I had called him on Friday because I had not been told the results of the stool test he had me do earlier in Dec. He said the volume was much higher than normal. (I could have told him that) He said it was secretory and that meant that I was not absorbing the water and salts. (I could have told him that too!) He said I was absorbing my food properly so no malabsorption. I reminded him that a previous test showed that my stool was osmotic and that I have been on the GF, DF, and SF diet for almost 3 months. He said that if I felt like I was getting benefit from the diet to stay on it.
I am going back to Dallas on Wed to have the other test, anorectal manometry. I think I spelled that right. Anyway, that has something to do with the muscles. He said he should have a plan for me on Friday. I can't wait!
Pat
Dr. Schiller called tonight.
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If you had C, or osmotic D, I could see some possible value in that test, but with secretory D, that test is moot, since strength of the anal sphincter muscles is sort of irrelevant with secretory D. I'm afraid Dr. Schiller is "barking up the wrong tree". LOL.
Tex
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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MaggieRedwings
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Well, I had the test Wednesday. It wasn't much fun. Apparently, in some people the muscles in the rectal vault can become weak. They inserted this probe and I had to squeeze on it when they told me to. And then they inflated a balloon type thing and I had to tell them when I felt it. Depending on the results, which I am supposedly finding out this afternoon, I may have to go back for biofeedback counseling. They said it helps to retrain the muscles relearn how to hold in the poop. I just laughed and told them they would first have to figure out how to make the poop solid.
Pat
Pat
You hit the nail right square on the head with that statement.Pat wrote:I just laughed and told them they would first have to figure out how to make the poop solid.
Like a lot of doctors, they seem to be ignoring symptoms that shouldn't be ignored, (because they probably don't know what else to do), so they just go merrily about their testing procedures, as if those symptoms don't exist. 
Instead of telling patients that they don't believe that they can offer any significant benefits, a lot of specialists seem to prefer to seize the opportunity to "harvest" as much insurance company money as they can, before telling us that they can't do anything to help us, when they probably knew right up front, that they wouldn't be able to help. I guess that's just human nature.
You know, I'm kind of surprised that society hasn't demanded some sort of "Satisfaction Guarantee" for at least some types of medical services. Of course, if that were the case, GI docs would refuse to treat known MC patients, since no one wants to work for free.
Anyway, I hope you passed the test with a "good grade".
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.
The muscle part of the test I passed, but the sensitivity part with the balloon I didn't do so good. He said I can't feel when the poop is coming until it is too late. First he wants me to take Welchol. I have to stay open minded about this because diet and Entocort have not helped that much. Then when I go back up there sometime in the next few weeks he wants me to do some biofeedback. He said it only takes about 30 minutes. They have found it to be very successful for incontinence. We'll see.
Pat
Pat
Well, for what it's worth, I think your doc is way off track. He should have liquid D several times a day himself and see if he "knows it's coming" more than a few seconds in advance. We have all been there. Funny, once the poop solidifies we don't have that problem much anymore (if ever).
Good luck and I imagine I'd go along with him too unless he got too extreme with the tests.
Hope you are soon solid
Good luck and I imagine I'd go along with him too unless he got too extreme with the tests.
Hope you are soon solid
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
I agree with Shirley, of course. While Dr. Schiller's "conditioning", (or feedback), therapy is not going to address the cause of the problem, (MC), it might help to reduce the risk of "accidents".
Tex
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.
That's interesting, about the biofeedback.
I remember well what it was like when my stools started gradually coming back to normal. As soon as they were firm enough to offer any resistance whatsoever, the poop coming out was like the little train that couldn't. Ha! I'm hopeful that you'll get as much control as I eventually did.
What I did for a long, long time to prevent spotting my undergarment a little bit, was to use one of those Always pads that's thin (if it's thin you need for this amount) but "long." Position it far enough back that anything poking out of your rectum will hit it, and not your undies. I WOULDN'T get the long ones with those little side flaps that go through the leg holes and stick to the outside of the crotch area. Those little appendages drive me nuts! Don't forget to carry an extra in your purse.
My hunch is that you will continue to get better with time if you are absolutely removing everything foodwise that you are reacting to if you just have M.C. I couldn't control things well until my stools had worked their way up to solid and perfectly normal in appearance, and firmness. I compare it to lifting wts, you can't do the heavier ones until you've done the lighter ones, the various types of stool along the way, being like the graduating weights. Hope that helps make clear what I'm saying. The more solid the stools, the more the resistance, and the stronger your muscles that control the stool will become. For all I know, I may still have decreased sensitivity down there also. It's hard to say as I hadn't had a formed stool in recent history before 2003. I really can't remember what normal felt like. Now, I'm still a bit concerned that too much volume inside my gut will push the stool out unbeknowst to me, sort of like a glue stick gone wild! You school teachers pardon my analogy for a minute, ok!
I may be missing something from your other posts that I've not read, but maybe someone else might be interested to know this is not totally unusual.
Hope you find out something interesting. Maybe cases like yours in which testing is done like that will help the research types like Schiller, to better understand what goes on in our guts.
Yours, Luce
I remember well what it was like when my stools started gradually coming back to normal. As soon as they were firm enough to offer any resistance whatsoever, the poop coming out was like the little train that couldn't. Ha! I'm hopeful that you'll get as much control as I eventually did.
What I did for a long, long time to prevent spotting my undergarment a little bit, was to use one of those Always pads that's thin (if it's thin you need for this amount) but "long." Position it far enough back that anything poking out of your rectum will hit it, and not your undies. I WOULDN'T get the long ones with those little side flaps that go through the leg holes and stick to the outside of the crotch area. Those little appendages drive me nuts! Don't forget to carry an extra in your purse.
My hunch is that you will continue to get better with time if you are absolutely removing everything foodwise that you are reacting to if you just have M.C. I couldn't control things well until my stools had worked their way up to solid and perfectly normal in appearance, and firmness. I compare it to lifting wts, you can't do the heavier ones until you've done the lighter ones, the various types of stool along the way, being like the graduating weights. Hope that helps make clear what I'm saying. The more solid the stools, the more the resistance, and the stronger your muscles that control the stool will become. For all I know, I may still have decreased sensitivity down there also. It's hard to say as I hadn't had a formed stool in recent history before 2003. I really can't remember what normal felt like. Now, I'm still a bit concerned that too much volume inside my gut will push the stool out unbeknowst to me, sort of like a glue stick gone wild! You school teachers pardon my analogy for a minute, ok!
I may be missing something from your other posts that I've not read, but maybe someone else might be interested to know this is not totally unusual.
Hope you find out something interesting. Maybe cases like yours in which testing is done like that will help the research types like Schiller, to better understand what goes on in our guts.
Yours, Luce
This doctor says he thinks I also have IBS in addition to MC. I do intend to stay on the diet. It's hard when you aren't seeing results. And it's hard to stay on the Entocort. I do think it helps some in freqency but not consistency. I will try the Welchol and see what happens. I am only getting one weeks worth. A whole month was over $300.
Pat
Pat