I just shared this comment with someone else in this thread. I hope it is helpful to you, good luck!

I was diagnosed with MC early 2021 as well. Change of diet is not an option, it is a necessity. While your lower G.I. tract is healing, it cannot handle the foods that irritate it. Irritating foods must be eliminated and then can be very slowly re-introduced in the months following relief of symptoms.

Here is an oversimplification of what needs to happen to relieve your symptoms and eliminate the MC:

VEGGIES- greens: NO RAW, only fully cooked. Potatoes and puréed squashes are OK No tomatoes or onions.
FRUITS - you may eat bananas, applesauce or applesauce pouches that contain other cooked fruits, then you may slowly re-introduce melons. No citrus fruits! Avocados are ok!!
MEATS - Low fat, no spices, broiled or baked only
GRAINS - Cream of wheat, oatmeal, lower fiber cereals, pasta or white breads are OK. Higher fiber breads or greens may be introduced once symptoms have disappeared. Plane crackers, saltines, plain goldfish, Parmesan or cheddar goldfish, Cheez-Its, animal crackers, etc are OK.
NO DAIRY PERIOD. You may drink almond or oat milk. As for cheese, yogurt, etc., there are plenty of no dairy alternatives.
COFFEE, TEA, HOT drinks: The best bets are decaffeinated tea OR a latte with dairy free alternative milk and decaffeinated

NO-NOs:
NO SPICES,
NO EXTRA FATS or FRIED FOODS
NO ACIDIC FOODS
NO ALCOHOL
NO SELTZER WATER
NO CHOCOLATE
NO COFFEE, even decaf
😞

I did use grated Parmesan cheese and cinnamon/nutmeg for spices, I completely cut out garlic, onions and most of the other spices that I love. I slowly re-introduced everything and have been mostly symptom free since June.

Basically you have to eat bland, easy to digest Foods for a few months. My normal diet is high in uncooked greens, fibers, nuts, dark chocolate, and of course dark red wine at least once a week! So it was extremely hard for me to do this but eliminating the MC was worth the work. also keep in mind that long-term irritation of your G.I. tract can cause other diseases and potentially lead to cancer as well.

My A1C rose significantly because of this but now it is back on the way down.

If you are interested, I am happy to provide you with additional information regarding my experience and as well as two others with the same diagnosis. ❤️

I also have this along with other digestive issues. Book by wayne persky microscopic colitis is full of good info. Diet seems to never be addressed by gastrointestinal docs.

I was diagnosed with collagenous colitis 2008. I was treated with Methotrexate and symptoms disappeared. However, it seems like I developed a different kind of intestinal autoimmune illness after a year or so. Budesonide helped some, but not enough. After a few years I tried Imuran, immunosuppressive. It worked, but there were side effects such as severe infections. After 7 months I stopped taking it and I have not had any recurrence. I have other GI problems keeping me busy, but nothing autoimmune.

My husband has microscopic colitis and was prescribed budesonide which helped only slightly and was very expensive, even with insurance. I did a LOT of research and found this information: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gastroenterology_hepatology/_pdfs/small_large_intestine/collagenous_lymphocytic_colitis.pdf and figured it was worth a try. It's essentially 8 weeks of 2 Pepto Bismol chewables 4 times per day. A lot cheaper than the steroid, and only the black tongue and stools as side effects. I highly recommend trying it. His gastro had no problem with this protocol, but I was kind of annoyed that he didn't suggest it as the first line of treatment.

@crankyyankee - Very interesting article. I have always believed in Pepto!
I use it for all of my GI problems. It didn’t help the collagenous colitis. My diarrhea was too bad.
Nowadays I use Pepto to treat episodes of SIBO ( small intestine bacterial overgrowth). It has worked as well as antibiotics. It’s definitely anti- inflammatory and anti- bacterial.
I still think there is not one perfect way to treat this colitis, but it’s worth trying methods that have been found to be useful.

I seem to see two types of watery diarrhea, one that looks like brown coffee grounds and one that looks like mucus and is more explosive and less controllable. Thinking the coffee grounds are the EPI and the mucus might be CC. Thoughts?

@crankyyankee - Haha! I also pack a lot of Pepto when going abroad! What I don’t need, I leave with my daughter there.

My husband recently had a colonoscopy and they discovered a mild case of ulcerative colitis. It was a surprise as he has none of the symptoms. The doctor (not from Mayo) wants to put him on 3.6 g daily of mesalamine. We think this is an aggressive step for a mild case of colitis with no symptoms. Are there other options? Is doing a colonoscopy more frequently an option? Taking medication daily going forward long term may have its risks too. Any comments and feedback is appreciated.

I was diagnosed with lymphcytic colitis about a year ago. I refused anything with steroids in it because of my age (72) and my osteoporosis. It comes and goes. I have no pain just immediate diarrhea. I have tried Pepto Bismol in the past and after a few days I was constipated. Now I am trying it for 3 months taking 2 pills 3X a day. So far today, it hasn't worked. I am down to 107lbs. My lipase is a little elevated at 154 but it was 215 a weeks ago. My amylase was 91 a few weeks ago. I have had it higher and see a gastroenterologist with Mayo. Soon to be referred to the Pancreatic Department in May to continue to follow up. I honestly don't know what is causing this colitis or how I got it or why it comes and goes! I work out twice a week with a Wellness coach. I'm even considering antidepressants because of the amount of stress I've been under. Any ideas would be helpful?

My lymphocytic colitis was diagnosed in 2016 after a colonoscopy due to mild diarrhea. After the colonoscopy, it went into remission but flared up in April 2022.

Has anyone experienced muscle pain and headaches as symptoms? Coincidentally, I started having severe muscle pains or spasms in my neck and left shoulder blade area, and headaches on the left side of my head when the pain radiates there. (Temporal arteritis has been ruled out with testing.) My GI Dr prescribed a three month course of budesonide, which I haven't started yet because my diarrhea symptoms have improved to a couple times a day without cramps. If taking the budesonide would relieve my muscle pain and headaches, I would consider giving it a try. I haven't changed my diet much. I am lactose intolerant so drink lactose-free milk, and yogurt. I take several meds that may have caused my recent flare, PPI, Zoloft, and Trazodone (which I am weaning off of). I must take the PPI because I have Barrett's Esophagus.
Thanks.