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Merry Christmas and Thankyou
i have only recently been diagnosed and thanks to the information on this site, reading the forums, and the valuable personal advice, my acceptance of MC has been quite good
Sick of being isolated at home and a prisioner to my toilet, i braved the 2.5 hour drive (only had to stop twice along the way for D stop) packed up heap of supplies (disenfectant wipes, good stock of linen, toilet paper etc) and i have spent christmas with a very dear friend. The set up in the house is that i have my own toilet so i dont feel like i am impossing on her. She is alone, as her husband is working away over for 4 days over christmas.
I figured if i stayed at home or came here it would be no different. My friend is having my gluten free/lactose free foods at meal times with me, and like most is pleasently surprised that it tastes good! given it is christmas she is having some champagne.
The encouragement from the 'MC' Family to my diagnosis and Tex's advice that I will get my life back, has given me the courage to learn how to deal with it, not to be embarressed by walking away from the table mid conversation to do a dash to the toilet, and if they are really my friends they will support me (and they have)
A big Thank you and wishing you all a merry christmas
Thank You
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Gabes. Merry Christmas. Looks like you have found the best present, Tex and the PP. I know you will have a better new year.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Gabes,
Good for you, for taking control and not letting this disease spoil your holiday. I'm not sure what dosage of Gastro Stop your doctor advised you to use, but the label shows 2 capsules, plus another capsule following each loose BM, not to exceed 8 capsules per day. Many members have found that when traveling, or when attending important events, they can prevent the need to stop, (or the need to leave a meeting) - or at least minimize the need to do so, by taking loperamide as a preventative measure, (IOW, by taking enough of it ahead of time, to keep things under control). It's not good to do such a thing on a regular basis, but now and then, it can make life much easier, especially when traveling.
The bad news is: Gastro Stop contains lactose. That small amount of lactose, in itself, should not cause any problems. And, pharmaceutical grade lactose is supposed to be pure, (IOW, it should not contain any casein). Problems can arise, though, if the manufacturer uses commercial grade lactose, (rather than pharmaceutical grade), because most of us are sensitive to even tiny amounts of casein. Some members have found that the brands of loperamide that contain lactose, do indeed cause them to have D. There are certain brands of loperamide available, that do not contain lactose:
Imodium Instant Melts tablets (loperamide)
Imodium Instants tablets (loperamide)
Imodium Plus Caplets P (loperamide, simeticone)
Imodium Plus Caplets GSL (loperamide, simeticone)
If you need a reference for lactose-free medications, here is an excellent list, compiled by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, (it's in PDF format):
http://www.olib.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/lactosefree.pdf
By the way, you can safely drink champagne, also, if you wish, (at least, it will not affect your MC). Most alcoholic beverages, (which are distilled), do not contain gluten. There are a few, however, which are blended back with un-distilled malt-based beverages, which are not safe, (and that's true of a few vinegars, also, but most vinegars are safe. Most beer contains gluten, but there are now a number of good gluten-free beers on the market. In general, wine, champagne, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, mescal, etc., are gluten-free.
Thanks for posting such an upbeat and inspiring Christmas message.
Tex
Good for you, for taking control and not letting this disease spoil your holiday. I'm not sure what dosage of Gastro Stop your doctor advised you to use, but the label shows 2 capsules, plus another capsule following each loose BM, not to exceed 8 capsules per day. Many members have found that when traveling, or when attending important events, they can prevent the need to stop, (or the need to leave a meeting) - or at least minimize the need to do so, by taking loperamide as a preventative measure, (IOW, by taking enough of it ahead of time, to keep things under control). It's not good to do such a thing on a regular basis, but now and then, it can make life much easier, especially when traveling.
The bad news is: Gastro Stop contains lactose. That small amount of lactose, in itself, should not cause any problems. And, pharmaceutical grade lactose is supposed to be pure, (IOW, it should not contain any casein). Problems can arise, though, if the manufacturer uses commercial grade lactose, (rather than pharmaceutical grade), because most of us are sensitive to even tiny amounts of casein. Some members have found that the brands of loperamide that contain lactose, do indeed cause them to have D. There are certain brands of loperamide available, that do not contain lactose:
Imodium Instant Melts tablets (loperamide)
Imodium Instants tablets (loperamide)
Imodium Plus Caplets P (loperamide, simeticone)
Imodium Plus Caplets GSL (loperamide, simeticone)
If you need a reference for lactose-free medications, here is an excellent list, compiled by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, (it's in PDF format):
http://www.olib.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/lactosefree.pdf
By the way, you can safely drink champagne, also, if you wish, (at least, it will not affect your MC). Most alcoholic beverages, (which are distilled), do not contain gluten. There are a few, however, which are blended back with un-distilled malt-based beverages, which are not safe, (and that's true of a few vinegars, also, but most vinegars are safe. Most beer contains gluten, but there are now a number of good gluten-free beers on the market. In general, wine, champagne, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, mescal, etc., are gluten-free.
Thanks for posting such an upbeat and inspiring Christmas message.
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.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
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- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
THanks again tex - my specialist did say to have extra of the gastro stop before social events.
the even better news is that over the past 24 - 32 hours my motions are less runny and have a bit of formation. and today i have had 6 hours diarrhea free! the first time in what seems like ages! as this improvement has occurred i have reduced the gastro stop intake
Thanks for the advice re the champagne. and of course the link for the lactose free medications. I have spent the last 2 days reading various websites and forums about gluten free / dairy free foods in australia. which has helped me with the grocery shopping, my shopping list now has the 'safe' brand listed.
I had my accupuncture this morning and we are going to stick to a nuturing easy to digest type diet for a while yet as my digestion is still a bit fragile. I am happy to forgo champagne on new years and enjoy diarrhea and colic free days and have the increase in energy and focus! it is unbelievable how in a short 3 month period your priorities can change
I have found the retailer of gluten free/dairy free chocolate, so things are on the improve
best regards to all
the even better news is that over the past 24 - 32 hours my motions are less runny and have a bit of formation. and today i have had 6 hours diarrhea free! the first time in what seems like ages! as this improvement has occurred i have reduced the gastro stop intake
Thanks for the advice re the champagne. and of course the link for the lactose free medications. I have spent the last 2 days reading various websites and forums about gluten free / dairy free foods in australia. which has helped me with the grocery shopping, my shopping list now has the 'safe' brand listed.
I had my accupuncture this morning and we are going to stick to a nuturing easy to digest type diet for a while yet as my digestion is still a bit fragile. I am happy to forgo champagne on new years and enjoy diarrhea and colic free days and have the increase in energy and focus! it is unbelievable how in a short 3 month period your priorities can change
I have found the retailer of gluten free/dairy free chocolate, so things are on the improve
best regards to all
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama