns1955 · Post by **Peggyanns1955** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:41 am

I will look for it today. Thanks.
Out for breakfast this morning at an organic, local food cafe. They served organic poached eggs on organic lettuce. They serve organic tea, coffee, sausage, made locally, locally made apple sauce. I love to go there. The staff is very helpful and patient.

peggyanns1955