Wishing for Complete Healing

[Guest guest]

I have followed the SCD very strictly for 16 months. I was able to

wean off all meds in the first eight months on the diet and have seen

remarkable healing of my Crohn's symptoms. However, I still struggle

with some health problems and I'm disappointed that the diet hasn't

healed them also. Specifically, i have brain fog, exhaustion and

muscle aches. Especially in the afternoon, it's like my brain turns

off for a couple of hours and by 4 p.m., I am worn out. My job is

moderately stressful. I cannot afford to lose it! I also wish I didn't

ache all the time. Thank you so much for any help you can give me.

Blessings,

Walter

Crohn's 5/07

SCD 6/07

No Meds! (partly due to Marilyn's good advice)

[Guest guest]

My experience has been that my body has gone on to develop other

health issues and conditions, even though SCD helped me get my

digestion under good management. I'm afraid that our bodies are on

their own timetable of deterioration, so diet doesn't always fix or

stop other conditions from developing.

Having made this somewhat gloomy statement, I've still found it

helpful to experiment with what kinds of foods I eat and when I eat

them. This has helped alleviate some of my problems with excessive

fatigue, particularly in the afternoons. I've also had to boost my

electrolytes more often when I'm at work, just to maintain good

muscle control. A few years ago I just needed to boost my

electrolytes when I was working in the yard, or doing something more

physically demanding. Now my body is needing the extra boost from

just working a normal day at my job.

Do you eat something every 2 to 3 hours? Eat plenty of protein and

fat during the day when you're at work? You might also experiment

with eating different foods at different times of the day and see if

anything helps you. When my blood sugar levels crash, I get a lot of

brain fog, rxcessive fatigue and mood changes, along with upper GI

symptoms. I have had to work at getting the right mix of foods

throughout the day to maintain more stable blood sugar levels.

Have you had your B12 levels checked lately? Or looked into

fibromyalgia? I would check with your doctors for some other

conditions that might be causing your symptoms. Since I started

giving myself B12 shots (my tests showed extreme deficiency) my

energy levels have improved considerably and my body is moving

better. Don't lose my balance nearly as often [grin]. My neurologist

has diagnosed some neurological conditions as well that explain a lot

of my symptoms. So it's worth asking questions of your doctors,

seeking other opinions.

I've read somewhere that malabsorption can cause a variety of

problems, and since you've had Crohns and are likely to still be

healing the condition, it seems possible that your body isn't getting

enough nutrients. A year on SCD isn't that long to have completely

healed your Crohns, even if you're symptom-free. Extra

supplementation might help, so it's worth checking in with your

doctors to determine what might be useful for you.

Kim M.

SCD 5 years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction & other upper GI stiff 5+ years

neurological deterioration 2+ years

>

> I have followed the SCD very strictly for 16 months. I was able to

> wean off all meds in the first eight months on the diet and have

seen

> remarkable healing of my Crohn's symptoms. However, I still

struggle

> with some health problems and I'm disappointed that the diet hasn't

> healed them also. Specifically, i have brain fog, exhaustion and

> muscle aches. Especially in the afternoon, it's like my brain turns

> off for a couple of hours and by 4 p.m., I am worn out. My job is

> moderately stressful. I cannot afford to lose it! I also wish I

didn't

> ache all the time. Thank you so much for any help you can give me.

>

>

> Blessings,

> Walter

> Crohn's 5/07

> SCD 6/07

> No Meds! (partly due to Marilyn's good advice)

>

[Guest guest]

> I have followed the SCD very strictly for 16 months. I was able to

> wean off all meds in the first eight months on the diet and have seen

> remarkable healing of my Crohn's symptoms. However, I still struggle

> with some health problems and I'm disappointed that the diet hasn't

> healed them also. Specifically, i have brain fog, exhaustion and

> muscle aches.

Have you tried yoga as a way to counteract muscle aches? It

helps me tremendously. Also epsom baths. Exercise in general

helps with exhaustion, IMO.

Mara

[Guest guest]

It's possible that you may have chemical sensitivities to

laundry products, personal care products, cleaning

products, molds, new carpets, paint, new buildings, and

fragrances in stores, etc.

If so, it would be helpful if you learn about these matters

and gradually start removing some fragrant/chemical

products from your home and become aware of what

you are exposed to outside your home.

Baking soda is invaluable for cleaning, dishes, laundry,

and as a deodorant.

There is lots of help available in MCS e-mail groups, if

you wish to learn about chemical sensitivities or

environmental illness. Let me know if you need more

info.

Louise

MCS, FM, ME/CFS

scd 8 months

However, I still struggle

> with some health problems and I'm disappointed that the diet hasn't

> healed them also. Specifically, i have brain fog, exhaustion and

> muscle aches.

[Guest guest]

At 01:59 AM 11/2/2008, you wrote:

Specifically, i have brain fog,

exhaustion and muscle aches. Especially in the afternoon, it's like my

brain turns off for a couple of hours and by 4 p.m., I am worn out.

How well do you think you're sleeping? Do you wake up refreshed, or still

tired?

I've recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I thought I was sleeping

just fine, and that my tiredness was ongoing fatigue from the surgery,

and the fact that I have been awakening a couple times a night with hip

and knee pain for around 6 years. Interestingly, the reason I was sent

for a sleep test is because the pain management doctor I was sent

to says that improper sleep is often related to chronic pain. I admit, I

looked at her, and said, " Yes, but chronic pain can cause improper

sleep. "

Two months of jumping through hoops later, and yes, I have complex sleep

apnea. (I couldn't do things the easy way, oh nooo....) I now have a

CPAP, or, more correctly, a Bipap Auto SV by Respironics. (Look it up,

those of you who want to have price tag heart failure. )

I've slept with this glorified hair drier for five nights... and this

morning, woke up with no pain. For the first time in over six years. I

will put up with far more undignified things than a mask on my face in

order to sleep through the night in no pain.

By what I've been reading, apnea is related to a host of ills, including

brain fog, exhaustion, and muscle aches, not to mention heart disease,

diabetes, and other hormonal imbalances.

You might want to look into it. Sleep tests are not fun, but they yield a

surprising amount of information. At the very least, it would tell you

that this is NOT your problem, and then you can look elsewhere.

—

Marilyn

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund