New To Forum

[Tweety's Mom]

Firstly, thanks for having me!

I can't say for sure if I have this condition yet. It's been a rough month and the waiting is the most difficult. In mid February, I was put on some pretty strong antibiotics for a sinus infection (co-azithromycin). Approximately a week and a half later, I gradually developed diarrhea. There's no blood in it and I've managed to get some control over it with the brat diet (and timing my food intake) immodium and pepto. My doctor checked me for c diff but it was negative. Now I'm scared. I had suspicion that it wasn't c diff because a friend of mine had had it previously.

I know that antibiotics could leave you susceptible to other infections like giardia but I have really no idea what is causing my chronic diarrhea. I haven't had a solid stool in a little over a month now.

I've recently had blood tests so I have to wait until the results are in and then I'll likely have to have a colonoscopy. Did I mention that I'm terribly worried? You bet...and I'm trying to be a big girl about it. Outside of a thyroid condition and fibromyalgia, I'm relatively healthy. Don't smoke and weigh in at 120lbs. I'm hoping it's nothing super serious (I don't want to use the C word).

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Margaret
=)
[url=http://postimage.org/][img]http://s13.postimg.org/q35u1hqfn/DSCF9518.jpg[/img][/url]

[tex]

Hi Margaret,

Welcome to our Internet family. It's pointless to speculate, without biopsy results from a colonoscopy, but the potential for microscopic colitis is there, because many of us here have developed MC following antibiotic treatments. If the diarrhea is frequently extremely urgent, and watery, that's supporting evidence for MC. And if your belly sometimes makes gurgling noises so loud that you can hardly believe they came from you, that's further evidence that it might be MC.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

[cinemom]

Hi Tweety's Mom (what a cute handle!)
I'm fairly new here, too, but want to welcome you. Sorry to hear you are having these symptoms. Your story sounds similar to mine. I, too, had taken antibiotics a month before my diagnosis of LC. The antibiotics were definitely the straw that broke the camel's back and I began having explosive WD and other bad symptoms that sent me straight to my GI. A colonoscopy with biopsies proved the Dx of LC in my case; that was 6 months ago. I am working hard on my diet toward healing - I'm having some success, as long as I stay gluten-free (grain free) as well as dairy and soy free, too. I have not taken any medication, including any OTC meds to control diarrhea. My limited success has all been diet and stress management so far; sometimes two steps forward, and one step back. But I'm feeling so much better now!

One thing I want to mention, is that in my last colonoscopy, my dr. used a pediatric colonoscope. I assume (but don't know and didn't ask why) he used it because of previous diverticulosis and diverticulitis, as well as the inflamed colon I was experiencing. Anyway, you may want to ask if your GI has a pediatric colonoscope which may be less irritating to an already inflamed colon, and more flexible than a standard adult colonoscope.

Following a BRAT diet should be fine (just make sure the "T" is not toast!) but if not, try simply very well cooked meat (turkey, lamb is best tolerated according to this forum) and very well cooked veggies such as sweet potato, potato, carrots. The raw banana should be tolerated, but if not, that could be dropped just to see. Everybody is different in how their system responds, especially during active inflammation.

You have no blood, so I wouldn't worry further. You will have your answer with your colonoscopy.

Take care, and take it a step at a time. This is a great, supportive forum for us. The people here are very knowledgable and nice! Have a good weekend!

[Tweety's Mom]

Thank you Tex. I will try to keep cool. You're absolutely right...my stomach makes a lot of noise now. It’s one of the first things I noticed.

I really appreciate you and this forum. It's comforting to know that there are others out there on the same journey.

Margaret

[Tweety's Mom]

I'm already starting to feel better thanks to your reply. "Tweety" is my little girl kitty (13 years). I have a boy kitty too "Digby"...he's a 5 year old 20 pound handful.

I'm doing my best to remain optimistic and when I learn about what others have gone through, I feel like a baby. Is it common to have green stool? I heard that it's because the food is being processed to quickly. I probably won't be so hypersensitive to the noises and feelings my body is putting forth.

Love your handle too!

[tex]

Is it common to have green stool? I heard that it's because the food is being processed to quickly.

You heard correctly. The green color is usually due to bile in the stool. As bile ages, it turns the stool a normal brown color, but with the rapid motility that often comes with MC, it doesn't have time to complete a color change.

You're most welcome,
Tex