Microscopic colitis and Rheumatoid arthritis

[Jackie1947]

I'm having a colonoscopy week or so to see if I have MC a biopsy will confirm either way. Has anyone been diagnosed with this as there is a link to RA

[KittyJ]

I think someone asked about this condition recently, if you use the search box and filter for NRAS it should come up 😊

[AgedCrone]

Yes it is associated with auto immune disease…apparently those who have certain immune disorders—such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes—are more likely to develop microscopic colitis.

I only know because I had IBS prior to developing RA & my first rheumy discussed it when he was deciding which drugs to prescribe.Thanfully I didn’t have it.

As it’s been known about for quite a while hopefully if you do have there is good treatment available for it.

[Jackie1947 in reply to AgedCrone]

Unfortunately I've been diagnosed with Pancreatitis which came as a total shock to me. We nearly always associate that with alcholol but in my case not true. My gastrologist has arranged the colonoscopy re test for MC. Treatment is 3 months on steroids and hopefully put it in remission. At least I wouldn't have to take a shed load of immoduim.

[AgedCrone in reply to Jackie1947]

I’m sorry to hear that…very unpleasant….but it is a well known disease & so there must be many proven treatments.

I do hope you get some successful treatment & feel better soon,

[Jackie1947 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you

[Jackie1947 in reply to AgedCrone]

Not in my case as the pancreatic enzymes are pork based from a pigs stomach and I'm allergic to pork. No substitute as vegan pills from health food stores are not proven effective.

[madme1 in reply to AgedCrone]

I had IBS as well, for years beforehand then it disappeared, came back with a vengeance as ulcerative colitis, didn't link the two doh!

[AgedCrone in reply to madme1]

Luckily my IBS was an “aftershock.” from having had amoebic dysentery in India ..& went away completely.

[Turnaround]

I was diagnosed MC then RA followed a few years later. They both like to flare occasionally but MC responds well for me with Asacol medication and rare serious flares with short course of steroids. Who knows what the triggers are??? Hope you respond well to your meds. This group had been a stalwart support on my health journey. Good luck.

[Jackie1947 in reply to Turnaround]

If I do have MC I will have 3 months on steroids.

[madme1]

Yes I have Jackie, I was under the care of a gastrologist, but having moved to a different area my previous one has not been in touch. I had the cameras, plus a biopsy and was first told I had Crohns, as the symptoms are very similar. 2 years later he changed his mind and said it was ulcerative colitis. I was told it is to do with little pockets of air in the bowel lining.

[Jackie1947 in reply to madme1]

Next week is my test. Not looking forward to the bowel preps

[madme1]

That wasn't too bad for me, I think I just basically went once or twice as you normally would. I'll be home in a couple of hours watching telly or having a cuppa.

[madme1 in reply to madme1]

That's how I got through it thinking ill be home soon.

[MayDaisy]

Hello Jackie.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in October 2017, but I was also having dreadful bowel problems, lost lots of weight, had a colonoscopy in December 2017 and in April 2018, I went back to see the gastrologist who informed me I had M.C or Collagenous Collitis, I said I had never heard of it, he wrote it down on a piece of paper and told me to Google it! I was not impressed with him! Fortunately, the rheumatologist had sorted me out with medication and symptoms had subsided. I just manage it by diet now, I know when I’ve eaten or drunk the wrong thing. I hope you get sorted out soon.

[Jackie1947 in reply to MayDaisy]

Thank you. I've been having bowel and blood tests on and off for a year now. One test did show I had insufficient pancreas enzymes. Cannot tolerate the enzymes because they are made up of pigs pancreas but I am allergic to pork so no alternative. I take max immoduim daily. CT scan showed divicular disease plus chrin pancreatitis. Both of which shocked me. Now next week colonoscopy for a MC biopsy. What a year! Positive news my RA is in remission

[MayDaisy]

RA in remission is excellent news, as with all these things patience is needed in bucket loads! Good luck.

[SteveSi]

Celiac disease, RA and diabetes type 1 (plus some other autoimmune diseases) are hereditary and involve the same genes. I have RA and celiac disease, my brother is Type 1 diabetic. Approx. 10% of people with RA also become celiacs. These are autoimmune diseases - your immune system is being triggered by substance(s) and is accidentally attacking your own tissues. In my case, I found (after 60 years of experimentation!) that by avoiding grains, it not only reduces my celiac symptoms (which only appeared in the last 10 years) but also my RA joint pain.

I would advise anyone with an AI disease to try the AIP diet protocol. It is scientifically designed to find out if your AI disease is triggered by what you ingest and then you can cut out that food substance. With me it was bread/grains/beer/yeast (note that even some gluten-free bread causes me problems). With me, joint pain appears the NEXT morning. I also found that my body is most 'sensitive' to any 'bad' substances in the morning on an empty stomach, so I need to be particularly careful that I do not eat even a small amount of grains/flour for breakfast.

RA food sensitivity tell-tale signs are (1) indigestion about 10-30 mins after a meal, (2) reduction of joint pain if fast for a few days, (3) flare ups for no apparent reason, (4) known food 'allergies' - with me it is apples and coffee which triggers migraines, (5) 'bad' mornings and 'good' mornings for no apparent reason (it was related to what I ate the day before!).

Approx 80% of our immune system is in our gut lining. It only took 2000 years to find out that celiacs were sensitive to grains/gluten. So follow the AIP diet plan and eat specific pure food for a month or so and see if you improve - what is there to lose?

[Jackie1947 in reply to SteveSi]

I've had a test for celiacs negative. I am not diabetic. I have had further tests for one or more immune disease other than RA. Negative. They are all not hereditary. There are only one or two foods I don't eat . Pork being one as I have a low tolerance to it. I can however eat cured Pork. I have lactose free diet out of choice and taste. I think I will continue as I have been but thank you for your advice