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Hi all
Can anyone tell me about Cholestyramine? After having a colonoscopy(Dec 09) and the result being MC; the doctor prescribed this medication. I've never taken it because of listed side effects. Instead, I
chose food combining as a method of diet. This approach seemed to work until stress and anxiety
completely marked the beginning of this current flair. Here's my real problem-weight loss. I'm
6-2 and 120 lbs. Normally 150 (still underweight for my height). Assuming no other underlying condition;
can this level of weight loss occur as a result MC with high anxiety. I've had continuous D for so long;
I can't remember when it started. Can D cause malabsorption and weight loss?Any comments are
appreciated. Finally, there is some comfort knowing you are all out there.raymond.
newbie with big weight loss
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Raymond,
Welcome! Yes, extreme weight loss and malabsorption are common with MC and stress doesn't help. I am also very underweight and can still lose a pound a day during a flare. Before my MC diagnosis, my primary car physician was trying pretty much every medication with constipation as a possible side effect to help with the D and cholestyramine light powder was one of the medications I tried when immodium and lomotil failed. It did help firm up stools, but after a couple of weeks I discontinued it. It turns out that I have some severe kinks in my colon so loose stools are a functional requirement. With the cholestyramine I ended up with a lot of intestinal spasms and was in the bathroom every hour trying to pass small firmish stool bits. If you don't have any severe colon kinks, it might work better for you. The nice thing about the powder is that you can control the dose and try just a little bit at first to see how you respond without full-blown side effects from a full dose. There are two forms of the powder - regular and light. The regular contains sucrose and the light is sugar-free. The light uses aspartame and also has xanthan gum (not in the regular) and some people react to those ingredients. If you try it, make sure to take it as far apart in time from any other medication because it can interfere with absorption of the other medications. Also, you may need to supplement with fat-soluble vitamins if you take a high dose.
If you've browsed through this site, you'll find everyone reacts differently to different treatments, so you'll probably have to experiment to find what works for you, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! My biggest advice when in this experimental phase is to see if your doctor can give you samples or write that first prescription for a small number of doses so you don't spend a big wad of cash for something you discontinue after the first couple of doses because of side effects.
Karen
Welcome! Yes, extreme weight loss and malabsorption are common with MC and stress doesn't help. I am also very underweight and can still lose a pound a day during a flare. Before my MC diagnosis, my primary car physician was trying pretty much every medication with constipation as a possible side effect to help with the D and cholestyramine light powder was one of the medications I tried when immodium and lomotil failed. It did help firm up stools, but after a couple of weeks I discontinued it. It turns out that I have some severe kinks in my colon so loose stools are a functional requirement. With the cholestyramine I ended up with a lot of intestinal spasms and was in the bathroom every hour trying to pass small firmish stool bits. If you don't have any severe colon kinks, it might work better for you. The nice thing about the powder is that you can control the dose and try just a little bit at first to see how you respond without full-blown side effects from a full dose. There are two forms of the powder - regular and light. The regular contains sucrose and the light is sugar-free. The light uses aspartame and also has xanthan gum (not in the regular) and some people react to those ingredients. If you try it, make sure to take it as far apart in time from any other medication because it can interfere with absorption of the other medications. Also, you may need to supplement with fat-soluble vitamins if you take a high dose.
If you've browsed through this site, you'll find everyone reacts differently to different treatments, so you'll probably have to experiment to find what works for you, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! My biggest advice when in this experimental phase is to see if your doctor can give you samples or write that first prescription for a small number of doses so you don't spend a big wad of cash for something you discontinue after the first couple of doses because of side effects.
Karen
Dear Raymond,
Sorry you have MC but glad you found the PP board. For me finding PP has been hugely significant for my health.
I am no expert on Cholestyramine (I am sure others will post). I have never been prescribed it . Let me tell you some of my story - but remember we are all different and what worked for me might not work for you.....I had had chronic D from June 2008 and lost a lot of weight between then and my DX (I was Dx LC Nov 2008). Friends and family who saw me at the time of my DX said they were shocked and I looked like a skeleton (they thoughtfully did not tell me this at the time, but said so six months later when I had put on some more weight). After my DX I was put on Pepto Bismal (PB) for 2 to 3 months with no diet restrictions. The PB course (9 pills a day) gave me 80% firm BMs and some weight gain. But when I tried to come off PB my D returned. I was then put on entocort and, thanks to this board, also decided to go GF, DF, SF, legume and nightshade free. For the last 10 months I have not reduced or gained weight - I am now not too skinny - and gradually got 90% control of D and reduced to entocort to 1 a day (plus a supplement called boswellia).
