Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) May Be Misdiagnosed Or Be Undiagnosed Colitis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Microscopic Colitis Symptoms Overlap

Symptoms of IBS and microscopic colitis overlap. In a group of biopsy proven microscopic colitis patients, there is noted that up to half have symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Microscopic colitis is diagnosed only by biopsies of the colon even when it appears normal. Symptom-based criteria for diagnosing IBS are not specific enough to rule out microscopic colitis. Some people with IBS have Mastocytic Enterocolitis, a newly recognized form of microscopic colitis characterized by increased numbers of mast cells in the intestinal lining. These cells can only be seen when special stains are applied to intestinal biopsies, a maneuver, not usually done by most pathologists or requested by most doctors performing intestinal biopsies.

PATIENTS WITH IBS SHOULD UNDERGO COLONOSCOPY WITH BIOPSIES OF NORMAL APPEARING INTESTINAL LINING

Patients suspected to have irritable bowel syndrome should undergo biopsies of the colon. This is absolutely necessary to exclude the possibility that they could have one of several forms of microscopic colitis. The diagnosis of microscopic colitis is made when biopsies of the colon have an increase in infection fighting or immune cells or deposits of excess collagen connective tissue in the lining of the digestive tract. In the most common form of microscopic colitis seen without special stains, excess lymphocyte white blood cells, or so called "intraepithelial lymphocytosis", seen under the microscope. This microscopic finding is present when the colon looks normal on the surface. Many doctors don't biopsy the colon when it looks normal despite obtaining a history of diarrhea from the patient. Microscopic colitis is a known treatable cause of diarrhea, bloating, gas and abdominal pain that can only be diagnosed by colon biopsies. In many patients who do get biopsies, special stains are not ordered when the standard stains fail to reveal an abnormality. However, under special stains, excess mast cells may be seen and a diagnosis of a treatable form of IBS known as mastocytic enterocolitis is missed.

BLOOD TESTS SHOULD ALSO BE DONE BEFORE ASSUMING A DIAGNOSIS OF IBS

Blood tests should be done to screen for Celiac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Without these blood tests and intestinal biopsies, Celiac disease, Crohn's disease and various forms of colitis especially microscopic colitis are frequently missed.

MULTIPLE BIOPSIES SHOULD BE DONE TO AVOID MISSING PATCHY AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT

Microscopic irritation or inflammation of the intestine can be patchy. Therefore, anyone undergoing colonoscopy or upper endoscopy with symptoms, especially diarrhea, bloating, gas or abdominal pain, should have multiple intestinal biopsies. Inflammation that is the cause of these symptoms is often only seen microscopically and may be patchy. However, once a diagnosis is made treatment with medications and/or diet is often effective.

EARLY FINDINGS OF INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION OFTEN CONSISTS ONLY OF INCREASED CELLS, SOMETIMES ONLY SEEN WITH SPECIAL STAINS

The earliest intestinal biopsy findings of Celiac disease and microscopic colitis is increased number of lymphocytes per 100 epithelial (intestinal lining) cells. In the colon intraepithelial lymphocytosis is considered diagnostic for microscopic colitis if 20 or more lymphocytes per 100 epithelial cells are found. Interestingly the criteria for abnormal intraepithelial lymphocytosis in Celiac disease has more recently been reduced from 40 IELs per 100 utilized for nearly thirty years to 30 per 100. Even more recent studies have indicated that this should be reduced further to 20-25 per 100 because it is noted that early gluten injury occurs with lower levels of lymphocytes in the intestinal lining and is associated with a favorable response to gluten free diet. Microscopic colitis frequently responds favorably to a gluten-free diet.

DON'T HAVE YOUR DIAGNOSIS MISSED BY FAILURE TO GET AN INTESTINAL BIOPSY AND BLOOD TESTS BEFORE ACCEPTING IBS

Numerous patients have come to me with a diagnosis of IBS for years who I have confirmed to have Celiac disease, microscopic colitis or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. These patients typically respond dramatically to a gluten free diet even in the absence of a diagnosis of Celiac disease. Several of my patients have both Celiac disease and a form of microscopic colitis such as lymphocytic or collagenous colitis.

