Remission
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Remission
Hi and thank you all for your answers regarding the benefiber question I had posted a little while back. I am so thankful to have found this site and all the information available here. I just have a question about remission and forgive me if it's already been addressed and if it's a dumb question but.... What exactly is remission? Is it normal BM's or is it less frequent ones? How long does it take for some people to get to remission? I have been following the GF diet for over a month now and have been trying DF. Trying to be more diligent with the DF now. Still experiencing D and my stomach still makes alot of noise, sounds like a battle going on in there sometimes. Trying not to get discouraged. I have also cut out all raw vegies and fruit as I have a really hard time with those things and they go right thru me undigested. Yuck!
Hi Mitzi,
Never worry about asking questions. MC is a complex disease, so there are no "dumb" questions. Remission is the state of being essentially symptom free, with a return to whatever type and frequency of BMs were considered to be normal before the advent of MC. Some people are lucky, and achieve remission in only a few weeks, but most of us seem to take at least several months, and some of us take a year or more, (it took me about a year and a half, but that was because I was slow to cut out all my intolerances). It takes a while for the gut to heal, depending on how much damage it has accrued before the diet was adopted.
It sounds as thought you are on the right track, but the noises mean that you're still experiencing a typical MC reaction. You may need to cut out soy, also, if you don't seem to be improving after a reasonable amount of time. About half of those who are gluten sensitive, are also sensitive to soy. Eventually, after your gut heals, you'll be able to add those vegetables and fruits back into your diet. Certain fruits, though, even when cooked, contain enough sorbitol to cause D, for some individuals, though you may be able to tolerate them after you heal.
Good luck, and please don't hesitate to ask questions.
Tex
Never worry about asking questions. MC is a complex disease, so there are no "dumb" questions. Remission is the state of being essentially symptom free, with a return to whatever type and frequency of BMs were considered to be normal before the advent of MC. Some people are lucky, and achieve remission in only a few weeks, but most of us seem to take at least several months, and some of us take a year or more, (it took me about a year and a half, but that was because I was slow to cut out all my intolerances). It takes a while for the gut to heal, depending on how much damage it has accrued before the diet was adopted.
It sounds as thought you are on the right track, but the noises mean that you're still experiencing a typical MC reaction. You may need to cut out soy, also, if you don't seem to be improving after a reasonable amount of time. About half of those who are gluten sensitive, are also sensitive to soy. Eventually, after your gut heals, you'll be able to add those vegetables and fruits back into your diet. Certain fruits, though, even when cooked, contain enough sorbitol to cause D, for some individuals, though you may be able to tolerate them after you heal.
Good luck, and please don't hesitate to ask questions.
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.
Mitzi;
Hi and nice to "meet" you. I was first diagnosed with MC in 2001 and my GI informed me the GF diet would not make any difference. Well, after spending lots of time here (rather, on the "original" board) I decided to try GF without the blessing of my GI. It took me 3 months to see my first "Normal" stool and from there I would see D, Norman, D etc until about 5 or 6 months after going GF I considered myself to be in remission. Last week I had a really bad time, still am not sure if it was the MC or a "bug", but I'm happy to report it's over now!
As of now, I eat literally anything I want except gluten and I entertain "Norman" daily!
I do find that if I eat as much melon as I'd like to, D returns from that, but if I control my portions I'm fine. Nothing else (fruits or vegetables - cooked or raws) seem to bother me. I do find that if I eat out (restaurant or a friend's) I may have a single bout of D, but my gut is healthy enough now due to diligence with the diet that I can risk those times out occasionally.
Keep up the good work and you, too, will soon find yourself sharing your success stories with others here.
G'ma!
Hi and nice to "meet" you. I was first diagnosed with MC in 2001 and my GI informed me the GF diet would not make any difference. Well, after spending lots of time here (rather, on the "original" board) I decided to try GF without the blessing of my GI. It took me 3 months to see my first "Normal" stool and from there I would see D, Norman, D etc until about 5 or 6 months after going GF I considered myself to be in remission. Last week I had a really bad time, still am not sure if it was the MC or a "bug", but I'm happy to report it's over now!
As of now, I eat literally anything I want except gluten and I entertain "Norman" daily!
I do find that if I eat as much melon as I'd like to, D returns from that, but if I control my portions I'm fine. Nothing else (fruits or vegetables - cooked or raws) seem to bother me. I do find that if I eat out (restaurant or a friend's) I may have a single bout of D, but my gut is healthy enough now due to diligence with the diet that I can risk those times out occasionally.Keep up the good work and you, too, will soon find yourself sharing your success stories with others here.
G'ma!
Those who are not part of the solution, are part of the problem.
