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Welcome Sydney. I don't have too much to add. I was diagnosed with LC in Feb. 2012 and took Budesonide for a few months. It did take a few weeks for it to work and it was a life saver for me! I too slept a lot and the fatigue was the main reason why I went looking for answers (and the WD 13-20 times daily also, LOL!). It sounds as though you're on the right road with your diet changes. I can tell you that I am finally having normal BM on a daily basis and am off all meds so it can be done! I am also feeling more like myself. This board is a wealth of information so post away with any questions!
Hi, Cathy.
Thank you so much for the welcome. I'm sorry that you have LC. It is very encouraging to read that the Budesonide helped you.
I couldn't understand the fatigue, for the life of me. Suddenly, all I was doing was sleeping all day.
I realized I had to make a lot of dietary changes, in addition to the Budesonide. I am beginning my 4th week today. Suspect I am going to be taking it for awhile.
Again, thank you for the welcome, and I am so glad you are feeling more like yourself!
About drugs that may make MC worse. How do we know what drugs are what? I take Cymbalta and Klonapin. Are either of these drugs that can make things worse? How does one find out? Thanks.
Descriptions of drugs can be found on the internet. Drugs.com is a good site for checking out drug descriptions, and there are several others, as well. Cymbalta is an SNRI, and Klonopin is a benzodiazepine. Therefore, Cymbalta can definitely trigger MC in certain people. There is little to no information available on the web concerning any association between benzsodiazepines and MC. However, we have at least one member who had issues with Klonopin, and there is a reasonably good possibility that it may have been connected with the onset of her MC, so it's a potentially risky drug, also. There's a fairly good chance that either one or both of those drugs may be the cause of your MC.
Remember what I pointed out in my previous post in this thread, though, "Withdrawal from the use of any benzodiazepine has to be done very carefully, of course, so just discontinuing the treatment to see if it is the problem is not an option (since that carries a risk of fatal seizures)". The dosage has to be tapered very slowly, when withdrawing from the drug. Your doctor should be able to advise you on safely discontinuing those drugs, if you want to try doing without them, to see if they are the cause of your MC.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Leah wrote:Welcome Sydney. So sorry that you have so much to deal with, but you are taking control and being serious about finding out what will make you better. That's great! Now what you need is patience. Healing takes time.
As Tex said ( and he's the expert), look at all the meds you are taking. Also, I would stop taking the probiotic for now. When I take Culturelle, my D gets worse. Everyone is different, but it's worth a try. Look at ALL the ingredients of the meds you are taking. Hidden lactose and soy could be lurking.... have you taken soy out yet? That's another big one for us.
I am also dx with CC almost a year ago. It took me about 6 months of Budesonide ( slowly tapering) and a strict diet to get it all under control. When I had significant healing, I was able to add some fiber foods back in one at a time. I can now eat small salads nuts, and beans! But at the beginning or in a flare, it's wise to stick to a protein/cooked veggie/rice diet as best you can until you start to feel better. homemade chicken soup works wonders. It takes a while for gluten to be out of your system, so don't expect fast results. For me, I also stayed away from tomatoes, peppers, citrus, fruit juice, coffee, and tea at first. We all are different, but since you feel so lousy, keeping it simple is best.
Keep us posted and good luck with getting better
Leah
Hi, (again) Leah.
I decided to take your advice and stop taking the Culturelle.
I had just started taking it, I had taken it for 5 days, and yesterday, I ended up with severe D,
which is ongoing today.
I hadn't changed anything else in my diet. (Other than having some Pamela's Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake) I don't 'think' the cake caused it, but I am not having anymore of it, either.