UNNECESSARY DELAYS IN DIAGNOSIS AND SUFFERING NOT NECESSARY IF YOU BECOME YOUR OWN ADVOCATE

People often experience years of unnecessary suffering due to delays in diagnosis of Celiac disease, microscopic colitis, Mastocytic Enterocolitis, Crohn's disease, and food intolerance. Many developed preventable secondary complications such as osteoporosis, infertility, iron deficiency or autoimmune diseases. Most live for years with pain, stomach pains, and diarrhea under the false conclusion that they have IBS. Frustation occurs when you are told there is little to nothing that can be done besides taking anti-diarrhea and anti-spasm medications combined with a high fiber diet and fiber supplements. Yet, most note they are no better or even worse with increased fiber. If you have complained to your doctor that such agents seem to cause more severe bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain you are often scoffed at or told you are not being compliant. Little did you or your doctor know that increasing fiber intake can make you worse if you are gluten intolerant.

GLUTEN FREE DIET MAY HELP SYMPTOMS OF IBS AND SHOULD BE TRIED AFTER GETTING TESTED FOR CELIAC DISEASE FIRST

Don't accept a diagnosis of IBS without adequate diagnostic testing or consideration of a trial of gluten free diet. Before accepting IBS learn more about the various forms of colitis, Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Crohn's disease and altered gut flora and be your own advocate when you visit your doctor.

Understanding the Nature of Hay Fever

Commonly known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is a type of allergic reaction that can cause inflammation in the nasal airways. It usually occurs when an allergen such as pollen or animal dander is taken in by an individual with a sensitized immune system. For this matter, the allergen triggers the IgE to produce massively thus result to the occurrence of the different symptoms of hay fever.

Basically, the cause of this allergy is grass pollens. Ironically, individuals with hay fever do not really have any fever at all nor any hay as well. However since the grasses scattered their pollens into the air every time the hays are being cut, the term hay fever is then used.

5 Must Know Facts about Hay Fever

• Classification- essentially, allergic rhinitis are categorized into two which is seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is triggered particularly during the onset of pollen season and it does not usually develop until an individual reaches 6 years of age. As for perennial allergic rhinitis, it usually occurs throughout the year and is commonly seen in younger children.


• Signs and symptoms- in actual fact, hay fever has lots of signs and symptoms. However as for the most common one, its manifestations usually include rhinorrhea, itching, nasal congestion as well as nasal obstruction. While in some cases, it may expand throughout the body whereas patients will also experience conjunctival swelling, erythema, eyelid swelling, lower eyelid venous stasis, transverse nasal crease, middle ear effusion and swollen nasal turbinates.


• Complications- if this allergy is not treated immediately, there are certain complications that can disrupt the quality of life of an individual. It may lead to situations wherein the patient is disturbed due to inadequate of sleep, as they experience other problems that may associate allergic rhinitis. These complications may include sinusitis, ear infection as well as worsening the asthma which can be fatal if not taken into consideration immediately.


• Allergy testing- in order to identify the specific allergen to which an individual is sensitive with, allergy testing are being conducted by medical practitioners. The most common method that is being used is the skin testing which can be done intradermal, or through scratch or patch. As for those individual who cannot undergo such test, they may use the RAST blood test in determining the specific allergen.


• Management- basically, the goal of hay fever management is to prevent or at least reduce the occurrence of the sign and symptoms which are caused by the inflammation of the affected tissues. Perhaps the most effective one is to avoid the allergens that can cause hay fever. However since this management might be hard to follow, other types of treatment are introduced to handle such condition. These alternative treatments may include intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamine medications, decongestants and nasal irrigation. As for those individual who does not respond to medication, allergen immunotherapy or also known as desensitization are said to be the standard effective treatment in eliminating the symptoms of such condition.

Red Dye Allergy - What is All the Controversy?

Do you know what red dye is? Yes, of course, it is a food coloring. But what else do you know about it? Do you know that there is a controversy raging around it? According to some doctors it is merely a benign additive but parents have found that their children are experiencing unhealthy results from consuming it.

So what is red dye? Red dye or Red 40 as it is commonly known is an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved coloring that is added to a great many foods. Generally we don't even notice that a lot of our food is artificially colored. And it is not just food; many medicines are colored as well.

