Tex, Thank you so much!! Such a blessing for us to have found you and this forum.
I'll ask our GP for a prescription for Cholestyramine. If the problem turns out to be BAM, must Cholestyramine be taken for life? Or does taking it allow the liver/gall bladder/intestines time to heal and eventually do the job themselves?
Interesting that taking Cholestyramine might resolve H. Pylori. Otherwise, though, what would you recommend, aside from antibiotics, which he'd rather avoid if possible?
Thank you for the rice link. It's on my shopping list!
Lydia
Safe carbohydrates for severely underweight elderly man
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Hi, Brandy,
Yes. This is exactly right: "Typically the gastro docs want a colonoscopy before prescribing entocort but it would be worth a conversation given that your husband is over 80, he has symptoms, and we are in times of Covid."
I understand from what I've read on this forum, and from reading Tex's book, that this is a tradeoff. Entocort delays healing. But it halts the inflammation. And we'd still have to face this tradeoff if he does the colonoscopy. (Unless Cholestramyne, which Tex also suggested, works).
And yes, he is extremely underweight. I don't like it.
But at the same time, today, he looks livelier and a bit more energetic, after we cut out ALL supplements and all chicken and started the restrictive diet yesterday.
So how does this sound to you: let's see what happens in the next four or so days on this diet? If he improves a bit, then may be try diet and no Entocort? If he doesn't improve, then try Entocort, while doing the diet at the same time.
And also, I'd like him to try Cholestyramine.
Is that a plan? Or a mess? HaHa.
Yes. This is exactly right: "Typically the gastro docs want a colonoscopy before prescribing entocort but it would be worth a conversation given that your husband is over 80, he has symptoms, and we are in times of Covid."
I understand from what I've read on this forum, and from reading Tex's book, that this is a tradeoff. Entocort delays healing. But it halts the inflammation. And we'd still have to face this tradeoff if he does the colonoscopy. (Unless Cholestramyne, which Tex also suggested, works).
And yes, he is extremely underweight. I don't like it.
But at the same time, today, he looks livelier and a bit more energetic, after we cut out ALL supplements and all chicken and started the restrictive diet yesterday.
So how does this sound to you: let's see what happens in the next four or so days on this diet? If he improves a bit, then may be try diet and no Entocort? If he doesn't improve, then try Entocort, while doing the diet at the same time.
And also, I'd like him to try Cholestyramine.
Is that a plan? Or a mess? HaHa.
This is good news. Many people heal with diet alone. I did the second time after a reflare.But at the same time, today, he looks livelier and a bit more energetic, after we cut out ALL supplements and all chicken and started the restrictive diet yesterday.
So how does this sound to you: let's see what happens in the next four or so days on this diet? If he improves a bit, then may be try diet and no Entocort? If he doesn't improve, then try Entocort, while doing the diet at the same time.
Hi, Brandy,
We received Sandoz brand Cholestyramine.
However, since husband went on the very restrictive diet w no supplements (I described it above), he has improved. Down from 7-8 WD/day to 2 BM/day -- and less watery. Also, less pain and bloating. So we are going to keep going for a little while longer on the diet before trying the Cholestyramine. By the way, I saw that the Sandoz Cholestyramine powder contains citric acid (amongst other chemicals and colorants).
Anyway, hoping that, when the Enterolab results arrive this coming week that he can tolerate rice. He loves rice. Doesn't like potatoes!
Thank you so much!
We received Sandoz brand Cholestyramine.
However, since husband went on the very restrictive diet w no supplements (I described it above), he has improved. Down from 7-8 WD/day to 2 BM/day -- and less watery. Also, less pain and bloating. So we are going to keep going for a little while longer on the diet before trying the Cholestyramine. By the way, I saw that the Sandoz Cholestyramine powder contains citric acid (amongst other chemicals and colorants).
Anyway, hoping that, when the Enterolab results arrive this coming week that he can tolerate rice. He loves rice. Doesn't like potatoes!
Thank you so much!
I wouldn't worry about the small amount of citric acid in the Sandoz brand of cholestyramine. Most of us only react to citric acid on a dose-dependent basis. For example, for me, drinking an 8 oz glass of orange juice was asking for diarrhea the next day (or sooner). But as far as I know, the tiny amount in medications never bothered me. I suppose if I ingested enough medications that contain citric acid in a single day, the cumulative effect might cook my goose, but that would probably require an unusually high amount of medications. Now, of course, I can handle a glass of orange juice without any problems, but I still avoid it, because fructose is not a very healthy form of sugar. It has to be digested by the liver.
Besides, the Sandoz brand appears to be the only game in town, as far as effectiveness goes. And as far as that goes, if you showed me a medication of any type that didn't have any disadvantages, I'd probably faint from shock.
Glad you liked the rice.
Tex
Besides, the Sandoz brand appears to be the only game in town, as far as effectiveness goes. And as far as that goes, if you showed me a medication of any type that didn't have any disadvantages, I'd probably faint from shock.
Glad you liked the rice.
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.