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Hiya Tex,
You are correct, of course, about gluten being absorbed throughout the small intestine. When I re-read my thought #1, I realized something was lost in the translation. By mistake I combined two thoughts, probably because I was interrupted by a phone call as I was writing it.
First I meant to question if you thought all of the small bowel damage was due to gluten. Then, I was going to mention the terminal ileum in another thought, to say that I noted that they removed 6 cm. of your terminal ileum. Since that is the main area where vitamin B12 is absorbed, please pay particular attention to it! You don't want to get a macrocytic anemia. Sorry about the confusion. I need to stop trying to do 3 things at once!
Love,
Polly
The Gory Details From My Operative & Pathology Reports
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Connie,
I have pretty significant peripheral neuropathy, so probably, a lot of my nerves don't work correctly. That may be part of why I felt no pain.
As they were prepping me for surgery, a nurse came into the room just to swab my nostrils, to check for MRSA. As far as I am aware, that's the only testing they did, to check for bacteria. Of course, they constantly monitored my temp, and my blood, etc., for signs of an infection, but I would be surprised if they did any cultures, of anything.
I will continue to take it easy, until I'm very sure that I'm ready to go back to work. I can't afford to upset everyone on the board.
Thanks,
Tex
I have pretty significant peripheral neuropathy, so probably, a lot of my nerves don't work correctly. That may be part of why I felt no pain.
As they were prepping me for surgery, a nurse came into the room just to swab my nostrils, to check for MRSA. As far as I am aware, that's the only testing they did, to check for bacteria. Of course, they constantly monitored my temp, and my blood, etc., for signs of an infection, but I would be surprised if they did any cultures, of anything.
I will continue to take it easy, until I'm very sure that I'm ready to go back to work. I can't afford to upset everyone on the board.
Thanks,
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
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good to hear, given that your plateletts have returned to reasonable level then your body is responding well to the rest and recovery.
the only exercise you should be doing is mental exercise!!
have a great day - take care
the only exercise you should be doing is mental exercise!!
have a great day - take care
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
That's a good question, and I wish I had a good answer. I really don't know what to say, but I have a hunch that something else played a part in this, and I really would like to know if I'm hosting a MAP population. If all the adhesions and "friability" were due to the aftereffects of previous surgery, why don't we hear more about that? Why do cattle with Johnne's disease show the same issues, (adhesions and mesentary "hyperplasia")?Polly wrote:First I meant to question if you thought all of the small bowel damage was due to gluten.
I kinda wondered why they did that, but I suppose they had a reason. Maybe they figured it wouldn't hurt to prune it a little, since it was too long, anyway.Polly wrote:Then, I was going to mention the terminal ileum in another thought, to say that I noted that they removed 6 cm. of your terminal ileum. Since that is the main area where vitamin B12 is absorbed, please pay particular attention to it! You don't want to get a macrocytic anemia.
I had totally forgotten about the fact that B-12 is absorbed there, so I appreciate your pointing it out. I plan to continue taking Metanyx, so that should prevent any deficiencies of B-12, B-9, and B-6, hopefully.I know what you mean about trying to do too many things at once. If I were to try to walk and chew gum at the same time, I'd probably bite my tongue.
Love,
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 Tex,
Keep in mind that metanx, an oral medication, won't work for B12 if you have lost the ablilty to absorb the vitamin from your gut. You would need to get regular monthly injections of B12 in order to stay healthy. Check out "pernicious anemia" to check for the symptoms of B12 deficiency. It's always something, right?
Your MAP theory is so logical. Did we ever ask Dr. Fine about it?
Love,
Polly
Keep in mind that metanx, an oral medication, won't work for B12 if you have lost the ablilty to absorb the vitamin from your gut. You would need to get regular monthly injections of B12 in order to stay healthy. Check out "pernicious anemia" to check for the symptoms of B12 deficiency. It's always something, right?
