traveler's D as origin?

garon929 · Post by **garon929** » Tue May 20, 2008 1:30 pm

Hello all,

I came across this line in some of the literature: "a foreign luminal agent, perhaps a bacterial organism, may initiate colorectal mucosal inflammation.”

I visited Colombia in spring 1998 and brought something home. I didn't get diagnosed at the time because I couldn't bear to prepare a stool sample (I got the test from the doctor, but never followed through).

My symptoms got better for a while, but then the D came back by the fall and I went through the various tests (this time I did end up doing the the stool sample, as well as an upper GI test and the colonoscopy). I was diagnosed with MC at that time, when I was 31 (younger than average).

And so, I'm wondering if anyone else can make a connection between a possible bacterial organism and the onset of their MC.

Thanks!
Rebecca

Post by **tex** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:09 pm

Hi Rebecca,

I don't think that this applies to my own case, but various bacterial and/or viral infections have been documented to trigger MC for certain patients. I would say that there is a very good chance that you are correct in concluding that some pathogen that you "picked up" in Columbia may well have caused your MC.

Tex

suede · Post by **suede** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:51 am

Hi-- at age 42, this totally happened to me too. As a flight attendant, I got a horrible infection w/ nonstop D. Worst abdominal pains I've ever felt, fever, the whole works--I tried to let it go away on it's own for 4-6 weeks, but did not go away. Tested negative for bacteria and parasites, treated with flagyl and antibiotics anyway to no avail---have had c.c. ever since for over a year now. This IS the cause of my C.C. and no one can convince me otherwise.

I have hashimotos hypothyroid since age 29, and came down with psoriasis on my foot at age 36 after puncturing it and then showering at a camp site shower w/o flipflops and have had it ever since. W/in a week I deveoped a round rash around the wound and it turned into psoriasis of the whole foot. Now it is on Both feet. It seems clear in my case that both autoimmune disease were precipitated by outside pathogens; I probably had an infection before hashimoto's started too, just can't remember.

Has anyone tried immunosuppressant drugs for a short period to try to "re-set" the immune system back to normal? Or does one have to take them forever. I can't stand gaining weight on Entocort.

I've read that intestinal parasites can be the cause of autoimmune disease; I've also read that they can help decrease autoimmune disease! I've read that drinking apple cider vinegar can kill them - stopping autoimmune disease-- Any one know anything about these topics??

Thanks for the respones to my last post, I'm very glad to have found this community.

Sue

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:19 am

Hi Sue,

I'm sure that you're correct about the cause of your CC. It's even possible that you may have had tropical sprue, (which then triggered CC), since bacteria and parasite tests were negative. Statistically speaking, though, GI tests for parasites and certain types of bacteria are notorious for false negatives. Even something as common as C. diff often requires several cultures, before a positive result is detected. Unless one of the antibiotics tried was Vancomycin, many of the antibiotic resistant bacteria, (such as C. diff), might not have been controlled.

We have a few members who have tried immune system suppressants. One, for example, was prescribed Humira, (I believe - it was one of the anti-TNF drugs, anyway), for her RA, and found that it also controlled her MC. Another, tried Imuran, (azathioprine), for about a year,without success. Of course, the problem with the immune system suppressants, is that they make the body more vulnerable to other infections, and, of course, if the treatment is stopped, then the patient will usually relapse, so it's a lifelong treatment. The anti-TNF drugs will usually control psoriasis, however.

If you don't like the side effects of Entocort, have you tried the GF diet? Most of us here control our symptoms by diet alone. Usually, cutting out gluten, dairy, and for about half of us, soy, will stop the inflammation, and allow the gut to heal, so that we can get our life back.

As far as parasites helping to control autoimmune reactions is concerned, there are some recent posts about the use of helmiths to control inflammatory bowel disease in this thread:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9429

You're most welcome - we're glad you found us.

Tex

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:49 pm

Hi Sue,

My LC showed up after a dodgy salad at a BBQ - quite a few people got ill, but most of them got better after 2-3 days, I took months. The docs suspected a parasitic agent, but nothing showed in stool samples (which didn't surprise the doc). The colonoscopy showed LC, and trial and error made me ditch the dairy.

