Have you tried bismuth subsalicyate or colestipol.?

No, just budesonide.
Elaine

Hi @piemonte.

If you haven’t done so Mayo Clinic has a nice overview you can take a look at. The section on treatments addresses both diet and medications. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microscopic-colitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351483

Which type of colitis do you have?

Budesonide works great for me, but when I taper off, the diarrhea starts again shortly after. Work with your doctor. They might try different dose management. For example now I am on 3 months-3 pills. 3 months- 2 pills, and 3 months 1 pill. If that doesn’t work better, I will have to stay on the lowest dose that works forever. If you Google this disease (mine is Collagenous colitis which is one type) you can see what is recommended for diet. Good luck. Hang in there. I know how frustrating and embarrassing this is.

Thank you! It is frustrating and embarrassing.

I’ve been on a 90 day course of budesonide. This month I’m down to 1 pill per day. As long as I eat a “clean” diet I have been fine.

Thankfully my GI PA is great and is willing to work with me.

I appreciate your reply.

1961deb
Do you ever have flu like symptoms, feeling feverish but no fever, and extreme fatigue?

I don’t know if this malaise is related to MC or side effects of budesonide.

I will discuss with my doctor. It would be interesting to know if others with MC have had similar symptoms.

I've had MC for 24 years and have been on and off Budesonide many times. I never had the symptoms you describe until I got C-diff in 2024 during a flare. Since then I've had intermittent fever, flu like symptoms, nausea and fatigue with each flare. Several times I thought I might have C-diff again, but tests were negative. My doc can't figure that one out. The symptoms mimic C-Diff.

I have microscopic colitis and often feel flu-ish and fatigue .To top it all off I was recently diagnosed with moderate faecal loading in my colon . so … double bonus! Have never heard of it before now and was absolutely surprised since I have on average seven to eight bms per day. Can’t seem to get out of a flare. I am following the FOD map diet which allows Potato chips! Another surprise. But I’m sure they’re not good for me. I often wonder if I have a bit of. SIBO on top of everything so I do read the SIBO discussion. Not happy with my G.I. but where I live there’s not much I can do about it. Doctors are so overloaded here if you have one already, no one will not take you for a second opinion. Very unfortunate.

That’s debilitating, annpeters. I have a friend who tested positive for SIBO. She is currently on a second course of antibiotics. She belched methane gas which caused burning in her mouth. That has improved but her stomach discomfort persists.

I’ve done some reading on the Microscopic Colitis Foundation website.

There’s not a lot of robust research on MC.

I’m down to 1 budesonide per day. So far my symptoms are under control but I do have to be careful about diet.

Thank you for responding.