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Blood in stool and Microscopic Colitis
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 14, 2018 | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
I am also following the SCD diet for suspected SIBO but one of the suspected diagnoses that has not been ruled out for me is collagenous or microscopic colitis, which will have to be done through colonoscopy if my symptoms don’t improve through antibiotics and diet. I have gas, bloating, pain and loose stools more often than diarrhea. Have also lost 20 pounds and I am finally working with a nutritionist. Only reason the GI doctor has not rushed to do a colonoscopy is that I am 63 and have had two normal colonoscopies and the last one two years ago. I am following reduced and specific carb diet which has helped with pain gas and bloating. Only been on diet for a month but I think it helps. Very careful with what I eat and how to introduce new foods. Takes a long time and many tests plus trial and error to arrive at correct diagnosis. But I think SCD diet is worth a try for about three months to see if it works. I also have occult blood in stool. No visible blood.
Replies to "I am also following the SCD diet for suspected SIBO but one of the suspected diagnoses..."
To gutheslth. To diagnose Collagenous , or the other types of ‘Microscopic Colitis, they have to take several biopsies during the colonoscopy. I think lots of people miss this diagnosis because biopsies are not taken. Yes, the SCD diet did help improve things somewhat, but I still had diarrhea, though somewhat reduced in the number of times a day. It was the bloating and gas that was helped most, and the sense of never completely being finished with a ‘bowel movement’. I do believe gluten is not the culprit for me. The problem I think for me on the SCD diet was that there was a lot of roughage, and a lot of seeds and nuts etc. I am just now considering a ‘low residue ‘ diet as a possibility for getting symptoms under control.
I think that occult blood can be from the effects of diarrhea itself: that alone should be enough to irritate the lining of the rectum and colon and produce occult blood I would think.
My most problematic time is about 5 hours after eating dinner ( a bigger meal than the rest of the day). That’s about the time I think the digestive process reaches the large colon.
What is most uncomfortable is the large volume of diarrhea ( = pressure in the colon) as a result of the collagen band interfering with water absorption from the colon. Sometimes I am amazed at the amount. Really. Where else can you talk about these things except a place like this. You know being able to say these ‘forbidden’ things is a great help to people suffering with something that you can’t usually discuss with others ( not exactly a welcome topic). Here at least: discuss away.
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My nutritionist also put me on supplemental elemental shakes to boost calorie intake. It is the stuff young children take for GI problems EleCare. Body absorbs it in twenty minutes of taking it and there are no side effects. They also give your bowel a rest on days I have flares or diarrhea.