Hello Members!
I am new to this message board and so glad I found it.
I do have a few questions:
I have CC. How does changing your diet work if the collagen in the colon prevents water, etc. from being reabsorbed and therefor diarrhea?
I go about 20+ times a day and night. Does that mean I may have IBS also?
Needless to say, my life for the last 15 years has centered around the potty at home or knowing where the nearest ones are when in public places!
I anxiously wait for a reply and believe me, "I feel your "pain. "javascript:emoticon(':roll:')
Fran
Collagen Anyone?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Fran,
Welcome to our internet family. I'll try to answer your questions. Bear in mind that these answers are strictly based upon my opinion (and the general consensus of opinion of this board), since the mainstream medical community is still pretty much lost in the dark, as far as understanding and treating this disease is concerned.
Actually, the thickened collagen bands have little to do with diarrhea (in a direct sense, at least). Collagen bands are always present in the intestines. They provide a flexible and yet powerful support system so that our intestines can provide their normal digestive duties. CC merely involves an increase in the thickness of those bands (as a result of inflammation). The extreme diarrhea that marks CC is due to a type of diarrhea known as "secretory diarrhea". With secretory diarrhea, instead of the colon removing and recycling water and electrolytes from the colon, water and electrolytes are actually infused (in copious amounts) into the colon, thus resulting in massive amounts of diarrhea. Secretory diarrhea can continue even if no food or water is ingested, until the body's supplies of water (and electrolytes) are totally depleted. This is the reason why the disease can result in life-threatening dehydration, unless extra measures to maintain hydration are adopted, during severe episodes.
The thickened collagen bands that are used as a diagnostic marker for CC are a result of the inflammation caused by lymphocytic infiltration into the lamina propria layer of the epithelia of the colon. The lymphocytic infiltration (and the resulting inflammation) are due to an autoimmune-type reaction associated with the production of antibodies in response to either certain foods in the diet, and/or to certain medications. Once the inflammation is initiated, it tends to become a self-perpetuating reaction, as long as those antibodies are being produced. Anti-inflammatory medications can suppress the inflammation, and mask the clinical symptoms in some cases, but they cannot stop the production of antibodies.
The only way to stop the production of antibodies is by dietary changes, and/or eliminating the use of any drug that might be causing a reaction. Since the immune system will continue to produce antibodies to even trace amounts of antigens, the only way to stop the production of antibodies (and promote healing) is to avoid those antigens (foods and drugs to which we are sensitive) 100 %, at all times. If we do that, we can usually get our life back. During the recovery process, avoiding all artificial sweeteners, and minimizing fiber and sugar is typically necessary (in addition to the diet changes), in order to facilitate healing. Healing takes many months and years, not just a few days or weeks, as most GI specialists mistakenly believe.
The problem with that scenario, is that if a doctor fails to properly rule out a disease, then the patient is told that she or he has "IBS", regardless of the fact that the true problem was simply overlooked by the doctor. If a GI doc fails to take biopsy samples during a colonoscopy (or fails to do a colonoscopy altogether), then microscopic colitis (for example) will be misdiagnosed as "IBS". If a GI doc fails to test for, or fails to diagnose celiac disease (even though the patient has celiac disease), then the disease will be misdiagnosed as "IBS. The average time from the onset of first symptoms, until an official diagnosis of celiac disease is handed down in this country, is 9.7 years. This is due to a combination of problems. The primary problem is that the celiac screening tests are so insensitive that they can only detect celiac disease after it is fully developed, and has been causing massive intestinal damage for years. The secondary problem is that doctors still fail to even look for celiac disese. And like MC, they can't find it if they don't specifically look for it. That's why less than 5 % of celiacs are ever diagnosed. Ever! That's a pathetic diagnostic record. The end result of all this poor diagnostic performance, is that doctors have no way to diagnose digestive diseases in the early stages. They can only diagnose these diseases after they are fully developed, and have already caused extensive intestinal damage.
That's why "IBS" is so popular among GI docs. It sounds so much better to say, "You have IBS", than to have to say, "I don't have the foggiest idea what's wrong with you", but come back to see me, if you're still having problems after trying this prescription, and we'll continue to try something else (unless you run out of money first, or the insurance company balks at paying for all this)".
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our internet family. I'll try to answer your questions. Bear in mind that these answers are strictly based upon my opinion (and the general consensus of opinion of this board), since the mainstream medical community is still pretty much lost in the dark, as far as understanding and treating this disease is concerned.
Collagen is an interesting item. Collagen is what holds our cells together, by providing a matrix to hold the cells in a flexible and yet strong framework. Without collagen, our bodies would disintegrate into a pile of loose cells.Fran wrote:I have CC. How does changing your diet work if the collagen in the colon prevents water, etc. from being reabsorbed and therefor diarrhea?
