I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with microscopic colitis so this is all new to me. Prior to the first week in Jan I was a very active 49 yo female. I cycle for exercise, in good weather 50-80 miles per week. I am a health food nut, for most of my adult life I have eaten organic meats and dairy, and for the past few years since I now have the availability mostly organic fruits and vegies. I have never considered my diet to be the typical american diet. I do yoga, and since my son graduated from high school 2 1/2 years ago I decided it was time to start taking care of ME for a change and joined our local watercolor society and go to classes each week. I am completely stumped as to how someone who watches over her health every day comes down with a "crappy" disease like microscopic colitis. Did I mention that I am an RN and am very aware about prevention and healthcare awareness. My first line of defense for health problems are my homeopath and my husband the chiropractor. Just sounding off I guess since this condition has completely changed my life and I am getting somewhat depressed about it. Funny thing is my mother had microscopic colitis about 20 years ago, guess it is genetic.
Anyway My GI put me on asacol. So far it has been 2 weeks and no help at all. Last week a patient of mine brought me in a book called "Restoring Your Digestive Health" by Jordan Rubin NMD and Joseph Brasco MD. It explains alot about inflamatory bowel diseases and IBS etc. then goes on to outline a diet called the Guts and Glory diet, that has three phases; first to rest the gut and reduce inflamation, second to repopulate with friendly bacteria, and third to work back to a semi normal diet. It is pretty extreme especially at first. I have been on the first phase for a week now, I had some fair improvement until saturday when I introduced the probiotics (goats milk yogurt and probiotic supplement) and now I have had a serious set back. I am getting really frustrated. I am supposed to ride 100 miles in a century ride on May 2 , and those dreams are seeming pretty dim now. From your experience how long will this all last. I am tired of putting all of my physical activities (including sex) on hold!!!!! I have been really ill for 2+ months now and am not used to feeling poorly for this long. At this time I have no grains, dairy or legumes in my diet and I still have diarrhea, what is up with that. Would appreciate any input from any of you out there with experience.
I am brand new to Microscopic colitis
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Welcome KD!!
It's no big surprise that reintroducing dairy caused things to go downhill. A lot of us are dairy intolerant. You might want to see what happens if you give up the dairy completely for a while. You can get dairy free probiotics, your homeopath may well have a source.
Gluten is the other big culprit. If you have gone to a very basic diet you will be minimising the quantity of this you consume, but it really gets in everywhere, including meds, so takes a real effort to avoid.
At least you know what you are dealing with, and you obviously have a good attitude, so you will get on top of this.
You'll get heaps of good info from the board members here. Do have a look at past posts to see how people are managing their condition and get ideas.
Cheers,
Lyn
It's no big surprise that reintroducing dairy caused things to go downhill. A lot of us are dairy intolerant. You might want to see what happens if you give up the dairy completely for a while. You can get dairy free probiotics, your homeopath may well have a source.
Gluten is the other big culprit. If you have gone to a very basic diet you will be minimising the quantity of this you consume, but it really gets in everywhere, including meds, so takes a real effort to avoid.
At least you know what you are dealing with, and you obviously have a good attitude, so you will get on top of this.
You'll get heaps of good info from the board members here. Do have a look at past posts to see how people are managing their condition and get ideas.
Cheers,
Lyn
KD,
Bless you. I have had this for almost 10 years and have had just about every traditional test there is and have taken almost every traditional drug. I am now on antifungal drugs. I am on a similar diet as you. Very restrictive and I still have D. I wish I could tell you it will all go away very soon and I hope it does. Some get better with just a gluten free, dairy free, and soy free diet. Some are helped by Entocort. Some just have to give up taking NSAIDS. Some have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. We are all different. It's a journey and I hope yours is short. You've come to THE place for support! Welcome!
Pat
Bless you. I have had this for almost 10 years and have had just about every traditional test there is and have taken almost every traditional drug. I am now on antifungal drugs. I am on a similar diet as you. Very restrictive and I still have D. I wish I could tell you it will all go away very soon and I hope it does. Some get better with just a gluten free, dairy free, and soy free diet. Some are helped by Entocort. Some just have to give up taking NSAIDS. Some have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. We are all different. It's a journey and I hope yours is short. You've come to THE place for support! Welcome!
Pat
KDYou arrived at the very best place for support and information.
If you've eliminated gluten and dairy, suspect soy next. Make certain that your meds and vitamins are free of your intolerances.
