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Thankyou in advance.
Mia
Back here again after long absence
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Back here again after long absence
Well hello everyone. I have been a member here since 2007 when I was diagnosed with CC, but haven't been back for awhile. I have been dealing with another autoimmune disease and have been posting on that site for a long time (where I got things under control thanks to their very experienced and excellent advice). So now back to my CC! For some time I did very well- even 'normal' thanks to the Specific carbohydrate diet- but I've been only following that diet more or less 'loosely' now- and for the past 5 months or so, have been having a hard time with the big D. I have had a pain just under my ribcage on the left side off and on too. Do you think that's the CC???- (I'm thinking- please,not something ELSE). I take no meds for the CC- and never have. I'm wondering if it's time I went back to the doctor about this. I guess I'm just so not wanting drugs! I'd appreciate any of your advice- I'm all confused actually.
Thankyou in advance.
Mia
Thankyou in advance.
Mia
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jodibelle352
- Angel
- Posts: 610
- Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Contact:
Hi Mia:
Was just reading your post and you're in the right place Sweety. Tex will be getting with you shortly to give you some very HELPFUL tips and he will also beable to lead you in the right direction.
What caught my eye was your complaint about pain on the left side by your ribs. Is your pain by the ribs or is it more under your breast bone. And if so does your pain protrude through to your back between your shoulder blades and the upper part of your shoulder on the right side?
The reason I ask this is because I have CC and I also have Lupus (SLE) but a year ago this past January I had to have my gallbladder removed and the pain I've discribed above is what I experienced before FINALLY the doctor's decided I needed surgery. This pain I'm discribing took me right to my knees it was so bad at times.
About your questions about seeing a doctor and possibly going on medication. I truly understand how one would HATE to go on medication especially pain med's that can sometimes become addictive but I do feel to be on the safe side you need to see your Family Physician or at least a GI Specialist you can trust and feel comfortable with.
I am on a medication called Entocort and I started out on 3 capsules daily (9mgs) each capsule being 3mgs each. I am now still on 6mgs daily (2 capsules) and doing pretty well. I saw a big change in the big D within a week or two of starting this med.
Like yourself I have CC and have to take each day at a time but I have a very caring FP and GI. I also do my very best to stick to a GF diet which helps greatly because of the inflamation. I still have some D but it's usually triggered by stress or by eating something I shouldn't.
Hope this helps you at least a little and I'm certain Tex will be responding to your post real soon.
Welcome!
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
Was just reading your post and you're in the right place Sweety. Tex will be getting with you shortly to give you some very HELPFUL tips and he will also beable to lead you in the right direction.
What caught my eye was your complaint about pain on the left side by your ribs. Is your pain by the ribs or is it more under your breast bone. And if so does your pain protrude through to your back between your shoulder blades and the upper part of your shoulder on the right side?
The reason I ask this is because I have CC and I also have Lupus (SLE) but a year ago this past January I had to have my gallbladder removed and the pain I've discribed above is what I experienced before FINALLY the doctor's decided I needed surgery. This pain I'm discribing took me right to my knees it was so bad at times.
About your questions about seeing a doctor and possibly going on medication. I truly understand how one would HATE to go on medication especially pain med's that can sometimes become addictive but I do feel to be on the safe side you need to see your Family Physician or at least a GI Specialist you can trust and feel comfortable with.
I am on a medication called Entocort and I started out on 3 capsules daily (9mgs) each capsule being 3mgs each. I am now still on 6mgs daily (2 capsules) and doing pretty well. I saw a big change in the big D within a week or two of starting this med.
Like yourself I have CC and have to take each day at a time but I have a very caring FP and GI. I also do my very best to stick to a GF diet which helps greatly because of the inflamation. I still have some D but it's usually triggered by stress or by eating something I shouldn't.
Hope this helps you at least a little and I'm certain Tex will be responding to your post real soon.
Welcome!
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
May God and All His Angels, watchover, protect and guide you "One Day At A Time".
Hi Mia,
Welcome back! The main problem with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, (as far as treating CC is concerned), is that it allows dairy products, (yogurt and cheese, if my memory is correct), and most of us with this disease are intolerant of all dairy products. Also, about half of us are intolerant of soy.
If I were you, and I wanted to try to control the CC without using any meds, I would cut all dairy products and soy out of my diet for a while, and see how that goes. I am assuming that you are already avoiding all sources of gluten, as that is the worst problem, by far, for virtually all of us.
