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I’m A 48 Year Old Female. I Received A Diagnosis
Question: I’m a 48 year old female. I received a diagnosis of microscopic colitis 2 years ago. I have been on Apriso every day and take Uceris twice a week. I had another colonoscopy 2 weeks ago and the pathology report was entirely normal now. No microscopic colitis. GI Doctor now wants to to get off the Uceris completely. She used the word “cured” but am I really? Is it the meds keeping the colitis in check or has the condition resolved on its own? I’m still having GI issues and can’t eat too many different things without suffering the consequences. I have lost a lot of weight in one year (I’m 5’0 and am now 88 pounds. Down from a weight of 110 a year ago.). I’m not sure why I’m losing weight now tho when the microscopic colitis has resolved. Doctor suspects maybe it’s irritable bowel syndrome. Are there any treatments for that? I can only eat small meals at a time and I eat frequently as a result. And my diet is very limited as well as a result of my symptoms. I’m just trying to find some answers and improve the quality of my life. Thanks!
Brief Answer:
It's not curable only controllable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello my dear patient and thanks for asking query on this forum,
Firstly I would like to say that your doctor has diagnosed you with microscopic coilitis Which is different from inflammatory bowel disease(namely ulcerative coilitis and Crohn's) disease.Both of them are two different diseases.Microscopic coilitis responds well to budesonide and usually the symptoms subside in 6 months to year but cure is not possible.Its a non curable but fully controllable disease.
So answer is medicines are keeping inflammation checked and very likely due to medicines only your second colonoscopy is normal.
As said earlier microscopic coilitis can't be resolved only the symptoms and inflammation in intestines could be controlled by taking medicines.Natually a patient would loose weight as absorption of food takes place in intestines which is compromised in case of such patients so weight loss would be there.
Irritable bowel syndrome is name given to a disease in which the patient is symptomatic yet all tests like colonoscopy etc are normal.It means that functionally there is problem but anatomically there is no problem with intestines.However you are a documented case of coilitis.
Change your gastroenterologist.
Continue medicine in doses as advised by him.As soon as you would stop medicines inflammation would return back.
There is no cure to coilitis so it's not possible that coilitis changes to IBS in 2 years.
Have lots of fibers in your food.
Have two bowls of fruits like apple orange pears plums kiwi daily in your food.
Take lots of probiotic rich food like curd yoghurt in your diet.
Take Probiotic supplements like Econorm and VSL#3 in your diet.
Take more carbohydrates in diet.
Hope I was helpful,
follow up are welcome,
Regards.
It's not curable only controllable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello my dear patient and thanks for asking query on this forum,
Firstly I would like to say that your doctor has diagnosed you with microscopic coilitis Which is different from inflammatory bowel disease(namely ulcerative coilitis and Crohn's) disease.Both of them are two different diseases.Microscopic coilitis responds well to budesonide and usually the symptoms subside in 6 months to year but cure is not possible.Its a non curable but fully controllable disease.
So answer is medicines are keeping inflammation checked and very likely due to medicines only your second colonoscopy is normal.
As said earlier microscopic coilitis can't be resolved only the symptoms and inflammation in intestines could be controlled by taking medicines.Natually a patient would loose weight as absorption of food takes place in intestines which is compromised in case of such patients so weight loss would be there.
Irritable bowel syndrome is name given to a disease in which the patient is symptomatic yet all tests like colonoscopy etc are normal.It means that functionally there is problem but anatomically there is no problem with intestines.However you are a documented case of coilitis.
Change your gastroenterologist.
Continue medicine in doses as advised by him.As soon as you would stop medicines inflammation would return back.
There is no cure to coilitis so it's not possible that coilitis changes to IBS in 2 years.
Have lots of fibers in your food.
Have two bowls of fruits like apple orange pears plums kiwi daily in your food.
Take lots of probiotic rich food like curd yoghurt in your diet.
Take Probiotic supplements like Econorm and VSL#3 in your diet.
Take more carbohydrates in diet.
Hope I was helpful,
follow up are welcome,
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I cannot have most of the foods you suggested as it aggravates my symptoms. Fiber and dairy especially. I do take probiotic and have been adding more carbs. Are there any other foods that you could recommend to put on weight that would not aggravate my colitis? What can I do about the weight loss? My weight is not stable and I am continuing to lose weight. As a result, I’m tired all the time and have no energy most days. Do you think food sensitivity testing may be helpful in my case?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again my dear patient,
Sorry to hear that the food suggested increases your problems.
There is a possibility that you are having food allergies as well as lactose intolerence to an extent along with coilitis.
The magical formula to gain weight is to have calories more then your maintainance calories.
You can use any online calorie calculator for e.g suppose your maintainance calorie is 1400 cal per day then you would gain weight if you take 1500 Cal day.It does not matters if this comes from carbohydrate fat or protein.
There is a saying in medical science that patient is the best doctor of herself.So take calories from whatever you can digest well.It may be carbs eg fruits or fats like peanut butter.
Food sensitivity test should be done and send the reports back to me.
For tiredness drink lots electrolytes in form of coconut water or electral or Gatorade.Weaknness is usually due to I'm balance of sodium potassium and chloride in your body.
Hope I was helpful.
follow ups are welcome.
Thank you!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again my dear patient,
Sorry to hear that the food suggested increases your problems.
There is a possibility that you are having food allergies as well as lactose intolerence to an extent along with coilitis.
The magical formula to gain weight is to have calories more then your maintainance calories.
You can use any online calorie calculator for e.g suppose your maintainance calorie is 1400 cal per day then you would gain weight if you take 1500 Cal day.It does not matters if this comes from carbohydrate fat or protein.
There is a saying in medical science that patient is the best doctor of herself.So take calories from whatever you can digest well.It may be carbs eg fruits or fats like peanut butter.
Food sensitivity test should be done and send the reports back to me.
For tiredness drink lots electrolytes in form of coconut water or electral or Gatorade.Weaknness is usually due to I'm balance of sodium potassium and chloride in your body.
Hope I was helpful.
follow ups are welcome.
Thank you!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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