Fish oil and MC flares?

KYKatie · Post by **KYKatie** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:59 pm

Hi all! It has been awhile since I have posted, but I log in almost daily to keep informed on what is going on with all of you and to continue to learn more about this interesting thing called MC that we are all dealing with. My GI and I determined I have NSAID induced MC since things appeared to go into remission when I stopped taking the prescription NSAID. I've been off all NSAIDs for over 3 months and have also been GF and SF that time. SF is hard since I'm also vegetarian and finding GF vegetarian products has been hard, but more are coming on the market....yay! Anyway, I am also dealing with TMJ which is seeming to get worse. Went to the dr this week and he said as long as I am unable to take an anti-inflammatory it will probably continue to get worse; that I need something to remove the inflammation so the soft tissue can calm down. He suggested I talk with my primary care dr about what alternatives there are since NSAIDs are off the list, but I can't get in to see her till late July. So I started searching for alternatives on the net and found a lot of information about fish oil reducing inflammation. I have taken fish oil intermittently over the years without any problems, but this week I have had two flares after taking fish oil. Both times I had taken two fish oil capsules near bedtime. The first flare hit me about 15 minutes after I went to bed and I was up and down 4-5 times before it calmed down. Last night I also took 2 capsules at bed time and this afternoon it hit me and I had about 4 bouts of D. Has anyone else had any problems with fish oil causing bouts of D? I don't think I'm overdoing it but the first time it happened I was trending towards C and was really surprised that I had that quick a reaction, but after reviewing my food log the only new item was the fish oil. I appreciate any insight any of you might be able to share!

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:35 pm

Hi Katie,

Good job sleuthing!

Sometimes the capsule contains soy or other problematic ingredients.

Fish is off-limits for someone with a mast cell problem and has to avoid histamines. I haven't tried fish oil, but I'd imagine that it's high in histamines also.

Gloria

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:28 pm

Katie,

I agree with Gloria - good detective work. Is it possible that the TMJ is a hard-to-track-down food intolerance? My aches and pains that I was blaming on middle age have remarkably gone away.

I appreciate the dilemma of being a vegetarian with food intolerances. It was hard for me to eat meat again, but I felt I had no choice with so many whole food groups off the table. (Losing eggs was the deal-breaker.) I hope you get this solved soon.

There are fish oils that do not come in capsules. I haven't tried them yet. I believe fish oil is helpful for preventing as well as alleviating inflammation. But I am wondering what is causing that inflammation...

Please keep us posted, and feel better,

Sara

Post by **tex** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:46 pm

Hi Katie,

Yes, fish oil can definitely cause D. Any type of oil can, if we exceed our tolerance threshold. I would assume that we probably each have our own personal tolerance threshold for things of that type. Back before I adopted the diet, I found that flax seed oil and glucosamine sulfate really helped my arthritis symptoms in my knees. Then, after I adopted the GF diet, my symptoms eventually completely resolved. I only took one 1,200 mg capsule of flax seed oil each day. I still take it, and now I also take one 1,200 mg capsule of fish oil, also, (along with the glucosamine, for joint health).

I truly believe that the GF diet is the key to eliminating TMJ problems. It takes a while for the diet to do the job, though, because much of the damage to the gut has to heal, before all the symptoms will disappear. I had severe TMJ symptoms back when I was still reacting, but as the diet began to take effect, (and after my gut had some time to heal), my TMJ problems completely disappeared, and they have never returned.

Tex

patc73 · Post by **patc73** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:12 pm

Hi, Katie! Fish oil was one of the first things I discovered didn't "agree with me", about six years ago. Not only does it give me a rash, it gave me D and heartburn that was very fishy. I've substituted ground flaxseed on my Rice Chex to still get the Omega-3s.

KYKatie · Post by **KYKatie** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:42 pm

Thanks all for your helpful and encouraging comments! I finally figured out two 1200 mg fish oil capsules put me in a flare but I can safely take one. Tex and Pat, thanks for your suggestions about flaxseed and flaxseed oil. I used to eat Uncle Sam's cereal that was flaxseed and barley flakes and really liked it. Tex, I will continue to hope that the GF diet will eventually result in TMJ relief.

Katie

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:51 am

Hi Katie,
Like you, I can tolerate one fish oil softgel, but not 2. I think it helps with my MC overall. Ironically, I have a really hard time with foods containing flax seeds, probably because they are usually whole (in GF crackers, etc). Haven't tried the oil.

Post by **tex** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:59 pm

Flax seed, (even when finely ground), is known to have laxative effects, (the fiber content is in a very abrasive form), and it is often used for that purpose. The oil is much less likely to cause problems along those lines, though obviously, enough of it can certainly have laxative effects.

Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:04 pm

Thanks Tex! No more flax seeds for me. I cant seem to rid myself of all the darn fiber in my diet!!

patc73 · Post by **patc73** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:38 pm

Gosh, maybe I should try a few days without ground flaxseeds? I've been taking them to try to cut down on my "hot flashes", but I seem to have them no matter what I try.