Re: Time to throw in the towel?

[Guest guest]

Lilian,Please forgive me for not keeping track. I know you post fairly regularly, but I am not sure what all you have tried. I do know that my husband's symptoms were getting worse over a 3 month period in the beginning and not better. He did not have any faith in the diet, still doesn't have much but does know it does hold truths that he discovers the hard way! It took a round of steroids to help along with SCD to get things under control. He has battled getting sorted on SCD only and even after a year and 1/2, he is still needing some help, but less. The types of medications that help him is reversing its order. Used to use asacol suppositories, then it was asacol tablets, then it was prednisone, then it was 6MP, then back to prednisone, then it didn't work,

the 6MP didn't work, and now with LDN the asacol suppositories are getting rid of the last bit of bleeding. His skin is showing eczema like it did in the beginning of his illness. I take all these as signs that he is healing because he is almost symptomless (except for the skin), and on only 1 asacol suppository a day. But let me be clear that he has had some form of bleeding, except for very few short periods, the entire last 18 months--enough to bring about near lack of control and frequent urgency (he would croak if he knew I was telling this! ). Some people have immediate improvement, others not. I totally do not blame you for questioning the diet, nor do I doubt your efforts. Maybe, though, you are stressing yourself because you don't see the help you think you should. That would be very like the reaction my husband had/is having. If the slightest increase in wind, frequency, blood

happens, he is ready to give up and try a new drug. It sounds very much like you are doing your best, but maybe too much. Your bowels are trying to get accustomed to it's new flora balance. The foods you are mentioning are very high in fat -- nuts, fried eggs, cheese, avocado, etc. and that without veggies will lead to constipation, the bloated/distended feeling -- I HATE that feeling! I get so grumpy and fixated on a BM until it happens. : ) Don't forget about the warm water and lemon juice trick to see if that will help instead of the laxatives.Have you tried backing off and sort of starting over? Trying some plain chicken broth for two days then adding back in from there? Skip the yogurt, skip the eggs, and skip the nuts for now. After the two days (along with some epsom salt baths), try pureeing the cooked chicken into the broth for a couple of days. Then try adding peeled

cooked zucchini into the chicken/broth puree for a couple of days, etc. Keep going with the broth, chicken and veggie soups -- all pureed -- until you have a good repetoire you know you can tolerate. Then, try taking one (chicken or one veggie) and eating it unpureed along with the soup/broth, chewing well, and seeing what happens. Once you know you can tolerate all of your repetoire of foods unpureed, then see about the eggs, yogurt, nuts -- in a slow manner. I suggest the eggs in only boiled form at first. If you can tolerate them, then try them in nut muffins -- but only use nut flour or nut butter so that they are as gentle as possible on the gut, not nuts as a snack in whole form. I would add the yogurt last only because a lot of people react to milk products. Again, I would drip it and start with like a teaspoonful and go up from there. Sorry if I suggest what you have already tried. My

husband wouldn't do it slowly and I think he suffered a bit for it. Also, at first one's body is usually screaming for food because of the bacteria and the shift in the kind of primary energy it is getting (high starch carbs versus protein and veggie/fruit carbs). Once the body makes that conversion, the desparate hunger goes away and a little bit of perspective can return.AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 3:06:36

AMSubject: Time to throw in the towel?

Hi all-

I've been following SCD religiously for 3 months now, over the past few weeks adding candida-elimination guidelines to the mix. Judging how I feel now, I can't see any difference, really. I'm very distended (prego-belly) unless I forego food entirely for a few days.

Distention is always there but varies in intensity, and there really are no clear patterns as to what seems to bring it on full force. Last night I was able to have dinner (fried egg, cooked tomato, some avocado) without the immeadiate upper abdominal distention. This morning I repeated the exact same meal, with bad effects. Food that I initially tolerated well (nut muffins, jello, honey, cheese etc) later didn't seem to agree with me. A food diary hasn't helped shed any light on this. Constipation has actually worsened, before SCD I was able to go once a day with laxatives, no it's every few days with laxatives, and stool is harder. This may be related to cutting out brown rice tortillas and most veggies.

At three months my repertoire of foods eaten has shrunk, not evolved.

So at this point my question is, does this seems like a situation where SCD isn't going to help? What could possibly be going on if bacteria (and possibly yeast) and the management of them isn't the key? The only factor that has been fairly predictable seems to be serotonin. Relaxation in a warm, sunny climate (read: trip to the Caribbean, especially the one without the kids :^), the high of starting a new relationship (and symptoms coming right back, worsened, after vthat fizzled, sex, artificial bright light (like a sun bed) - what these all seem to have in common is a good boost in serotonin levels, and they work like a wonder-drug on my symptoms.

It's been made abundantly clear that SCD is a slow cure etc, but shouldn't there be some sign of improvement at the three-month mark? Or is there something I'm missing?

This is not meant to be a complaint, but rather a report of what I'm experiencing. If anyone sees anything here that I'm missing, I'd be grateful to hear.

Thanks,

Lilian

"IBS"-C 10 years, SCD 3 months

[Guest guest]

Hi Amelia,

I was just wondering; does your husband have Crohns or UC or something else? It

seems like he's had kind of a hard time, wheras others can just get on full SCD

without intro or anything and be healed. I've heard that the SCD works

better/faster for Crohns than UC, and I'm beginning to believe that. I have UC,

and though I started the diet only a year after my first symptoms (a few months

after diagnosis), it seems like I can't figure anything out! I know life isn't

fair and all, and everyone's different, but sometimes it seems like it should be

easier than this.

