Guest guest Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Becky- You're not alone. I've been on SCD for 2 weeks and I am already frustrated. I am still on Stage I without eggs but with banana and spinach. I still bleed though -- I have UC. From what I see in this forum, we have to hang in there to see improvement. Good luck, Andy. > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > Becky > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 I had an idea of you guys listing every food and supplement you are taking/eating daily and maybe one of the moderators can help with what to pull/try. One of our moderators, Kim M. says if you have trouble, pull the supplements first. Then look at the foods. For instance, deep fried this early on may not be such a good idea. With carrots, it's peeled, cooked until very tender--like 2 hours (I may have this wrong and it depends on penny cut or chunky cut but it takes the chicken soup with carrots four hours). Andy, have you tried acorn squash? It's small, purplish looking. You cut it in half, scrape out the seeds and strings, put on a baking sheet, add butter and honey (optional) to the hollowed out part and bake it until it basically falls out of it's shell. You scoop it out and it's sooo good. I usually make extra honey/dijon mustard to add to it when it's finished cooking. Butternut squash is good baked also. Do you guys eat yogurt or dry curd cottage cheese yet? Add cinnamon, honey and maybe a little bit of pecan butter (it seems to be the easiest to digest) and it's like a sundae. Good luck on the elemental diet. I know a lady who did it and did well on it pre-SCD. Marilyn probably has ideas on this. Debbie 40 cd Becky-You're not alone. I've been on SCD for 2 weeks and I am already frustrated. I am still on Stage I without eggs but with banana and spinach. I still bleed though -- I have UC.From what I see in this forum, we have to hang in there to see improvement. Good luck,Andy. >> This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > Becky> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Becky, I'm at 7 months and can tolerate well cooked (boiled) carrots for the first time, and I still do better with spinach pureed in a soufle. I can't imagine fried carrot chips. So yes, these things can set you off. Following the stages on pecanbread.com, and going very slowly helped me. Hang in there. PJ > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > Becky > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 The problem also might be that you ate them for a few days straight. Those guys are pretty rich - delicious, but pretty rich. And sometimes reactions build up - you can eat them and be fine one day, maybe even two, but the 3rd day, reaction, etc. That's why some people choose to do rotation diets where they switch around their food all the time. Anyway, pecanbread has those at stage 3. Mara > Becky, > I'm at 7 months and can tolerate well cooked (boiled) carrots for > the first time, and I still do better with spinach pureed in a > soufle. I can't imagine fried carrot chips. So yes, these things can > set you off. Following the stages on pecanbread.com, and going very > slowly helped me. Hang in there. > PJ > > >> >> This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months >> ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have >> such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but >> I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " >> and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me >> mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but >> can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot >> chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach >> in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are >> bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like >> those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback >> from that? >> >> I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not >> on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial >> flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when >> I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some >> fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so >> discouraged... >> Becky >> > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 When you are so early on in the diet, you should wait 3 days between adding new foods and only eat a small amount of the food to begin with. I still don't tolerate spinach or broccoli well and I've been on the diet almost 2 years. I do; however, tolerate cauliflower, coconut flour, and small amounts of raw fruits/veggies with no problems. Misty Kimble CD - no meds SCD - 22 months > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > Becky > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Misty- How do we get the nutrients from veggies, if we can at best try 2 veggies a week? Then how many can we eat even after a few years? Is that the way it is? -Andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 > > Misty- > > How do we get the nutrients from veggies, if we can at best try 2 > veggies a week? Then how many can we eat even after a few years? > > Is that the way it is? Hey Andy, I've been on SCD for 2.5 years - I eat tons and tons of veggies, raw and cooked. Basically anything I want. The only problem I've had recently is with stewed purple cabbage (probably). I don't have a problem with green cabbage in sauerkraut and kim chi, etc, so I'm still a bit unsure if that was it or not. So, you are probably going through a very sensitive, reactive period. I see you upping your doses of everything. You might look into LDN. For many of us on this list who have tried it, most of whom did not respond ideally to the conventional crohn's/UC drugs (which is why many of us sought out alternative cures, i.e. SCD, in the first place), LDN has really accelerated our healing and worked wonders. Not to mention its other benefits. It works great for UC. Mara, who sometimes feels like a LDN pusher, but, you know, it really works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Andy, I know, I feel like I'm ready to put forth all this effort but I atleast want to see results!!! I feel so limited with variety that I'm times I'm going crazy from this...I feel like all I eat is eggs, proteins (chicken and meat) and different types of squash...I've been on it 7 weeks and