How is it made? It is made from crude oil pumped out of the ground in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

Why is it added? It is used in the belief that it makes food and drugs more appealing. For example, people love to eat ripe red apples, strawberries, or other red fruit. Our minds are convinced that if a food or drug is red that it may be delicious and good for us too. Quite often products in their original form may not be very appetizing and Red 40 is a very cost effective way to achieve a nice color. Something that appeals to the consumer is very important.

Is it safe? When it was first approved by the FDA there were a lot of fears that it could cause tumors and cancers. In fact one scientist cited a study that showed that an animal fed Red 40 will get very sick and a combination of Red with other colors or preservatives will kill it. It was later proven that it doesn't cause cancer but I haven't heard of any follow up studies proving or disproving the animal issue.

But doesn't the FDA say it is safe? It does, but it also said Viox was safe (it causes heart attacks and strokes), and Paxil was safe (it caused increased anxiety in adolescents which led to an increased risk of suicide), and many others; all of which have been taken off the market. Remember, the FDA is a much underfunded organization. It relies on the fees it charges to test companies' products. With this money it hires contractors and in many cases relies on the companies' own testing procedures.

Does Red 40 cause problems in children? Many doctors insist that any change in behavior is not due to this dye. They point to the controversy about sugar. Many parents will attest that their children will become extremely hyperactive after ingesting a lot of it. These doctors have said there is no evidence that sugar has any adverse affect. And just as with sugar many parents see changes in their kids after eating a product containing Red 40. After experiencing the results some doctors are finally coming around.

Can red dye really affect children like this? According to Doctor Robert Needlman "roughly 1 in 100-who were clearly much more active and out of control" when eating an artificial diet including Red 40. But most of the evidence is anecdotal. There are many parents that can tell you what it can do to their children. I can tell you what it does to my son. He has some of the reactions that these parents describe.

What does "out of control" mean? Children can have many different reactions to Red 40 including increased temper tantrums, increased hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, uncontrollable crying and screaming, kicking, nervousness and other things that parents can attest to. Physically they may get headaches or feel sick after eating anything containing it. Adults can also feel sick or get migraines.

How can we figure out if a child has a reaction to Red 40? This is easy. Observe your child's ordinary behavior. Does she have tantrums? Notice how violent he is. Check out any of the other "out of control" behaviors listed above. Then feed her a juice that has Red 40 in it; there are several different ones on the market. Reactions can happen within minutes. Have her usual tantrums escalated? Is he increasingly violent? Do they get sick? Needlman thinks that this kind of testing is safe. Seeing how my son reacts to it, I'm not sure I completely agree with this.

Why don't people believe all of this? Probably because they haven't seen any "scientific evidence" to support these problems. Most of what we read are anecdotes told by parents or people who have experienced this first hand. People's initial reaction is to blame the parents for "poor parenting" or misreading "normal" occurrences in children. The problem is they haven't even observed a child (or adult) reacting to Red 40. When I describe my son's reaction to people they all tend to sneer at me until they actually see it happen to him; then they understand.

Is There a Cure For Hives?

I'm guessing that as you are reading this article right now you either suffer with chronic hives or you know someone who does.

Hives or Urticaria?
Actually both conditions are the same, perhaps that sounds confusing but Urticaria is actually the medical term for the condition commonly known as hives. The following article is written for those who suffer with a condition called Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria is basically a severe version of hives or urticaria which is categorised as having lasted longer than six weeks, that could be a consistent urticaria outbreak or a series of urticaria outbreaks which recur for more than six weeks. The term Idiopathic describes a condition which has no apparent reason or cause.

So, Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria basically means a severe version of urticaria which has no apparent cause or reason. Most of what I have just said will come as no surprise to the many of us who have suffered or still suffer with chronic hives.

The problem we face is that many people, even those in the medical profession often consider our condition as just a simple allergy, but this analogy is very wrong. Although the symptoms and perhaps the triggers of chronic idiopathic urticaria are the same as acute hives (urticaria) or that of a simple allergic reaction, the reasons are very different.

