What Now??

[lilbits@144]

I just received my Entero Lab results and I'm currently feeling like a deer in headlights - frozen and incapable of thinking clearly. I thought I saw on the Entero web site a link to schedule an appointment with a nutritionist. Does anyone know about this or am I hallucinating?
Here are my results. I thought I had prepared myself mentally for the worst but . . .

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 149 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 131 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 75 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 48 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 78 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

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

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

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

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.

So based on what I read from the report I can still eat the items where I am least reactive to begin with but should eventually eliminate them. I have an excellent local source for grass fed and finished beef but it appears that I will need to add lamb and venison to my diet. Not sure if turkey has a similar protein profile as chicken? Also, from what I have read here, even though I am reactive to tuna I may tolerate shellfish? Any comments welcome. Thanks in advance for your help!

[tex]

Please don't panic. Many of us have received results similar to that. This is a tough disease to put into remission, for many of us, but we can do it if we're careful with our diet, and dedicated to our goal.

So based on what I read from the report I can still eat the items where I am least reactive to begin with but should eventually eliminate them. I have an excellent local source for grass fed and finished beef but it appears that I will need to add lamb and venison to my diet. Not sure if turkey has a similar protein profile as chicken? Also, from what I have read here, even though I am reactive to tuna I may tolerate shellfish? Any comments welcome. Thanks in advance for your help!
Top

Turkey, unlike chicken, is safe for virtually every one of us. And yes, if shellfish didn't bother you before you developed MC, shellfish should be safe for you now. So you should have plenty of protein options. Adequate protein and fat are essential elements in a healthy diet, but fortunately, carbohydrates are strictly optional — carbs are not essential to a healthy diet, despite the fact that so many so-called authorities claim otherwise. We evolved as carnivores, and not only can we survive, but we can thrive, without carbs. So that makes our diet selection a bit easier, because we can totally avoid the grains, without any adverse health effects.

If you haven't read it lately, it might be helpful to read the newsletter the Microscopic Colitis Foundation published back in May of 2021. For your convenience here's a direct link where you can either read, or download a copy of that newsletter:

https://www.microscopiccolitisfoundatio ... 479987.pdf

I hope this is helpful. If you need any additional information, or I forgot to address any of your concerns, please ask.

Tex

[lilbits@144]

Thanks for your quick reply. You have tossed out the life preserver for me and I will hold on tight! Thankfully my husband is beyond helpful and supportive and will do anything to help me out including eating the same diet for dinner! Happy to hear that turkey is a safe food as well as shellfish. That helps tremendously. I am still in phase 1 and was relying on rice, white potato, and oats to include in my diet so now those are gone. I am totally fine with avoiding grains and relying on vegetables for my carbs. And I realize that once I can move forward from phase 1 life will become easier. It is a big adjustment but I am dedicated to healing my gut! Again, so glad to be here surrounded with people who get it!

With Gratitude,

Laurie

[tex]

Laurie,

Good luck on your journey back to health. And don't despair if you suffer a setback for a day or two now and then, we all have that problem while we're recovering. Focus on your weekly and monthly progress — not your daily condition. Having such good support from your spouse will make recovery much easier, because you'll be able to cut the risk of cross-contamination of your own food waaaaaay down. While recovering, minimize fiber and sugar in your diet, and avoid all artificial sweeteners and spicy seasonings. Peel any any foods that have a peel, and overcook all fruits and vegetables. Crucible vegetables, including cabbage and broccoli, for example, are safe, but their digestion tends to create gas, and until our digestive system heals, we have problems getting rid of gas, so it's best to avoid, or at least minimize them until after we're in remission.

And if you ever have any questions about food choices, cosmetics, skin care products, or whatever, it's better to ask, than to suffer the consequences.

I hope this helps,

Tex

[lilbits@144]

Thanks!!