Your MAP theory is so logical. Did we ever ask Dr. Fine about it?
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Tex,
I have a good deal of peripheral neuropathy as well. When I had my last surgery they DID NOT do a nose swab at any time. Maybe this is a new test since '02? So, if they didn't keep some samples to test for bacteria from your tissues, IMO, then they are complete nimrods. My medical procedures are all w/in the same clinic/hospital setting here, so in my conspiracy minded head, I trust no one anymore.
My recent blood tests are w/in normal range, but when I had the surgery for the intestinal obstruction the surgeon noted that my appendix and my ileum were both atrophied. Have no idea where that leaves me if the ileum actually has a "purpose".
Clearly there is much to be learned about Johnnes and I can only assume you live in an area where you could be exposed to soil that could be contaminated by cattle, which is the main exposure behind unpasteurized milk as I recall. While I can't cite "cases" here, I do remember during my research on MAP that there are just way too many coincidences.
Don't know if you saw this recent article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61R27P20100228
Interesting that ALL the research on this comes out of countries that have socialized medicine. Take the drug companies out of US medicine and we might actually get some decent healthcare.
I have a good deal of peripheral neuropathy as well. When I had my last surgery they DID NOT do a nose swab at any time. Maybe this is a new test since '02? So, if they didn't keep some samples to test for bacteria from your tissues, IMO, then they are complete nimrods. My medical procedures are all w/in the same clinic/hospital setting here, so in my conspiracy minded head, I trust no one anymore.
My recent blood tests are w/in normal range, but when I had the surgery for the intestinal obstruction the surgeon noted that my appendix and my ileum were both atrophied. Have no idea where that leaves me if the ileum actually has a "purpose".
Clearly there is much to be learned about Johnnes and I can only assume you live in an area where you could be exposed to soil that could be contaminated by cattle, which is the main exposure behind unpasteurized milk as I recall. While I can't cite "cases" here, I do remember during my research on MAP that there are just way too many coincidences.
Don't know if you saw this recent article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61R27P20100228
Interesting that ALL the research on this comes out of countries that have socialized medicine. Take the drug companies out of US medicine and we might actually get some decent healthcare.
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Polly,
Well damn! I was thinking that a percentage of B-12 is absorbed throughout the ileum, (and absorption is maximized in the terminal ileum). You're right, though, it is apparently only absorbed in the terminal ileum.
Nobody said a word about that at the hospital, (meaning that it almost surely never dawned on them, or maybe they are not even aware of it. duh!). Thanks for hitting me upside the head with that 2x4. What were those guys thinking, when they nonchalantly chopped off my terminal ileum? 
I wonder how specific, is the term "terminal". They lopped off 6 cm, which is about 2.4 inches. Maybe I'll luck out, and the "terminal ileum" is considered to be 3 inches long, so I'll still have a tiny bit of B-12 absorptive capacity.
As far as I'm aware, we never asked Dr. Fine anything about MAP.
Love,
Tex
Well damn! I was thinking that a percentage of B-12 is absorbed throughout the ileum, (and absorption is maximized in the terminal ileum). You're right, though, it is apparently only absorbed in the terminal ileum.
Nobody said a word about that at the hospital, (meaning that it almost surely never dawned on them, or maybe they are not even aware of it. duh!). Thanks for hitting me upside the head with that 2x4. What were those guys thinking, when they nonchalantly chopped off my terminal ileum? I wonder how specific, is the term "terminal". They lopped off 6 cm, which is about 2.4 inches. Maybe I'll luck out, and the "terminal ileum" is considered to be 3 inches long, so I'll still have a tiny bit of B-12 absorptive capacity.
As far as I'm aware, we never asked Dr. Fine anything about MAP.
Love,
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.