so sick of it. I just tried pecan butter muffins and cake last night and seeing how I " ll do...I hope good because I miss the baked goods. Oh, I also started with yogurt and cheddar last week and seems to be fine. I think I'm seeing progress but soooo slow! > > > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > > Becky > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 did you ever have surgery.. it seems that so many people on scd had surgery first then went on diet and it seems to work so well for those people. I'm newly diagnosed with Crohns, don't seem to have it too extensively yet and I wonder if it helps just as much for newbies > > > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > > Becky > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 What exactly is LDN? isn't one of the purposes of this diet not to be on meds? How is this different? what other benefits does it have? how long do people usually heal with it? other side effects? > > > > > Misty- > > > > How do we get the nutrients from veggies, if we can at best try 2 > > veggies a week? Then how many can we eat even after a few years? > > > > Is that the way it is? > > Hey Andy, > > I've been on SCD for 2.5 years - I eat tons and tons of veggies, raw > and cooked. Basically anything I want. > > The only problem I've had recently is with stewed purple cabbage > (probably). > I don't have a problem with green cabbage in sauerkraut and kim chi, > etc, so > I'm still a bit unsure if that was it or not. > > So, you are probably going through a very sensitive, reactive period. > > I see you upping your doses of everything. > > You might look into LDN. > > For many of us on this list who have tried it, most of whom did not > respond > ideally to the conventional crohn's/UC drugs (which is why many of us > sought out alternative cures, i.e. SCD, in the first place), LDN has > really > accelerated our healing and worked wonders. Not to mention its other > benefits. It works great for UC. > > Mara, who sometimes feels like a LDN pusher, but, you know, it really > works. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 > >> How do we get the nutrients from veggies, if we can at best try 2>> veggies a week? Then how many can we eat even after a few years?>> Is that the way it is?>> Hey Andy,> I've been on SCD for 2.5 years - I eat tons and tons of veggies, raw> and cooked. Basically anything I want.> The only problem I've had recently is with stewed purple cabbage> (probably).> I don't have a problem with green cabbage in sauerkraut and kim chi,> etc, so I'm still a bit unsure if that was it or not.> So, you are probably going through a very sensitive, reactive period.> I see you upping your doses of everything.> You might look into LDN.>> For many of us on this list who have tried it, most of whom did not> respond ideally to the conventional crohn's/UC drugs (which is why many of us> sought out alternative cures, i.e. SCD, in the first place), LDN has> really accelerated our healing and worked wonders. Not to mention its other> benefits. It works great for UC.>> Mara, who sometimes feels like a LDN pusher, but, you know, it really> works.I have to wholeheartedly second what Mara says about LDN. If you have the opportunity to start it at, or nearly at, the same time as the diet, GO FOR IT! I have serious Crohn's (did have two surgeries over the years) and have had for 30 years, but was able to add new foods quite quickly and I don't worry about half the things that a lot of people here worry about; I don't need to. I attribute that more to taking LDN with the SCD than to my body's natural reaction, because normally I'm very, very sensitive not only to foods but to drugs. LDN is different. It's a catalyst to getting your immune system working in the way it's supposed to, and it's very effective. The more so with the diet (one reason for which is that the diet helps control yeast that could become a problem for some people who take LDN). No, LDN is not like any other Crohn's or UC drug -- as someone wondered in another post. Not even remotely like. As Mara said, most of us who gravitated to the diet, and to LDN, could not tolerate the normal and almost universally toxic IBD drugs (almost all of which further mess up the immune-system in one way or another). As I said the other day, LDN is more like taking a supplement than taking a drug. It has no toxic side effects. And not only does it help heal your gut, for almost everybody who takes it it reduces or eliminates the extreme fatigue that usually comes with Crohn's and often other IBDs.Google LDN or low dose naltrexone and read about it. A lot of doctors haven't heard about it (it's a generic drug in which the big pharmaceutical companies have no interest); convince your doctor to let you try it. You won't be sorry.n-- Now available. A fine Christmas gift for cat lovers:Confessions of a Cataholic: My Life With the 10 Cats Who Caused My Addictionby n Van Tilwww.wordpowerpublishing.com ; signed copies; free shipping in U.S., reduced shipping elsewhere; free gift wrapping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 SCD works for newbies. Many people on SCD have not had surgery. I was a lot like you, no symptoms at all and then an episode of D that did not resolve. I'm 53. Before that I was " Ms. Regular " . I was diagnosed with " mild UC " last spring, and went on SCD almost a month later. I spent the first few months in total shock, fear, crying almost all the time. My docs who at first thought it was " all in my head " were totally unsupportive. I went to the internet and found SCD. 7 months later I feel so much better. SCD has given me hope. It's a long slow road with SCD, but the alternative seems unthinkable. I think of SCD as the best thing I can do for myself. The best advice I can give you is to hang in there, one day at a time. PJ > > > > > > This diet is so frustrating. I've only been diagnosed a few months ago and pretty much started this diet right away. I didn't have such severe symptoms except for some bad cramping on some days, but I feel tenderness in my abdomen when things are " not 100% right " and its an uncomfortable feeling. Its more what it does to me mentally. I'm trying so hard & I'm strictly on diet for 7 weeks but can't seem to move past stage 1 or some of stage 2. I ate carrot chips (deep fried) for a few days straight and I put cooked spinach in my zucchini