Read on this site as well as www.enterolab.com
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Hi KD,
Welcome to our internet family. You have already received some very valuable advice from Lyn, Pat, and Joan. In addition to that I would add that, (contrary to what most GI docs believe), it takes a while for the damage to the gut to heal, and many of us have multiple food intolerances.
In a nutshell, if you really want to get your life back, so that you can resume your enjoyment of bicycle riding, sex, and everything else that was adversely affected when your symptoms began in January, then I suggest that you first be sure that you are cutting all traces of gluten, dairy products, and soy, (and their chemical derivatives), out of your diet, (you may also have to avoid other foods, at least until your gut heals). Then, ask your doctor for a prescription for Entocort EC, which will reduce the symptoms while the diet is allowing the gut to heal. Otherwise, the symptoms can go on virtually forever. It's possible to have spontaneous remissions with MC, (just like any other IBD), but this is a lifetime liability, and we either have to modify our diet for the rest of our lives, or take a maintenance dose of an anti-inflammatory med, for the rest of our days.
It usually takes about 4-6 months for the diet alone to bring remission, but it takes some of us much longer. That's why I suggest the Entocort, so that you don't have to put up with the symptoms for that long, (assuming that you respond favorably to budesonide, the active ingredient in Entocort). It's possible to achieve remission with Asacol, but it is much less effective than budesonide. Also, Asacol contains lactose. Since you have already demonstrated a reaction to the casein in goat's milk, that suggests that you may be very sensitive to any dairy products, so it's possible that the Asacol may even induce an MC reaction for you. Many of the members here react adversely to Asacol.
Trust me, you can get your life back, but it will take a dedicated effort, and perseverance and attention to detail, in order to accomplish it as quickly as possible, and even doing everything right, it may take several months before you are truly symptom free.
Most of us here control our symptoms by diet alone, but many of us have used Entocort to speed the process along, in the beginning. Please feel free to ask anything, because we've all experienced the "accidents", and the humility that goes along with untreated MC. We've been there, done that, and we're well aware of the fact that MC can be a very humbling disease.
Your current diet appears to be on the right track - it just takes a while for the damage to your gut to heal, so that the symptoms will stop. Entocort would make your life easier, in the interim.
Again, welcome aboard,
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. You have already received some very valuable advice from Lyn, Pat, and Joan. In addition to that I would add that, (contrary to what most GI docs believe), it takes a while for the damage to the gut to heal, and many of us have multiple food intolerances.
In a nutshell, if you really want to get your life back, so that you can resume your enjoyment of bicycle riding, sex, and everything else that was adversely affected when your symptoms began in January, then I suggest that you first be sure that you are cutting all traces of gluten, dairy products, and soy, (and their chemical derivatives), out of your diet, (you may also have to avoid other foods, at least until your gut heals). Then, ask your doctor for a prescription for Entocort EC, which will reduce the symptoms while the diet is allowing the gut to heal. Otherwise, the symptoms can go on virtually forever. It's possible to have spontaneous remissions with MC, (just like any other IBD), but this is a lifetime liability, and we either have to modify our diet for the rest of our lives, or take a maintenance dose of an anti-inflammatory med, for the rest of our days.
It usually takes about 4-6 months for the diet alone to bring remission, but it takes some of us much longer. That's why I suggest the Entocort, so that you don't have to put up with the symptoms for that long, (assuming that you respond favorably to budesonide, the active ingredient in Entocort). It's possible to achieve remission with Asacol, but it is much less effective than budesonide. Also, Asacol contains lactose. Since you have already demonstrated a reaction to the casein in goat's milk, that suggests that you may be very sensitive to any dairy products, so it's possible that the Asacol may even induce an MC reaction for you. Many of the members here react adversely to Asacol.
Trust me, you can get your life back, but it will take a dedicated effort, and perseverance and attention to detail, in order to accomplish it as quickly as possible, and even doing everything right, it may take several months before you are truly symptom free.
Most of us here control our symptoms by diet alone, but many of us have used Entocort to speed the process along, in the beginning. Please feel free to ask anything, because we've all experienced the "accidents", and the humility that goes along with untreated MC. We've been there, done that, and we're well aware of the fact that MC can be a very humbling disease.
Your current diet appears to be on the right track - it just takes a while for the damage to your gut to heal, so that the symptoms will stop. Entocort would make your life easier, in the interim.
Again, welcome aboard,
Tex (Wayne)
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.
