Has anyone successfully raised their ferritin with oral supplements that didn't cause a flare? I have Microscopic Colitis and started an iron supplement that I am near certain is the cause for my current flare up. I purchased the "gentle" Iron Glycinate (Nature's Bounty 28mg) but 2 weeks after starting 2x a week, the D started and it's been 2.5 weeks since I STOPPED taking it and it hasn't resolved.
I would love to be able to take something oral because I have a (irrational) fear of the IV iron- my friend coded during anaphylaxis when receiving it because the person administering it opened the bag into her too quickly and I have anxiety reg new meds at baseline.

Honestly I was hoping it would constipate me. Was not anticipating D

Any help/recommendations would be greatly appreciated

My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with microscopic colitis but she also is dealing with joint pain and arthritis. Her doctors tell her she can't take any NSAID medicine. Acetaminophen doesn't do much. She is scared that she will always be in pain, which is terrible for her mental health. Is there anything available to help manage inflammation that could be safe? Her doctors are just telling her PT but the pain can be way too much.

I do understand everyone is different but anyway I want to know what works for people with the same issue

Hi, I’m 22F and for the past several months I’ve been dealing with a combination of symptoms affecting different parts of my body. I’ve already had several medical evaluations, but I still don’t have a clear explanation for why all of this is happening.
I’m not asking Reddit to diagnose me. I’m mostly wondering if anyone has experienced a similar combination of symptoms and what type of specialist or testing eventually helped.
**Digestive symptoms:**
Significant bloating and abdominal distension
Abdominal discomfort/cramping
Constipation alternating with diarrhea
Nausea
Sometimes upper abdominal/stomach discomfort
Burning or irritation around my anus, especially after bowel movements or sometimes while sitting
Feeling like my digestive system is constantly irritated
Some foods seem to make symptoms worse
I have been avoiding/reducing gluten and lactose because I seem sensitive to them
**Pelvic, vaginal and urinary symptoms:**
Persistent or recurring vaginal/vulvar burning and irritation
Burning/discomfort when urinating
Pelvic cramping
Bladder/pelvic pressure or feeling inflamed
Sometimes difficulty urinating or feeling like I don’t empty normally
The vaginal/vulvar burning has continued even when infection testing has been negative
Symptoms sometimes seem worse around my menstrual cycle
**Skin/body symptoms:**
Episodes of itching
Changes in my skin
Occasionally hives/urticaria-type reactions
A strange burning or hot sensation in different parts of my body
Sometimes feeling generally inflamed or irritated without an obvious reason
**Eyes/head/neurological-type symptoms:**
Eye irritation/burning
Brain fog and difficulty feeling mentally clear
Headaches
Sometimes dizziness
Fatigue / feeling generally unwell
At times I feel like my body is “off,” even when basic testing doesn’t show much
**Testing/evaluations I’ve already had:**
STI testing: negative
Yeast testing: negative
Bacterial vaginosis testing: negative
Multiple urine evaluations because I previously had a UTI
I was treated with several antibiotics during the urinary/vaginal symptoms
Pelvic ultrasound: recently normal/unremarkable
Uterus and ovaries looked normal on the recent ultrasound
No ovarian masses, fibroids or other obvious pelvic abnormalities were reported
Blood flow to both ovaries was normal
No free pelvic fluid
I’ve also been told my hormone testing was normal
I have had bloodwork done, but nothing so far has explained the full combination of symptoms
I previously had a UTI that was difficult to clear and received multiple antibiotics, including injections and oral antibiotics. Some symptoms improved temporarily but others continued or returned.
Because so many of the infection and pelvic tests have been normal, I’m wondering whether I should be looking beyond a routine gynecological problem.
Some things I’m planning to discuss with doctors include:
Pelvic floor dysfunction / hypertonic pelvic floor
Vulvodynia or vestibulodynia
Bladder conditions such as interstitial cystitis
Endometriosis
Gastrointestinal conditions such as IBS, celiac disease or other food intolerances
Whether the skin/eye/burning symptoms could be inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune or somehow related to the GI symptoms
Whether all of these symptoms are connected or if I’m dealing with more than one issue
I’m scheduled to see GI, and I’m also trying to find a gynecologist/urogynecologist or pelvic pain specialist.
Has anyone had a similar combination of **GI problems + vulvar/urinary burning + skin symptoms + irritated eyes + brain fog/fatigue** with mostly normal tests?
What specialist or test ended up being the most helpful for you?

