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I have stopped Nexium cold turkey, and heartburn is back. I have a Hiatal Hernia, and I think that contributes to heartburn. I have the kind that gives you a sore throat and feels like a lump in your upper abdomen (lower chest). How do you control that now?
Another question I have is how do you replace your electrolytes after episodes. I do drink lots of water, but I know potassium and sodium are essential to replace, also. I eat so many bananas, but can't bear to eat one after each episode. I read here somewhere where you can eat potato chips to quickly replace sodium, so that is an option, and that will be new to me as I don't eat chips often. I may also have to give up my Low Sodium V8 juice, which has a numerous amount of potassium.
I'm not a fan of sugary drinks, so I have eliminated juices such as orange, etc.
I envy you all for being able to do this, as I find it terribly hard...but I know it's doable.
Thanks.
garina
New - Dx with Collagenous Colitis -Happy to find this site.
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Garina,
Here are some suggestions for electrolyte replacement: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ectrolytes
Potatoes are very high in potassium, btw - so potato chips may not be helpful, but they can sure be useful! I have eaten more potato chips in the past few months than in the past 5 years, I think.
I hugely recommend making a giant pot of homemade chicken soup, with potatoes if they work for you, and a gentle amount of salt. It's super-easy to tolerate even when you're miserable with symptoms (except for a few of us who don't tolerate chicken - I have also made it with turkey). I was drinking it by the mugful, as well as having it for meals, and it's both hydrating and nourishing. And safe! If you make it with chicken bones as well as chicken, it can be incredibly soothing and calming to an angry gut. (Plus the stove does all the work - no stirring or fussing.) You can also freeze portions for another time - though when it was such a huge part of my diet, I never had enough to freeze!
It seems overwhelming, but you've been eating and drinking appropriately your whole life, and you can continue to do so now. Don't worry terribly about whether your electrolytes are perfect from one hour to the next. If you're well enough to post to this forum, your electrolytes are more or less OK, and you will get them gently back on track. You don't have to literally replace every milligram of sodium you lose within the hour... and stressing about it just add upset on top of the difficulty and frustration of dealing with symptoms. (It took me a few days after I joined to manage a coherent post here - I know how hard it can be to pull your thoughts and energy together at the height of an MC crisis.)
I don't mean to make light of your health - it is very important to stay hydrated, stop the relentless D, and keep your whole system in balance, so you can begin to heal. I hope this helps you de-stress a little while you take care of yourself! BTW, if you have a friend, neighbor, or loved one who says "let me know if there's anything you need" - absolutely take them up on it! I was lucky to have wonderful husband-support my first week of severe symptoms. If he'd been away, I probably wouldn't have thought to reach out to our wonderful community of friends and neighbors, but that would have been pretty silly ;)
Hope you're feeling more encouraged than alarmed, and here's wishing you speedy symptom relief as well!
--Sara
Here are some suggestions for electrolyte replacement: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ectrolytes
Potatoes are very high in potassium, btw - so potato chips may not be helpful, but they can sure be useful! I have eaten more potato chips in the past few months than in the past 5 years, I think.
I hugely recommend making a giant pot of homemade chicken soup, with potatoes if they work for you, and a gentle amount of salt. It's super-easy to tolerate even when you're miserable with symptoms (except for a few of us who don't tolerate chicken - I have also made it with turkey). I was drinking it by the mugful, as well as having it for meals, and it's both hydrating and nourishing. And safe! If you make it with chicken bones as well as chicken, it can be incredibly soothing and calming to an angry gut. (Plus the stove does all the work - no stirring or fussing.) You can also freeze portions for another time - though when it was such a huge part of my diet, I never had enough to freeze!
It seems overwhelming, but you've been eating and drinking appropriately your whole life, and you can continue to do so now. Don't worry terribly about whether your electrolytes are perfect from one hour to the next. If you're well enough to post to this forum, your electrolytes are more or less OK, and you will get them gently back on track. You don't have to literally replace every milligram of sodium you lose within the hour... and stressing about it just add upset on top of the difficulty and frustration of dealing with symptoms. (It took me a few days after I joined to manage a coherent post here - I know how hard it can be to pull your thoughts and energy together at the height of an MC crisis.)
I don't mean to make light of your health - it is very important to stay hydrated, stop the relentless D, and keep your whole system in balance, so you can begin to heal. I hope this helps you de-stress a little while you take care of yourself! BTW, if you have a friend, neighbor, or loved one who says "let me know if there's anything you need" - absolutely take them up on it! I was lucky to have wonderful husband-support my first week of severe symptoms. If he'd been away, I probably wouldn't have thought to reach out to our wonderful community of friends and neighbors, but that would have been pretty silly ;)
Hope you're feeling more encouraged than alarmed, and here's wishing you speedy symptom relief as well!
--Sara
Oh Sara, I already feel better just reading your post. Actually, I did make a pot of chicken soup yesterday, but I didn't add potatoes - good idea - but I put noodles in it. I used to make it with barley, but eliminated that. We still have some, but next time I make it, I will add potatoes instead. Thanks for that tip. I don't know if chicken is one I may have to give up or not. It's hard to tell which food is the culprit when episodes occur.
I just finished printing out the post by Polly on Dehydration and Electrolytes, and it is full of information. I'm grateful for that.
I do feel less stressful about dehydration and electrolytes. And, I had been trying to replace after each episode, so I will stop doing that for sure. I guess it's the weight loss that is bothersome, but I can tell you that when I had 2 months of freedom, my weight went right back to where it was, so I know this is temporary.
My husband has been a big help. He knows I just don't want to leave whenever I feel an episode coming on, because I can tell sometimes thru the gurgling/cramping, etc., but I do feel so much better knowing there are people out there dealing with this and doing just fine. That alone is a plus, the "doing just fine" part.
Thanks again, Sara.
garina
I just finished printing out the post by Polly on Dehydration and Electrolytes, and it is full of information. I'm grateful for that.
I do feel less stressful about dehydration and electrolytes. And, I had been trying to replace after each episode, so I will stop doing that for sure. I guess it's the weight loss that is bothersome, but I can tell you that when I had 2 months of freedom, my weight went right back to where it was, so I know this is temporary.
My husband has been a big help. He knows I just don't want to leave whenever I feel an episode coming on, because I can tell sometimes thru the gurgling/cramping, etc., but I do feel so much better knowing there are people out there dealing with this and doing just fine. That alone is a plus, the "doing just fine" part.
Thanks again, Sara.
garina
Garina,
You can buy gluten-free noodles, if you want noodles in your soup. Look for Tinkiyada brand. There are other brands, but Tinkiyada brand rice pasta is one of the best. There are also noodles available made from corn, I believe, though I have never tried them. You may have to go to a health food store to find some of these, though. Trader Joe's is a good place to find GF foods, at prices lower than most health food stores.
As far as I know, I don't have a hiatal hernia, but when I was recovering from abdominal surgery, I had some serious problems with acid reflux, (causing a sore throat, sensation of a lump in the throat, etc.), and I discovered that it was caused by sleeping, (or lying), on my right side. When we lie on our right side, part of the stomach is higher than the lower esophageal sphincter, (LES), and sometimes, (for many of us), the LES is unable to retain the contents of the stomach in that position, (especially if we have gas pressure in the stomach, which is often the case), and so we experience acid reflux. (In my case, I woke up with a mouth full of stomach acid, and partially digested food.) After that experience, I stopped eating later than at least several hours before bedtime, and I made a point of never lying on my right side, and I resolved my acid reflux problem.
During the first few days following my surgery, after they removed the respirator tube, (or rather, when I tried to eat, while it was still in place, and I choked on it, and blew it out), they insisted that I take a PPI, daily, "to help prevent me from choking, in case I had any reflux". I had a choice of taking a PPI, or they threatened to reinsert the respirator tube), so I agreed to take the PPI, against my better judgment. Of course, a PPI weakens the LES muscle, so after I got home, (where I didn't have an adjustable bed, with an elevated headboard, I had reflux problems.
