anti biotic and diarrhea again

[Gloria]

I have read posts from people who don't seem to have gotten any relief regardless of diet and drugs. Is MC sometimes refractory with any kind of treatment?

You're probably referring either to me or to Pat. Both of us have had difficulty achieving remission in spite of dramatically changing our diets and/or using medications.

I have achieved remission while on Entocort in conjunction with dietary changes, and I am a big proponent of it. I've tried several times to get off of it in the past because it is very expensive. Even though DH's insurance pays for it now, he is retiring in the next year and it will cost me about $2,000 a year to continue taking it, regardless of the dosage. For that reason, I reduced my dosage and finally went off of it completely almost 10 weeks ago. All other times that I went off of it, I had to go back on it within weeks (or days) because I began flaring. This time I am not flaring. I'm not seeing perfect Normans, but it's managable. I have double DQ1 genes, mast cell problems, and cannot tolerate many foods. As Tex wrote, it can take a while for some of us to determine all of our intolerances. Diet really is the key.

Gloria

[Sheila]

Thanks for the info. I know Entocort is expensive because when my mother was on it she ended up in the insurance donut hole. I found generic entocort, budesonide 3 mg 100 caps @ $74.06 or 300 caps @ $144.29 at my Canadian pharma. I double checked the price because I remember how outraged she was by the price at her drug store. My DH is retiring on Sept 1 but will continue to have insurance coverage through a previous retirement. It's good but the company has been knocking off drugs right and left and raising the copays through the roof. The Canadian pharma that I use has a really good reputation and over the course of 15 years I've never had a problem. They even supplied drugs for my dog. They are Online Canadian Pharmacy and are located in Vancouver, Canada.

The asacol seemed to be helping for the first month but not any more. In fact, in the 3 days since I started the GF diet, the D is worse than ever. I'm looking forward to getting the results from Entero Lab and am hoping for miracles, of course.

Thanks for the information. All of it helps.
Sheila

[sarkin]

Sheila,

Whether you try Entocort or something else next, I hope you quickly see some progress. It sounds as though both you and your husband could use a break. I can understand why it's especially traumatic to him - I'm sure you'll both be feeling better soon, with a little luck, some help from your doctor, and whatever diet changes you decide are most likely to get you back on track.

(I hear good things about the "so delicious" brand frozen desserts... we use their plain coconut milk for smoothies, and I have big plans for some homemade ice-cream substitute when it gets a little hotter around here.)

I went farther/faster than most people would prefer to, as far as restricting my diet. (Lots of homemade chicken broth, and a very small list besides that.) I think that was a bigger factor than the Pepto Bismol, but that also helped. The diet enabled me to cut back on the Pepto faster than I would otherwise be able to do.

Wishing you a long, full, happy life full of health and delicious meals. And first and most important, a speedy resolution of the current D episode.

All my best,

Sara