MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Hi all,

I was diagnosed in 2012 with Lymphocitic colitis. I have managed the flares since then by sticking with a gluten-free, low FODMAP diet, Vit. D, Magnesium Glycinate, and taking the Pepto Bismol treatment when things were bad, and it has always worked for me. Until now.

I think the increased stress of life in these current times, plus an emotional upset and a bout of food poisoning in June, caused a major flareup. I finished the 8 weeks of Pepto, but it didn't seem to really stop the problems. The D was gone, but I had ongoing, worsening nausea.

About a week ago, I went on a strict chicken / turkey / rice / cooked veg. / banana diet to try to deal with the nausea. It seemed to be getting a little better, so last night, I added a little plain boiled potato. Big mistake - now I'm having explosive diarrhea and MUCH worse nausea.

I just took Loperamide to help with the D. Maybe going to try just clear liquids today. Never tried the meds for this, but I'm tempted to see my Dr. just to get some relief. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I really believed that if I just stayed the course with diet and lifestyle changes, I could control this, but now I am having doubts...Thanks!

Hi,

Sorry to hear that the diet isn't working. I agree with you that diet restrictions should be sufficient to maintain remission. But stress is a major problem, and too much of it can prevent remission. Before you try budesonide, however, I would try to fine tune my diet. Some of us are sensitive to chicken. And many brands of turkey contain traces of soy. Try lamb, no one reacts to lamb. All wild-type meats should be safe also. That includes duck, goose, rabbit, quail, pheasant, emu, venison, etc. It does not include bison, because most bison have DNA from domestic cattle, these days.

If after a few days with that diet change you can't see any improvement, then it might be time to call your doctor. A course of budesonide should bring you to remission within a few days. It will be necessary to taper the dose of budesonide very slowly over a number of weeks to prevent a relapse when you end the treatment.

I hope this helps.

Tex

Thanks Tex! I'll give lamb a try today if I can manage solid food...

I hear you. I remember spending many days when soup was all I could handle. I also had nausea problems when I was reacting. I wonder now if I might have had a magnesium deficiency problem back then. Nausea is one of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

Tex