Anyway, by not eating for at least several hours before bedtime, and by not lying on my right side, and by not taking any more PPIs, after leaving the hospital, I was able to prevent any more reflux episodes. After a month or so went by, my LES slowly strengthened, so that eventually, (after several more months, it no longer mattered if I ate just before bedtime, nor if I lay on my right side. My reflux problems were gone. Doctors don't seem to understand that PPIs cause a weakened LES, which causes GERD.
Also, as you are probably aware, certain foods promote acid reflux, and avoiding them, (at least until you get the reflux issue resolved, and avoiding them for at least 4 or 5 hours before bedtime), will help to prevent reflux, and will allow your LES to regain it's strength. Citrus fruits and juice, (such as grapefruit, oranges, lemons, etc.), tomatoes, garlic, onion, pepper, chilis, peppermint, fatty foods, (such as cheese, nuts, avacado, fatty meats), alcoholic drinks, any drink that contains caffeine, chocolate, carbonated beverages, etc., all can cause acid reflux. They may not all be a problem for you, but many/most of them might be. After your LES has had time to heal, and it gets it's strength back, you may be able to eat most or all of these foods again. After you resolve your reflux problem, (and your LES has had some time to recover), you can determine which ones are safe for you, by trial and error.
Good luck with all this, and please don't hesitate to ask any questions that come to mind.
Tex
You can buy gluten-free noodles, if you want noodles in your soup. Look for Tinkiyada brand. There are other brands, but Tinkiyada brand rice pasta is one of the best. There are also noodles available made from corn, I believe, though I have never tried them. You may have to go to a health food store to find some of these, though. Trader Joe's is a good place to find GF foods, at prices lower than most health food stores.
The hiatal hernia allows the top part of your stomach to squeeze through the diaphragm, (upwards), and this can cause the feeling of a lump in the throat. Of course, acid reflux is usually what causes the sore throat, and the burn left by the acid can also cause a feeling of a lump in the throat. If the top of your stomach is protruding through the diaphragm, you can coax it back in place, by drinking a glass of warm water, and jumping up and down, to shake it back into place. The weight of the water will help to pull the stomach down, when you land at the bottom of your jump cycle.Garina wrote:I have stopped Nexium cold turkey, and heartburn is back. I have a Hiatal Hernia, and I think that contributes to heartburn. I have the kind that gives you a sore throat and feels like a lump in your upper abdomen (lower chest). How do you control that now?
As far as I know, I don't have a hiatal hernia, but when I was recovering from abdominal surgery, I had some serious problems with acid reflux, (causing a sore throat, sensation of a lump in the throat, etc.), and I discovered that it was caused by sleeping, (or lying), on my right side. When we lie on our right side, part of the stomach is higher than the lower esophageal sphincter, (LES), and sometimes, (for many of us), the LES is unable to retain the contents of the stomach in that position, (especially if we have gas pressure in the stomach, which is often the case), and so we experience acid reflux. (In my case, I woke up with a mouth full of stomach acid, and partially digested food.) After that experience, I stopped eating later than at least several hours before bedtime, and I made a point of never lying on my right side, and I resolved my acid reflux problem.
During the first few days following my surgery, after they removed the respirator tube, (or rather, when I tried to eat, while it was still in place, and I choked on it, and blew it out), they insisted that I take a PPI, daily, "to help prevent me from choking, in case I had any reflux". I had a choice of taking a PPI, or they threatened to reinsert the respirator tube), so I agreed to take the PPI, against my better judgment. Of course, a PPI weakens the LES muscle, so after I got home, (where I didn't have an adjustable bed, with an elevated headboard, I had reflux problems.
Anyway, by not eating for at least several hours before bedtime, and by not lying on my right side, and by not taking any more PPIs, after leaving the hospital, I was able to prevent any more reflux episodes. After a month or so went by, my LES slowly strengthened, so that eventually, (after several more months, it no longer mattered if I ate just before bedtime, nor if I lay on my right side. My reflux problems were gone. Doctors don't seem to understand that PPIs cause a weakened LES, which causes GERD.