When I first learned about MC I read everything I could find, and immediatly cut out caffine and dairy. As I said I started this new diet, and I said it was restrictive , All I have been eating for a week now is a soup (three times a day) with organic whole chicken, carrots, celery, oninos, zucchini, garlic, ginger, parsley, coconut oil, celtic sea salt. so there is no gluten in that, I will have to check my meds, I do have a thyroid condition and take synthroid and cytomel. I am still on HRT as I had a hyst just 3 yrs ago and I am only 50 (just had a birthday. They say you need to have a colonscopy at 50, I waited 2 days). I was hoping what I read in the book I mentioned was correct that goat milk was easier to tolerate as the protein is smaller than cows milk, and it is cultured for 30 hours and is pre digested. ( I don't think it really has any true lactose in it)but I will do further research. Are any of you out there familliar with the book "Restoring your digestive health"? The NMD that wrote it almost died of Chrons disease at the age of 19, and has alot of experience with IBD.
BTW I rarley take NSAIDS. I had a realy severe case of food poisioning in Dec (about 3 weeks before the MC started) after a pot luck. Are any of you out there aware that an infectious process can set off MC.
BTW I rarley take NSAIDS. I had a realy severe case of food poisioning in Dec (about 3 weeks before the MC started) after a pot luck. Are any of you out there aware that an infectious process can set off MC.
KD,
MC is an equal opportunity disease - it affects rich people, poor people, tall people, short people, athletes, couch potatoes, people who are extremely health conscious, and those who wouldn't know a healthy diet if they say one. Yes we are all aware that MC can be triggered by many diverse influences, including, but not limited to bacteria, viruses, certain diseases, parasites, and various other pathogens, (IOW, basically anything that can cause enteritis), many medications, stopping a smoking habit, and a few more that I can't think of at the moment.
There are a lot of good books available that are somewhat helpful, and if you will do a search of the site, you will find that we have discussed many/most of them numerous times, but none that I am aware of directly apply to MC, and none offer a treatment plan that is bulletproof. The writings of Loren Cordain probably come the closest to offering a viable diet, (the paleo diet), and a number of our members successfully follow the diet he recommends, (including one member who has numerous intolerances, and is a doctor, herself).
Looking at the diet items that you listed, be aware that too much fiber is a trigger for MC for many/most of us, (until after our gut heals), so we have to minimize our vegetable and fruit intake. Certain vegetables are almost guaranteed antagonists, for many of us, especially lettuce, parsley, and cilantro. Many of us also cannot tolerate onions and garlic, while we are healing.
Cytomel is safe, unless you're intolerant of sulfates, (a few of us are), because it contains calcium sulfate. Synthroid does contain lactose, but that tiny amount shouldn't be a problem. Incidentally, it's not the lactose that causes the main problem with dairy products, (though anyone with entiritis is lactose intolerant, because of a shortage of lactase enzyme production during episodes of enteritis). Lactose is a sugar, and we cannot actually be intolerant of anything but proteins, (such as the casein in all dairy products). Lactose intolerance is misnamed, because what actually happens is that it is not metabolized in the small intestine, so it proceeds to the colon, (unsplit), where it ferments, to complete the digestive process. The fermentation process, of course, causes gas, discomfort, foul odors, and D, but it is not a true intolerance reaction. The reason why we have to avoid all traces of lactose, is because unless it is a true pharmaceutical grade lactose product, it may also contain a small amount of casein, and it only takes a tiny amount of casein to cause an intolerance reaction. The makers of synthroid can probably be trusted to use pharmaceutical grade lactose in their formulation, but I wouldn't trust most of the "lower level" supplements and neutraceuticals - they might possibly contain industrial grade lactose.
By "smaller proteins", I assume you are referring to shorter amino acid chains, when compared with cows milk. Believe it or not, that is not an advantage with MC, because of the fact that the Leaky Gut Syndrome, (LGS), is almost always present during a reaction, and smaller peptides are even more prone to slip through the tight junctions of the epithelium of the intestines, and enter the bloodstream in a state of incomplete digestion, (peptides, rather than amino acids), causing the body aches and pains, and joint pains that we experience with MC. Having amino acid sequences that differ from those of cow's milk is what counts, but the problem is that for most of us, the offending amino acid sequences of goats milk are not sufficiently different from those of cow's milk, to prevent us from reacting to it. (If you wish to see more detail on this, please let me know, and I can explain the problem in much greater detail, so that it can be more easily understood, if you're not familiar with the problems connected with LGS).
