Another lurker - I mean Newbie

racenfan · Post by **racenfan** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:07 pm

I would like to start by saying that I have been lurking and stalking this site for a little over two years. The information you provide is invaluable and the network of family you have developed has me in awe.

My story is a little different and I guess that is why I was only lurking. All my life I have had digestive issues, I could eat a meal tonight and get sick as a dog, nausea and the big D, then could eat the exact same meal the next day and be just fine, if I was under stress it would strike. Then at probably the most stressful time in my life, I noticed it wasn’t happening anymore, for 7 years I didn’t have any more problems, then about 2 ½ years ago, it came back with a vengeance, I ate and was sick before I finished a meal. I was convinced I had Celiac, I went to the GI, I had a endoscopy and colonoscopy and tons of biopsy’s. I had “evidence” micro colitis but tested negative for that as well as everything else they tested me for, so came the Irritable bowel syndrome dianosis and their suggestion was just to find my triggers. So far the only sure thing I can pin point is Lactose. I also have Raynaud’s syndrome and probably Fibromyalgia, I see someone for that in December.

Since all this has happened, my mother was hospitalized with a Colitis attack that they said was brought on by Diverticulitis and my brother has been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. So my thought is this: I may have tested negative for colitis, but it is only a matter of time before I will test positive especially since the genetic issue has now come into play.

I am going to start the Paleo diet and am wonder if any of you that follow it eat Potato of beans, so far I read that they should be avoided, I could probably live without the beans, but the Potato will be a bigger issue for me, I am not a meat person and could live off just potato and veggies. So is the occasional potato a no no?

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:34 pm

I eat plenty of potatoes, and they don't seem to bother me, but I'm not on the paleo diet, just GF/DF. Before going GF, I suspected nightshades including tomoatoes and eggplant, but I can tolerate them much better now. Sensitivity to nightshades is a very individual thing. I suppose you could avoid them for a few weeks, then add them back in and see how you feel. Be sure to eat fresh potatoes and avoid those with shoots or green tint to the skin. Those have much more of the toxic substance that people react to. Even then, it's probably best to peel them. And never store them in UV light - this causes the green tint to develop.

Post by **tex** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:47 pm

Hi, and welcome to the family. Overall, your pattern of reactions sounds somewhat typical of MC, since for some patients, it can wax and wane, much like Crohn's disease. It would probably be interesting to see what the pathology report of your biopsy analysis actually says, because many GI docs mysteriously fail to honestly report to their patients that they have MC.

Maybe they are afraid to tell them, because they don't know how to treat it, but for some unknown reason, quite a few of our members have been told that their biopsies looked "OK", when in fact, they had MC.

Chances are, once you control your MC symptoms, your other autoimmune issues will either be much better, or disappear altogether. That has been the experience of many of us here. Stress is definitely a trigger for MC, contrary to the general opinion of the medical community.

The paleo diet is an excellent choice, (though some of us can't eat everything allowed by the paleo diet), and it is definitely an excellent place to start, in order to fine-tune your diet. Personally, I believe that you are on the right track, because statistics show that untreated autoimmune diseases lead to additional autoimmune diseases. Genetics definitely predispose us to certain diseases, but those diseases have to be triggered by certain environmental triggers, (such as food sensitivities, viruses, parasites, etc.). Removing the food triggers from your diet now, certainly might help to prevent UC or Crohn's from developing at some point down the line.

Some of us have problems with sweet potatoes, (yams), but in general, very, very few of us cannot tolerate irish potatoes. As Zizzle suggests, though, be sure to peel them, because the plant contains solanine, (mostly in the stems and leaves), and most of the solanine that is in the tuber, (the edible part), will be in the peel. About half of us are sensitive to soy, which means that we are probably also sensitive to most/all legumes, and beans are legumes, of course. If you're not sensitive to soy, though, then beans probably wouldn't be a problem.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:40 pm

Hi Racefan, welcome to the group.

I was dx'd last April with MC (CC) and Crohns and have been following a Paleo diet since then. I have found that I tolerate potatoes fairly well, but I do not have them often, just as a treat.

Certainly Tex and Zizzle have covered quite a bit. This is one of the best sites around for information on these topics.

--Joe

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:17 am

Hello Racenfan and WELCOME!

I don't have anything brilliant to say ... it is late and I am very tired, but I just wanted to welcome you and say I think you are very wise to try to stop any problems from developing further. Good for you for being so proactive!

Goodnight;
Linda

ant · Post by **ant** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:15 am

Dear Racenfan.....Welcome aboard the board!

Paleo is what I think is best. But difficult if you are not a meat person. I am one of those who avoid potatoes. I will try them out after a good few months remission. Unfortunately I have not got that far yet......

Best wishes, Ant

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:27 am

Welcome Racenfan,

Eliminating wheat eliminates the body aches for me which I think are like fibromyalgia. I also have to eliminate fructose. It's nice not to ache. Good luck and welcome again.

Pat

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 4:05 pm

gday racefan!

welcome from Australia

:goodonya:

i am using diet as my main management tool, and am doing this off a small base of ingredients, i find i tolerate sweet potato (yam) better than normal potato. and i cant have more than 3 different vegetables in the one meal.

the foods and ingredients that work is very very individual, what works for one may not work for another. Listen to your body, keep a diary of meals and reactions and you will soon figure out what works for you.

take care and good luck with the giant maze that is life with MC

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:01 pm

Welcome Racenfan!

I have to second what Pat said. Eliminating gluten (still learning about it and other dietary issues) has alleviated aches and pains for me. It is rare for me to have them at all any more, and it used to be that I would get up and walk around for a few minutes like an old woman after even just sitting for a while.

Martha · Post by **Martha** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:41 pm

Welcome, Racefan.

I'm new at this, so I don't have anything to add to what the others have said, but I wanted to take the opportunity to welcome you to the forum. This is a great place to find encouragement and information.

racenfan · Post by **racenfan** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:06 am

Thanks for the warm welcome, I am sure I will be full of questions as I progress with this new diet.