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Polly,
You might try 1/2 imodium AM and 1/2 PM. That is what I do when I really need to. It allows me to have BMs each day without skipping and the BM is usually much thicker than if I take a whole one and then not go that day and then have D the next AM. Hope that made sense. The way I understand imodium is that it removes water from the colon. I think Lomotil slows down peristalsis. Correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, glad it is helping.
If you think it is a reduction in good bacteria maybe the addition of probiotics would help? Just thinking out loud.
Pat
Paging Gabes!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Tex, Polly and All,
Here's an article on stress and intestinal hypersensitivity. The author uses the word allergy inappropriately - he's describing hypersensitivty reactions not just allergy. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mast cells are implicated in the process . . . and that's what I beleive to be true. Loss of oral tolerance can happen very rapidly and involves more than lectins - any food is potenially antigenic and can cause an inflammatory response. If mast cells (histamine) is considered, it might explain why many are flaring (fall here and spring on the other side of the world). Add in some stress and that just exacerbates the inflammatory response. Fall has always been the worst time for me.
http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/full/168/1/3
Just my two cents . . .
Mary Beth
Here's an article on stress and intestinal hypersensitivity. The author uses the word allergy inappropriately - he's describing hypersensitivty reactions not just allergy. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mast cells are implicated in the process . . . and that's what I beleive to be true. Loss of oral tolerance can happen very rapidly and involves more than lectins - any food is potenially antigenic and can cause an inflammatory response. If mast cells (histamine) is considered, it might explain why many are flaring (fall here and spring on the other side of the world). Add in some stress and that just exacerbates the inflammatory response. Fall has always been the worst time for me.
http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/full/168/1/3
Just my two cents . . .
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
I definitely agree with that.Mary Beth wrote:If mast cells (histamine) is considered, it might explain why many are flaring (fall here and spring on the other side of the world). Add in some stress and that just exacerbates the inflammatory response. Fall has always been the worst time for me.
Thanks for the link,
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 Pat,
Good tip. Right now all is much better, after just taking that one pill on Mon. Had only 2 BMs yesterday, and they seem to be firming up a little. I think it must have shocked my gut into acting more normally. Imagine! I may be wrong, but I thought both Lomotil and Imodium slowed down the gut, thus allowing for more water absorption. Does anyone here know for sure? Unfortunately, I have never been able to tolerate probiotics.
Mary Beth, I walked much faster and much longer yesterday and it helped! I definitely have felt less stressed since. Interesting about histamine.
Tex, your suggested mechanisms make sense. The only reason I mentioned bacteria alone is because that is what Dr. Fine says on his website is the underlying cause of colitis - but maybe that is just in the case of the initial attack of MC. We certainly don't have any research over the long term. In fact, we here ARE the research, as you pointed out. Also, I do believe that our colon bacteria become altered forever and never quite return to normal once we get MC, so maybe they could be affected by stress more easily??? I don't have any idea what the cellular mechanism might be. Also, you know that I continue to have a sneaky suspicion about those MAP rascals! LOL!
Shirley, thanks for the kind words. When my GI doc told me I no longer had evidence on MC on biopsy a few months ago, I told her that it would be back in a heartbeat if I started eating gluten, dairy, soy, etc. Little did I know that stress alone can do this after so many years. I guess it show us that stress must be considered as important as diet in long-term management. I have really been thinking about ways to manage stress on a regular basis.
Love,
Polly
Good tip. Right now all is much better, after just taking that one pill on Mon. Had only 2 BMs yesterday, and they seem to be firming up a little. I think it must have shocked my gut into acting more normally. Imagine! I may be wrong, but I thought both Lomotil and Imodium slowed down the gut, thus allowing for more water absorption. Does anyone here know for sure? Unfortunately, I have never been able to tolerate probiotics.
Mary Beth, I walked much faster and much longer yesterday and it helped! I definitely have felt less stressed since. Interesting about histamine.
Tex, your suggested mechanisms make sense. The only reason I mentioned bacteria alone is because that is what Dr. Fine says on his website is the underlying cause of colitis - but maybe that is just in the case of the initial attack of MC. We certainly don't have any research over the long term. In fact, we here ARE the research, as you pointed out. Also, I do believe that our colon bacteria become altered forever and never quite return to normal once we get MC, so maybe they could be affected by stress more easily??? I don't have any idea what the cellular mechanism might be. Also, you know that I continue to have a sneaky suspicion about those MAP rascals! LOL!
Shirley, thanks for the kind words. When my GI doc told me I no longer had evidence on MC on biopsy a few months ago, I told her that it would be back in a heartbeat if I started eating gluten, dairy, soy, etc. Little did I know that stress alone can do this after so many years. I guess it show us that stress must be considered as important as diet in long-term management. I have really been thinking about ways to manage stress on a regular basis.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
Have you considered swimming for exercise? My husband is somewhat addicted to exercise and when he blew out his Achiles he couldn't do his usual routine but found swimming to be a great cardiovascular workout. I hate swimming - it's a hair thing for me, but I think it's great exercise if you like that sort of thing.
Mary Beth
Have you considered swimming for exercise? My husband is somewhat addicted to exercise and when he blew out his Achiles he couldn't do his usual routine but found swimming to be a great cardiovascular workout. I hate swimming - it's a hair thing for me, but I think it's great exercise if you like that sort of thing.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Polly,
That's certainly good news on your improvement. I hope it continues. According to Wikipedia:
Imodium is a brand of loperamide, of course.
It appears that they both work by slowing down motility.
Love,
Tex
That's certainly good news on your improvement. I hope it continues. According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoperamideLoperamide is an opioid-receptor agonist and acts on the μ-opioid receptors in the myenteric plexus of the large intestine; by itself it does not affect the central nervous system like other opioids.
It works by decreasing the activity of the myenteric plexus, which, like morphine, decreases the tone of the longitudinal smooth muscles but increases tone of circular smooth muscles of the intestinal wall. This increases the amount of time substances stay in the intestine, allowing for more water to be absorbed out of the fecal matter. Loperamide also decreases colonic mass movements and suppresses the gastrocolic reflex.[4]
Imodium is a brand of loperamide, of course.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LomotilLomotil is the trade name of a popular oral anti-diarrheal drug in the United States, manufactured by Pfizer. Its UK BAN generic name is Co-phenotrope.
Its active ingredients are diphenoxylate and atropine. Diphenoxylate is anti-diarrheal and atropine is anticholinergic. Diphenoxylate is chemically related to the narcotic drug meperidine. A subtherapeutic amount of atropine sulfate is present to discourage deliberate overdosage. Atropine has no anti-diarrheal properties, but will cause tachycardia when overused. The medication diphenoxylate works by slowing down the movement of the intestines.
It appears that they both work by slowing down motility.
I truly believe that, also. In fact, I believe that the first therapeutic oral dose of antibiotic that we take, alters the course of our digestive system, forever.Polly wrote:Also, I do believe that our colon bacteria become altered forever and never quite return to normal once we get MC, so maybe they could be affected by stress more easily???
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.