Cutting out caffeine will provide no benefits, so there is no reason to cut it out of your diet, if you would rather not give it up. The most prestigious medical institutions in the world all parrot that phrase, (cut caffeine out of your diet), but that information is irrelevant, and has never been substantiated. It's another case of someone making an incorrect assumption, and then everyone else repeating it because it sounds correct. Caffeine is blacklisted because it is a secretagogue, and the reason why MC can cause such massive volumes of D, is because it typically involves sectetory diarrhea. IOW, instead of the colon extracting water from the lumen, it actually secretes water into the lumen, thus causing high volumes of effluent. Caffeine does indeed stimulate secretions from the endocrine glands, but that has nothing to do with MC reactions, and if it stimulates the secretions of the colon any amount at all, it is by an immeasurable amount, which makes it a moot point.
Never take NSAIDs. They are one of the most common of the known triggers for MC. The only safe commonly used painkiller for someone with MC, (other than the opioid-based meds), is acetaminophen, (Tylenol).
Incidentally, a very high percentage of us here have thyroid issues, including myself. The prevalence among members here is roughly 8 times the prevalence in the general population. Obviously, thyroid issues have an extremely high correlation with MC.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7783
Tex
MC is an equal opportunity disease - it affects rich people, poor people, tall people, short people, athletes, couch potatoes, people who are extremely health conscious, and those who wouldn't know a healthy diet if they say one. Yes we are all aware that MC can be triggered by many diverse influences, including, but not limited to bacteria, viruses, certain diseases, parasites, and various other pathogens, (IOW, basically anything that can cause enteritis), many medications, stopping a smoking habit, and a few more that I can't think of at the moment.
There are a lot of good books available that are somewhat helpful, and if you will do a search of the site, you will find that we have discussed many/most of them numerous times, but none that I am aware of directly apply to MC, and none offer a treatment plan that is bulletproof. The writings of Loren Cordain probably come the closest to offering a viable diet, (the paleo diet), and a number of our members successfully follow the diet he recommends, (including one member who has numerous intolerances, and is a doctor, herself).
Looking at the diet items that you listed, be aware that too much fiber is a trigger for MC for many/most of us, (until after our gut heals), so we have to minimize our vegetable and fruit intake. Certain vegetables are almost guaranteed antagonists, for many of us, especially lettuce, parsley, and cilantro. Many of us also cannot tolerate onions and garlic, while we are healing.
Cytomel is safe, unless you're intolerant of sulfates, (a few of us are), because it contains calcium sulfate. Synthroid does contain lactose, but that tiny amount shouldn't be a problem. Incidentally, it's not the lactose that causes the main problem with dairy products, (though anyone with entiritis is lactose intolerant, because of a shortage of lactase enzyme production during episodes of enteritis). Lactose is a sugar, and we cannot actually be intolerant of anything but proteins, (such as the casein in all dairy products). Lactose intolerance is misnamed, because what actually happens is that it is not metabolized in the small intestine, so it proceeds to the colon, (unsplit), where it ferments, to complete the digestive process. The fermentation process, of course, causes gas, discomfort, foul odors, and D, but it is not a true intolerance reaction. The reason why we have to avoid all traces of lactose, is because unless it is a true pharmaceutical grade lactose product, it may also contain a small amount of casein, and it only takes a tiny amount of casein to cause an intolerance reaction. The makers of synthroid can probably be trusted to use pharmaceutical grade lactose in their formulation, but I wouldn't trust most of the "lower level" supplements and neutraceuticals - they might possibly contain industrial grade lactose.
By "smaller proteins", I assume you are referring to shorter amino acid chains, when compared with cows milk. Believe it or not, that is not an advantage with MC, because of the fact that the Leaky Gut Syndrome, (LGS), is almost always present during a reaction, and smaller peptides are even more prone to slip through the tight junctions of the epithelium of the intestines, and enter the bloodstream in a state of incomplete digestion, (peptides, rather than amino acids), causing the body aches and pains, and joint pains that we experience with MC. Having amino acid sequences that differ from those of cow's milk is what counts, but the problem is that for most of us, the offending amino acid sequences of goats milk are not sufficiently different from those of cow's milk, to prevent us from reacting to it. (If you wish to see more detail on this, please let me know, and I can explain the problem in much greater detail, so that it can be more easily understood, if you're not familiar with the problems connected with LGS).