Along the way I discovered I had osteoporosis, which is probably due to years of malabsorbtion.
Bottom line is read everything here. Get off Gluten, Dairy and possibly Soy as quickly as possible. Do not expect instant success, but there is better health ahead of you.
Best wishes on your journey to recovery!, Ant
Sorry you have MC but glad you found the PP board. For me finding PP has been hugely significant for my health.I am no expert on Cholestyramine (I am sure others will post). I have never been prescribed it . Let me tell you some of my story - but remember we are all different and what worked for me might not work for you.....I had had chronic D from June 2008 and lost a lot of weight between then and my DX (I was Dx LC Nov 2008). Friends and family who saw me at the time of my DX said they were shocked and I looked like a skeleton (they thoughtfully did not tell me this at the time, but said so six months later when I had put on some more weight). After my DX I was put on Pepto Bismal (PB) for 2 to 3 months with no diet restrictions. The PB course (9 pills a day) gave me 80% firm BMs and some weight gain. But when I tried to come off PB my D returned. I was then put on entocort and, thanks to this board, also decided to go GF, DF, SF, legume and nightshade free. For the last 10 months I have not reduced or gained weight - I am now not too skinny - and gradually got 90% control of D and reduced to entocort to 1 a day (plus a supplement called boswellia).
Along the way I discovered I had osteoporosis, which is probably due to years of malabsorbtion.
Bottom line is read everything here. Get off Gluten, Dairy and possibly Soy as quickly as possible. Do not expect instant success, but there is better health ahead of you.
Best wishes on your journey to recovery!, Ant
Hi Raymond,
Welcome to our internet family. Since your questions have already been well answered, I will simply mention that as Karen discussed, many GI docs try to treat MC the same way that they treat IBS. The problem is that MC is radically different from IBS, in many ways. To begin with, Cholestyramine is a bile sequestrant, (it is designed to recover bile from the intestines, and it was developed for use by people who have had their gallbladder removed), but one of it's side effects happens to be constipation. Unfortunately, inducing constipation may stop the D, but it does nothing to address the cause of the problem in the first place, namely inflammation in the intestines, especially the colon. As long as the inflammation continues, the damage continues to accrue to our intestines.
Drugs such as Entocort EC, will help to control the inflammation, (and it's a much better choice than Cholestyramine, for treating MC), but while it will suppress the inflammation, (and often bring relief from the D), it still does not address the cause of the inflammation, so that it must be taken forever, if it is the only treatment used, because the inflammation will continue to be regenerated. The inflammation is usually caused by either drug intolerances, (NSAIDS, PPIs, SSRIs, etc.), or food intolerances, (gluten, dairy products, soy products, etc.), and the permanent removal of the offending drugs, or the offending foods, from the diet, is currently the only way to achieve long-term remission, for most of us.
Strangely, some people lose weight with MC, and some do not, (probably due to differences in malabsorption issues - the problem is much worse for some of us, because our small intestine is also involved). I lost about 25 or 30 pounds during serious flares and I didn't even have continuous D - I alternated between diarrhea and constipation.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. Since your questions have already been well answered, I will simply mention that as Karen discussed, many GI docs try to treat MC the same way that they treat IBS. The problem is that MC is radically different from IBS, in many ways. To begin with, Cholestyramine is a bile sequestrant, (it is designed to recover bile from the intestines, and it was developed for use by people who have had their gallbladder removed), but one of it's side effects happens to be constipation. Unfortunately, inducing constipation may stop the D, but it does nothing to address the cause of the problem in the first place, namely inflammation in the intestines, especially the colon. As long as the inflammation continues, the damage continues to accrue to our intestines.
Drugs such as Entocort EC, will help to control the inflammation, (and it's a much better choice than Cholestyramine, for treating MC), but while it will suppress the inflammation, (and often bring relief from the D), it still does not address the cause of the inflammation, so that it must be taken forever, if it is the only treatment used, because the inflammation will continue to be regenerated. The inflammation is usually caused by either drug intolerances, (NSAIDS, PPIs, SSRIs, etc.), or food intolerances, (gluten, dairy products, soy products, etc.), and the permanent removal of the offending drugs, or the offending foods, from the diet, is currently the only way to achieve long-term remission, for most of us.