Actually, the thickened collagen bands have little to do with diarrhea (in a direct sense, at least). Collagen bands are always present in the intestines. They provide a flexible and yet powerful support system so that our intestines can provide their normal digestive duties. CC merely involves an increase in the thickness of those bands (as a result of inflammation). The extreme diarrhea that marks CC is due to a type of diarrhea known as "secretory diarrhea". With secretory diarrhea, instead of the colon removing and recycling water and electrolytes from the colon, water and electrolytes are actually infused (in copious amounts) into the colon, thus resulting in massive amounts of diarrhea. Secretory diarrhea can continue even if no food or water is ingested, until the body's supplies of water (and electrolytes) are totally depleted. This is the reason why the disease can result in life-threatening dehydration, unless extra measures to maintain hydration are adopted, during severe episodes.The thickened collagen bands that are used as a diagnostic marker for CC are a result of the inflammation caused by lymphocytic infiltration into the lamina propria layer of the epithelia of the colon. The lymphocytic infiltration (and the resulting inflammation) are due to an autoimmune-type reaction associated with the production of antibodies in response to either certain foods in the diet, and/or to certain medications. Once the inflammation is initiated, it tends to become a self-perpetuating reaction, as long as those antibodies are being produced. Anti-inflammatory medications can suppress the inflammation, and mask the clinical symptoms in some cases, but they cannot stop the production of antibodies.
The only way to stop the production of antibodies is by dietary changes, and/or eliminating the use of any drug that might be causing a reaction. Since the immune system will continue to produce antibodies to even trace amounts of antigens, the only way to stop the production of antibodies (and promote healing) is to avoid those antigens (foods and drugs to which we are sensitive) 100 %, at all times. If we do that, we can usually get our life back. During the recovery process, avoiding all artificial sweeteners, and minimizing fiber and sugar is typically necessary (in addition to the diet changes), in order to facilitate healing. Healing takes many months and years, not just a few days or weeks, as most GI specialists mistakenly believe.
In reality, IBS does not exist. It's a disease "invented" by GI specialists to save face. They "created" the disease after years of frustration and embarrassment due to countless occurrences of having to try to explain to patients (in a seemingly-professional manner) that they didn't have the foggiest idea what was causing the patient's problems. There are no true diagnostic criteria for IBS. IBS is a default "diagnosis" that's left over after all "diagnosable" diseases have been ruled out.Fran wrote:I go about 20+ times a day and night. Does that mean I may have IBS also?
The problem with that scenario, is that if a doctor fails to properly rule out a disease, then the patient is told that she or he has "IBS", regardless of the fact that the true problem was simply overlooked by the doctor. If a GI doc fails to take biopsy samples during a colonoscopy (or fails to do a colonoscopy altogether), then microscopic colitis (for example) will be misdiagnosed as "IBS". If a GI doc fails to test for, or fails to diagnose celiac disease (even though the patient has celiac disease), then the disease will be misdiagnosed as "IBS. The average time from the onset of first symptoms, until an official diagnosis of celiac disease is handed down in this country, is 9.7 years. This is due to a combination of problems. The primary problem is that the celiac screening tests are so insensitive that they can only detect celiac disease after it is fully developed, and has been causing massive intestinal damage for years. The secondary problem is that doctors still fail to even look for celiac disese. And like MC, they can't find it if they don't specifically look for it. That's why less than 5 % of celiacs are ever diagnosed. Ever! That's a pathetic diagnostic record. The end result of all this poor diagnostic performance, is that doctors have no way to diagnose digestive diseases in the early stages. They can only diagnose these diseases after they are fully developed, and have already caused extensive intestinal damage.
That's why "IBS" is so popular among GI docs. It sounds so much better to say, "You have IBS", than to have to say, "I don't have the foggiest idea what's wrong with you", but come back to see me, if you're still having problems after trying this prescription, and we'll continue to try something else (unless you run out of money first, or the insurance company balks at paying for all this)".
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
You're very welcome. An all meat diet should be beneficial for recovering from CC/MC, because adequate protein in the diet is essential for healing. The reason why fatigue is such a serious problem for most of us who have this disease, is due to the fact that healing the cellular damage caused by widespread intestinal inflammation takes a tremendous amount of energy, and protein is necessary for the repair or replacement of damaged cells.
Several members have utilized a mostly-meat diet during the early stages of their recovery, in order to minimize inflammation, and maximize healing potential. The reason why avoiding or minimizing grains in the diet helps to minimize inflammation, is because not only does this tend to minimize cross-contamination risks due to gluten and other inflammatory foods, but it also sidesteps another digestive problem associated with intestinal inflammation, namely a reduced ability to produce the enzymes needed to properly digest carbohydrates (sugars). Enteritis (intestinal inflammation), suppresses our ability to produce those enzymes, resulting in partially-digested carbs/sugars. The undigested portions are eventually fermented by bacteria in the colon, producing gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. As we begin to heal, we eventually recover most of our ability to produce those enzymes again, but during the healing stage of our treatment program, the fewer carbs and sugars we eat, the smoother our recovery process, in general.