Cutting out caffeine will provide no benefits, so there is no reason to cut it out of your diet, if you would rather not give it up. The most prestigious medical institutions in the world all parrot that phrase, (cut caffeine out of your diet), but that information is irrelevant, and has never been substantiated. It's another case of someone making an incorrect assumption, and then everyone else repeating it because it sounds correct. Caffeine is blacklisted because it is a secretagogue, and the reason why MC can cause such massive volumes of D, is because it typically involves sectetory diarrhea. IOW, instead of the colon extracting water from the lumen, it actually secretes water into the lumen, thus causing high volumes of effluent. Caffeine does indeed stimulate secretions from the endocrine glands, but that has nothing to do with MC reactions, and if it stimulates the secretions of the colon any amount at all, it is by an immeasurable amount, which makes it a moot point.
Never take NSAIDs. They are one of the most common of the known triggers for MC. The only safe commonly used painkiller for someone with MC, (other than the opioid-based meds), is acetaminophen, (Tylenol).
Incidentally, a very high percentage of us here have thyroid issues, including myself. The prevalence among members here is roughly 8 times the prevalence in the general population. Obviously, thyroid issues have an extremely high correlation with MC.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7783
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.
Welcome KD !!! 
I bought the book "Restoring Your Digestive Health" when I was Dx'd 20 months ago. It was fascinating, but I didn't want to eat dirt, as he suggests in the book, nor did I want to cook chicken with the feet intact. His methods may work, but parts of the diet seemed inpalatible to me.
Instead, I've chosen to do as Tex has suggested. I began taking 9 mg of Entocort per day and simultaneously followed a GF diet. I subsequently had Enterolab stool testing to determine any other intolerances (http://www.enterolab.com). Once I had those results, I removed the additional intolerances identified in the test results. In addition, I've found it very helpful to maintain a food/elimination diary, noting how frequent and what type of stools I have each day.
I'm presently down to just 1 pill of Entocort (3 mg.) every other day and am hoping that soon I'll be completely off of it. It has taken me 20 months to get to this point, but I have Double DQ1 genes, which means I have multiple intolerances and a tougher time achieving remission.
I would suggest that you eliminate all dairy from your diet, including Asacol and begin maintaining a food dairy to help identify any other food intolerances. If you can afford it, the Enterolab testing will save a lot of guessing. Some of us have chosen to follow the Paleo diet, while others have decided to eliminate the most common food intolerances, including gluten, casein (dairy) and soy from their diet. You've eliminated legumes, but I'm not sure if you realize that soy is pervasive and is an additive in many, many foods. If you have water-packed tuna, look at the ingredient list and you'll probably find that the "water" is actually vegetable broth which includes soy.
I'm sure you've begun reading the posts on this site. Almost any topic related to MC is discussed here and many of your questions will be answered. But please don't hesitate to ask any questions you have. That's why we're here. We've all been through the trauma and have asked the question "Why me?" There really isn't an answer to that question, but there is a solution to the problem. We'll do our best to help you find it.
Gloria
I bought the book "Restoring Your Digestive Health" when I was Dx'd 20 months ago. It was fascinating, but I didn't want to eat dirt, as he suggests in the book, nor did I want to cook chicken with the feet intact. His methods may work, but parts of the diet seemed inpalatible to me.
Instead, I've chosen to do as Tex has suggested. I began taking 9 mg of Entocort per day and simultaneously followed a GF diet. I subsequently had Enterolab stool testing to determine any other intolerances (http://www.enterolab.com). Once I had those results, I removed the additional intolerances identified in the test results. In addition, I've found it very helpful to maintain a food/elimination diary, noting how frequent and what type of stools I have each day.
I'm presently down to just 1 pill of Entocort (3 mg.) every other day and am hoping that soon I'll be completely off of it. It has taken me 20 months to get to this point, but I have Double DQ1 genes, which means I have multiple intolerances and a tougher time achieving remission.
I would suggest that you eliminate all dairy from your diet, including Asacol and begin maintaining a food dairy to help identify any other food intolerances. If you can afford it, the Enterolab testing will save a lot of guessing. Some of us have chosen to follow the Paleo diet, while others have decided to eliminate the most common food intolerances, including gluten, casein (dairy) and soy from their diet. You've eliminated legumes, but I'm not sure if you realize that soy is pervasive and is an additive in many, many foods. If you have water-packed tuna, look at the ingredient list and you'll probably find that the "water" is actually vegetable broth which includes soy.