Maybe you have a B-12 absorption issue, also. One of the symptoms of anemia, is weight loss, you know.Connie wrote:the surgeon noted that my appendix and my ileum were both atrophied. Have no idea where that leaves me if the ileum actually has a "purpose"
I have no idea whether or not MAP are ubiquitous in this area, but other than a few years spent at college, I've lived on a farm all my life, and as a kid, I often drank unpasteurized milk, (of course, pasteurization does not kill MAP, anyway, so that point is irrelevant). For over 30 years, Carnation Instant Breakfast in milk, was my breakfast, probably 99.9 % of the time, so I was almost surely exposed to MAP, somewhere along the line.
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.
Yeah, I was probably exposed to unpasteurized milk too, lived on a dairy farm til I was 2 and pretty much all milk wasn't pasteurized when I was a kid in the 50's.
According to my last blood tests I am a rock star. NO problems. I will look to see if they even tested for B12. Funny, when I was being chelated for the lead in '99 I would have to go in the next day for a vitamin/mineral IV. Never felt better in my life. I do sublingual B12, but will have to check my test results to see if they even noted this. Quite frankly doubt the $240. test covered much. Small comfort that this is probably the only charge my fabulous insurance has mostly covered in the last year except for my colonoscopy.
One of my co-workers has regular B-12 shots, she is GS, has been getting them for years. I'll ask her about adhesions.
According to my last blood tests I am a rock star. NO problems. I will look to see if they even tested for B12. Funny, when I was being chelated for the lead in '99 I would have to go in the next day for a vitamin/mineral IV. Never felt better in my life. I do sublingual B12, but will have to check my test results to see if they even noted this. Quite frankly doubt the $240. test covered much. Small comfort that this is probably the only charge my fabulous insurance has mostly covered in the last year except for my colonoscopy.
One of my co-workers has regular B-12 shots, she is GS, has been getting them for years. I'll ask her about adhesions.
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Morning!
Whatever this disease process is, it seems to really chew up the small intestine. I am guessing that they removed the terminal ileum because it appeared damaged beyond all hope. So maybe all along those folks with severely damaged terminal ileums (iliae?) have not been absorbing B12 properly, which may have resulted in the peripheral neuropathy. In which case injections of B12 would be necessary.
Yes, Tex, let's hope that that extra length in your small bowel was mainly the terminal ileum.
Love,
Polly
Whatever this disease process is, it seems to really chew up the small intestine. I am guessing that they removed the terminal ileum because it appeared damaged beyond all hope. So maybe all along those folks with severely damaged terminal ileums (iliae?) have not been absorbing B12 properly, which may have resulted in the peripheral neuropathy. In which case injections of B12 would be necessary.
Yes, Tex, let's hope that that extra length in your small bowel was mainly the terminal ileum.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Morning Polly,
Won't sublingual B-12 still work? I would think that it should. Or are you aware of some reason why it might not work, in my case?
I might continue to take the Metanyx, in order to get the B-9 and B-6, (which should still absorb properly, hopefully), and supplement it with sublingual B-12. (Unless you veto this plan).
Love,
Tex
Won't sublingual B-12 still work? I would think that it should. Or are you aware of some reason why it might not work, in my case?
I might continue to take the Metanyx, in order to get the B-9 and B-6, (which should still absorb properly, hopefully), and supplement it with sublingual B-12. (Unless you veto this plan).
Love,
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.
Thanks,
I'm going to have to buy some fresh sublingual B-12 - I have a couple of bottles, but they're both out of date.
Hmmmm. Knowing how much I'm absorbing does sound like an advantage. I'll run that past my doc, the next time I see him, (in about a month), to see if he thinks I would be better off with the injections. I'll bet he'll agree with you.
Love,
Tex
I'm going to have to buy some fresh sublingual B-12 - I have a couple of bottles, but they're both out of date.
Hmmmm. Knowing how much I'm absorbing does sound like an advantage. I'll run that past my doc, the next time I see him, (in about a month), to see if he thinks I would be better off with the injections. I'll bet he'll agree with you.
Love,
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.