So yes, provided that you choose meats that you can safely tolerate (some of us react to certain meats), that plan should speed up your recovery process. Don't utilize mostly lean meat however, because without adequate fat in the diet, humans develop what is known as "rabbit starvation" on an all lean meat diet. Choose fatty meat, and it will work just fine. Doctors once insisted that survival on an all-meat diet was not only unhealthy, but impossible, until a famous explorer proved them wrong back in the 1930s. Here's a reference on that, if you are interested:
Eskimos Prove An All Meat Diet Provides Excellent Health
Tex
Several members have utilized a mostly-meat diet during the early stages of their recovery, in order to minimize inflammation, and maximize healing potential. The reason why avoiding or minimizing grains in the diet helps to minimize inflammation, is because not only does this tend to minimize cross-contamination risks due to gluten and other inflammatory foods, but it also sidesteps another digestive problem associated with intestinal inflammation, namely a reduced ability to produce the enzymes needed to properly digest carbohydrates (sugars). Enteritis (intestinal inflammation), suppresses our ability to produce those enzymes, resulting in partially-digested carbs/sugars. The undigested portions are eventually fermented by bacteria in the colon, producing gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. As we begin to heal, we eventually recover most of our ability to produce those enzymes again, but during the healing stage of our treatment program, the fewer carbs and sugars we eat, the smoother our recovery process, in general.
So yes, provided that you choose meats that you can safely tolerate (some of us react to certain meats), that plan should speed up your recovery process. Don't utilize mostly lean meat however, because without adequate fat in the diet, humans develop what is known as "rabbit starvation" on an all lean meat diet. Choose fatty meat, and it will work just fine. Doctors once insisted that survival on an all-meat diet was not only unhealthy, but impossible, until a famous explorer proved them wrong back in the 1930s. Here's a reference on that, if you are interested:
Eskimos Prove An All Meat Diet Provides Excellent Health
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.
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Fran,
Warm welcome, and sympathies you had to find us.
How is your kidney/renal function??
High protein meat diet can affect the kidney function,
Maybe do a gradual process of increasing the meat intake and let the body adjust...
Warm welcome, and sympathies you had to find us.
How is your kidney/renal function??
High protein meat diet can affect the kidney function,
Maybe do a gradual process of increasing the meat intake and let the body adjust...
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
.jpg){kind=avatar}
Welcome Fran!
20 times a day is a lot and I feel for you. You CAN get your life back being pro active. Tex has written an excellent book that you might want to buy. It's pictured in the upper right hand corner of this page. if you click on it, you will be in Amazon.
I was dx with CC two years ago. It helped that I am a certified nutrition specialist, so I understood food already. I chose to take Entocort at the same time I drastically changed my diet. I'm also a personal trainer and needed to be able to work. The drug works great for me and I was down to one BM a day within a week, but the diet is what heals ( not the drug). I basicallly ate all meats, COOKED veggies, eggs, rice and rice cakes ( yeah, I know, it's a carb but it felt good to me), GF Chex cereal with almond milk, almond butter, avocado, olives and olive oil, coconut cream and coconut oil, and sometimes applesauce. I stuck to that diet for 6 months and was able to slowly wean off Entocort during that time. As time has gone on and my gut continues to heal, I have been able to add many things back in but continue to be gluten, dairy, and soy free. Try to stay away from processed and packaged foods.
Later, I realized I had histamine problems ( my once a day stools were still loose) and found that taking OTC antihistamines helps tremendously. Some foods are high in histamines also.
It's a long road to recovery, but it's so worth it. Read labels and learn to cook and plan meals.
Again welcome and keep us posted on your progress
Leah
20 times a day is a lot and I feel for you. You CAN get your life back being pro active. Tex has written an excellent book that you might want to buy. It's pictured in the upper right hand corner of this page. if you click on it, you will be in Amazon.
I was dx with CC two years ago. It helped that I am a certified nutrition specialist, so I understood food already. I chose to take Entocort at the same time I drastically changed my diet. I'm also a personal trainer and needed to be able to work. The drug works great for me and I was down to one BM a day within a week, but the diet is what heals ( not the drug). I basicallly ate all meats, COOKED veggies, eggs, rice and rice cakes ( yeah, I know, it's a carb but it felt good to me), GF Chex cereal with almond milk, almond butter, avocado, olives and olive oil, coconut cream and coconut oil, and sometimes applesauce. I stuck to that diet for 6 months and was able to slowly wean off Entocort during that time. As time has gone on and my gut continues to heal, I have been able to add many things back in but continue to be gluten, dairy, and soy free. Try to stay away from processed and packaged foods.
Later, I realized I had histamine problems ( my once a day stools were still loose) and found that taking OTC antihistamines helps tremendously. Some foods are high in histamines also.
It's a long road to recovery, but it's so worth it. Read labels and learn to cook and plan meals.
Again welcome and keep us posted on your progress
Leah