I'm sure you've begun reading the posts on this site. Almost any topic related to MC is discussed here and many of your questions will be answered. But please don't hesitate to ask any questions you have. That's why we're here. We've all been through the trauma and have asked the question "Why me?" There really isn't an answer to that question, but there is a solution to the problem. We'll do our best to help you find it.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hey Tex, thanks for all of the info, I just did a search on the Paleo diet. Sounds a lot like the "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" for the type O. My husband, son and I are all O blood type and we switched to this kind of eating 10 years ago or more. This is based on the premise that O is the oldest blood type and the diet outlined is appropriate for the hunter gatherer. I have had a love affair with salty crunchy snacks for many years and this has been my biggest downfall over the years. looks like now is the time to stop that. I stayed away from dairy for many years, but found great benefit adding yogurt back into my diet as it seemed to increase my immunity, I get sick a lot less these days. The diet I am now working on is based on the diet our biblical ancestors had. Much like the paleo diet, but adding in fermented dairy and vegetables. Jordan Rubin actually wrote a book called "The Makers Diet". There is so much info out there I am going to have to sort through the different suggestions once this acute episode resolves and find out what works best for me. You all talk about fighting with these symptoms long term. My mother had an episode about 20 years ago which resolved somewhat rapidly. She never made any dietary changes and has been symptom free for 20 years. She has not had any other symtpoms again until recently. Looks like I have a lot to learn. I just want to start feeling better so I can make my goal on May 2. I think I will call my GI doc tomorrow and discuss steroids (that is a dirty word in my book), but my experience with a simple dose pack was not good, I hope the side effects are not as severe. The sad thing about this whole thing with me is that so much of my life is centered around food and etoh, getting together with my large Italian family and getting together with friends for beer, pizza and fun. I love to cook and consider myself a Healthy gormet. I love to cook for my friends and family and share recipies. I watch the food network all of the time and have fun trying new recipies. It is really sad to me that this part of my life has to change so much, in fact it truly depresses me. I guess I am going to have to make some real changes.
P.S.I am not sure I can live the rest of my life without really good San Francisco sourdough bread!!!!!
P.S.I am not sure I can live the rest of my life without really good San Francisco sourdough bread!!!!!
I always swore the food I would most miss on a desert island would be cheese and bread. A good heavy sourdough with a soft gooey brie.
So now I'm gluten and dairy intolerant. sigh!
Actually, it's not just the food itself we crave, it tends to be the associations we have with it. The belief that you are treating yourself with a yummy food is really important psychologically. The social situation in which you eat the food. The desire for someone else to look after us and do the cooking, compared to our situation where we have to always take responsibility for what we eat. I gave up alcohol for six months, and the social aspect of having that glass in hand is huge. Grief is actually a reasonable response to such a life change. Denial, anger etc. I have to hope acceptance is down the track there eventually.
Lyn
So now I'm gluten and dairy intolerant. sigh!
Actually, it's not just the food itself we crave, it tends to be the associations we have with it. The belief that you are treating yourself with a yummy food is really important psychologically. The social situation in which you eat the food. The desire for someone else to look after us and do the cooking, compared to our situation where we have to always take responsibility for what we eat. I gave up alcohol for six months, and the social aspect of having that glass in hand is huge. Grief is actually a reasonable response to such a life change. Denial, anger etc. I have to hope acceptance is down the track there eventually.
Lyn
KD,
If you love gourmet cooking, you have no reason to be depressed - your skills will definitely be an asset. We are fortunate enough to have a professional chef in our membership, and she has hundreds of delicious GF, DF, and SF recipes listed here. Plus, she's currently writing a cookbook that people with multiple intolerances can safely use. The world is full of GF cookbooks, but just try to find one in which every recipe is free of gluten, dairy, and soy, etc. With these recipes, you don't have to give up the flavor, and excitement of good food, just because you are on a restricted diet. Only some of the ingredients are restricted, not the flavor, nor the texture. You can find many of her recipes here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7
Also, there are some pretty good GF beers being added to the market mix these days - much better than the older offerings.
Yes, we are familiar with The Makers Diet, but most of us are not fond of eating dirt. Isn't that part of the diet, or am I confusing it with something else?
Basically, the paleo diet eliminates everything added to the human diet during the last 20,000 years, or so.