It's important to know the difference between reason or cause and trigger as they are not the same for people who suffer with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

What Causes Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria?
Although you might think that because your condition is termed as 'Idiopathic', and as I just explained Idiopathic means 'no apparent reason', that you will never know the reason for your condition.

Well, It's complicated, but your chronic idiopathic urticaria can be explained. The Idiopathic part only relates to the trigger and not the reason. Your urticaria is almost certainly as the result of an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmunity is the reason most of us suffer with conditions such as chronic urticaria & unfortunately we are in most cases born with a predisposition to suffer with the problem as we grow up.

How to cure hives!
If you're looking for a cure for hives, & I mean chronic hives there is an answer, but it won't come in the form of a pill or cream. Before you can ever hope to stop your chronic urticaria you have to understand that allergy tests, steroids, antihistamines and a whole host of natural methods will only ever help as a chronic hives treatment in the short term.

Most chronic urticaria treatments address the symptoms by blocking histamine release & they do work, but let me tell you that your condition is getting worse while you are tinkering around the edges.

Allergy Testing
Allergy tests may be able to pinpoint triggers, that's 'triggers' and not the cause. But, and it's a real but, If you go back and get tested again you will often find the test to be very different to the first. It's true, your triggers, i.e. the allergen which triggers an allergic response (Urticaria outbreak) can change by the day, maybe even by the hour.

Natural Urticaria Treatments
If you have been looking for a cure for hives then I'm sure you have come across some of the many hives remedies, perhaps you have even tried a few, how did that work out for you?.

The problem with many of the natural urticaria treatment methods is that they have been passed around over the years and have often lost some of the key elements which made them work in the first place.

Either they miss something or their understanding of the condition is not quite correct and therefore the hives remedy they detail is flawed from the start.

The Answer - Urticaria Relief
Having said all that, and I apologise if it all sounds a little scary, there is an answer. You can beat your condition. You can do it, anyone can, but you have to start at the beginning, you have to understand that you are suffering with an autoimmune disorder and not an allergy.

You may have been born with a predisposition to suffering with one form of autoimmune disorder or another (in our case chronic urticaria), but that doesn't mean you have to just put up with it.

The gene which is responsible for your condition is harmless and dormant until it is activated, this is, in most cases, as a result of toxic build up. Over time the toxins increase to a level which the body is unable to tolerate making the immune system hypersensitive to allergens (triggers) which in turn causes chronic urticaria.

By addressing certain elements you can reverse your condition to a point where you no longer suffer with chronic urticaria.

Food Allergy Blood Test

We all know that most of us have an allergy to something. But finding out what the allergy really can be a discouraging job. Performing a food allergy blood test is something that you and your physician can do by eliminating foods from your diet and figuring out the symptoms of allergies.

However, there are 3 kinds of tests, it's the skin prick, CAP-RAST and ELISA test. Each test has its own pros and cons. Some tests are good for kids or people with skin orders such as eczema. Some may take longer than the others, and some perhaps may not include the allergens you have gone through. These tests look for particular antibodies within the blood to spot an allergy. There are 2 types of antibodies; IgG and IgE. IgG antibodies get longer to respond, normally for about 48 hours. IgE antibodies typically react faster, in about two hours or less.

The skin-prick food allergy blood test is an easy type of test that is done at the physician's office. This form of test is normally less costly compared to CAP-RAST or ELISA tests. It also takes a smaller amount time to determine outcomes. The skin-prick test is done through applying a small drop of allergen to a particular extort on the skin, then pricking it using a needle. In case an individual is allergic to that particular allergen, a wheal (looks like a mosquito bite) will form in 15 minutes. For the CAP-RAST blood test, it needs a blood sample, which is sent to a laboratory where it is being tested to determine if the blood has IgE antibodies to that particular food allergy. CAP-RAST test is best for small kids that were having hard time with skin-prick test. This is also good for individuals, which are suffering from skin problems such as eczema that tends to make it more difficult to read the outcomes. It takes about a week to obtain the outcomes from this test.

The ELISA test is another type of food allergy blood test. This test contains more allergens compared to other tests, for about 190 various food allergies. It helps detect the amount of IgG antibodies. On the other hand, if you haven't eaten a specific suspected allergen for the last three weeks, one downfall may produce a false negative. ELISA test sample is gathered and dealt with much like the CAP-RAST test.

