MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Hi Tex,
I would like to understand what is happening when clear mucous is passed, and think you are the best person to ask. I understand it's from inflammation in the intestine but is it the collagenous or lymphocytic gel type mucous coming loose?

If it is collagen, is it collecting in the intestines instead of throughout my body, and therefore I am deficient in collagen?
I've noticed my skin is alot 'looser', and wonder if it is due to lack of collagen.

Or could it be to do with incorrect fat absorption? Perhaps an indication of needing bile acids?

Many thanks
Claire

Hi Claire,

You're attempting to attribute much more to that mucus than actually exists there. When the mucosal surface of the intestines is subjected to chronic inflammation, it mistakenly perceives the cause of the Inflammation as a possible toxic agent in the chyme (partially digested food) that is passing through, so therefore it emits a copious amount of mucus, in an attempt to protect itself from the toxic agent. The amount of mucus present depends on the degree of inflammation. I don't know if everyone here notices mucus in their stool at some point during their reactions, but I certainly had the problem back when I was reacting. As far as I'm aware, mucus is a common symptom that may or may not appear when any of the various forms of microscopic colitis are active.

It's rather unlikely that you have a collagen problem. The matrix that holds all of the cells of our body into position is made of collagen. If it weren't for collagen, the cells of our body would all collapse into a heap on the floor. That never happens, of course, except in science fiction movies. Skin issues are more likely to be due to some vitamin or mineral deficiency. However, if you feel a need to supplement your collagen intake, just eat Jell-O or some other brand of gelatin. Gelatin is basically cooked collagen. One of the best sources of collagen, however, is bone broth, and bone broth has many other benefits for MC patients, not the least of which is vitamins and minerals and many other nutritional items that gelatin does not contain.

If you were to send some of that mucus to a laboratory for analysis, they wouldn't be able to distinguish between CC or LC, based on that analysis.

I hope this helps.

Tex

Thanks Tex,
yes that helps alot. ( I'd added 1 + 1 and made 5.) Understanding this condition is important to me and others, as you know.
Lots to learn.

Many thanks
Claire

Hi Tex,
I'm pleased to say I am actually feeling better, a weird feeling like 'stronger'. Fatigue is lifting and when going for a short walks my limbs no longer feel heavy. The meat only diet is helping for sure. I've read some old posts about some people having black stools, and it was suggested the Budesonide was responsible or iron pills. I have this symptom but am not taking any medication or supplements. It's been like it since the beginning. Could it be just a result of my diet being high protein red meat, chicken and chicken stock? Or some sort of die off. I have no bleeding/blood issue.

Thanks
Claire

It's good to hear that you're feeling better. Regarding the dark stools, if you're not eating any dark foods or drinks, or taking any medications that contain bismuth subsalicylate, and you're not bleeding, that only leaves the possibility of constipation. The longer stool remains in the colon, the darker it becomes, and an all meat diet tends to minimize stool volume, thereby often minimizing frequency of bowel movements, so that transit time is longer. At least that's my best guess. Meat that contains residual blood can do it also.

Tex

Hi Tex,
oh, that makes complete sense as I only go every 8-10 days. Is it best to just be patient and wait for full healing to resolve the regularity, as you have wisely advised before, or do you think I would be better to take something to improve regularity?
Thankyou
Claire

some suggestions to help regularity

- coconut oil - spoonful orally
- increase water intake
- magnesium and Vit D3. (they reduce inflammation and the magnesium helps the muscles pass the motion)
- gentle fibre. ie peeled apple, cooked vegetables, small amount of salad. (do not go overboard as too much fibre can bulk up the stool and make it harder to pass)

Thanks Gabes,
I'll give some of those a go.....
Claire

Hi Gabes and Tex,
6 months in and feeling great, almost regular bm every 2nd day. But today had a flare and am wondering what triggered it. The only thing I can think of is I ate a piece of salmon for the first time since beginning my all meat diet, but that was 4 days ago and I have been fine up till today. Is it possible it can take that long to go through my digestion process? Just trying to identify the culprit and it's the only thing apart from a reduction in salt I can blame it on.

I suppose it's theoretically possible that salmon could cause a reaction after four days, but that would be very unusual. Probably, it was either a random event, or something you ate was somehow cross contaminated. Early on, during our recovery, most of us occasionally have reactions that we can't attribute to a specific cause, simply because our immune system is still more sensitive than it would normally be. Kids can heal in less than a year, but it takes adults from 2 to 5 years for their intestines to completely heal from the damage caused by gluten, and for much of that time, our immune system sensitivity level is still elevated, so you're still at a relatively early stage in your recovery journey.

Tex

Hi Tex,
yes, this is long-haul healing. Thankyou for reminding me, sometimes I feel so well I forget. As I keep a diary I will take note the next time I try something like Salmon to see if there is a four day interval. For now, I will stick to my lamb, beef and chicken. I hope you are well...

Hi Claire,

Thanks, yes, I'm doing well. I'm probably doing better than I deserve, for an old codger.

Tex

Hi Tex,
I haven't posted in a while because I've been so well. But suddenly after 18 months of feeling so well and normal (still doing the carnivore diet) I have had a really bad flare up-with all the works and drama. It's now been four days. I am trying to figure what may have triggered it. Just last week I began having large amounts of sea salt (10gms at least per day) as well taking magnesium glycinate tablets, and adding salt to my drinking water. I also increased my water intake. I have since found out that many people use salt and water as a way to detox which causes d. This looks to me like it was the trigger, but what do you think about salt for someone with m.c.?

I believe you've pinpointed the problem — salt. Too much salt is toxic. All pig farmers are well aware that they have to be very careful about how much salt they put in pigs' ration, because too much salt will quickly kill a pig. The porcine digestive system is very similar to ours. In fact, some of their digestive system organs can be successfully transplanted in the human digestive system (and probably vice versa).

Fritos are very salty. Tortilla chips, by comparison, have only a fraction of the amount of salt. If I eat too many Fritos (and that's actually not a very large amount) I get an upset digestive system and diarrhea. That never happens, if I eat the same amount of tortilla chips, or more.

Tex