Thanks Tex and G'ma. I really don't know what normal is as I have had D for years and years. Looking forward to something somewhat normal coming my way!! As far as all the stomach noises, is that caused by something I have eaten or just rumblings. My seems to rumble all the time. I have lost quite a bit of weight which wasn't such a bad thing but I really don't need to lose any more. Sometimes I just don't know what to eat. Any ideas for something soothing for my gut?
I don't believe that anyone knows for sure what causes the gurgling noises in our intestines during reactions, but they are common to all the inflammatory bowel diseases, not just MC. As far as I can tell, the noises aren't connected with any particular food that we eat, they're just a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease.
What to eat is always a tough question, since we are all different. While you are healing, of course the more bland the food, the less likely that it will irritate the digestive system.
Here are some ideas of what we eat, but again, bear in mind that we are all different, and most of us are in remission, so you have to pick and choose items that seem right for you:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
Tex
What to eat is always a tough question, since we are all different. While you are healing, of course the more bland the food, the less likely that it will irritate the digestive system.
Here are some ideas of what we eat, but again, bear in mind that we are all different, and most of us are in remission, so you have to pick and choose items that seem right for you:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... +breakfast
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.
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douglas976
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:11 pm
Hi - read comments on this site all the time but first time posting. Was diagnosed with MC 2 years ago. Spent 1.5 years in "Hell" - the D was so unpredictable that I was scared to leave the house. My Dr. sent me to a dietician as I had no idea what to eat. Consequently, I was on a very restrictive diet (Fodmap) for 4 months. (I read and heard later that I should only have been on it for no more than 2 months). No gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, garlic, onion, raw vegetables. Consequently, I started losing weight and hope - both at the same time! There was so little I could eat (and enjoy it). I made garlic oil and mixed it with Hellmans mayo so had a sort of aioli that I could put on a baked potato. I absolutely hated GF food (bread, pastas) and found myself in tears every time I sat down to eat. I no longer wanted to cook so my poor husband was tasked with finding food for me that was tasty and plain? Didn't work! In a year and a half I went from 167 lbs to 116! I am a 69 year old female. Everyone including myself was getting concerned. I had been avoiding steroids as I had read so many negative reports on them and also the re-occurence of MC after finishing steroids was fairly high. When I finally gave up and said to my Dr. that I was now ready for steroids, both her and the clinic pharmacist decided that I was not in good enough shape for steroids - they would be too hard on me. I had an hour long discussion with the pharmacist and she really felt that I was lacking fibre especially considering that I had given up so many different foods and for such a long stretch. On her advice I started to reintroduce some foods back into my diet and I started taking Metamucil pills which work for both Diarhhea and constipation. I started with 11 pills a day and within 10 days I started to firm up! It has now been almost 4 months and I feel quite "normal"! I have had a couple of bouts of D but one day only and very controllable. I actually went completely off the fibre for a month but started to feel a little loose so now back on 5 a day which doesn't interfere with my lifestyle at all. I discovered that I am not gluten intolerant but I don't do well with processed sugar. I still stick to maple syrup and also found that cold rise sourdough bread (homemade) has less gluten than regular bread and easier on the gut. I still avoid raw veggies but do eat salads. I guess when you go through something like this and you go into remission which is what I am assuming I am in, you are still constantly waiting for the other shoe to fall! I know that after having D for so long, whenever I feel some "gas" I don't really trust it to be just gas! I will happily take what I have now over what I just went through. My poor husband was a rock thru the whole ordeal and I certainly appreciate him! I am steady at 124 - 126 lbs now but my friends keep wanting me to gain! Not sure if its concern or envy? So, bottom line, hang in there! Read lots and don't give up! There is a light at the end of the very long tunnel!
Welcome Douglas976,
I can only assume that you have read enough here that you are taking VitD and proper Magnesium at this point. I'd still be careful about the gluten, dairy and the fiber if I were in your shoes. That trio tends to wreck havoc on the gut moreso than anything else I've come across in my healing process....and if you have had uncontrolled D for 1.5 years your intestines have been pushed to their limit and are perhaps not as healed as they should be. I'm glad your D has subsided though :-)
I have great faith you will continue to find your path in this MC world, and I'm glad you have stabilized at this point. Thanks for sharing!
It is nice to hear from another fellow forum follower
Take care!
Erica
I can only assume that you have read enough here that you are taking VitD and proper Magnesium at this point. I'd still be careful about the gluten, dairy and the fiber if I were in your shoes. That trio tends to wreck havoc on the gut moreso than anything else I've come across in my healing process....and if you have had uncontrolled D for 1.5 years your intestines have been pushed to their limit and are perhaps not as healed as they should be. I'm glad your D has subsided though :-)
I have great faith you will continue to find your path in this MC world, and I'm glad you have stabilized at this point. Thanks for sharing!
It is nice to hear from another fellow forum follower
Take care!
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007