The best test is indeed a lifesaver for people who continue suffering with strange allergy symptoms. Several people who have allergies never recognize that they could stay away from the symptoms through removing particular food from their diet. Nevertheless, one major problem to all food allergy blood tests is the fact that they cannot tell you the kind or severity of symptoms an individual will acquire. This indicates that two individuals could have each test positive for an allergy to peanuts. One individual may perhaps have the ability to eat peanuts, but includes a gentle reaction. Even though the other person would consume peanuts and go into anaphylaxis.

Mold Allergy Testing

If an individual is allergic to mold, then mold allergy testing is highly suggested. At first, the signs won't be recognizable but later, whenever the symptom starts to become much more obvious, it's would be time to use the tester. These allergies can be found in all ages, whether to a kid, adults (has previous health issues such as asthma, or allergic reactions) or even infants. They are much more vulnerable and susceptible to mold allergies. Whenever an individual starts to develop mold allergies, it might be a big help for you to make an appointment to talk to your physician. The first thing that your physician will do is to ask you what signs or symptoms you're having and then he / she will provide you with the test. It is vital for you to take the test in order to be able to stop another allergy attack. Mold allergy testing might be executed once a physician has examined the patient. Once she / he has examined the patient and evaluated what or if is, which causes the signs or symptoms, then he/ she may recommend one or extra blood or skin tests to see if you have another type of allergy. These tests could be done by making a skin prick test, or perhaps a blood test.

Testing is needed as soon as a person suspects mold as being a culprit. On the other hand, there is no certain way to cure mold allergy, once a diagnosis of a mold has become completed, then prescriptions to alleviate some of the indicators can be offered. These kinds of prescriptions for mold are: nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, an item referred to as NasalCrom and decongestants. Singular, a prescription medication can also be useful. Moreover, nasal lavage-rinsing your nose with salt water can also be of good help. In addition, a sequence of allergy shots may also help. Mold allergy testing is important; especially in case you possess the subsequent signs or symptoms such as, dry hacking cough, sneezing, an itchy, runny or clogged nose, eye difficulties, asthma, respiratory troubles and a sore throat. Mold allergy testing is to be taken seriously as mold is genial and grows rapidly in bathrooms, basements, fridge drip trays, closets, cat litter boxes, and any where exactly where there is moisture, a dark area and warmth. Environments that give mold an opportune climate to grow in are paper merchandise, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wood, wallpaper, dry wall, carpet, fabrics and insulation supplies.

What Causes Nut Allergies?

Nut allergies are fairly common and at times, they may even be life threatening. The fact of the matter is, not all of us that are allergic to nuts and peanuts are going to have a life-threatening reaction because of it. This is because there is a difference between a nut allergy and nut intolerance.

Let's take a look at the two of these and see what causes them to happen in an individual. This will help you to determine which you are dealing with, and what kind of caution you should take in order to avoid this type of food.

The fact of the matter is, nut allergies happen for the same reason, whether we have an intolerance to them or if we are allergic. The body reacts to things that we ingest and at times, it may consider them to be a foreign body that needs to be attacked and destroyed.

There are proteins that are present in nuts and peanuts that will trigger a release of histamine in order to counteract their effect. Even though the protein is not necessarily bad for us, the body considers it to be bad and what we are actually having is a reaction because of the histamine that is being released.

This histamine can cause a number of different problems in our bodies which include respiratory problems, difficulties with the G.I. tract, our skin breaking out and even cardiovascular problems. If you have a severe allergy to nuts, you may end up with something that is known as anaphylaxis. This is a severe reaction to nuts where the airways will swell and blood pressures will drop. You may end up passing out or being unable to breathe and it certainly can be life-threatening if it is not taking care of immediately.

You should discuss these things with your doctor if you have a suspicion that you are dealing with nut allergies. Through a series of allergy testing, they will be able to determine your degree of allergic reaction and what should be done about it. You may just have to carry some histamine with you or perhaps take a little bit of salt under your tongue if you have a minor reaction. If your reaction is major, however, you may be told to carry an autoinjector which will quickly give you the medicine that you need in order to save your life.