http://www.ibsgroup.org/node/359
This is the address of of a website that explains the use of Caltrate 600 Plus (in the purple box) for diarrhea. It especially helps people who have no gallbladder, & some IBS sufferers. I've used it for about 9 years, but always took 1-2 at breakfast, and 1-2 at dinner. Sometimes I took none at all (when I was super strict about my diet, and the stars and moon aligned). It helped significantly, but as you know, I've still been searching for something that would get me to that point that I felt as good as I did before MC struck. Caltrate helped a lot, but didn't cure me. Even the caltrate and a strict diet didn't "cure" me.
Recently I reviewed the website and noticed that it said some people, who get diarrhea predominantly in the am, are helped by taking it just before bed. So I started taking it at breakfast, dinner, AND one before bed, and it would be an understatement to say that it helps. Honestly, I think I'm cured. I don't throw the "C" word around lightly, and I've been holding off writing to you to mention this, because I've spoken too soon in the past. But, I think that my main digestive issue is a gallbladder malfunction that causes bile to irritate the lower digestive tract, especially overnight. The irritation must be aggravated further by certain foods (all my forbidden foods).
But to summarize, I've had normal Norman for 3 weeks. So far I've experimented eating wheat and corn chips to see if I get the D back, but it has not affected my bm's at all. I now take 1/2 pill in the am, 1/2 at dinner, and 1/2 at bedtime. When I get brave enough I'll probably try other foods, like rice, maybe even dairy. So far I'm happy just to have a few foods back in my diet.
I would be so happy if this were to help anyone else.
Love you guys, Marsha
caltrate
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Good grief Marsha, if you're brave enough to eat wheat, why would you hesitate to try other foods. 
Seriously, that's very interesting, and it makes sense that taking a "med" just ahead of the normally worst reaction times, would be more beneficial than taking it after the worst episodes. When do you get the best results from an antihistamine, when pollen is in the air? Before you inhale the pollen, of course. I've often wondered the same thing about taking meds such as Entocort, because budesonide shows pharmacokinetic properties that would suggest that it might be more effective if taken late in the day, rather than first thing in the morning, for the reasons you cited, (MC shows a predisposition to early morning D). Since I'm not a doctor, though, I'm not going to suggest trying that.
Thanks for that interesting report. I hope it keeps on working.
Love,
Tex
Seriously, that's very interesting, and it makes sense that taking a "med" just ahead of the normally worst reaction times, would be more beneficial than taking it after the worst episodes. When do you get the best results from an antihistamine, when pollen is in the air? Before you inhale the pollen, of course. I've often wondered the same thing about taking meds such as Entocort, because budesonide shows pharmacokinetic properties that would suggest that it might be more effective if taken late in the day, rather than first thing in the morning, for the reasons you cited, (MC shows a predisposition to early morning D). Since I'm not a doctor, though, I'm not going to suggest trying that.
Thanks for that interesting report. I hope it keeps on working.
Love,
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.
Hi Marsha,
That is really interesting. The majority of my problems happen in the morning as well and I had my gallbladder removed a couple of years ago. I remember posting that Leo Galland had mentioned AM diarrhea sometimes being caused by bile pooling in the intestines at night. He had me try taking cholestyramine powder before bed. It didn't work for me at the time but that was before discovering parasites. My problem isn't D anymore but I think I am constipation oriented in general. My problem is with general irritation of the colon...at least that is how it feels, so maybe the caltrate would help with any bile irritation that is going on.
I am so happy that you have found something that works for you. I know you have had a tough go of it and deserve to feel better. Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Cristi
That is really interesting. The majority of my problems happen in the morning as well and I had my gallbladder removed a couple of years ago. I remember posting that Leo Galland had mentioned AM diarrhea sometimes being caused by bile pooling in the intestines at night. He had me try taking cholestyramine powder before bed. It didn't work for me at the time but that was before discovering parasites. My problem isn't D anymore but I think I am constipation oriented in general. My problem is with general irritation of the colon...at least that is how it feels, so maybe the caltrate would help with any bile irritation that is going on.
I am so happy that you have found something that works for you. I know you have had a tough go of it and deserve to feel better. Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Cristi
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Hi Cristi,
If you're already constipated, the Caltrate could make it worse if you take too much. So maybe just take 1/2 before bed?
It's actually working too well for me. I'm going to gradually decrease it to just 1/2 before bed and see what happens. Right now I'm taking 1/2 before breakfast, 1/2 at dinner, and 1/2 before bed, and I'm constipated. It's such an alien problem, but not complaining.
The only thing that would make having this horrible condition worthwhile would be if something I learned helped someone.
Only a fellow MCer can relate, so thanks for empathizing, and being happy for me. This is such a big deal to me.
Marsha
If you're already constipated, the Caltrate could make it worse if you take too much. So maybe just take 1/2 before bed?
It's actually working too well for me. I'm going to gradually decrease it to just 1/2 before bed and see what happens. Right now I'm taking 1/2 before breakfast, 1/2 at dinner, and 1/2 before bed, and I'm constipated. It's such an alien problem, but not complaining.
The only thing that would make having this horrible condition worthwhile would be if something I learned helped someone.
Only a fellow MCer can relate, so thanks for empathizing, and being happy for me. This is such a big deal to me.
Marsha