RA Microscopic colitis investigation update.

[Jackie1947]

Well I had the colonoscopy 2 days ago with sedation/gas and air so they say. Me no way 😩 anyway won't go into detail about the test and the bowel prep 😱 4 samples of the colon was taken so now the waiting game for results. At least if the results are positive it can be treated. If you have what seems as long term IBS or it gets worse with an auto immune disease my advice is ask to be referred to a Gastroenterologist.

[MjohnB]

Thanks for your updates on this. They've prompted me to book an appointment with my GP where I'll be pushing for a referral to a gastroenterologist. Fingers crossed for you that you get some answers and successful treatment.

[Jackie1947 in reply to MjohnB]

Thank you. You'll have to update us .

[MjohnB in reply to Jackie1947]

I shall do, though I don't expect it to be a particularly speedy process and I'll prepare myself for negative test results having gone down this route 15 or so years ago when my GI symptoms started (which, looking back, was the same period my joint pain began to rear it's head 🤔).

[Jackie1947 in reply to MjohnB]

I've had "IBS" for so many years and it was my first visit to see the Gastroenterologist he had a light bulb moment. I want it to be positive so much then I can have treatment instead of prescribed loperamide.

[DoricQuine55]

Hope you get some positive results and get the appropriate treatment.

I'm just waiting for my colonoscopy appointment to investigate cause for severe anaemia. I've had one before so know what to expect 😳

[Jackie1947 in reply to DoricQuine55]

Thank you. I expected the sedation to work 😬

[SteveSi]

Did you know that approx. 10% of people with RA go on to develop celiac disease? The genes which are involved in RA are the same as those in celiac disease. Many people with autoimmune disease have food sensitivities (with me I found out at by the age of 25 that apples and coffee triggered my migraines and I haven't had a migraine since!).

There is a diet plan called the Auto Immune Plan (AIP) which helps you to find out if you sensitive to various foodstuffs (such as grains, dairy, eggs, peppers, nuts, etc.). A scientific trial has been done with IBD patients with very good results. No proper trial has yet been done with RA patients yet however.

I have had RA since the age of 5 (M69) and I accidentally found about 8 years ago that bread was making my RA joint pain worse (after buying a bread machine!). After months of experimentation I gave up all grains and I managed to give up all my medication after that (I have only ever been on aspirin/paracetamol/Benoral as stronger drugs made me feel even more ill!). Last year I got serious celiac disease symptoms which turned out to be due to a breakfast nut bar which I had started eating regularly which contained a small amount of wheat (it took me months to realise it as the onset was so gradual).

The AIP diet is in two phases. 1) Eat only fresh unprocessed food which is thought to be OK for most people (most veg, fish, meat) - and see if you feel better (if you don't then just go back to your normal diet). This takes 2-8 weeks. Step 2 is to slowly reintroduce back into your diet the things which had been cut out in Phase 1 (approx. 1 food type a week), this includes milk, potatoes, eggs, nightshade veg (peppers, etc.), grains/flour/wheat/oats/barley/rye and lastly processed food/ready meals.

Why not try it? You eat healthy food for a while and see if your symptoms improve. If not then go back to your normal diet. If you do find you are sensitive to a particular food, consult with your GP.

[Jackie1947 in reply to SteveSi]

I'm lactose intolerant. I've been tested for celiacs...negative. My RA is in remission. I eat healthily avoiding trigger points.

[Shadow35 in reply to SteveSi]

What happen if you react when you drink water? It's happen to me a lot of time and the other day i took all the laxative for the colonoscopy and in the morning i had no bloating, nothing until i drank less than 100 ml of water. I was big like a pregnant lady. It confirm me it wasn't food because i stop eating 36h before because i wasn't feeling well so i don't really eat much.