Microscopic Colitis
The elephant in the room that no one seems to notice unless they have it - Microscopic Colitis Support
image by: The Grumbling Gut
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FODMAP Friendly Living | Collagenous Colitis: Pamela’s Story
The following may not work for everybody...
Most people only think about the bathroom when they have to go. But for Pamela G., a 69 year old Portland native, bathrooms were all she could think about.
Four years ago, at age 65, she started having bouts of unexpected diarrhea. “My whole life I had never had any problems, but now I was having accidents unexpectedly and frequently,” Pamela said.
“I started planning my days around places I knew had bathrooms and began turning down social events with friends because I was so embarrassed that I would have an accident in front of them.” She coped with her unexplained symptoms by carrying Poise pads and gloves everywhere she…
Resources
Study Finds Endoscopists May Miss Microscopic Colitis
If data from the United Kingdom reflect practice patterns in the United States, endoscopists may be overlooking cases of microscopic colitis. A retrospective study of more than 10,000 colonoscopies conducted in the UK ssshowed that over 8% of endoscopists did not take biopsies in patients with chronic diarrhea undergoing colonoscopy, while in 24% of cases, they biopsied only the rectum, which is not adequately sensitive for diagnosing microscopic colitis.
Treatment using Medications or other forms of medical intervention
In recent years, physicians are beginning to realize that microscopic colitis is not rare after all (it was simply under-diagnosed for many years), so now there is at least a possibility that one or more pharmaceutical companies may decide to develop a drug specifically labeled to treat microscopic colitis at some point in the future. At the very least, maybe one of them will petition the FDA to allow them to add microscopic colitis to the label of an existing FDA-approved medication.
How I Learned to Live Healthy - A story about living with Celiac and Microscopic Colitis
Fortunately my condition can be healed or put into remission by eating the proper diet. Both the naturopath and GI doctor recommended that I stay on the autoimmune paleo diet until I feel stable enough to incorporate eggs and nuts. I was impressed, and slightly surprised, that the GI doctor lauded my dietary efforts! I have been on the autoimmune paleo diet for about six months. If I had to estimate my progress, I would say I am about 80% better than I was before starting the diet.
Managing Microscopic Colitis: A Patient Guide
Microscopic colitis is a condition of the colon that causes watery diarrhea, pain, and nausea. It is more common among people older than 60 years of age. Budesonide is the most effective treatment and has a low risk of side effects. However, the cost of the drug may be an issue for some patients.
Mesalamine Is Ineffective in Collagenous Colitis
These findings confirm the previously observed response rate of 80% with use of budesonide, which is now the first-line treatment for newly diagnosed collagenous colitis. Most importantly, this study shows that 5-aminosalicylate, which is often used in clinical practice, is ineffective for collagenous colitis.
NSAIDs, PPIs, SSRIs increase risk for microscopic colitis
Exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proton pump inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were associated with an increased risk for microscopic colitis, which increased with recent and longer use, according to research presented at the 10th Congress of ECCO in Barcelona, Spain.
FODMAP Friendly Living | Collagenous Colitis: Pamela’s Story
“In less than a week, I was symptom free. I absolutely could not believe it,” Pamela shared. But the journey didn’t end there. After 2-6 weeks of eliminating all high FODMAP foods, the Challenge Phase begins, which involves reintroducing each food group slowly into the diet over the course of a few weeks.
Living with Lymphocytic Colitis
Lymphocytic colitis is a microscopic viral type of colitis. It involves abdominal pain and diarrhea. There is no cure and keeping it under control is by using a strict diet. Mostly older people get this but sadly so do young people.
Microscopic Colitis Foundation
The Microscopic Colitis Foundation is the only organization totally dedicated to improving the lives of those who have microscopic colitis. Many of the guidelines recommended for other IBDs do not work very well for MC, if they work at all. And unfortunately, much of the information about the disease that is available on the Internet is misleading and incorrect.
Microscopic Colitis Support Group
Discuss microscopic colitis and its treatment with others who are dealing with it. Learning from others helps us all handle our situation better.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The most common symptom of microscopic colitis is chronic, watery, nonbloody diarrhea. Episodes of diarrhea can last for weeks, months, or even years. However, many people with microscopic colitis may have long periods without diarrhea.
Cleveland Clinic
The symptoms of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are similar--chronic watery, nonbloody diarrhea. The diarrhea may be continuous or episodic. Abdominal pain or cramps may also be present.
MayoClinic
Microscopic colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine (colon) that causes persistent watery diarrhea. The disorder gets its name from the fact that it's necessary to examine colon tissue under a microscope to identify it, since the tissue may appear normal with colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
MedicineNet
Some experts believe that lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis represent different stages of the same disease.
PathologyOutlines.com
Microscopic colitis" now describes both collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. Chronic, nonbloody, water diarrhea, with normal endoscopy in middle aged patients. Reported gender predilection varies from equal to female predominance.
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