Hello Everyone,
I just read all the letters and decided to join the discussion group. Lots of interesting things to read and share. I am an 85-year-old LOL in relatively good health except for osteoporosis, and microscopic colitis since Oct. 2023. I was diagnosed after 2 months of diarrhea up to 10 x day, miserable life and lost 12 pounds.
I am an active person. I like to lead kayak trips (but not with 10 diarrhea/day!) in summer and hikes in winter. I was put on Budesonide 3 mg (or more if needed) a day. Like a miracle! It worked as soon as my colon filled up again after the colonoscopy. I started on BRAT diet, then started adding things like roasted chicken, fish, scrambled eggs, tuna with mayo, and things went well.
I had occasional flares when I did too much food or tried commercial soups and frozen dinners. I am doing very well now if I stick to real food without additives. I love fresh fish (I live on Cape Cod) and seafood. I do occasionally get constipation which I hate worse than diarrhea!
After my colonoscopy I started keeping track of my poops, using the BRISTOL STOOL SCALE. Have any of you used this? East to look up online and print. Someone must have done some creepy research, but it is very helpful: there are 7 Types of stool starting with Type 1 (difficult to pass, hard pellets) all the way to Type 7 (brown water, no solids, only liquid). Each are illustrated with pictures. I kept a daily record in my bathroom of all such events on a clipboard I hid behind my bath towel. My best days were Type 4 (smooth sausage and easy to pass).
I am running out of space I think - see you all later.