It's difficult to guess what that pain under your ribcage might be. CC can cause a lot of body aches and pains, but so can many other diseases. Hopefully, it will disappear when you get your CC symptoms under control.
Tex
Welcome back! The main problem with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, (as far as treating CC is concerned), is that it allows dairy products, (yogurt and cheese, if my memory is correct), and most of us with this disease are intolerant of all dairy products. Also, about half of us are intolerant of soy.
If I were you, and I wanted to try to control the CC without using any meds, I would cut all dairy products and soy out of my diet for a while, and see how that goes. I am assuming that you are already avoiding all sources of gluten, as that is the worst problem, by far, for virtually all of us.
It's difficult to guess what that pain under your ribcage might be. CC can cause a lot of body aches and pains, but so can many other diseases. Hopefully, it will disappear when you get your CC symptoms under control.
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.
good advice!
Thankyou Jodi, Lyn, and Tex.
I have been suspicious about the dairy for some time actually- but didn't want to face it- jeeze - I really should try eliminating it. You know I thought about gallbladder with that left side pain- it IS more under the breastbone, but I thought the gallbladder was on the right. Is it possible to feel gallbladder pain more to the left? I'm going to make a Dr's appt today- though I would have to fly to see a specialist as I'm in Northern British Columbia - a big to-do that makes me put things like this off. My regular GP keeps offering to make a specialist appt for me in Vancouver for the CC, but so far I've said no. I keep thinking that all they'll do is offer me drugs. So- I guess I'm thinking maybe I should just go and see one. Sigh.
Mia
I have been suspicious about the dairy for some time actually- but didn't want to face it- jeeze - I really should try eliminating it. You know I thought about gallbladder with that left side pain- it IS more under the breastbone, but I thought the gallbladder was on the right. Is it possible to feel gallbladder pain more to the left? I'm going to make a Dr's appt today- though I would have to fly to see a specialist as I'm in Northern British Columbia - a big to-do that makes me put things like this off. My regular GP keeps offering to make a specialist appt for me in Vancouver for the CC, but so far I've said no. I keep thinking that all they'll do is offer me drugs. So- I guess I'm thinking maybe I should just go and see one. Sigh.
Mia
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jodibelle352
- Angel
- Posts: 610
- Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Contact:
Mia:
My pain was located under my breast bone and radiated right through between my shoulder blades in my back. From there it went right into the shoulder of my right arm. Sooooooo the pain you may be having could possibly be from something else. I would just feel more comfortable if you were to have it checked out because it could be from something else. As Tex has said many times;"those of us who have this disease also have pain and major pain in other area's.
Please keep us informed on how you are doing.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
My pain was located under my breast bone and radiated right through between my shoulder blades in my back. From there it went right into the shoulder of my right arm. Sooooooo the pain you may be having could possibly be from something else. I would just feel more comfortable if you were to have it checked out because it could be from something else. As Tex has said many times;"those of us who have this disease also have pain and major pain in other area's.
Please keep us informed on how you are doing.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
May God and All His Angels, watchover, protect and guide you "One Day At A Time".
Mia,
Yes, gallbladder pain is usually felt just a little to the right of center. I honestly don't know if anyone ever experiences gallbladder pain to the left of center. I suppose it's certainly possible, but I would think that would be rather rare. A strong clue is whether it begins an hour or two after eating, and continues for several hours. A Meal with a high fat content should cause worse symptoms than a low-fat meal.
The odds are almost 100% that a GI doc in Vancouver will offer you drugs. Most of them don't have the foggiest idea that CC can be controlled by diet alone, and they will insist that diet has nothing to do with it.
Tex
Yes, gallbladder pain is usually felt just a little to the right of center. I honestly don't know if anyone ever experiences gallbladder pain to the left of center. I suppose it's certainly possible, but I would think that would be rather rare. A strong clue is whether it begins an hour or two after eating, and continues for several hours. A Meal with a high fat content should cause worse symptoms than a low-fat meal.
The odds are almost 100% that a GI doc in Vancouver will offer you drugs. Most of them don't have the foggiest idea that CC can be controlled by diet alone, and they will insist that diet has nothing to do with it.
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.
