MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Tex, Thanks. Your reply reminded me of a question that I keep forgetting to ask. I was wondering if you, or anyone who got the COVID vaccine, experienced a flair up from it? I had been battling multiple flair ups since the end of March of 2020. In December of 2020 my Gastroenterologist put me on Budesonide and things stopped. On February 17th, I received my first vaccine shot (Pfizer). Ten days later my colitis returned with a vengeance and did not stop until mid June. I realize that because I had already been battling flair ups that the vaccine may not have had anything to do with it. My Gastroenterologist said is was such a new vaccine that there was no data to say one way or the other. My GP said that he was not surprised because the vaccine causes inflammation. I just wondered if any one else experienced this. With the booster soon to be out, I am not so sure I want to get it. I appreciate any feedback.

Cheryl

I'm not aware of anyone else who experienced a flare, or diarrhea of any origin, after receiving the vaccine. On the other hand, I've exchanged emails with several MC patients who caught the virus before the vaccines became available, and every one of them had an MC flare that was extremely persistent.

I have a brother who is a realtor, so he deals with people from all over the country, and he caught the virus in January of 2020. His doctor couldn't even figure out what he had, but it had to be the alpha version of COVID-19, because he was very sick for a couple of months with typical symptoms, and he had a persistent cough that lingered for several months afterward. He had to sleep sitting up at night, in order to be able to breathe. He doesn't have MC, but the virus caused serious diarrhea that lasted for weeks. His wife caught it also, of course, and she had similar symptoms. When they were finally able to get a vaccination in April of 2021, it caused no symptoms for either one of them.

Anyway, based on what I've seen, I doubt that your flare was caused by the vaccination, although I can't absolutely rule it out. Vaccinations sometimes cause unexpected events. A few weeks ago, for example, I decided to get a shingles vaccination, and I had the worst reaction that I've ever had to a vaccine, at any time in my life. I felt exhausted for two days, with no energy at all. My arm felt as though I had fallen out of a tree and landed on that shoulder, and I couldn't get to sleep at all the first night. The second night I probably got about half my normal amount of sleep, but by the third day I started to feel better, and the symptoms slowly disappeared. I'm really looking forward to getting the second shot, six months after the first one, because the nurse who gave me the shot told me that most people have only mild symptoms after the first shot, but the second one is usually worse.

My take on vaccines in general is that usually, we come out smelling like a rose. But once in a great while, A few of us encounter problems with the thorns on that rose.

Tex

Thanks so much Tex. I will be praying that your second shingles shot goes much smoother than the first!
Cheryl

I have been reading lots of these posts and I have a question. How much protein is too much? Seems like I eat these days are venison, elk, banana olive oil. Still waiting for my Entrolab results.

How much protein is too much?

how much you need / max amount varies person to person depending on age, lifestyle/activity levels, etc.

Some people struggle with the Keto high protein diet (can cause kidney issues) - similar here in 'MC world' it is a case of listen to your body

Thanks not to be dense but what would side effects be?

If you're referring to the side effects of getting too much protein, as Gabes mentioned, that would be kidney issues, in most cases. And that Is more likely to happen if you have kidney issues to begin with. That said, a high-protein diet can corrupt some of the kidney function tests, and cause you and your doctor to believe that you have kidney function problems. If you have any tests scheduled for kidney function, back off on the protein for about a week before the blood draw for those tests. That will usually resolve the test issue.

Eating lean meat without enough fat can cause other issues, namely diarrhea, and digestive problems. Without sufficient fat in the diet, after about a week, we may develop diarrhea, headache, etc. We can maintain perfect health, as long as we get adequate protein and fat in our diet. Carbohydrates are totally unnecessary for health. But if we eat nothing but lean meat, without enough fat, we tend to develop what's known as rabbit starvation, or protein poisoning. Meat that naturally contains plenty of fat, such as beef, pork, lamb, seal, walrus, whale, etc. is fine, but a lot of wild type meats tend to be too lean, unless we add some additional fat. Please read The article at the following link. It was written in the 1930s, but it's accurate:

https://biblelife.org/stefansson2.htm

The medical research article at the link below, also verifies that a high-fat diet is safe:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3336803/

Tex

Thanks Tex, I am eating ground Elk and Venison .

My results just came in now I really don’t know what else to do. So frustrating.


Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 311 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 37 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 32 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 24 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 21 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:

Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+): Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+): Food to which there was significant and/or the most immunological reactivity (3+):


Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 311 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 37 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 32 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 24 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 21 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:

Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: Almonds Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+): Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+): Food to which there was significant and/or the most immunological reactivity (3+):
Almond none
Walnut 1+
2+Oat
Rice
Chicken
Tuna
Pork
Cashew
3+Corn
Beef
White potato


Within each class of foods to which you displayed multiple reactions, the hierarchy of those reactions detected were as follows:

Grains:
Grain toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Corn
Grain toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Oat
Grain toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Rice

Meats:
Meat toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Beef
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Chicken, Tuna
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Pork

Nuts:
Nut toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Cashew
Nut toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Walnut

Nightshades:
You displayed immunologic reactivity to white potato, the member of the nightshade family usually consumed most often and in greatest quantities. While this does not necessarily mean you would react to all other nightshade foods (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant), it is possible. In the realm of elimination diets for immunologic disorders, nightshades are usually eliminated as the entire food class (i.e., all four previously mentioned foods in this class). This is especially important to the clinical setting of arthritis.



