How To Feel Better with Microscopic Colitis

Do you have Microscopic Colitis or know someone who does? Are you looking for medications or treatment options? If so, welcome, you are in the right place!
In this video, let’s talk about ways to minimize or eliminate symptoms of Microscopic Colitis. First, look at the current medications you are on - they could be culprits of Microscopic Colitis. Change these medications with the advice and supervision of your prescribing doctor, so please discuss altering those medications with them. Dietary and lifestyle changes can also help improve Microscopic Colitis symptoms, which I discuss in detail throughout this channel.
After your current medications are evaluated and potentially changed, let’s talk about specific medications which provide focused relief for your Microscopic Colitis. Typically, Budesonide is the first line therapy and its dosing is relatively universal, but may need to be altered to your specific situation. There are additional medications that can be offered if this steroid isn’t working or doesn’t completely relieve your symptoms. Surgery is rare and a last resort to treat Microscopic Colitis. Watch this video for more specifics!
If you are looking for more information on what Microscopic Colitis is, who gets it, and how it is diagnosed, please see the linked video below or in this video as I go into those topics in great detail there!
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Be Sure to Check Out Other Relevant Content:
- Microscopic Colitis - Symptoms and Diagnosis: • Microscopic Colitis - ...
DISCLAIMER: While I am a Gastroenterologist, I am not acting as your Gastroenterologist. The information provided on this channel is intended to be general educational content and not directed towards any one individual. If you believe you have a medical condition that deserves attention please seek care from your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, call 911.

[@lauriedefelice8132]

I still had to change my diet when I was on budesonide. Diet is key to living with this disease, medicine is how I got microscopic colitis. ( Ssri, ppi, and ibuprofen). Without diet change and med changes I’d be forever sick. Now I watch how I eat and vitamins etc. and I’ve been feeling good ( knock on wood). My diet is crazy but works. I don’t eat gluten, dairy, eggs, soy and veggies must be cooked well. I can have beef, pork, chicken,turkey. My snacks are sunflower seeds and chocolate chips. ( trail mix). Check chocolate for soy lecithin…. A no no. Anyways, no meds just diet changes.

[@janinekoda]

Thank you for this info. My aunt has MC and I want to help her with her diet. I'm looking at Low Fodmap etc and doing a ton of research. Were you able to have fruits, coconut water non dairy prebiotic yogurt? Random but just. Few things in looking to incorporate, but also know everyone is different.

[@lorismith5369]

New sub . Was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007. Been GF for years. My great GI just shared he suspects I have collagenuos colitis due to Celiac. So thrilled docs are seeing the possibility of the tie in. I’m certain my mother had the same and her mother died at age 53 of colon cancer in 1953 😔 I believe genetics are involved. TY

[@laurawight6923]

I tried budesonide and I had the worst reaction to the medication. My symptoms worsened and I had additional symptoms I hadn't experienced. Do you know why this could be? I'm having a hard time with finding support.

[@MarkCooperMD]

That’s unusual. One thought that comes to mind is whether you had any signs of infection which would worsen with a steroid. That’s usually the first thing to exclude and therefore rarely an issue.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Another great video Dr Cooper! I wouldn’t want to have my colon removed.

[@michele0324]

What do you suggest and/or how would you approach treatment for someone with Lymphocytic Colitis, SIBO and Histamine Intolerance when they can't tolerate the Rx for LC or SIBO and didn't respond to one year of eating every meal within FODMAP guidelines?

[@LemonThyme1933]

What about side effects? I had 8 polyps following two years of usage. My last colonoscopies were great after stopping Budesinide. I was on Prednisone instead. Budesinide was great for stopping the diarrhea, but did not improve severe joint pain and swelling. The majority of the polyps were medium to large which I thought grew quickly in a short time frame. Rheumatologists tell me the arthritis is caused by the collagenous colitis.

[@sheilarae354]

I took Entocort for 3 months but unfortunately it did not stop I continue to take low dose every day but I am concerned long term What are side effects for long term use?

