What the Snake Saw...

[SoCalGal]

Well, as it turns out, the Ass Snake came back with a (path) report of Collageneous Colitis. They put me on a colon steroid for that - started out on (3) pills a day of Entocort EC which worked in just a few days. Of course, too jittery and by the 4th day I dropped down to (2) and now am on (1) pill a day, which still is screwing up my sleep. BUT, it is working and I AM EATING AGAIN!!!!

Trying hard to resist the complain urge, because a part of me is so pissed off that I SUFFERED for so many months with diarrhea and nausea, and was losing weight and had zero energy and then HAD TO DISCONTINUE treatment since 8/31 all due to this build up of collagen in my colon - why didn't my docs insist on a colonoscopy when I was getting worse and worse? Okay, well, I guess I need to let that past stuff go.

Ultimately the Ass Snake was a good thing! And it has been absolutely heaven eating fresh fruits and vegetables again. And legumes. Next I'll add back in my D vitamins, then oils, then enzymes etc., etc.

Infusion scheduled for next week. That's my report for now!!

[PinkGirl]

Fabulous dahling, just fabulous. Flori meets the Ass Snake ---
could be a good movie title. Very, very happy for you ... it's
nice to be able to eat. You are a major trooper Flori Flori Morning
Glory and there's nothing wrong with the occasional rant.

['lizbeth]

SoCalGirl,

I see you have your sense of humor. I have never heard of the term "ass snake". Interesting.

Glad you are doing mucho better!

[Laurel]

Flori,

You had me laughing from the get-go! Glad to see your humor is still intact and not washed out the pipe with everything else!

I cannot blame you one bit for pointing out the obvious. You are entirely entitled to feeling a bit ticked off! Happy you are on the mend again!

[Becky]

Ha. Good for you girl. I'm so glad you're feeling better.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Okay, Morning Glory. You have a rare but treatable inflammatory disorder. So similar to IBS, and to side effects from chemo, guess your docs didn't... I do think the nausea was key to realizing that's not in keeping w/IBS symptoms. But then again, chemo can cause nausea. Oy...

Guess the snake, and the pathologist KNOW more than we give credit...

But now with treatment, you can eat! I AM SO RELIEVED FOR YOU, FLORI, FLORI! Plus, your weakness from malnutrition will go away (good riddens!).

If problem comes back, which it should not, you must be alert to trigger foods (my IBS triggers grow it seems exponentially, cause sometimes I eat nothing wrong and have a flare up, which sucks).

I know you'll stay well hydrated, right?!

I googled (goggled) and saw this: It is suggested that patients with Collagenous Colitis avoid using any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen), because of a possible link between patients taking NSAIDs for their arthritis-like symptoms and onset of collagenous colitis.

Has a doc mentioned this to you??

If symptoms return after stopping your tx, the article says -- you can try liquid Imodium (works for me better than pills) and if that doesn't control the situation -- they recommend BISMUTH SUBSALICYLATE (have no idea what that is). The article also says BUDESONIDE (again, not familiar) might be helpful for chronic suffers, which I am assuming you will not be! NOTE TO SELF -- BE DONE WITH THIS!


Love to you,
Andi

[StephN]

So the old Ass Snaking was the ticket. Glad they found something to treat that is not life threatening. As for docs taking their sweet time, how many of us have had to wait through misery to finally get the right screening test ordered?? Seems to happen to too many of us and far too often! We have to remember to MAKE OUR wheel be the squeeky one.

Bismuth is basically the same as the Pepto Dismal pink tabs. The bismuth looks the same and is also pink. Cheaper than the name brand, works the same for me when I have a tummy upset.

Flori - let us know when you have gained back the 10 pounds.