Lymphocytic Colitis
Lymphocytic colitis is essentially an inflammation of the bowels. But unlike other inflammatory bowel conditions, the swelling isn't seen on the surface of the colon. With lymphocytic colitis, you're actually dealing with a cellular change. Often referred to as simply microscopic colitis, the lining of your large intestines sees an increase in the number of lymphocytes. For most people, the rise in this particular type of white blood cell causes diarrhea, cramping and distention. If you were to develop this condition, you'd follow a systematic form of treatment.
Diet
Of all the things you can do to treat lymphocytic colitis, diet is typically the most beneficial form of treatment. But this dietary change isn't concerned with incorporating certain foods into your eating regimen; it's more about eliminating common "triggers" from your diet.
Fat is by far the largest culprit of discomfort for people with lymphocytic colitis, so avoid foods high in fat, especially saturated fat and trans fat. Once you've limited your fat intake, look at the amount of caffeine you drink in a given day, since products containing this stimulant can also prompt the diarrhea, cramping and distention associated with this condition. Dairy products are another trigger for this form of colitis, making milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream problematic fare. Even foods high in fiber or spice can lead to trouble with digestion.
Medication
If dietary changes fail to produce results, the next step is usually medicinal. It often entails some type of nonprescription or prescription antidiarrheal medication that changes the rate of intestinal contractions. With lymphocytic colitis, your colon contracts more than it relaxes, forcing waste to pass at a faster rate than normal and causing watery, loose stools. Slowing the muscular contractions allows more fluid to be absorbed by the intestinal tract, thereby hardening your stool.
From there, your doctor may recommend cholestyramine to treat diarrhea by helping to absorb the bile that may be causing or worsening associated symptoms. Or you may even need corticosteroids (as well as other anti-inflammatories) to reduce intestinal swelling, which can alleviate diarrhea, cramping and other hallmarks of lymphocytic colitis. In rare cases, immunosuppressive drugs can also go a long way to treating this condition.
Surgery
When diet and medications prove ineffectual (or your condition is much more severe), you may actually need a surgical procedure to remove those portions of the large intestine posing the most problems. Though this is a fairly rare form of treatment, it is an option, especially when lymphocytic colitis greatly affects your quality of life.
Tags: lymphocytic colitis, diarrhea cramping, form treatment, this condition, cramping distention, diarrhea cramping distention