So, it's not a confirmed fact yet, and won't be until I have another colonoscopy to check my colon, but there is a very good chance that I have MC with severe dairy intolerance not UC. 

This current doctor is thinking that by getting my adrenals and thyroid under control, removing ALL dairy from my diet forever (which I've done for 3 weeks so far), eating the SCDiet for at least one year, maybe two, and following the fruit/sugar rule once I am off the SCD, will make a monumental difference to my health. He also thinks that within 3-6 months we'll probably be able to ween me off the Asacol I've taken for 12 years - I've tried getting off it more than 3 times but each time I've done so the severe diarrhea and weight loss return, sometimes with blood in the stool, sometimes without. But, whenever my gut flared in the past I always went back to yogurt and cheese to calm things down which was probably making it all worse.

As he told me, having MC is also IBD and serious, but the dairy intolerance is probably what can make it even worse and more severe and is serious in-and-of itself.

If you haven't been tested for food intolerances do it - it's a simple little finger prick blood test - created by O.G. Carroll back in the 1970s and my doctor sent it off to Windrose Naturopathic Clinic in Spokane Washington - (509) 327-5143. Try calling them and seeing if they can tell you who does the test where you live.

For now, that's where I am and what I know. Personally, I don't care much about the name of what I have if I can just figure out how to get it all under control and begin to thrive. But from a health insurance point-of-view, if I've had UC on my health records all these years and not really had it then I'm ticked - especially since I am self-employed and pay monumental prices to have health insurance. If/when I have another scope, if it doesn't show any UC-type scar tissue, along with my first scope report, I might be able to get that diagnosis changed - whether it makes a difference, since MC is still IBD, I don't know. But right now that isn't my priority. Getting my health on a thriving track is first and foremost. I'll worry about the rest later.

I hope my story is helping others. This has been a long journey for me so far and the journey continues with new information and treatment options. I've learned that you just have to keep looking for answers because even when it seems like you have one, it might not be the right one.

Best to all,

Elizabeth

Author, Living with IBD & IBS - www.ibdandibs.com