soup and I think its one of those items that are bothering me for the last 2 days...Is that normal? I feel like those things are so benign, is it possible for me to have a setback from that? > > > > > > I think the diet is working but its so hard for me to tell. I'm not on meds at all and I was on cortizone for 5 weeks after my initial flare up this summer. I know things weren't completely healed when I got off it but seemed to be under control. I also had some fistulas so maybe thats making the healing worse...getting so discouraged... > > > Becky > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 How do we get the nutrients from veggies, if we can at best try 2 veggies a week? Then how many can we eat even after a few years?Two veggies a week adds up pretty fast. There are 52 weeks in a year, so that would be 104 veggies at the end of one year. IDK about you, but I don't even know of that many...Even if you consider possible setbacks, let's say you might intro one new veggie every 2 weeks. That's 26 veggies at the end of one year, and I still think I'd be hard pressed to find 26 legal veggies that I'd would want to eat. Peace =)Alyssa 15 yoUC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)No meds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 > did you ever have surgery.. it seems that so many people on scd had > surgery first then went on diet and it seems to work so well for > those people. I'm newly diagnosed with Crohns, don't seem to have it > too extensively yet and I wonder if it helps just as much for newbies If you don't have a severe case, healing on SCD should be easier. Kids, for example, who haven't had issues long, often heal well and quickly and completely. Many people on this list have not had surgery, including me. (Others recently have had surgery for the first time.) In fact, that's one of the attractions, not wanting to get so bad that you need surgery. Or steroids. (And now that I've been on steroids for a non-IBD related health issue, I still never want to be on steroids. Ugh! I've been off for a few days now, and my body is obviously still processing them - still can't sleep normally. Not to mention the 100% full-time food craving and magically expanded food capacity has to be experienced first hand to get the full bloody awfulness. And mordant humor of it all). And, frankly, getting better was my goal. Not being med-free, which I wasn't thinking in terms of at the time. And now I'm not much bothered by it since I think LDN deeply increases my sense of well being. But others mileage may (and does) vary on that topic. Mara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 At 10:57 AM 12/4/2009, you wrote: I've been on it 7 weeks and so sick of it. LOL! I got stuck with beef roast, pork roast, peeled steamed zucchini, and soft-boiled eggs! Talk about bored after 2-3 months! Well, OK, so I went all out for Christmas Dinner, SCD style -- and paid for it. Honestly -- things DO get better! — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 At 11:03 AM 12/4/2009, you wrote: did you ever have surgery.. it seems that so many people on scd had surgery first then went on diet and it seems to work so well for those people. I'm newly diagnosed with Crohns, don't seem to have it too extensively yet and I wonder if it helps just as much for newbies The lady who was my mentor wanted to hang on to important body parts, like her gut. When she was diagnosed, her doc described her gut as looking like bloody lace, and was all for immediate surgery. She did SCD religiously, instead. 14 months later, at another colonoscopy, Doc said that if he hadn't diagnosed her himself, he would not have believed she was the same patient. She's never had to have surgery. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 At 11:07 AM 12/4/2009, you wrote: What exactly is LDN? isn't one of the purposes of this diet not to be on meds? How is this different? what other benefits does it have? how long do people usually heal with it? other side effects? LDN is low dose naltrexone. It's an out of patent drug which appears to have pretty spectacular results for lots of issues. THe most important of which is -- it works. Side effects are minimal. The objective of SCD is to heal your gut. Meds may still be required during the healing. You're not a failure if you still need some medication. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Becky- I don't know if this will make you better: I am 36, diagnosed with UC 3.5 years ago, no surgery, Indian immigrant in the US, born and raised vegetarian eating loads of rice and lentils and veggies. I bought and cooked my first ever meat 2 weeks ago when I started SCD. I made my first ever applesauce yesterday. Further, I am single and so I have to do everything myself either calling up friends or reading internet. So, imagine the change and frustration!! Well, on the brighter side, in the past 24 h, I have bled very little which is amazing -- had I continued my South Indian cooking, I am pretty sure I would've been in the ER by now. My stomach makes noise very often, I feel its gas. It happenend more after eggs. And I had to go for a symposium yesterday and they had a 'lunch networking' session. I couldn't obviously participate but I made sure to network before and after. I had carried my fish and chicken soup, and ate in my car. I was sipping grape juice all day in my new waterbottle. Hang in there! -Andy. > >did you ever have surgery.. it seems that so > >many people on scd had surgery first then went > >on diet and it seems to work so well for those > >people. I'm newly diagnosed with Crohns, don't > >seem to have it too extensively yet and I wonder > >if it helps just as much for newbies > > The lady who was my mentor wanted to hang on to > important body parts, like her gut. > > When she was diagnosed, her doc described her gut > as looking like bloody lace, and was all for immediate surgery. > > She did SCD religiously, instead. 14 months > later, at another colonoscopy, Doc said that if > he hadn't diagnosed her himself, he would not > have believed she was the same patient. > > She's never had to have surgery. > > > — Marilyn > New Orleans, Louisiana, USA > Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 > Darn Good SCD Cook > No Human Children > Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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