Strangely, some people lose weight with MC, and some do not, (probably due to differences in malabsorption issues - the problem is much worse for some of us, because our small intestine is also involved). I lost about 25 or 30 pounds during serious flares and I didn't even have continuous D - I alternated between diarrhea and constipation.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.
Tex (Wayne)
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.
Cholestyramine was prescribed early on ... I bloated up like a balloon at the same time I was vomiting "from both ends".. called the gastro doc who prescribed the Cholestyramine, he told me to head for the emergency room and to discontinue the drug. I was dehydrated.. understatement!
The same doc ... after trying various drugs, informed me that I really needed to see a psychiatrist...and if I didn't.. he wouldn't see me again! I didn't see a psychiatrist and I didn't go back to that gastro doc.. took a couple of years but finally got diagnosis of collagenous colitis.. heck even armed with that ..was hard to find a decent gastro doc... Have a gastro doc who took the time to look at the slides that provided the diagnosis and have been on entocort ec for several years now...
Finding a decent doc and a solution that works for each of us individually is NO walk in the park.. to be sure... Took a long time for Happiness to be a dry phart for me..LOL
grannyh
The same doc ... after trying various drugs, informed me that I really needed to see a psychiatrist...and if I didn't.. he wouldn't see me again! I didn't see a psychiatrist and I didn't go back to that gastro doc.. took a couple of years but finally got diagnosis of collagenous colitis.. heck even armed with that ..was hard to find a decent gastro doc... Have a gastro doc who took the time to look at the slides that provided the diagnosis and have been on entocort ec for several years now...
Finding a decent doc and a solution that works for each of us individually is NO walk in the park.. to be sure... Took a long time for Happiness to be a dry phart for me..LOL
grannyh
Hi Everyone
Thank you all for responding to my post. As you probably know, the feeling of finding others who know and share your feelings is overwhelming. I'm what's known as a self-pay when getting medical help and
that classification must be the low of the low in the medical community. So, I'm saying this forum is the
real deal. Thanks again.
Can someone educate me about determining which foods are triggers. For example: between 7A.M.
and 11P.M. I ate a banana,apple,orange. At 11:30 I ate 2 scrambled eggs. Everything feels good so far.
At 1:30 I have a plate of whole wheat pasta w/olive oil and salad of lettuce w/olive oil. Three hours
later-big D. Now, I have learned from you all the possible error of my ways (wheat and dairy) but the
question is this: does the bad reaction come after the last meal and therefore the fruit was ok or is it
a cumulative effect from both eggs and gluten even though only a nominal sensation of distress occurred but passed after ingesting eggs? Or, did fruit start the party even though I felt fine after eating it?
Sorry for all the questions but I've never had anyone to ask. Because of weight loss, sitting and
laying down to retire has become uncomfortable. I've resorted to the antidepressant Xanax for
anxiety and sleep. Can anyone comment on this as to weather it may be a trigger. Also, what about
supplements, vitamins and herbals. In addition, what about medical marijuana as I have read a few
encouraging reports but have no practical experience. Has anyone experienced urgency associated
with urination or is this likely a different problem?
Finally, my MC diagnosis came with a warning to inform relatives (my two daughters 25 and 33)of
possible genetic repercussions of this condition. I'm reluctant to instill the notion of genetic disease
in my children when so far I'm not aware of any problem. What say you?
If my questions are mostly covered elsewhere in the forum please set me straight as I haven't explored
all the benefits here.
raymond
Thank you all for responding to my post. As you probably know, the feeling of finding others who know and share your feelings is overwhelming. I'm what's known as a self-pay when getting medical help and
that classification must be the low of the low in the medical community. So, I'm saying this forum is the
real deal. Thanks again.
Can someone educate me about determining which foods are triggers. For example: between 7A.M.
and 11P.M. I ate a banana,apple,orange. At 11:30 I ate 2 scrambled eggs. Everything feels good so far.
At 1:30 I have a plate of whole wheat pasta w/olive oil and salad of lettuce w/olive oil. Three hours
later-big D. Now, I have learned from you all the possible error of my ways (wheat and dairy) but the
question is this: does the bad reaction come after the last meal and therefore the fruit was ok or is it
a cumulative effect from both eggs and gluten even though only a nominal sensation of distress occurred but passed after ingesting eggs? Or, did fruit start the party even though I felt fine after eating it?
