Just diagnosed - finally

Golfingail · Post by **Golfingail** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:40 am

Finally found a a good gastro dr - he knew to do the biopsy during colonoscopy & discovered my Microscopic Colitis - so thankful to finally find out that I have a real reason for this constant D, bloating, gas, etc., etc. He put me on an 8 week plan of 8 pepto bismol a day (4 in am and 4 in pm) and I can have up to 5 Immodium a day (as needed). If no remission after the 8 weeks, he'll start me on steroids. He told me I could eat anything I want but I am trying to follow a low fiber diet. Anyone else familiar with this type of treatment? I have been on this plan for 1 week and have seen a very slight improvement with the D but still have the gas & bloating.

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:15 pm

Hello! You should take the big four out of your diet to start with......gluten, soy, dairy, eggs because food intolerances are the biggest part of colitis. Your gut can't heal if your body is reacting to food sensitivities. The pepto helps some of us get symptoms under control, but it will only be temporary until the food issues are found.
There's a lab called Enterolab that does food sensitivity testing & there's a great book you can find at the top of this page, that will help a lot.....it's written by the administer of this site.
Keep asking questions & we will help you sort through the intricacies of this disease.

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:42 pm

Hi Gail,

Welcome to the discussion board. As Linda has pointed out, most GI specialists are still lost when it comes to understanding and treating this disease. They are finally learning how to diagnose it, but they haven't yet figured out how to effectively treat it, because they don't actually understand the disease.

Virtually all of us find it necessary to eat a very restricted diet in order to allow our gut to heal. The only exceptions are those who have drug-induced MC, and in those cases, discontinuing the use of the drug can sometimes bring remission, if the reaction has not been going on for too long.

Despite our negative results to the celiac blood tests that doctors use to diagnose gluten sensitivity, as Linda points out, we are at least as sensitive to gluten as the average celiac, and most of us are also sensitive to all dairy products and soy. And some of us are also sensitive to other foods. Everyone is different.

And just reducing the amounts of those foods in our diet does not provide relief — we have to avoid the foods that cause us to react, 100 % (even trace amounts), in order for our intestines to heal. And healing can take many months to a year or 2, not just a few weeks, as most GI docs mistakenly believe. As Linda says, the medications that GI docs prescribe can help to mask the symptoms to make life easier, but they will not heal the gut as long as we continue to eat the foods that are producing the inflammation. If we don't change our diet, our symptoms will return soon after the medications are discontinued, regardless of which medications we might try.

You are correct in reducing your fiber intake, because fiber is so irritating to our highly-inflamed intestines that it can prevent us from achieving remission, even if we do everything else right. Every newly-diagnosed patient who comes here wonders how they could possibly suddenly begin to produce antibodies to foods that they have been eating for most of their life. The answer to that can be found in our personal genetics, and the fact that the genetics associated with MC and gluten sensitivity are closely linked. Basically what happens is that when the genes that predispose to microscopic colitis are triggered, the genes that predispose to gluten sensitivity are also triggered at the same time, and this opens the genetic door to other food sensitivities, as well.

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

Tex

Golfingail · Post by **Golfingail** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:50 pm

It's rather overwhelming thinking about a total revamp of my entire food lifestyle. Am exhausted just thinking about how I'm going to fix dinner for my spouse and me at the same time. For example, I'm having steamed salmon & asparagus in parchment paper tonite. Any reason why I shouldn't eat this???

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:57 pm

While a few of us seem to react to salmon, most of us can tolerate it, as long as it is not seasoned with, or stored in soy or any other inflammatory food. Fresh or frozen is best. Asparagus should be OK, as long as you don't eat enough of it that the fiber becomes a problem. The secret to making vegetables tolerable (while we are healing) is to peel any that can be peeled (because most of the fiber is in the peel), and overcook them, to make them easier to digest. Simple, home-cooked meals, using whole foods (not processed foods) are the key to properly treating this disease. You are off to a good start.

After we recover, and our digestive system heals, we can eat a wider variety of foods, and we can tolerate more fiber again.

Tex

Golfingail · Post by **Golfingail** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:05 pm

Although I have suffered for over 10 years, it's become horrible the past 6 months so if altering my lifestyle is what it takes, so be it. I've cut out the NSAIDS, cant believe that I may have caused this by using them. Just nuts, i took them to help with the pain and now find out they probably made things so much worse. I've ordered the book so I can educate myself better. I just want to be able to play 18 holes again!

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:09 pm

Also, I wanted to mention that fruit can cause your gas/bloating symptoms due to the fructose. We try to avoid it for a while.

I know it is very overwhelming...we have all been there, but one step at a time, and you will find your way. Eat very simply right now....meats & well cooked, peeled veggies (fiber is not our friend!)....very simple.

How long have you had the symptoms of MC.....I guess you just answered that question....I was the same way...had issues most of my adult life, but when the D started and didn't stop I knew it was something more involved.

Golfingail · Post by **Golfingail** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:23 pm

After all this new info to digest (no pun intended) another question or two - how about Vodka - I've read it is gluten free and ok to drink with a little cranberry juice - is this true? What about diet coke or any diet drink - are these okay? And I read that 'hard candy' is okay - true? so sugar isn't all bad?? So confusing!

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:37 pm

I can't comment on the vodka, but soda can give us gas and bloating just from carbonation. The sugar (sucrose) and artificial sugars (gas/bloating) aren't good for anyone.

Here is article that may help: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/1 ... 99864.html

I drink tea & water. I am used to drinking it unsweetened, but a touch a honey would work.

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:06 pm

Yes, vodka and virtually all distilled spirits are safe, as long as you avoid any that are blended back with products that have not been distilled (that contain gluten). It's best to not overdo alcohol though, because it can exacerbate the increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) that is associated with MC. And as Linda pointed out, most of us have problems with virtually all artificial sweeteners. Significant amounts of sugar can be a problem also, because we become unable to properly digest the sugars while we are reacting. The undigested or partially-digested carbs and sugars rot in our colon, where they are fermented by bacteria, to produce gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.

Tex