Blood/stool sample results....

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CathyMe.
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Blood/stool sample results....

Post by CathyMe. »

Had some new lab work done and of course will go over it with my GI when I have the next appt. but wanted to run it by you all. My Blood counts were normal but my inflammatory markers were, "extremely elevated"
Kidney Ksts-dehydration
c. diff-negative
bacterial cultures-negative
liver ksts-normal
anyone have any thoughts???
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Post by desertrat »

Slightly confused. Are you talking about your CRP levels being high?

Mandy
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Post by CathyMe. »

Yes CRP and ESR levels are extremely elevated. Left message for GI doctor as this just came in a form letter with no explanation (unbelievable). I got home from work, checked my mail and called her @ 4:30. She did try calling me back @ 5 pm and will try me again tomorrow morning to explain. I've been googling of course as this is a new one for me. What concerns me is that this is showing up when I've been on Both Entocort (since Feb. ) and another anti-inflammatory for 2 weeks. I had MRT testing done and have been digilent with my diet since March/April, yet there is still inflammation and it would seem as though my poor body is continuing to fight something??I also should mention that I have both a brother and a father diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I just hope that there hasn't been any permanent damage done. I do get the dehydration as I had been flaring up and drink ALOT of water.
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Post by desertrat »

Cathy,

I was going to post this in a new thread, but this is perfect here. I have very high levels of CRP. I was determined to bring them down, so I researched and experimented. I could not seem to lower them no matter what I tried! So frustrating. Then, I discovered, to my delight, that Krill oil and astaxanthin brought down my levels! I was a 5.6 on my CRP on my last blood work and went down to a 3.2 within six weeks! Not too shabby for only six weeks!

If you google Krill and astaxanthin, you will see the benefits of the two taken together. The Krill oil has to be a very good quality, though. The astaxanthin too. I used BioAstin from Nutrex. I take two 4mg. With the Krill oil, the best is Red Whale Krill oil. Expensive, but the best. However, you can take Mega Red by Schiff, although you need to take more (pills) to do what Red Whale can do in one. FYI, I use the Mega,(I take 3 a day = 900 to 1000 mg) because I found a great deal about two months ago.

I also take a high quality fish oil. Overkill? Maybe, maybe not. I am going to add a flaxseed oil to the mix and see with my blood work if the CRP goes down anymore in the next 6-8 weeks.

Hopes this helps!

Mandy
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Post by CathyMe. »

Thanks Mandy. I will definitely check out the Krill oil. I used to take fish oil but stopped when I started a new daily multivitamin.
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Post by JFR »

I take krill oil and astaxanthin too, because of their reputed anti-inflammatory effects. I suspect, but can't know for certain, that the addition of these 2 supplements contributed to the disappearance of my dry eye, which is thought to be an inflammatory process. I used to use Restasis twice a day but no longer need it. I also suspect that my dietary changes contributed (going gf/df/sf/ef et al).

Jean
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Post by CathyMe. »

Thanks Jean. That is good to know and I have started back on the Krill oil.
My GI just called me back and said she was suprised the inflammatory markers were elevated as, "we don't normally see this with MC/LC". She said that if I had pneumonia or another infection (which I don't) then these numbers would be elevated. She stated that she thinks my, "disease may have evolved into Chrohn's or Ulcerative Colitis" and that it was a good thing that we are doing the colonoscopy on Monday so that she can see what else is going on in my colon. I continue to do well on the Lialda, which she said just confirms that it may be Chrohn's or UC. Interestingly enough, both my brother and father have UC, which she is aware of the family connection. I wonder what my levels would have been if I wasn't on the steroid or anti-inflammatory?

My poor body just continues to try and fight whatever is going on!
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Post by tlras »

Cathy.....good luck on your colonoscopy. I asked my doctor (internist) a year ago if she could check my CRP (had a feeling something was going on) and she turned me down stating it's not an accurate test at all. Whatever.....wish she would have as I'm sure mine was pretty elevated.

Mandy... thanks for the information about the Krill oil.....had just started hearing about it recently. However, I've never heard of the Astaxanthin. Will have to research that.

Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Post by tex »

Cathy,

If I were in your situation, I would be very suspicious of the Lialda, despite the fact that you are now having Normans. Mesalamine is closely related to NSAIDs, and it is known to cause the production of leukotrienes, which are highly inflammatory. Usually, those of us who are sensitive to mesalamine/NSAIDs respond by having D, but that isn't chiseled in stone. It's possible for the drug to cause inflammation without the D.
clinical manifestations and results of fecal eicosanoid analysis in our patient suggest that this drug may stimulate leukotriene synthesis as do analgesic NSAIDs and, in turn, lead to diarrhea or intestinal inflammation (or both) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NE ... 3263381320

The risk that I see is that if the mesalamine has indeed caused the degree of inflammation in your intestines reflected by your recent blood test results, the inflammation may be visible on a gross level (that is, visible to the naked eye, through the colonoscope), and your doctor may misinterpret it as Crohn's or UC, so be sure that you carefully review the pathology report afterward, to verify what the biopsies actually show.

Tex
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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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Post by CathyMe. »

Thanks Tex. I will definitely get a copy of the results, which I did not ask for after she attempted my 1st one in February. I definitely need to have her office fax me results of all of the testing that she had ordered and will add it to my "file" of information.
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Post by wonderwoman »

I had not heard of Krill oil or Astaxanthin prior to the above post. Since I was at Sprouts today I asked the woman in their Supplement area about it. She didn't have a very good opinion of it. She felt there were other fish oils that were better. Krill oil comes from a fish by the name of Krill.

She said that all Krill oils are much lower in DHA and EPA, and showed me on several bottles. She went on to explain that the American Heart Association says to add the two numbers together, the DHA and the EPA numbers and that total number should be 2,000 to 3,000 to be a good oil.

I came home and checked my 1000mg. fish oil and the DHA is 220 and the EPA is 180, combined total is 400, A lot less than what she said is recommended by AHA.

I hope someone here can research this and come up with some answers regarding DHA and EPA.
Charlotte

The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. Ann Wigmore
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Post by JFR »

Charlotte,

According to Dr Eades (who tends to do his research) krill oil is significantly more absorbable than fish oil. You can read his post about it here:

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/infl ... krill-oil/

Jean
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Post by wonderwoman »

Everything I found while researching does not come close to 2,000 to 3,000mg told to me today.
I probably should have researched before posting.

http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/n ... a-epa.aspx
In conjunction with other important lifestyle changes, the AHA recommended
0.5 to 1g of omega-3 EPA and DHA for individuals with borderline fasting triglyceride levels (150 to 199mg/dL),
1 - 2g for individuals with high fasting-triglyceride levels (200 to 499mg/dL),
and 2 to 4g for individuals with very high fasting-triglyceride levels (≥500mg/dL).
The AHA has also previously recommended normal healthy individuals consume a variety of fish (preferably oily),
and a daily intake of 1g of omega-3 EPA and DHA for patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD).
Jean, I read Dr Eades article and found it interesting. I am particularly interested in Krill oil because of my extremely dry eyes. I too have been useing Restasis for a year with little improvement. Rarely wear my contats as a result.
Charlotte

The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. Ann Wigmore
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Post by desertrat »

Charlotte,

FWIW, the "so-called" help at Trader Joes, to me, is minimal at best. I always get crossed-eyed looks when I ask even a simple question.

If you want a Krill Oil supplement that works, here is something to know:

1- Phospholipids are the key to krill oil’s effectiveness. Science has established that krill oil composition should be a minimum of 40% phospholipids. Anything less is not worth your time or money.

2- Astaxanthin is the other main reason for krill oil’s amazing health benefits. If there’s not a sufficient amount, or worse, if it’s not listed on the label, what’s the point? Unfortunately, except for a few Krill oil makers, you cannot find astaxanthin in them, or with enough percentage needed. That is why I buy astaxanthin separately.

3- Bottom line, krill oil is an Omega-3 supplement. So regardless of price, DO NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN 150MG/EPA and 90MG/DHA! But, it is hard to find a Krill oil that has that amount in one single pill; that is why I take three.

I also take a good fish oil. Nordic Naturals. 2 a day.

Hope this helps!

Mandy (who is enjoy the 80 degree weather!)
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Post by tlras »

I read online that fish oils and krill oils can cause loose stools and diarrhea. This scares me. Should I wait to go into remission before starting on these kind of oils? Usually when a med or supplement lists diarrhea as a side effect, I'll more than likely get it. I know Omega 3's are very good supplements that work well but awfully scared it might make me worse. Shouldn't we be well healed before introducing these supplements? I don't know what to do.

Thanks,
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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