Be aware that Entocort EC is very dissimilar to most of the corticosteroids, in the way that it affects the body's organs. It's encapsulated, so that it does not become activated until it reaches the ilium, and the colon. Therefore, only about 10-15% of it is absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that it doesn't carry anywhere near the risk of the side effects common to the systemic corticosteroids, (such as Prednisone). It's not tolerated by everyone, but most of us have very good results with it, as Gloria noted, above.
Regarding your mothers experience, assuming that she actually had a diagnosis of MC, which would have been extremely rare, 20 years ago, since MC was first described only about 9 years years prior to that, (CC was first described 33 years ago) - if she didn't have a diagnosis, based on colonic biopsies, then the episode could have been caused by various other issues:
Most doctors believe that MC is extremely rare, occurring at a prevalence of somewhere around 8 or 10 instances per hundred thousand, in the general population. In fact, MC is quite common. If you were to grab a random cohort of the general population off the streets, and subject them to a colonoscopy, and take biopsy samples, you would find that the percentage of those who show the markers of MC, in their colonic histopathology, would be in the double digit category, and yet they would all be asymptomatic. "How is that possible?", you might ask. Well, the fact of the matter is that most people who have it, get over it promptly, and never even realize that they had it. Why a few of us get it, and never get over it, is the 64 dollar question. Therefore, yes, it's certainly possible that your mother could have had it, only as a transient experience. The MC that you are experiencing though, is not your mother's MC.
Interestingly, most doctors consider MC to be quite rare, and many consider it to be a transient disease, and yet out of hundreds of members here, only two or three do not require constant treatment, and even those few exceptions, have occasional flares that require treatment, in order to regain remission.
Tex
P S You can make your own "safe" sourdough bread, just as good as what you're craving, if you put your mind to it. I'll bet that Dee can advise you on how to go about it, to save a lot of trial and error experimenting.
If you love gourmet cooking, you have no reason to be depressed - your skills will definitely be an asset. We are fortunate enough to have a professional chef in our membership, and she has hundreds of delicious GF, DF, and SF recipes listed here. Plus, she's currently writing a cookbook that people with multiple intolerances can safely use. The world is full of GF cookbooks, but just try to find one in which every recipe is free of gluten, dairy, and soy, etc. With these recipes, you don't have to give up the flavor, and excitement of good food, just because you are on a restricted diet. Only some of the ingredients are restricted, not the flavor, nor the texture. You can find many of her recipes here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7
Also, there are some pretty good GF beers being added to the market mix these days - much better than the older offerings.
Yes, we are familiar with The Makers Diet, but most of us are not fond of eating dirt. Isn't that part of the diet, or am I confusing it with something else?
Basically, the paleo diet eliminates everything added to the human diet during the last 20,000 years, or so.
Be aware that Entocort EC is very dissimilar to most of the corticosteroids, in the way that it affects the body's organs. It's encapsulated, so that it does not become activated until it reaches the ilium, and the colon. Therefore, only about 10-15% of it is absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that it doesn't carry anywhere near the risk of the side effects common to the systemic corticosteroids, (such as Prednisone). It's not tolerated by everyone, but most of us have very good results with it, as Gloria noted, above.
Regarding your mothers experience, assuming that she actually had a diagnosis of MC, which would have been extremely rare, 20 years ago, since MC was first described only about 9 years years prior to that, (CC was first described 33 years ago) - if she didn't have a diagnosis, based on colonic biopsies, then the episode could have been caused by various other issues:
Most doctors believe that MC is extremely rare, occurring at a prevalence of somewhere around 8 or 10 instances per hundred thousand, in the general population. In fact, MC is quite common. If you were to grab a random cohort of the general population off the streets, and subject them to a colonoscopy, and take biopsy samples, you would find that the percentage of those who show the markers of MC, in their colonic histopathology, would be in the double digit category, and yet they would all be asymptomatic. "How is that possible?", you might ask. Well, the fact of the matter is that most people who have it, get over it promptly, and never even realize that they had it. Why a few of us get it, and never get over it, is the 64 dollar question. Therefore, yes, it's certainly possible that your mother could have had it, only as a transient experience. The MC that you are experiencing though, is not your mother's MC.
Interestingly, most doctors consider MC to be quite rare, and many consider it to be a transient disease, and yet out of hundreds of members here, only two or three do not require constant treatment, and even those few exceptions, have occasional flares that require treatment, in order to regain remission.
Tex
P S You can make your own "safe" sourdough bread, just as good as what you're craving, if you put your mind to it. I'll bet that Dee can advise you on how to go about it, to save a lot of trial and error experimenting.
