6 pounds of abdominal swelling yesterday, please advice.

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I don't post very often but I need the groups help. I have been on

SCD since November of 2006. I am gluten/lactose intolerant and have

IBS-C. No official diagonosis on the digestive issues. I also am

hypothyroid and take pills for it every day. My last blood work

results showed very low iron saturation and serum. My doctor put me

on iron pills. I started taking the iron pills about three weeks ago.

I am not dizzy or lightheaded anymore, but I have started reacting to

foods previously tolerated especially dairy.

I was so happy to find shrimp on sale last night that I cooked up two

pounds of shrimp in garlic and butter and had a feast with my family.

I had just bought Enzymedica Digest Gold yesterday for the first

time. So I took two caps and enjoyed my dinner. Wasn't long before I

started feeling queasy with indigestion. The worst part was the

swelling; I have never swelled up so fast. I could feel my middle

expanding. It was frightening. This morning my face is puffy and I

still have an extra couple of pounds of swelling.

I know I have to go to the pharmacy and find out what exactly is in

the iron pills because I don't know. Can it be that the iron is

causing all this grief? Iron is supposed to be hard to tolerate. I

will stay dairy free for now, fatty stuff is bothering me too, and no

shrimp either. I take fish oil, cinnamon caps, valerian, and vitamin

C powder as well. There are no illegals in them, but I am going to

stop those too. Is it OK to drink cinnamon and honey in hot water? It

is my new favorite tea.

I am really scared of having a bad reaction again. I start student

teaching in two weeks and I am stressed out about it, I don't want to

be sick, swollen, tired, and having to run to the bathroom on a

moments notice. Help!

[Guest guest]

Looks like no one has replied to you as yet, at least not to the group.

I would say your reaction is probably to the shrimp, but it could also be the Digest Gold, since those two things were new at yesterday's meal. And it could also be an accumulated reaction to the iron pills, or any of the other supplements you're taking.

Such rapid swelling, though, sounds like a shellfish response -- an allergic response. If you don't feel better today and are still swollen then I'd head for the ER.

Don't have any more shrimp or any other shellfish for a while. The best way to figure out if it's a supplement causing problems is to stop all of them for 4 to 5 days at least, including the iron. Iron supplements are notoriously difficult for the body to handle. And digestive enzymes can cause an allergic response -- they do to me, anyway.

If you start to feel better, then you can suspect it was either the shrimp or one of the supplements. Pick one of the supplements to start with, and just take that one, in low doses, for a week. If no change, then add another one, and so on. Pay attention to your body's signals. You may need to cut back on the dosage or frequency of one or all of the supplements, or try a different brand.

I'm afraid trial and error is the only way you'll know for sure what is causing problems.

Cinnamon and honey in hot water is fine.

Take care.

Kim M.

SCD 5 years

..

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I stopped all my supplements, especially the

iron pills. I checked with the pharmacy and the iron pills are filled

with illegals. I think all my favorite meds are going to have to be

compounded at a special pharmacy. The claritin I take has corn starch

and lactose. I don't even know what is in my thyroid meds I take

every day. All this time I have been careful about the big

infractions to SCD, but it is the tiny quantities of fillers in my

meds and supplements that seem to cause the worst damage!

I feel better now. No more shrimp or scallops for me. Fresh caught

seafood doesn't make sick. But I have gotten very sick eating shrimp,

crab, and lobster in the past. I think something is being added to

the seafood to enhace the flavor or to extend the time the seafood

stays good. I checked the label but I know not everything gets listed

on the label.

Thanks again for the help.

Ana Karina

>

> Looks like no one has replied to you as yet, at least not to the

group.

>

> I would say your reaction is probably to the shrimp, but it could

also be the Digest Gold, since those two things were new at

yesterday's

meal. And it could also be an accumulated reaction to the iron

pills,

or any of the other supplements you're taking.

>

>>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5 years

>

[Guest guest]

> Hi,

> Thanks for the reply. I stopped all my supplements, especially the

> iron pills. I checked with the pharmacy and the iron pills are filled

> with illegals.

You can just eat some liver or cook on cast iron for iron.

Mara

[Guest guest]

Hi Ana,

Iron nearly killed me over and over again. Sometimes a slow death,

sometimes immediate!!

Also, all the shell fish have a higher amount of toxins in them due to

pollution so it may be that you are reacting to that! So sad what we

have done to this perfect earth and wonderful, natural gmo-free food

supply. Breaks my heart!

I compound all of my meds and it makes a huge difference!

Good Luck!

Jodi

SCD 9 months

Crohn's/Colitis

>

> Hi,

> Thanks for the reply. I stopped all my supplements, especially the

> iron pills. I checked with the pharmacy and the iron pills are filled

> with illegals.