Sorry for all the questions but I've never had anyone to ask. Because of weight loss, sitting and
laying down to retire has become uncomfortable. I've resorted to the antidepressant Xanax for
anxiety and sleep. Can anyone comment on this as to weather it may be a trigger. Also, what about
supplements, vitamins and herbals. In addition, what about medical marijuana as I have read a few
encouraging reports but have no practical experience. Has anyone experienced urgency associated
with urination or is this likely a different problem?
Finally, my MC diagnosis came with a warning to inform relatives (my two daughters 25 and 33)of
possible genetic repercussions of this condition. I'm reluctant to instill the notion of genetic disease
in my children when so far I'm not aware of any problem. What say you?
If my questions are mostly covered elsewhere in the forum please set me straight as I haven't explored
all the benefits here.
raymond
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8367
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
G'day Raymond
I am using Cholestryramine
When i was first diagnosed (dec '09) i was having 8g per night, in my aim to manage this demon with minimal meds, after 6 weeks i started reducing the dose. I had spent about 2 weeks not having it, but have found with recurrent small flares that i am back having about 2 - 3 g every 2nd or 3rd night.
I dont have an issue with excessive weight loss, there was a discussion a couple of weeks ago where there are quite a few of us that have had minor weight gain, due to metabolism and the limited ingredients that are tolerated.
prior to the MC, I had IBS issues for over 15 years and other health issues (hormonal etc) my theory has always been as long as I am healthy and the digestion is happy that is my main aim. I have generally been the same weight for about 10 years with small fluctuations.
To answer some of your questions
- what started the MC and what triggers flares is different for everyone.
- foods that irritate and cause flares is also different for each of us (there are some like gluten, caesin that affect majority of people) and reactions to these can be different, some ingredients you react within 30 mins, some ingredients the reaction comes 5 hours later
- and how to managment is another one that is different for each of us (combos of diet only/med and diet/diet and natural/ etc)
there is no right way or wrong way - there is your way... and unfortunately there is no instant fix or quick solution, working through the maze to figure out what works takes time (and patience)
Re reactions to flares, i think most have figured out it depends on how inflammed you are as to how quickly you react and the length of D reaction. and how long since your last D flare
I was diagnosed in Dec 09 and i think i am still recovering from the major flare and chronic D i had pre diagnosis. Ingredients on my banned list and things like work stress cause minor reactions which i have been having almost weekly. Although not bad it still has impact on my work life etc.
my diet is very very basic at this point of time, i have not tried a new ingredient for over 3 weeks. I am sticking with cave man food as we call it, stewed meat, gooey rice and some sweet potato (or yam or kumera) depending on what you call it
i have clear juices and jelly. I am keeping the diet very very simple while the gut heals and reprogrammes itself.
Good Luck!
I am using Cholestryramine
When i was first diagnosed (dec '09) i was having 8g per night, in my aim to manage this demon with minimal meds, after 6 weeks i started reducing the dose. I had spent about 2 weeks not having it, but have found with recurrent small flares that i am back having about 2 - 3 g every 2nd or 3rd night.
I dont have an issue with excessive weight loss, there was a discussion a couple of weeks ago where there are quite a few of us that have had minor weight gain, due to metabolism and the limited ingredients that are tolerated.
prior to the MC, I had IBS issues for over 15 years and other health issues (hormonal etc) my theory has always been as long as I am healthy and the digestion is happy that is my main aim. I have generally been the same weight for about 10 years with small fluctuations.
To answer some of your questions
- what started the MC and what triggers flares is different for everyone.
- foods that irritate and cause flares is also different for each of us (there are some like gluten, caesin that affect majority of people) and reactions to these can be different, some ingredients you react within 30 mins, some ingredients the reaction comes 5 hours later
- and how to managment is another one that is different for each of us (combos of diet only/med and diet/diet and natural/ etc)
there is no right way or wrong way - there is your way... and unfortunately there is no instant fix or quick solution, working through the maze to figure out what works takes time (and patience)
Re reactions to flares, i think most have figured out it depends on how inflammed you are as to how quickly you react and the length of D reaction. and how long since your last D flare
I was diagnosed in Dec 09 and i think i am still recovering from the major flare and chronic D i had pre diagnosis. Ingredients on my banned list and things like work stress cause minor reactions which i have been having almost weekly. Although not bad it still has impact on my work life etc.
my diet is very very basic at this point of time, i have not tried a new ingredient for over 3 weeks. I am sticking with cave man food as we call it, stewed meat, gooey rice and some sweet potato (or yam or kumera) depending on what you call it
i have clear juices and jelly. I am keeping the diet very very simple while the gut heals and reprogrammes itself.