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.
-
MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Welcome KD!
Nice to see you here but sure hate the reason why. You have already received some great sound advice and I would highly suggest the elimination of all dairy and soy. As you can see by my sign in, I am a multiple intolerant (MI) person and do my maintenance of MC (and it is still not the best after all these years but getting there and closer than I ever have been to "R") by diet alone and no drugs due to adverse reactions with them or no help at all.
Please read and investigate the board and you will find a wealth of information. I envy your cycling ability. I also was a health food nut and it actually hurt me more than helped me with MC. Adding to it that I was a vegan, I way overate grains in every form - ergo, longer to heal my gut I think.
Again Welcome.
Maggie
Nice to see you here but sure hate the reason why. You have already received some great sound advice and I would highly suggest the elimination of all dairy and soy. As you can see by my sign in, I am a multiple intolerant (MI) person and do my maintenance of MC (and it is still not the best after all these years but getting there and closer than I ever have been to "R") by diet alone and no drugs due to adverse reactions with them or no help at all.
Please read and investigate the board and you will find a wealth of information. I envy your cycling ability. I also was a health food nut and it actually hurt me more than helped me with MC. Adding to it that I was a vegan, I way overate grains in every form - ergo, longer to heal my gut I think.
Again Welcome.
Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
Dear KD,
Welcome to an extended family I'm sure you never envisioned. I have had CC for 3+ years. Suspect my mother had it but was never diagnosed as she died in 1985, my sister (age 66) is currently being worked up for it and my eldest daughter (age 41) suspects she has it. I am one of the unlucky few who is allergic to Entocort. It helped greatly, however, I was covered in an itchy rash. Currently in remission via gluten and soy-free diet and probiotics. As Tex and others have so clearly said, each of is is different, as is our path to remission. However, we are united in our resolve to support each other and not give in to this disease. The big D is not a problem we discuss in polite company. Even my closest friends don't want to hear about my middle of the night trips to the potty! Hang in there and believe you will find your way through this mess and get into remission. Hope you get there soon. Shekoe
Welcome to an extended family I'm sure you never envisioned. I have had CC for 3+ years. Suspect my mother had it but was never diagnosed as she died in 1985, my sister (age 66) is currently being worked up for it and my eldest daughter (age 41) suspects she has it. I am one of the unlucky few who is allergic to Entocort. It helped greatly, however, I was covered in an itchy rash. Currently in remission via gluten and soy-free diet and probiotics. As Tex and others have so clearly said, each of is is different, as is our path to remission. However, we are united in our resolve to support each other and not give in to this disease. The big D is not a problem we discuss in polite company. Even my closest friends don't want to hear about my middle of the night trips to the potty! Hang in there and believe you will find your way through this mess and get into remission. Hope you get there soon. Shekoe
Here is the GF sourdough starter
Combine the following in a 4 cup glass container.
Ingredients:
1 cup water (105-110 degrees F.)
2 1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cups rice flour (white or Brown).
Stir together, this will be a thick paste.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place.
Stir 2-3 times daily and it will be ready to use in 3-4 days.
You will notice that the mixture will rise and fall throughout the day.
The starter will often have a clear liquid on the top of it. Stir this into the mixture thoroughly before using in a recipe.
Always be sure to leave at least 1 cup of the starter as the basis for your next batch.
Add 1 cup of warm water and 1 1/2 cups of rice flour.
Cover loosely and let sit for at least 1 day before using in a recipe again.
Starter can be placed in the refrigerator to use at a later time.
Use 3/4 cup starter to replace the liquid in the bread recipe.
Combine the following in a 4 cup glass container.
Ingredients:
1 cup water (105-110 degrees F.)
2 1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cups rice flour (white or Brown).
Stir together, this will be a thick paste.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place.
Stir 2-3 times daily and it will be ready to use in 3-4 days.
You will notice that the mixture will rise and fall throughout the day.
The starter will often have a clear liquid on the top of it. Stir this into the mixture thoroughly before using in a recipe.
Always be sure to leave at least 1 cup of the starter as the basis for your next batch.
Add 1 cup of warm water and 1 1/2 cups of rice flour.
Cover loosely and let sit for at least 1 day before using in a recipe again.
Starter can be placed in the refrigerator to use at a later time.
Use 3/4 cup starter to replace the liquid in the bread recipe.
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
Third time the charm?
I'm looking for the lemon cake starter................
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan