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Zipsor
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Zipsor
I quit taking Entocort on Jan 1 and my collagenous colitis has been in remission until May 14. Then I had problems with TMJ and jaw misalignment and my doctor put me on a steroid, prednisolone (5 day pack), followed by Zipsor 4 times a day. On the second day of Zipsor the cramping and diahrrea were back. It is very upsetting. I don't know if it was a coincidence or if the Zipsor, which is an NSAID, caused it to come back. Anyone had any experience with Zipsor?
Hi Robert,
I'm sorry to hear what has happened, but that just proves once again that someone with MC should never take any NSAIDs, (for that matter, I'm not sure that anyone should take them, since they are a leading cause of MC). Your doctor dropped the ball. He or she should have known better.
However, be aware that TMJ is a satellite symptom of MC, so it appears that your MC was already active before you started taking the Zipsor, even though you might not have had D as a symptom at that point. Most doctors are probably unaware that TMJ is associated with MC, but I can assure you that I had major problems with it when I was reacting, and I haven't had a single instance of it since I've been in remission, (over 7 years, now). Some days, I could barely open my mouth wide enough to slip a teaspoon full of soup between my teeth, (a table spoon was too big to pass through). Many other members have reported TMJ issues as well, while their MC was active, so this is a valid observation, and not just wild speculation.
Typically, it takes roughly 8 weeks for budesonide to completely clear the body, (and consequently, for MC symptoms to begin to reappear), after we stop taking Entocort. Symptoms can reappear much sooner, but 8 weeks is approximately the maximum time for this event). So, I'm guessing that somewhere in that time frame is where your MC began to become active again. The Zipsor simply was "the straw that broke the camel's back", and it triggered the symptom most commonly associated with MC, namely D. You had symptoms prior to that, that went unattributed, (to active MC). Specifically, the TMJ, and possibly others that you didn't even notice. Sometimes MC kind of sneaks up on us, and we don't even notice it until it bites us in the ass.
I'm not a doctor, but IMO, this is my best guess as to what has happened. If you are treating your MC by diet, then something is obviously sneaking past. If you are not treating it by diet control, then you will almost surely need to take a small maintenance dose of Entocort on a regular schedule, (such as one capsule per day, or every other day, etc.), in order to maintain remission from symptoms. MC cannot be cured, so some form of treatment must be maintained indefinitely, if the symptoms are to be kept at bay.
This is just a guess, (since it hasn't been verified by scientific research, at least not to my knowledge),but it is extremely likely that TMJ is caused by the leaky gut syndrome, and anytime that we experience the leaky gut syndrome, you can bet your bottom dollar that our MC is also active, since they go hand in hand. IOW, controlling your leaky gut syndrome should resolve your TMJ symptoms.
If I were in your shoes, I would stop the Zipsor immediately, and hopefully this may stop the D. That will not resolve your other MC symptoms, however, so you will need to take other steps, (such as diet changes or Entocort), if you want to eliminate the other symptoms, including TMJ. The prednisone should work, of course, but I'm sure you're aware that you can't safely take prednisone for long-term use, and your symptoms will return soon after you discontinue the prednisone.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear what has happened, but that just proves once again that someone with MC should never take any NSAIDs, (for that matter, I'm not sure that anyone should take them, since they are a leading cause of MC). Your doctor dropped the ball. He or she should have known better.
However, be aware that TMJ is a satellite symptom of MC, so it appears that your MC was already active before you started taking the Zipsor, even though you might not have had D as a symptom at that point. Most doctors are probably unaware that TMJ is associated with MC, but I can assure you that I had major problems with it when I was reacting, and I haven't had a single instance of it since I've been in remission, (over 7 years, now). Some days, I could barely open my mouth wide enough to slip a teaspoon full of soup between my teeth, (a table spoon was too big to pass through). Many other members have reported TMJ issues as well, while their MC was active, so this is a valid observation, and not just wild speculation.
Typically, it takes roughly 8 weeks for budesonide to completely clear the body, (and consequently, for MC symptoms to begin to reappear), after we stop taking Entocort. Symptoms can reappear much sooner, but 8 weeks is approximately the maximum time for this event). So, I'm guessing that somewhere in that time frame is where your MC began to become active again. The Zipsor simply was "the straw that broke the camel's back", and it triggered the symptom most commonly associated with MC, namely D. You had symptoms prior to that, that went unattributed, (to active MC). Specifically, the TMJ, and possibly others that you didn't even notice. Sometimes MC kind of sneaks up on us, and we don't even notice it until it bites us in the ass.
I'm not a doctor, but IMO, this is my best guess as to what has happened. If you are treating your MC by diet, then something is obviously sneaking past. If you are not treating it by diet control, then you will almost surely need to take a small maintenance dose of Entocort on a regular schedule, (such as one capsule per day, or every other day, etc.), in order to maintain remission from symptoms. MC cannot be cured, so some form of treatment must be maintained indefinitely, if the symptoms are to be kept at bay.
This is just a guess, (since it hasn't been verified by scientific research, at least not to my knowledge),but it is extremely likely that TMJ is caused by the leaky gut syndrome, and anytime that we experience the leaky gut syndrome, you can bet your bottom dollar that our MC is also active, since they go hand in hand. IOW, controlling your leaky gut syndrome should resolve your TMJ symptoms.
If I were in your shoes, I would stop the Zipsor immediately, and hopefully this may stop the D. That will not resolve your other MC symptoms, however, so you will need to take other steps, (such as diet changes or Entocort), if you want to eliminate the other symptoms, including TMJ. The prednisone should work, of course, but I'm sure you're aware that you can't safely take prednisone for long-term use, and your symptoms will return soon after you discontinue the prednisone.
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 Tex for the thorough explanation. I stopped the Zipsor and started on the Entocort again. I will see my TMJ doctor tomorrow and will be callling my gut doctor also. I was hoping I was in remission. I had reduced my gluten intake but not elimimated it completely. I thought it was working but apparently it wasn't enough.
I'm certain that NSAIDs were in the mix of things that triggered my MC. And I have had a lot of non-digestive symptoms, including jaw pain (not as severe as TMJ, I think), which I was attributing to the joys of middle age, till the relentless D kicked in. I now think that much of what people consider normal wear and tear is not normal at all, but something autoimmune rumbling into view. Unfortunately, for most people it never gets attention till it's massive and frightening or painful.
Robert, I hope you find an alternate source of pain relief to the Zipsor, and I hope removing that from your mix speedily resolves the D.
I believe I now have a longer list of foods I need to avoid than I used to, due to not understanding the MC-diet connection - that may be true for you as well. (It's possible that I'm now avoiding foods that are safe for me, but to me it's worth it, because I feel so much better.) I don't know whether you did Enterolab testing when you were first diagnosed and found this forum - they have added a number of foods to their tes panels very recently, and I'm awaiting my results this week. Other members have had success with MRT testing.
Best of luck and health,
Sara
Robert, I hope you find an alternate source of pain relief to the Zipsor, and I hope removing that from your mix speedily resolves the D.
I believe I now have a longer list of foods I need to avoid than I used to, due to not understanding the MC-diet connection - that may be true for you as well. (It's possible that I'm now avoiding foods that are safe for me, but to me it's worth it, because I feel so much better.) I don't know whether you did Enterolab testing when you were first diagnosed and found this forum - they have added a number of foods to their tes panels very recently, and I'm awaiting my results this week. Other members have had success with MRT testing.
Best of luck and health,
Sara