Good Luck!
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Dear Raymond
If you have not already done so I suggest you checkout the newbies sections
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=12
Here are some quick answers IMHO.
You are unlikely to work out your food intolerenaces from short term reactions. You may react to some food almost straight away and others up to 48 hours later. While your gut is badly inflamed many foods will cause reactions (through irritation), but they may not be the root cause of inflamination. You will only know the differences after your gut has sufficiently calmed down to be less irritated by almost all foods. I am afraid that for most of us it takes months to start to work out what foods cause the problem.
But having said that it is a safe bet that.....
Gluten (bread, flour, pasta (if not rice pasta which is OK), pizza etc etc.); Casein (milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt); and possibly legumes (soy, soya, tofu, soy based oil, beans, peas) will be at the root of your inflammation. Corn and high fructose corn syrup (and most sugar - which feeds bacteria) will also be no-nos. Most uncooked fruits and vegetables will cause irritation - salad especially.
I took about three weeks (with diet and entocort) to get BMs down to 1-3 a day and reduce D and bloating. 10 months on I am still not 100% and still on 1 entocort a day (down from 3 a day for the first 7 months) - now about 80% of my BMs are firm or firmish, the rest loose and soft, but seldom a full-on explosive D.
It takes time but you will get this d@md desease under control.
Best wishes, Ant
If you have not already done so I suggest you checkout the newbies sections
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=12
Here are some quick answers IMHO.
You are unlikely to work out your food intolerenaces from short term reactions. You may react to some food almost straight away and others up to 48 hours later. While your gut is badly inflamed many foods will cause reactions (through irritation), but they may not be the root cause of inflamination. You will only know the differences after your gut has sufficiently calmed down to be less irritated by almost all foods. I am afraid that for most of us it takes months to start to work out what foods cause the problem.
But having said that it is a safe bet that.....
Gluten (bread, flour, pasta (if not rice pasta which is OK), pizza etc etc.); Casein (milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt); and possibly legumes (soy, soya, tofu, soy based oil, beans, peas) will be at the root of your inflammation. Corn and high fructose corn syrup (and most sugar - which feeds bacteria) will also be no-nos. Most uncooked fruits and vegetables will cause irritation - salad especially.
I took about three weeks (with diet and entocort) to get BMs down to 1-3 a day and reduce D and bloating. 10 months on I am still not 100% and still on 1 entocort a day (down from 3 a day for the first 7 months) - now about 80% of my BMs are firm or firmish, the rest loose and soft, but seldom a full-on explosive D.
It takes time but you will get this d@md desease under control.
Best wishes, Ant
Not sure testing will change habits in the young:) Three of my trusted doctors believe that MC is triggered.. that it might remain dormant for one's lifetime if the trigger event never happens. In my case, two doctors believe the large number of visicol pills I took as a colon prep was my trigger. One even wrote to the company...but of course they denied it could happen. I was fine til I took the visicol.. my life changed from that day forward!
grannyh
grannyh
Most of your questions have already been addressed, so I'll just add a few of my thoughts:Raymond wrote:Can someone educate me about determining which foods are triggers. For example: between 7A.M.
and 11P.M. I ate a banana,apple,orange. At 11:30 I ate 2 scrambled eggs. Everything feels good so far.
At 1:30 I have a plate of whole wheat pasta w/olive oil and salad of lettuce w/olive oil. Three hours
later-big D. Now, I have learned from you all the possible error of my ways (wheat and dairy) but the
question is this: does the bad reaction come after the last meal and therefore the fruit was ok or is it
a cumulative effect from both eggs and gluten even though only a nominal sensation of distress occurred but passed after ingesting eggs? Or, did fruit start the party even though I felt fine after eating it?
