Newly diagnosed with microscopic colitis
I was diagnosed 2 days ago with Lymphocytic Colitis, which is a form of Microscopic Colitis. I'm thankful that it's not Ulcerative Colitis, but by the same token, there is very little research on this form of colitis.
After a rough summer, I'm symptom free right now, but at a bit of a standstill. Now, that I've gotten this diagnosis at what is labeled as a chronic disease, what's next? The GI doctor told me about a med, but mainly that's just if I have a flare. I eat pretty well and am not entirely sure I'd need to significantly change my diet or go gluten free.
Does anyone fall into this category of a "wait and see" approach with regard to your colitis diagnosis and if so, what is your protocol of moving forward with this condition?
Hi
. Sorry to hear about the new diagnosis, but it is good that you are seeking out a place you can get information and support. Much of this may already be familiar, but I want to share with you this article from our editorial team on microscopic colitis: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/types-of-ibd/microscopic-colitis. One thing you will notice is that the treatments mirror other forms of IBD, up to and including biologics and in some cases surgery. I don't say this to scare you, but rather to note that nothing is off the table depending on your particular needs - some cases may never need the more aggressive treatments. A fellow community member wrote here about their more severe case of microscopic colitis and treatment that worked for them: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/stories/microscopic-colitis-diagnosis-flares.
Right now, it certainly seems like a positive that things have stabilized. Concerning diet, it is great the you eat a healthy diet, but that may not always coincide with a diet that controls your colitis. Some people have success with elimination diets to locate trigger foods. Our contributor Matt wrote about his experience with elimination diets here: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/elimination-diets. He is writing about Crohn's, but it is a good example of how this works for any type of IBD.
Finally, I want to share with you this article which collected thoughts from some of our contributors for the newly diagnosed: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/advice-newly-diagnosed. There are some great thoughts on accepting the diagnosis, being patient, and maybe most importantly enjoying life. Hope this information is helpful and please know that this community is here for you. Best, Richard (Team Member)