Dear Mia,
Your post was very interesting to me. I had a severe flare of CC which lasted for almost three months from 10/08 until 01/09. During that time I had similar pain in my right lower rib cage. I was able to locate it to the bottom two ribs. I used a heating pad on and off at night for about a week. The pain diminished and eventually disappeared. A few days later, I was surfing the net looking for info on MC/CC and I found a site (did not bookmark) on which several unusual manifestations of arthritis, including arthritis of the rib cage, were discussed. I suspect that was my problem. Maybe it can help you, too. Try tylenol and heat. Maybe you will get lucky. Ironically, now that the ribs are better, the first joint of my left index finger is now swollen and very painful. PCP says it looks like classic osteoarthritis (the kind that comes with age and wear and tear on the joints), however, I never had such problems until I developed CC. Good luck. I agree with you about avoiding medications for CC as long as possible, as ALL have side effects. Shekoe
Your post was very interesting to me. I had a severe flare of CC which lasted for almost three months from 10/08 until 01/09. During that time I had similar pain in my right lower rib cage. I was able to locate it to the bottom two ribs. I used a heating pad on and off at night for about a week. The pain diminished and eventually disappeared. A few days later, I was surfing the net looking for info on MC/CC and I found a site (did not bookmark) on which several unusual manifestations of arthritis, including arthritis of the rib cage, were discussed. I suspect that was my problem. Maybe it can help you, too. Try tylenol and heat. Maybe you will get lucky. Ironically, now that the ribs are better, the first joint of my left index finger is now swollen and very painful. PCP says it looks like classic osteoarthritis (the kind that comes with age and wear and tear on the joints), however, I never had such problems until I developed CC. Good luck. I agree with you about avoiding medications for CC as long as possible, as ALL have side effects. Shekoe
right side pain
It does seem to be ribs- or something under the ribs. It also seems to occur after eating, and to be much lessened, or not there at all, if I don't eat. I know the large colon runs down the left side. I have been eating things I shouldn't, for sure, in the past months- and over that time my 'D' has increased in intensity and frequency. For a long while there the CC was hardly an issue at all- actually 'normal' stools- now I'm wondering if not colon, could this be inflammation related as a result of my diet?
I made a doctor's appt for March 20th- to see my GP. I made a double booking so I can take some time to hash this out with him- including my concerns about drugs. No doubt, at the very least, I'm now in for testing too. I don't want another colonoscopy though. My initial one was ok- but I also worry about those doing damage- it seems so 'invasive'.
Where on this site can I read about dietary recommendations? Tex- am I right in the impression that you are in remission? If so, did you do it with diet? Do you take meds?
Thanks all- it's so nice to have somewhere to talk about this stuff- I mean really- who else would listen!
Mia
I made a doctor's appt for March 20th- to see my GP. I made a double booking so I can take some time to hash this out with him- including my concerns about drugs. No doubt, at the very least, I'm now in for testing too. I don't want another colonoscopy though. My initial one was ok- but I also worry about those doing damage- it seems so 'invasive'.
Where on this site can I read about dietary recommendations? Tex- am I right in the impression that you are in remission? If so, did you do it with diet? Do you take meds?
Thanks all- it's so nice to have somewhere to talk about this stuff- I mean really- who else would listen!
Mia
Hi Joan
How long have you had MC Joan? Have you ever taken meds? (I haven't yet). I've actually had CC for much longer than my date of actual diagnosis- I think at least since 2003. I really was doing pretty good for a long while- I think getting careless about my diet was a BIG mistake though.
Mia
Mia
often repeated version
I had my first colonoscopy in February. 
I was having D and lower left pain which turned out to be diverticulosis as predicted by a friend.
Some months later, I called my GI and said I was going to become a recluse so she scheduled a sigmoidoscopy. In June I got my dx. I had big D for months before that.
The Friday I got my dx, I found the PP and by Monday I was GF. I did really well for a few months. In fact, I went to the "other side". I had to eat prunes and drink prune juice to get my sample for EnteroLab!
When I starting not doing so well again, I did the other EL test and found soy to be the culprit.
No meds for me because of the experiences of the PP and the fact that meds could have been responsible for the darn disease in the first place.
I was having D and lower left pain which turned out to be diverticulosis as predicted by a friend.Some months later, I called my GI and said I was going to become a recluse so she scheduled a sigmoidoscopy. In June I got my dx. I had big D for months before that.
The Friday I got my dx, I found the PP and by Monday I was GF. I did really well for a few months. In fact, I went to the "other side". I had to eat prunes and drink prune juice to get my sample for EnteroLab!
When I starting not doing so well again, I did the other EL test and found soy to be the culprit.
No meds for me because of the experiences of the PP and the fact that meds could have been responsible for the darn disease in the first place.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
