Newly diagnosed LC, many questions.

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:39 pm

I'm 2 days into the probiotic yogurt and done. I'm pretty sure it made things worse. Going to stick with 1 pepto 2x a day. I told the AD doc today about the dx of LC and it happening roughly 6wks after starting Cymbalta. The first thing he said to me was I'm sure certain foods can cause that, which I found amazing b/c from this site it seems most GIs don't even realize that! He said he hadn't heard of Cymbalta causing issues like that, but that it hasn't been out that long to find all the side effects. <------TEX you are so stinkin smart! This is exactly what you said! He had no problem with me trying something different, so he's changing me to citalopram- SSRI and desipramine- Tricyclic. I've tried citalopram before, don't remember why I changed, but it didn't cause a flare up. I've not tried the desipramine. If this doesn't change my symptoms, I'm going to the BRAT diet. I'm leaning towards it now, but want to see what this med change does.

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:06 pm

I find it odd he is putting you onto an SSRI when they are known to cause MC problems.

Post by **tex** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:07 pm

Andrea,

Good luck with the new meds. Maybe your luck will hold on these.

Tex

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:42 am

Andrea...
I only read your first post and not the replies bc I don't have a lot of time (leaving for work soon!)
I have LC and also celiac. My celiac is completely under control with my strict diet but I have been on BC for the past 12 years due to my endometriosis. After trying all meds (including pepto) I decided to take myself off the pill. I am about 90% better it's unbelievable. I can't believe none of the doctors I saw mentioned that hormones could be a factor. Just something to think about.. good luck
Jenny

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:47 am

Naty- I know, I'm just hoping that b/c I've tried it before w/ no problems that it will be OK. I'd like to take nothing at all, but at this point, the whole ordeal is making me a little depressed lol.

On a side note, I found generic pepto in pill form at Walgreens yesterday! I could only find brand at $2 more a bottle before. I've decided to throw some B12 into the mix as well. I just haven't had any energy lately. My hair has been falling out more as well. I asked the GI if this could be from malnutrition and he said no, the biopsies didn't show any malabsorption. I'm sure it could be from stress as well, as this whole ordeal is stressing me out!

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:53 am

I should mention that I've had my thyroid tested b/'c my mother was hyperparathyroid. They've all come back fine. The only one I haven't been tested for is hasimotos. I'm going to ask about that one next week at my PCP appt.

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:23 am

Well I hope it doesn't cause you to flare then!!!

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:59 am

Andrea,

My Enterolab tests didn't indicate malabsorption BUT my hair is thicker since I corrected my diet. Even crazier, it's growing in darker (I've been of my age curve with the silvery gray hair for years). So I believe you can have effects that aren't measured in those tests, including diminished nutrient absorption. Your hair loss might be a sign of something autoimmune instead??? My tests did indicate I had that going on (elevated anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA).

Hyperparathyroid and Hashimoto's are both more frequent in celiac patients, especially those who've been undiagnosed for a long time (which is a shamefully high percentage in this country).

Feel better,

Sara

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:36 pm

Did you have your vitamin D level checked? Most of us with autoimmune issues are found to be deficient. Mine was 17 when this all started. I'm only up to 29 with D3 supplementation! I had hairloss when I started the GF/DF diet. Now I supplement with B-complex and by B12 is still on the low side. But my hair feels much thicker!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:24 pm

gday and welcome to the group

some quick advice re new meds, i have found a system that works quite well for introducing new meds and not sending my body into reactions ie D, is to start with low dose ie 20mg for three days and if the digestion is ok then increase to 30mg for three days and gradually work up to whatever the full dose is.
if any MC symptoms appear i just go back a level for a week or so and then gradully increase from there.

i do this with supplements and medications and it works really well for me....

my theory with MC is that there is no right way or wrong way, there is your way. it sucks a bit that you cant take short cuts or copy what others have done, you kinda have to spend the time figuring out what works for you.....

fingers cross that you find your path soon,

take care

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:31 pm

Good call on starting meds at a lower dose. I already feel better today having not eaten that stinking probiotic yogurt yesterday and today. Learned that mistake on my own.

I actually have super thick hair, so the hair loss isn't such a big deal now, but if it goes on for too much longer, it's going to be! I'm growing it out for locks of love, so I'd like for some hair to be left once I get the 10 inches needed to donate!

I don't think I've had my Vit. D checked, unless it's ordered in a routine CBC which I don't think it would be. I just refreshed my memory as too what Vit. D does and on ehow it says that Vit. D may play a role on preventing hypertension by limiting the actions of some enzymes that increase BP. Interestingly enough, I've had high BP for the last 4 weeks. Even more interesting is that I had to change birth control 4 weeks ago to Loestrin24 FE b/c I was beginning to get ovarian cysts on my previous BC that caused my periods to be out of whack and even skipped. I'd been on that previous BC for 3 years, but this change had been for the previous 8 months. Anyway, my first placebo pill was on Wednesday and I could absolutely tell a dip in my BP and I was just mellow as all get out. I've already seen my PCP to complain about the hypertension & chest pain as well last week. Well it just dawned on me yesterday that holy crap, it could be the BC causing the hypertension. I'm wondering if I do have a low Vit. D level and then adding this new BC maybe pushed it over the edge?! The pharmacist told me today one of the drugs in Loestrin FE can cause hypertension. She gave me a few new BC w/out that drug and w/ the extended active pills to prevent ovarian cysts. I called my GYN and he changed my BC to Seasonique but said that he doubted my hypertension was caused by Loestrin and to f/u w/ my dr, which I already have. I have a f/u w/ PCP Monday to go over the echo and 48hr holter EKG tests he ordered b/c of the chest pain and hypertension. I'm definetely going to ask about getting my Vit. D checked and getting checked for Hashimotos.

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:24 am

Day 2 of new AD meds, it's looking pretty promising folks!

Post by **tex** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:11 pm

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:36 pm

that is great news,

you may notice at the bottom of one of the members (Ant) is a saying

softlee softlee catchee monkey

it is a bit of a motto with MC, if you take small careful well thought out steps you will attain the goal....
as many have found out, if you try to rush or force the result, sometimes you end up worse off than when you started

keep taking the small steps.

alclarkson · Post by **alclarkson** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 3:04 pm

Small steps indeed. I was thinking of changing birth controls too, but I'm going to stick with changing just the AD meds this month. I'm having a bit of a headache, not sure if it's from new meds or withdrawal from old med. Only time will tell I suppose!

Thanks Potty PPL!