Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
I was diagnosed with LC in 2006, although I am sure I was suffering for years prior. I have used Pepto, Pentasa, Entocorte, modified my diet based on following this site and the microscopiccolitis.org site (when it was working). Currently I am doing nothing to treat the LC.
I have noticed my symptoms go from typical MC symptoms to BMs alternating between the D and semi formed pieces. However, the most disturbing symptom I have experienced in the last year or so has been passing whitish or translucent string-like material. I have passed thicker flesh-coloured material too. This stuff is also accompanied by froth or foamy mucous sometimes and gas.
I have tried researching these symptoms but nothing comes up. Has anyone encountered these symptoms or do they signal something else going on? I do plan to visit to my GI doc soon to discuss this.
Thanks.
Symptoms changing
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi,
Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with this disease for so long without any resolution of symptoms.
The substance you are describing is mucus. It sometimes appears in different forms, but it is basically mucus. The surface of the intestines, (known as the mucosa), produces a thin film of mucus, that serves to protect it from the digestive acids and enzymes that are produced in the GI tract. (In fact, if it were not for the mucus coating of the interior of the stomach, it would digest itself, because of the extremely high acidity needed to begin the digestive process of food). During an MC reaction, food intolerances, (or other inflammatory agents present in the fecal stream), such as gluten, casein, NSAIDs etc., promote inflammation of the mucosal surface, so it produces additional mucus, to try to protect itself from the inflammatory agents in the fecal stream.
Most of us have experienced moderate to large amounts of mucus production at one time or another, (during severe flares), but generally, it indicates that the intestines are overwhelmed, and are trying to protect themselves from inflammation, in the only way they know.
If we are not able to control our symptoms by following a treatment program that is effective for our own particular situation, some of us alternate between diarrhea and constipation, and a few experience only constipation. Most of us, of course, will have uncontrollable diarrhea, in such a situation. The extreme mucus production seems to be associated with episodes of diarrhea, for most of us.
Again, welcome aboard.
Tex
Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with this disease for so long without any resolution of symptoms.
The substance you are describing is mucus. It sometimes appears in different forms, but it is basically mucus. The surface of the intestines, (known as the mucosa), produces a thin film of mucus, that serves to protect it from the digestive acids and enzymes that are produced in the GI tract. (In fact, if it were not for the mucus coating of the interior of the stomach, it would digest itself, because of the extremely high acidity needed to begin the digestive process of food). During an MC reaction, food intolerances, (or other inflammatory agents present in the fecal stream), such as gluten, casein, NSAIDs etc., promote inflammation of the mucosal surface, so it produces additional mucus, to try to protect itself from the inflammatory agents in the fecal stream.
Most of us have experienced moderate to large amounts of mucus production at one time or another, (during severe flares), but generally, it indicates that the intestines are overwhelmed, and are trying to protect themselves from inflammation, in the only way they know.
If we are not able to control our symptoms by following a treatment program that is effective for our own particular situation, some of us alternate between diarrhea and constipation, and a few experience only constipation. Most of us, of course, will have uncontrollable diarrhea, in such a situation. The extreme mucus production seems to be associated with episodes of diarrhea, for most of us.
Again, welcome aboard.
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 Jaybird and welcome to our "home".
Lots of information here.... just keep reading and reading and asking questions.
So sorry you have been having such a hard time getting your symptoms under control. May I ask how long you were on the Entocort? It sometimes takes a few weeks to see improvement with that med. and most have stayed on it about 6 months at least. (at least I think so)
Shirley
Lots of information here.... just keep reading and reading and asking questions.
So sorry you have been having such a hard time getting your symptoms under control. May I ask how long you were on the Entocort? It sometimes takes a few weeks to see improvement with that med. and most have stayed on it about 6 months at least. (at least I think so)
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Hi Tex and Starfire,
Thank you for your quick and concise response Tex. I guess the plan to follow is to go back to eliminating stuff from my diet again until my intestines stop sloughing off their protective coating.
As for Entocort use, I was on it for maybe four or five months and was getting wicked sinus infections from the reduce immunity. I dropped off it pretty quick, no dependency issues.
Thanks for the advice.
Thank you for your quick and concise response Tex. I guess the plan to follow is to go back to eliminating stuff from my diet again until my intestines stop sloughing off their protective coating.
As for Entocort use, I was on it for maybe four or five months and was getting wicked sinus infections from the reduce immunity. I dropped off it pretty quick, no dependency issues.
Thanks for the advice.