Anyway, even though things had been settled for a while by the time I did it, I did notice a distinct improvement in my condition after doing two rounds of antiparasitics from the naturopath, and pro-biotics. It helped me, so naturally I think it is good for everyone.

This article from the cancer magazine 'icon' is higher on enthusiasm than research, but it does give a good starting point. http://www.iconmag.co.uk/page.php?n=194

I personally think if you haven't done a parasitic cleanse for a while, you have very little to lose by giving it a go, and it may well help.

Lyn

suede · Post by **suede** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:11 am

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. I ordered the food sensitivity tests, a lot of money, but worth it if it identifies my problem. I'll try the parasite cleanse too. I'd go on immunosuppressants, only if it were temporary, and would fix the problem. I don't like taking drugs if I don't have to, and wouldn't want to take those for life. I have high hopes for the food sensitivity tests. If I can control this with diet alone, I'd be so happy.

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:41 am

EnteroLab? I recommend it. At first going GF worked perfectly except that I had to eat prunes and drink prune juice to get my sample for EL. Then I had problems again and did the other test (because of the experiences here) and found soy to be the culprit.

Sorry PP, I seem to repeat the same thing over and over.....

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:42 am

I forgot to say, I am not taking any meds for MC.

G'ma Mary · Post by **G'ma Mary** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:21 pm

Sue;

I know 100% that travelers diarrhea is what precipitated my MC - I never use the word "caused" because I have come to believe that I was predisposed to developing it anyway, but my body needed a "trigger". (Perhaps this is outdated info, but it is what I learned when first diagnosed, and makes sense to me.)

Anyway, in 2000 I spent 10 weeks doing mission work in Honduras. While there, I develped "D". I was with a medical team, so one of our docs gave me antibiotics to get rid of parasites, though there was no way of doing tests to get a definitive diagnosis. With no relief from the first antibiotic, a different one was tried, then a third (I can't remember today what any of them were). When none of those helped, a different doc on our team prescribed a de-worming med, again with no relief. This senario went on for the last 3 weeks of my work there, and I came home having 15-20 explosive totally liquid stools daily.

I immediately went to my family doc here who ran tests and diagnosed c-diff. His assessment of the situation was that I had a parasite while gone, the antibiotics eradicated it, as well as the "friendly" bacteria from my system, leaving me with the c-diff. I was treated for c-diff and the "D" remained, but I then tested negative for c-diff. At that point, my family doc said he had done all he could do and referred me to a GI.

The GI took 6 months while he ran test after test after test and tried one med after another, all with no relief. At the 6 month point, I asked him about a colonoscopy and he agreed and diagnosed MC. I've been a nurse "since dirt was born" and this was the first I'd ever heard of MC. Now, I feel like I am somewhat of an expert on it!

I finally decided to try the GF diet 3 months after the diagnosis, and 3 months after that I was symptom free. Today, I control my symptoms only with GF diet, and I have not had a need to look for additional intolerances.

So, yes, I'll join your group!

G'ma Mary

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:00 pm

I'm fairly certain that traveler's D was the trigger of my LC. 10 yrs ago I had a major GI infection in Guatemala (I get them every time I visit, but this was one of the worst), but tests there only looked for leukocytes in the stool. I came home to pale yellow stool for a week and my doc said it may have been Hep A. I had IBS bloating, cramping and loose stools occasionally after that. A few years later a trip to Thailand resulted in a two-day bug in Bankok - vomiting and D. I developed lactose intolerance shortly thereafter. Interestingly, the lactose intolerance was temporarily "cured" after I took an antibiotic (Keflex) for 10 days for a sinus infection. But weeks later it was back. And IBS-D symptoms got worse. 2 pregnancies later, always bloated and uncomfortable after eating, I suddenly developed more serious D last summer, leading to the LC Dx. But I know it all started 10 years ago... I suspect the infections triggered my celiac genes. I didn't have gluten intolerance all my life.

EastWestGirl · Post by **EastWestGirl** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:55 pm

I am 100% convinced that my LC started from food borne bacteria. I wasn't traveling, per se.

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:04 am

Sue,

Though IBD runs in the family, I am convinced that a bout of food poisoning from grocery store rotisserie chicken was my heralding event. If I could prove it, I would have my name on that chain of stores. My wife got sick the same time I did. She got better, I never did.

Rich