[@jorgemunoz8250]

Thanks for the video Dr. Cooper, very useful information being shared here. I was diagnosed with LC two years ago ago, I did a course of budesonide and my symptoms improved significantly for about a year but lately I’ve been glaring up again with episodes of really watery and acidic (burning) D, I will definitely discuss with my GI the us of Cholestyramine or an additional course of budesonide. However although somehow I manage to control the D, abdominal pain hasn’t stop for these 2 years, do you recommend anything for the pain? Thanks again for the info, I wish I was in the US at the moment to come and visit you, Kind regards from Mexico!!

[@MarkCooperMD]

Gracias! I would probably use budesonide again. I’ve seen it help patients with pain. Given the acidic quality you note I would also consider cholestyramine. I would try adding one at a time to monitor effect. Drug interactions have to be considered as well as a few other factors of history. I hope you have a good visit with your GI.

[@jorgemunoz8250]

@@MarkCooperMD Noted and many thanks for your kind reply!!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Dr Cooper, did I miss your video about Lynch Syndrome? You told me a while ago that you would eventually have one. I can’t seem to go six months without a polyp that doesn’t have dysplasia cells that were high- grade and extensive. Actually, only on your of four polyps were that way. Thank you so much Dr Cooper!

[@MarkCooperMD]

Hi Mitchell. We try to keep planning, writing and producing material each a month ahead so if any clinical situation develops I have a buffer. As a result it may be awhile before we get something up on Lynch. Thanks for watching and supporting our efforts!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@MarkCooperMD You bet Mark, Dr Cooper! I enjoy your content and you are super cute as well, no offense to your wife of course!

[@AbbadonOfTheKey]

Anyone else have absolute agony from their microscopic colitis? My GI doctor said that MC doesnt cause pain, but i know for a fact im in agony, and have been for 5 months. My abdominal ct scan is clear, and i had a positive MC biopsy and a polyp removed. I took a 6 day cycle of prednisone for psoriasis, and my pain skyrocketed the day i got off, indicating that the mechanism of action causing my pain is inflammatory or autoimmune. He has to be wrong about it not being painful, right?

[@MarkCooperMD]

I believe in one of the MC videos i state pain is not uncommon. I have seen the pattern you describe numerous times and it is pretty well described in literature. To your GI credit it’s reasonable to not assume a new pain is simply the MC. But the response to steroids is sort of diagnostic and therapeutic. Unfortunately triggers of worsening MC beyond certain medications isn’t well understood. Thanks for watching.

[@AbbadonOfTheKey]

@MarkCooperMD thank you so much for your help! That makes me feel a lot better. I just started budesonide today, so hopefully, I'll soon see some relief! 🤞

[@mattypowell9364]

@@MarkCooperMD going gluten free stopped my pain

[@suryaislam4700]

​@@AbbadonOfTheKey how much mg per day?

[@AbbadonOfTheKey]

@suryaislam4700 I can't remember, but we figured it out! I have spinal radiculopathy so bad that it's pinching root nerves all over my spine, and especially on my left side. I happened to have MC, but I'm not sure if it was related to the pain.

[@mat77084]

Not many people can afford that medication 1700.00 is out of my reach and many others

[@MarkCooperMD]

No doubt that’s absurd. However I also see it listed below $40. Check out some of the drug coupon apps and sites.

[@evarkf5303]

Thanks G-d I live in a country with free medical care

[@Marilyn-fq8pe]

I pay $38 per month with my insurance

[@moneyharry]

I have been taking budesonide for about 2.5 months, and luckily all my symptoms have gone, but now my doctor has decreased the dose, and my joints have also started hurting, my muscles are also feeling weak, but no diarrhea, or other stomach issues, I am not sure if this has any relation with the dose.

[@MarkCooperMD]

I would check basic labs and CPK. It seems some patients have overlap of musculoskeletal symptoms with MC.