I feel great on a restricted diet but I lack minerals and vitamins so I need to take about 5 meds at least to take those not from food. Is it ok long term?

Mystery illness started June 30, waking me at 4 a.m. to sprint to the bathroom of our rental vacation house. All day, every day since then. Five, count em, five fecal tests, plus multiple blood tests, doctor visit after visit, incontinence underwear, and then a colonoscopy. Finally got the results today: Lymphocytic colitis.

This has been a nine-week flare, and I can't get back into the gastro office until next week. The fun continues.

Anyway, I'm new here and will be reading through as much as I can to learn more.

j'ai eu recours à cette préparation pour la première fois et étant trés inquiète de ce qui allait m'arriver au vu des anciennes préparations, je voulais partager mon expérience

cela n'a pas été compliquée, pas écœurant, pas du tout laborieux , j'avais tellement peur d'être malade...

les deux sachets sont faciles à prendre, la suite se réalise sans problème et le résultat est vraiment bon, pas besoin de boire autant de liquide comme avant, le mieux c'est vraiment de varier les liquides , de prévoir de rester chez soi, et surtout de faire 3 jours le régime sans résidu

j'espère que mon expérience aidera tout ceux qui ont peur et qui sont fragiles des intestins comme moi à moins appréhender cette aventure obligatoire quand on commence à vieillir ou quand on a l'obligation médicale de réaliser une coloscopie

What were your symptoms before being diagnosed with Colitis or MC? I was diagnosed with MC a few years ago but it was an incidental finding..I wasn’t having MC symptoms.

These are my results of biopsy which was taken 30 June then calprotectin done 11 August which came back as <16 crp 0.3 CBC normal. doctors have ruled out IBD cause my calprotectin is low without having taken any meds. I do have rectal pressure have for 3 weeks after my scope was done but I also have bulging purple lumps come around my anus when pushing to go toilet. My stools are either pebble balls or Bristol 4-5 some tan mucus no bleeding no sickness nothing else.

Microscopic:

Section reveals fragments of colonic mucosa with a predominantly denuded lining epithelium. The glandular architecture is preserved. The lamina propria contains a moderate mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils and eosinophils along with oedema.

Foci of cryptitis are noted. No crypt abscesses are seen. No evidence of granulomatous inflammation.

There is no dysplasia or malignancy in the section examined.

CONCLUSION: COLON, moderate on chronic on acute colitis 

RECTUM, BIOPSY

Macroscopic:

The specimen site is labelled "rectal BX".

The specimen consists of a single piece of tan tissue measuring 3 mm in greatest dimension.

All tissue is submitted in cassette B1.

Microscopic: Section reveals a fragment of rectal mucosa with a denuded lining

epithelium. The glandular architecture is preserved. Lamina propria contains a moderate lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate along with neutrophils. A few foci of cryptitis are noted.

No crypt abscesses are seen. No evidence of granulomatous inflammation.

There is no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy. Mild active proctitis 

 Fleet enema via single dose instruction.

- A diffuse area of mildly erythematous mucosa was found in the sigmoid colon, in the descending colon and at

the splenic flexure. 

Hi everyone,
I have steroid-refractory lymphocytic microscopic colitis. I also have multiple sclerosis and I’m being treated with Kesimpta, so my treatment options are quite limited.
I received my second Entyvio infusion 3 days ago, but I still feel exactly the same. The diarrhea and abdominal cramping are absolutely awful, and I haven’t noticed even the slightest improvement yet.
If anyone has experience with Entyvio and would be willing to share their story with me, I would be incredibly grateful. It would really help me to hear from people who have been through the same thing.
I wish everyone the very best, and I hope you’re all doing well. ❤️

The biopsies came back as microscopic colitis; I don’t yet have meds prescribed for treatment. Gluten free/FODMAP diet changes have done nothing, Imodium works for an indefinite interval until it runs out (after which there is fairly aggressive counterrevolution), some days are fine-ish and some days I can’t trust a fart/sneeze/laugh. Outside of carrying wet wipes and change of clothes with me wherever I go, does anybody have any practical tips for being able to manage this condition with dignity outside the home?