Microscopic Colitis. Feedback you can offer?

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.

Hi. I was diagnosed with MC in February. I am 65. I had a full hysterectomy in September due to a diagnosis of precancer in my endometrium which turned out to be a small cancerous tumor. They got it all thankfully. 10 weeks later I went on a week-long cruise to the Caribbean and halfway through had lots of diarrhea. I thought it was food poisoning or giardia. When I got back it took a while to see a GI doc and then I did all the testing, (all negative), culminating in a colonoscopy with 3 biopsies. My diarrhea had been 6 weeks and the colonoscopy seemed to reset me, but I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for 1 week and was not doing well so they told me I could quit. I was doing just fine, like my old self when I could eat anything and then bam, early May I had a flareup. I've been on the highly restrictive diet for too long now and am craving the old food. I've lost 12 pounds so far and can't afford it. I've always eaten healthy: no red meats or pork, fresh fruits and veggies as much as possible, and very little alcohol. I'm not a smoker. If anything I could exercise more but before this flareup I was walking a mile a day. I'm back on the Budesonide at a lower dose. I wonder...did the hysterectomy cause this? Did some weird bug in the Caribbean cause this? I seem to be coming out of this flareup, thankfully, but now I guess I add foods one at a time? Very depressed.

Hi lisaluier,
Thank you for your kind words. I'm coming out of the flare-up and dealing with constipation. Much better! Fatigue is gone. Horrendous stomach aches are gone.
I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Have you been through all the testing? I think the colonoscopy basically cleans you out. I don't know if you've had one but the prep is basically poop your brains out to clear the colon before the test. I'm lucky I'm retired so I don't have to deal with work like you do. That must be so hard.
I have been all over the internet about this, ad nauseum. That's how I came across this website and I'm so glad I did! Hang in there.

Oh, thank goodness @janstur! I do gotta say though, it’s funny to hear how you feel much better dealing with constipation. We are absolutely opposite in that regard. 😀

I’ve had a colonoscopy, then an upper scope locally a maybe 5 years ago because of a thick stomach showing up on a CT I believe. I had an anorectal manometry that led me to Mayo’s bowel evacuation program 3 years ago. Recently, a gastric emptying test showed good transit times.

Glad we met here! The struggles are real and so, so difficult to explain to anyone.

What is next for you?

Well, day 3 of constipation is not so fun. lol. I 'm so sorry for what you're going through. As for me, it makes it hard to plan things. Will I have a flare-up? I have a trip coming up, that's causing major anxiety. It involves a 10-hour drive. Then there's another weekend trip. Who knows?

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.

To the person who posted that charcoal pills stopped diarrhea, a thousand thanks.
I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis. I took Budesonide for a little over two months, and it was wonderful. After about a month after stopping, I started getting diarrhea and cramping again. After two months the diarrhea was every day. The Imodium never helped. After seeing the post, I added two charcoal pills before meals and no more diarrhea. Thanks for posting.