Also, as you are probably aware, certain foods promote acid reflux, and avoiding them, (at least until you get the reflux issue resolved, and avoiding them for at least 4 or 5 hours before bedtime), will help to prevent reflux, and will allow your LES to regain it's strength. Citrus fruits and juice, (such as grapefruit, oranges, lemons, etc.), tomatoes, garlic, onion, pepper, chilis, peppermint, fatty foods, (such as cheese, nuts, avacado, fatty meats), alcoholic drinks, any drink that contains caffeine, chocolate, carbonated beverages, etc., all can cause acid reflux. They may not all be a problem for you, but many/most of them might be. After your LES has had time to heal, and it gets it's strength back, you may be able to eat most or all of these foods again. After you resolve your reflux problem, (and your LES has had some time to recover), you can determine which ones are safe for you, by trial and error.
Trust me, it's not easy for any of us - we just accept that we have to do it, if we are going to get our life back, and so we do it. It's difficult at first, but as time goes by, we become accustomed to it, and more comfortable with it, (especially, as we start feeling so much better), and eventually, following the diet becomes second nature. Uncontrolled, explosive diarrhea is a powerful motivator, so the reward, (no more symptoms), is well worth the effort, no matter how difficult it seems at first.Garina wrote:I envy you all for being able to do this, as I find it terribly hard...but I know it's doable.
Good luck with all this, and please don't hesitate to ask any questions that come to mind.
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.
Gradina - Welcome. I am also fairly new at this. It's only been a couple of months since my diagnosis. The diet and trying to find things to eat can be totally overwhelming at times. If it wasn't for my new "family" here, I don't think I could have made it through the first few weeks with my sanity intact. Reading labels was difficult at first, but now it's become second nature. It has amazed me how many things have gluten, soy, dairy and eggs in them. I found out through Enterolab that I'm sensitive to all of those and try my best now to avoid them.
I live in NW Louisiana, so I can't help with finding a doctor in Florida, but we are actually vacationing on Okaloosa Island the week after next. Do you know of any restaurants that are allergy friendly? For the most part, we'll be cooking our own food, but it would be nice to eat out one night.
Hang in there! It does get easier.
Hugs,
I live in NW Louisiana, so I can't help with finding a doctor in Florida, but we are actually vacationing on Okaloosa Island the week after next. Do you know of any restaurants that are allergy friendly? For the most part, we'll be cooking our own food, but it would be nice to eat out one night.
Hang in there! It does get easier.
Hugs,
Denise
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Garina,
I can't say enough great things about sleeping on the left side. It was such a simple change, and it made a world of difference, especially when I was first sick. A friend also put blocks under the legs of her bed at the head, which helped her quite a lot.
I love low-risk, zero-cost solutions that work!
Hope you're feeling good today,
Sara
I can't say enough great things about sleeping on the left side. It was such a simple change, and it made a world of difference, especially when I was first sick. A friend also put blocks under the legs of her bed at the head, which helped her quite a lot.
I love low-risk, zero-cost solutions that work!
Hope you're feeling good today,
Sara
I am overwhelmed with this great information, and Tex, thanks for the tip on GF noodles. I wish we did have a Trader Joe's here, but I do know of two health food stores that I have been to before. But the prices .... wow ... I did find a place online called Vitacost.com that does have GF products and their prices seem better than our small health food stores locally.
I am definitely going to try the warm water treatment plus jumping up and down. I used to have a rebounder many years ago. Wish now I still had it. I did try sleeping on only my left side last night. I think I will do that from now on. Whatever it takes. I cannot see going back on PPI's, especially with the news that they cause a weakened LES. Your list of foods to stay away from is a good one. I was not aware of many of them.
I thank you ever so much for sharing your knowledge.