Within each class of foods to which you displayed multiple reactions, the hierarchy of those reactions detected were as follows:

Grains:
Grain toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Corn
Grain toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Oat
Grain toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Rice

Meats:
Meat toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Beef
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Chicken, Tuna
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Pork

Nuts:
Nut toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Cashew
Nut toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Walnut

Nightshades:
You displayed immunologic reactivity to white potato, the member of the nightshade family usually consumed most often and in greatest quantities. While this does not necessarily mean you would react to all other nightshade foods (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant), it is possible. In the realm of elimination diets for immunologic disorders, nightshades are usually eliminated as the entire food class (i.e., all four previously mentioned foods in this class). This is especially important to the clinical setting of arthritis.

the gluten result is very high. and the results of the other items show high levels of inflammation in the body

are you getting cross contamination with gluten?
are you taking Vit D3 and magnesium?

Regarding your current diet, lamb contains a lot more fat than either of the meats you're reading. And you could probably eat pork, especially if you didn't eat it every day. And you might be able to safely eat sweet potatoes, if you want to add some carbs.

Tex

I am doing the Mag spray and 4000 Iu of D a day. Cross contamination big possibility. My grandkids are here every day and my husband has it really excepted the cross contamination thing. I am working on it though. Thanks for all you help.

Hi Tex,

I am 27 years old and from the Uk. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about 5 years ago and have been diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis in April. I had been taking Nexium 6 months prior to being diagnosed for acid reflux but I have now come off them as I have read online that they can be a trigger.
I started on Budenoside for 6 weeks but when I came off them the symptoms came back after 3 weeks. I’ve now been put back on Budenoside for 3 months and I’m worried that when I come off them I’m going to flare up again. I now have normal bowel movements, what do you think I should do after coming off Budenoside regarding diet? I’m basically eating whatever I want at the moment apart from gluten obviously as I seem to be able to on Budenoside but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do! I really want to try and prevent another flare up! Im guessing my intestines are no longer inflamed due to the medication but how do I stop them being inflamed again?
Also just to add, I’m so glad I found this site, I have been reading all your information on diet and it’s SUPER helpful so thank you!!

Ali

Hi Ali,

Welcome to the group. 85% of MC patients who respond to budesonide, relapse soon after a budesonide treatment is ended, that relapse can be avoided by avoiding all the foods that cause your immune system to produce antibodies against them, and by tapering the budesonide treatment much farther than most doctors realize is necessary. You can either order stool tests from EnterroLab, and avoid the foods that those tests detect as allergens, or you can avoid all dairy products, all products that contain soy, and eggs. Always continue to avoid gluten, of course.

After you successfully wean off the budesonide, and you're in stable remission, you can test dairy, soy, and eggs, one at a time, for three days, by eating a little of the food the first day, a little more the second day, and more the third day. If you haven't reacted by the end of the third day that food is probably safe to add back into your diet. Then you can continue on and test the next food. If you have a reaction to a food, stop eating that food immediately.

In case you haven't seen our recommendations on tapering budesonide, it simply adds an extended taper after you end the one capsule per day stage. Simply take one every other day for two or three additional weeks, then one capsule every third day for two or three more weeks, than one capsule every fourth day. Some members here, who have difficult cases, go on to taking a capsule every fifth, or even sixth day.

The reason this works, is because budesonide suppresses the inflammation by reducing the number of mast cells in the intestines. When the treatment is ended however, mast cell numbers rebound. Therefore, if the budesonide tapering is ended too quickly, mast cell numbers rebound too quickly, and overshoot, causing a relapse of symptoms. If the tapering is done properly, mast cell numbers will recover slowly, and orderly, which won't cause a relapse.

Budesonide works by suppressing the inflammation after it's created by your immune system reaction to certain foods. Making the proper diet changes eliminates the cause of the inflammation in the first place, so that the Inflammation never develops. Be aware that every time you end a budesonide treatment, and then restart a treatment, the medication becomes slightly less effective for you. If you do this repeatedly, at some point the medication will no longer be effective. That's why it's so important to make the proper diet changes before budesonide loses its efficacy, because after you make the proper diet changes, and your digestive system heals, you won't need any medications to stay in remission for the rest of your life. At your young age, you wouldn't want to be dependent on an expensive medication for the rest of your life, anyway, if you're like most of us.