Thank you for telling me that Culturelle made your D worse.
tex wrote:Cymbalta is an SNRI, and Klonopin is a benzodiazepine. Therefore, Cymbalta can definitely trigger MC in certain people. Tex
This is interesting since my MC started about the same time I started taking Cymbalta (possibly Klonopin) I think. How do I find something that will help me but doesn't cause MC (I'm taking Cymbalta for depression)? Is there a post that says what to look for and what SNRI and other words to watch for mean? It appears I will have to do my own investigation because the docs won't know what triggers the MC correct? Can't take Prozac because it makes me too sleepy. Had to stop taking Lexapro because it caused involuntary twitches in different places in my body. I do know that I cannot just stop taking Klonopin cold turkey ...thanks for your reminder.
I will go to drugs.com if you can point me what to watch for when I look these up. Thanks Tex.
@Birdlover3....definitely don't take Zoloft. I took Paxil a while back and it gave me D for 4 weeks. I know of one member who is on Effexor and doing well with that but it's heck to get off of. I take Amitriptyline (Elavil) as do a few others. I've been on it for 20 years but I know it didn't cause my MC. Some members started taking it and has worked well for their MC....not sure how well it works for depression but it certainly helped me. Unfortunately, it's somewhat sedating at first and makes you crave sweets. I take Librium which is like Klonopin. However, neither one I believe caused my MC and the inactive ingredients seem to be safe for me. BTW....beta blockers triggered my MC.
Good luck!
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
I just looked up Effexor and it says it is part of the SNRI class, which I understand COULD cause problems with MC. The people you mentioned that take it, did they have problems that cleared up after they switched to Effexor?
Birdlover3....I just did a search and it is Gabes. It's the second topic if you search "Effexor" started by DebE13. I'm computer stupid so will not even try to figure out how to copy the post....lol! I can't even quote yet! Jeez!
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
Hi Sydney. I hope that takes care of the problem. The cake could have given you issues also though. Many of us can't tolerate some of the ingredients in the GF mixes and products... like xanthan gum. I didn't even try these things until I had a significant amount of healing under my belt. Feel better!
Leah wrote:Hi Sydney. I hope that takes care of the problem. The cake could have given you issues also though. Many of us can't tolerate some of the ingredients in the GF mixes and products... like xanthan gum. I didn't even try these things until I had a significant amount of healing under my belt. Feel better!
Leah
Hi, Leah.
I hope so, too. I missed meeting my BFF for lunch today, because of the D.
I will keep my diet very simple, until I see a significant amount of improvement.
I was very discouraged, as yesterday, I began my 5th week of Budesonide, and while I wasn't having 'normal' BM's, the D, had stopped.
It could also be the tapioca starch in that cake mix. Some of us can't tolerate tapioca, but as Leah pointed out, xanthan gum causes problems for many. It's a shame that manufacturers put xanthan gum in their mixes, because most mixes work OK without the gum. They don't work as well, of course, but they still hold together, and at least they're safer without it. Tapioca is sticky, so putting both tapioca starch and xanthan gum in the recipe is kind of an overkill, if you ask me.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Have you tried Welbutrin? It doesn't work for everyone, but it is claimed to have the fewest side effects of any other drug in the antidepressant/anti-anxiety class.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
It could also be the tapioca starch in that cake mix. Some of us can't tolerate tapioca, but as Leah pointed out, xanthan gum causes problems for many. It's a shame that manufacturers put xanthan gum in their mixes, because most mixes work OK without the gum. They don't work as well, of course, but they still hold together, and at least they're safer without it. Tapioca is sticky, so putting both tapioca starch and xanthan gum in the recipe is kind of an overkill, if you ask me.
Tex
Thanks, Tex.
I'm going to stay away from mixes.
Before CC, I baked everything from scratch.
I agree, putting exanthum gum and tapioca starch in the recipe is over-kill.
Being a former pastry chef, I finally delved into GF baking this holiday season. Some things work without gums or tapioca ( like quick breads and muffins, but cakes are more delicate and fine pastry... like pie crust seem to need the gum. Even with the gum, it's not easy to roll out the dough. I also used it in shortbread cookies ( made with coconut oil). without it, I think it would just crumble.
Now the personal trainer side of me says that we shouldn't be eating this kind of stuff on an everyday basis anyway :)