First of all, be aware that we are truly intolerant of certain proteins, because some of the peptides in their amino acid chains trigger an autoimmune reaction from our immune system. Other foods, (especially certain sugars), are irritants, only when our gut is already inflamed by MC. True intolerances are always proteins, and they are almost always permanent. The irritants can provoke a reaction in an unhealed gut, and they can certainly prolong or even postpone the healing process, when consumed in amounts sufficient to trigger clinical symptoms. Irritants include certain carbs and sources of fiber, (which obviously can vary by the individual), but they can sometimes be utilized in small amounts before the gut has healed, and they can usually be introduced after healing is completed, and eventually normal amounts can be safely eaten, (provided the MC is in remission). Of the foods named in that paragraph, in my list below, the first one listed is the least likely to cause problems, and the last one is the most likely to be a major problem. Note that as is often mentioned on this board, we are all different, but the odds highly favor the effects mentioned in the list below. Though you didn't mention eating any dairy and soy products, they are second and third, respectively, behind wheat gluten, in their probability of causing an autoimmune reaction that results in inflammation of the colon, and possibly the small intestine as well, for some of us.
1. Most of us can eat bananas without any problems. They are high in fiber, though, and fiber is contraindicated for MC, so one a day might be fine, (or half of one, for some of us), while two might be too many, depending on how much fiber you ingest from other sources. I read somewhere that 85% of a banana passes through the small intestine, undigested. That implies that it is mostly digested by fermentation, in the colon, which can cause gas, bloating, etc., if the proper bacteria are not in place in the colon.
2. Apples are also high in fiber, and they are a problem for most of us before our gut heals. Some of us can eat them if they are peeled, (most of the fiber in all fruit and vegges is in the peel), and well cooked, (overcooked). Eating raw fruit and vegetables is asking for trouble, with MC, until after the gut is healed.
3. Oranges contain not only a lot of fiber, but citric acid, which is very poorly tolerated by many of us, while we are healing.
4. Until our gut heals, very, very few of us can eat any lettuce, without getting sick as a dog. Lettuce is especially irritating to any gut that is already inflamed by MC.
5. Wheat is our biggest enemy, and it's the main food that all but a few of us are intolerant of.
Some of us are also sensitive to egg whites, but most of us can tolerate eggs without any probolems.
Raymond wrote:Sorry for all the questions but I've never had anyone to ask. Because of weight loss, sitting and
laying down to retire has become uncomfortable. I've resorted to the antidepressant Xanax for
anxiety and sleep. Can anyone comment on this as to weather it may be a trigger. Also, what about
supplements, vitamins and herbals. In addition, what about medical marijuana as I have read a few
encouraging reports but have no practical experience. Has anyone experienced urgency associated
with urination or is this likely a different problem?
It's not impossible that Xanax could be causing problems, because both it and gluten cross the blood/brain barrier, and there might be an interaction of some sort between them. However, in general, the odds are reasonably low that it is a risk for D. It can certainly cause adverse neurological issues, though, obviously, since it's primary mode of action is to modify neurological events in the brain.
Many drugs, vitamins, etc., contain gluten, lactose, soy, and possibly other intolerances, so they have to be carefully screened before taking them. Usually, it is the filler ingredients that are the problem, of course.
Marijuana use results in mixed outcomes, with the inflammatory bowel diseases, with some patients claiming that it is a miracle drug, and others showing no significant benefits. I suspect the placebo effect has a lot to do with the use of marijuana, because virtually everyone assumes that it will help them, and tests show that the placebo effect can easily dominate the outcome in certain types of trials. Here's a medical assessment of a case in which marijuana was used, from time to time, to treat a patient with ulcerative colitis. The interpretation of the results depends on the objectiveness of the reader, obviously. The authors concluded that it was beneficial, whereas, when I read the data, I see little benefit, based on the fact that any patient improvements appeared to be very temporary, (that sounds a lot like a placebo effect). YMMV.
http://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/hem ... litis1.htm
Regarding bladder issues associated with MC: I have never seen any articles written by medical professionals, where this topic was addressed. I can tell you from personal experience, though, that whenever I was experiencing a flare, before I achieved remission, my bladder not only seemed to be inflamed, but it's capacity was greatly reduced, presumably by all the bloated guts overfilling my abdominal cavity. Once the bloating would subside, then the bladder issues would also diminish.
I also noticed that when I was in a major flare, quite often, it was "dangerous" to try to urinate, in a conventional male stance. IOW, unless I was seated on the "throne", there was a significant risk of an "accident", because I couldn't release the pressure on the urethra, without releasing the pressure on the anal sphincter, as well. I propose that this is a neurological issue, that's an "uncatalogued" side effect of MC, for some cases.
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.