Doctors don't seem to be aware of this, because It can't be found in the medical literature, but it's quite obvious that neither celiac disease nor microscopic colitis are actually diseases — they're actually both symptoms of gluten sensitivity. The primary difference is that the villi of the small intestine are damaged to a greater degree for those who have a celiac gene, whereas the inflammation is more severe in the colon and terminal ileum, for those in which celiac disease has not developed, but MC has. Obviously, some of us have both issues, but after microscopic colitis develops, the celiac issues are a moot point, because MC patients are sensitive to not only the gluten, but in some cases, a long list of foods.

I hope this helps.

Again,welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

Hi Tex,

Thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate it so so much!

As I’m in the UK I don’t think I’m able to use Enterrolab but I will definitely do what you have said! I also eat a lot of sugary foods so that probably doesn’t help.

Unfortunately I don’t have enough Budenoside to taper off as I’ve been on 3 tablets for a month then 2 tablets for a month then 1 tablet for a month but I’m definitely trying to control it with diet!

I have overnight oats everyday and eat a lot of tinned tomato, do you think these two things would be okay to carry on?

I also experience a very weird taste in my mouth after eating and burning stomach but I think that’s acid reflux and I’m not taking Nexium, I stupidly came off these very quickly so I think I may just be experiencing rebound acid.

Thanks again for all your help.

Ali

Ali,

Before I developed MC, I was a sugarholick. Alcohol and sugar (not necessarily both, but either one) have been documented to cause leaky gut, and as you probably are well aware, leaky gut leads to most food sensitivities. We don't digest carbs, especially sugar, completely when our gut is inflamed, so it tends to attract opportunistic bacteria which ferment it, causing, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. You didn't say how far along in your budesonide treatment you are, but if you've only been on one capsule per day for a week or so, start spacing them out to one every other day, etc., so that you can stretch out the taper. Otherwise you may wind up having to do the whole treatment over again, if your healing hasn't progressed to the point where your diet can control the symptoms.

An alternative to extending the taper on your budesonide treatment is to begin taking an over the counter antihistamine when your budesonide treatment ends. For most of us, an over the counter antihistamine will work almost as well as budesonide for extending that control. This might be a better choice for you, if your prescribed treatment is almost over, so that you don't have very many capsules left.

Virtually all of us react to the avenin In oats. Avenin is a weaker allergen than gluten, so for some of us, It takes longer for us to begin to react, but the reaction tends to be basically as severe as the reaction to gluten, once it begins. None of us can tolerate very much citric acid, either, while we're still in recovery, and tomato is a citrus fruit. After were in remission for a while, we can handle more citric acid, and as we heal, eventually we can handle normal amounts.

Yes, PPIs tend to cause rebound symptoms that are commonly worse than they were before the treatment was begun, when a treatment with them is ended. Acid reflux and GERD are common issues with MC. But PPIs trigger MC for most people, so control that problem by taking an H2 antihistamine as needed, never take a PPI, because they cause the very symptoms they are prescribed to treat. PPIs are an iatrogenic drug.

As you're probably aware, the H2 blockers include cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine, for example. Avoid eating any foods that tend to cause acid reflux at least three or four hours before bedtime. Examples of those foods include: alcohol, particularly red wine. black pepper, garlic, raw onions, and other spicy foods. chocolate. citrus fruits, coffee and caffeinated drinks, including tea and soda. and peppermint. If it all possible, don't eat or drink anything other than water, at least two or three hours before going to bed. In bed, never lie on your right side, because in that position your stomach is higher than your lower esophageal sphincter. If the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes even momentarily, you'll have acid reflux. A magnesium supplement taken before bedtime helps to prevent muscle spasming, therefore it helps to prevent various issues such as restless leg syndrome and acid reflux. If that isn't sufficient for preventing reflux, elevate the head of your bed a few inches, by placing a brick under each leg, for example. As your gut heals, your lower esophageal sphincter will also heal, so that eventually acid reflux shouldn't be a problem.

Once acid reflux develops, however, it can take months to get it under control. About 10 years ago, after I had major abdominal surgery, I awoke from surgery with nasal tubes that assisted my breathing, and drained the contents of my stomach. When they brought me my first meal, several days later, I choked while eating a piece of chicken and coughed up both tubes. The doctor on duty insisted that the tubes should be reinserted, when I objected, he gave me a choice — either the tubes, or take a PPI each day. I took a PPI for three days. When I got home after the surgery, I woke up during the night with a mouthful of acid. I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and spit it in the laboratory, and rinsed out my mouth. I had never before had acid reflux in my life, but after taking a PPI for three days, my lower esophageal sphincter was so weakened that it took me at least three or four months of being extremely careful to use the guidelines I just gave you, before I was able to get rid of acid reflux problem. After that experience, I wouldn't touch a PPI with a 10 foot pole.

Sorry That I got sidetracked. I hope this helps.

Tex