Denise,
We live in Okaloosa, but unfortunately, I don't know of any restaurants that are allergy friendly. Hard to go on vacation and have to cook every night instead of an occasional meal out. We do not live near the beach, however, but I imagine restaurants beach side cater to the majority of folks having no food problems. Maybe, we will be those folks one day!
garina
I am definitely going to try the warm water treatment plus jumping up and down. I used to have a rebounder many years ago. Wish now I still had it. I did try sleeping on only my left side last night. I think I will do that from now on. Whatever it takes. I cannot see going back on PPI's, especially with the news that they cause a weakened LES. Your list of foods to stay away from is a good one. I was not aware of many of them.
I thank you ever so much for sharing your knowledge.
Denise,
We live in Okaloosa, but unfortunately, I don't know of any restaurants that are allergy friendly. Hard to go on vacation and have to cook every night instead of an occasional meal out. We do not live near the beach, however, but I imagine restaurants beach side cater to the majority of folks having no food problems. Maybe, we will be those folks one day!
garina
Garina,
For me, sleeping on my back seemed to work just as well as sleeping on my left side. Originally, I always slept on my stomach, but after my symptoms began, the bloating was so bad, and the pain so debilitating, that I quickly learned to sleep on my back, and even after I reached remission, I continued to sleep on my back, because by then I was used to it. Sometimes we shift positions, though, when we have trouble getting to sleep, and/or we just can't seem to find a comfortable position, and that's when I discovered that sleeping on my right side was a no-no.
In fairness to the doctors, (and the drug companies), I should point out that PPIs don't directly weaken the LES. What happens is that PPIs raise the pH level of the stomach contents, (a higher pH level equates to reduced acidity), so that the gastric side of the LES is exposed to a higher pH level. Research shows that the clinching strength, (holding strength), of the LES is inversely proportional to the pH on the stomach side. IOW, the lower the pH, (the more acid the stomach contents), the tighter the LES holds. GERD happens when the pH of the stomach is increased to the point where the LES relaxes enough to allow some stomach contents to slip through. In other words, GERD is usually the result of insufficient stomach acid, rather than too much stomach acid.
Research shows that after a few weeks of taking a PPI, the muscle strength of the LES slowly weakens, because it never has to clinch tightly, since it is no longer exposed to low pH values. Over time, it becomes weaker, and finally settles at a lower strength level, based on the prevailing average pH established by the PPI. As a result, PPIs do cause the LES to weaken, but it's by this indirect route, not because the drugs directly affect the LES. Most doctors don't understand this relationship, and so they will argue that PPIs don't weaken the LES, and of course they will argue that PPIs prevent GERD, rather than cause it. I disagree, obviously.
You're most welcome.
Tex
For me, sleeping on my back seemed to work just as well as sleeping on my left side. Originally, I always slept on my stomach, but after my symptoms began, the bloating was so bad, and the pain so debilitating, that I quickly learned to sleep on my back, and even after I reached remission, I continued to sleep on my back, because by then I was used to it. Sometimes we shift positions, though, when we have trouble getting to sleep, and/or we just can't seem to find a comfortable position, and that's when I discovered that sleeping on my right side was a no-no.
In fairness to the doctors, (and the drug companies), I should point out that PPIs don't directly weaken the LES. What happens is that PPIs raise the pH level of the stomach contents, (a higher pH level equates to reduced acidity), so that the gastric side of the LES is exposed to a higher pH level. Research shows that the clinching strength, (holding strength), of the LES is inversely proportional to the pH on the stomach side. IOW, the lower the pH, (the more acid the stomach contents), the tighter the LES holds. GERD happens when the pH of the stomach is increased to the point where the LES relaxes enough to allow some stomach contents to slip through. In other words, GERD is usually the result of insufficient stomach acid, rather than too much stomach acid.
Research shows that after a few weeks of taking a PPI, the muscle strength of the LES slowly weakens, because it never has to clinch tightly, since it is no longer exposed to low pH values. Over time, it becomes weaker, and finally settles at a lower strength level, based on the prevailing average pH established by the PPI. As a result, PPIs do cause the LES to weaken, but it's by this indirect route, not because the drugs directly affect the LES. Most doctors don't understand this relationship, and so they will argue that PPIs don't weaken the LES, and of course they will argue that PPIs prevent GERD, rather than cause it. I disagree, obviously.
You're most welcome.
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.