[@courtneygray7985]

If you have liver dieases can you still use budesonide

[@Marilyn-fq8pe]

I have autoimmune hepatitis and budesonide takes care of that and LC

[@aalmorgan2426]

Do you have any information on collagenitis I was recently diagnosed with it but they are very few information about it

[@MarkCooperMD]

It’s essentially a subtype of microscopic colitis

[@werewolfmoon9749]

I got a colonoscopy recently i got a bioscopy for microscopic colitis. Back pain and right lower side pain sucks but weirdly no diarrhea tho. Maybe you got idea what is going on? I got nausea and stomach pain hour after eating too

[@MarkCooperMD]

To clarify you had a positive biopsy for MC? It does seem the bowel changes and the pain effects don’t perfectly correlate. So it’s conceivable you have minimal changes in stool but prominent pain. It’s certainly atypical but not unheard of.

[@werewolfmoon9749]

thank you

[@thisandthat65]

What if the symptoms come back a month after going off of the Budesonide? Is there a maintenance dosage?

[@MarkCooperMD]

There are various ways to manage this that have more nuance than can be reasonably addressed via YT. Please follow with your doctor.

[@mollyposer5830]

You can also change your diet.

[@evarkf5303]

Tell me more

[@kellyvendrasco1945]

Im wondering what to do. I was just diagnosed in July. Was prescribed Budesonide but my insurance doesnt cover it and I couldnt afford it. So I was prescribed Prednidone. But decided not to take due to the side effects. Then I was prescribed cholesterimine( probably spelled wrong) and couldnt take it because it was disgusting. I also have Gerd which is just getting worse and was prescribed lansoorazole. Already on famotodine. On Oct 10th. Problem is Ive been sick for over two weeks. I thought was tje flu but im not getting any better. Ive already missed 2 weeks of work. Doing research I noticed Landoprazole contributes to MC so im very upset about that and wonder if I should stop taking it. Now I have no trust in my Gastroenterologist. Anyways. Ive been living on Pepto Imodium Tums etc. Im losing weight like crazy and still eating. Altjough the last two weeks ive been eating "sick food". Ive been given to two different diets from my Gastro and Dietician. I have no idea what to eat. Im behond weak and frail. My stomach is constant upset whether from MC or Gerd. Cant work. And feel like im dying!!!! Was considering trying a gluten free diet. What the hell do I do??? Im suffering so much. Missing work and spending money on OTC's. Please Help!!!!!!!. Wondering if this is why ive been sick and not getting better? So frustrated!!! Oh I live in Canada. Thankyou!!!

[@mattypowell9364]

Going gluten free helped me

[@kellyvendrasco1945]

@mattypowell9364 do you have celiac or just thought you would try gluten free? Thanks kindly!!!! Glad to hear gluten free helped you!!

[@mattypowell9364]

@@kellyvendrasco1945 I have a wheat intolerance (confirmed with a sensitivity test) but not celiac. The pain I was getting stopped almost overnight when I went gluten free, certainly worth a try! Wishing you all the best

[@kaylawilliams3769]

What if you dont have diarrhea at all vut got diagnosed with this

[@evarkf5303]

Lucky you. Just live with it then. Don’t take anything

[@rachelm9350]

Does tbis show up in a fecal calprotein test or no?

[@MarkCooperMD]

Yes. Fecal calprotectin is a marker of inflammation. The colonoscopy is needed to differentiate from other causes that also cause fecal calprotectin to be elevated.

[@rachelm9350]

@@MarkCooperMD my follow up question is, is there a cutoff number? Or no not really. I had some slight elevation in a stool test, but I also had some mild diverticulitis at the same time I took the stool test.

[@cynthialesser2986]

❤❤❤❤

[@eugeneano285]

selling budesonide? Seems so by watching silly clips

[@MarkCooperMD]

The goal is to educate. Turns out people learn better when things are fun. Thanks for watching.

[@kj8142]

Budesonide gave me my life back- and after lots of reading it seems to be the treatment of choice for MC. If you (@eugeneeano285) would do a bit of research you’d be aware of that too. Please don’t discourage suffering people from getting help, especially when you likely know nothing about it.

[@jiechigs1878]

How come i have colitis? Without diarrhea and bloody stool ?