Alyssa

>

> Lilian,

>

> Please forgive me for not keeping track. I know you post fairly regularly, but

I am not sure what all you have tried. I do know that my husband's symptoms

were getting worse over a 3 month period in the beginning and not better. He

did not have any faith in the diet, still doesn't have much but does know it

does hold truths that he discovers the hard way! It took a round of steroids to

help along with SCD to get things under control. He has battled getting sorted

on SCD only and even after a year and 1/2, he is still needing some help, but

less. The types of medications that help him is reversing its order. Used to

use asacol suppositories, then it was asacol tablets, then it was prednisone,

then it was 6MP, then back to prednisone, then it didn't work, the 6MP didn't

work, and now with LDN the asacol suppositories are getting rid of the last bit

of bleeding. His skin is showing eczema like it did in the beginning of his

illness. I take all these

> as signs that he is healing because he is almost symptomless (except for the

skin), and on only 1 asacol suppository a day. But let me be clear that he

has had some form of bleeding, except for very few short periods, the entire

last 18 months--enough to bring about near lack of control and frequent urgency

(he would croak if he knew I was telling this! ).

>

> Some people have immediate improvement, others not. I totally do not blame

you for questioning the diet, nor do I doubt your efforts. Maybe, though, you

are stressing yourself because you don't see the help you think you should.

That would be very like the reaction my husband had/is having. If the slightest

increase in wind, frequency, blood happens, he is ready to give up and try a new

drug. It sounds very much like you are doing your best, but maybe too much.

Your bowels are trying to get accustomed to it's new flora balance. The foods

you are mentioning are very high in fat -- nuts, fried eggs, cheese, avocado,

etc. and that without veggies will lead to constipation, the bloated/distended

feeling -- I HATE that feeling! I get so grumpy and fixated on a BM until it

happens. : ) Don't forget about the warm water and lemon juice trick to see if

that will help instead of the laxatives.

>

> Have you tried backing off and sort of starting over? Trying some plain

chicken broth for two days then adding back in from there? Skip the yogurt,

skip the eggs, and skip the nuts for now. After the two days (along with some

epsom salt baths), try pureeing the cooked chicken into the broth for a couple

of days. Then try adding peeled cooked zucchini into the chicken/broth puree

for a couple of days, etc. Keep going with the broth, chicken and veggie soups

-- all pureed -- until you have a good repetoire you know you can tolerate.

Then, try taking one (chicken or one veggie) and eating it unpureed along with

the soup/broth, chewing well, and seeing what happens. Once you know you can

tolerate all of your repetoire of foods unpureed, then see about the eggs,

yogurt, nuts -- in a slow manner. I suggest the eggs in only boiled form at

first. If you can tolerate them, then try them in nut muffins -- but only use

nut flour or nut butter so that they

> are as gentle as possible on the gut, not nuts as a snack in whole form. I

would add the yogurt last only because a lot of people react to milk products.

Again, I would drip it and start with like a teaspoonful and go up from there.

>

> Sorry if I suggest what you have already tried. My husband wouldn't do it

slowly and I think he suffered a bit for it. Also, at first one's body is

usually screaming for food because of the bacteria and the shift in the kind of

primary energy it is getting (high starch carbs versus protein and veggie/fruit

carbs). Once the body makes that conversion, the desparate hunger goes away and

a little bit of perspective can return.

>

> Amelia

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: BTVC-SCD

> Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 3:06:36 AM

> Subject: Time to throw in the towel?

>

>

> Hi all-

> I've been following SCD religiously for 3 months now, over the past few weeks

adding candida-elimination guidelines to the mix. Judging how I feel now, I

can't see any difference, really. I'm very distended (prego-belly) unless I

forego food entirely for a few days.

>

> Distention is always there but varies in intensity, and there really are no

clear patterns as to what seems to bring it on full force. Last night I was able

to have dinner (fried egg, cooked tomato, some avocado) without the immeadiate

upper abdominal distention. This morning I repeated the exact same meal, with

bad effects. Food that I initially tolerated well (nut muffins, jello, honey,

cheese etc) later didn't seem to agree with me. A food diary hasn't helped shed

any light on this. Constipation has actually worsened, before SCD I was able to

go once a day with laxatives, no it's every few days with laxatives, and stool

is harder. This may be related to cutting out brown rice tortillas and most

veggies.

>

> At three months my repertoire of foods eaten has shrunk, not evolved.

>

> So at this point my question is, does this seems like a situation where SCD

isn't going to help? What could possibly be going on if bacteria (and possibly

yeast) and the management of them isn't the key? The only factor that has been

fairly predictable seems to be serotonin. Relaxation in a warm, sunny climate

(read: trip to the Caribbean, especially the one without the kids :^), the high

of starting a new relationship (and symptoms coming right back, worsened, after

vthat fizzled, sex, artificial bright light (like a sun bed) - what these all

seem to have in common is a good boost in serotonin levels, and they work like a

wonder-drug on my symptoms.

>

> It's been made abundantly clear that SCD is a slow cure etc, but shouldn't

there be some sign of improvement at the three-month mark? Or is there something

I'm missing?

>

> This is not meant to be a complaint, but rather a report of what I'm

experiencing. If anyone sees anything here that I'm missing, I'd be grateful to

hear.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Lilian

> " IBS " -C 10 years, SCD 3 months

>

[Guest guest]

Alyssa,

I am always impressed with your patience and initiative with SCD. I wish it were

easier... for everyone.

I think the teen years are hard.. with all the changes the body goes through. I

hope things settle down for you soon.

PJ

> >

> > Lilian,

> >

> > Please forgive me for not keeping track. I know you post fairly regularly,

but I am not sure what all you have tried. I do know that my husband's symptoms

were getting worse over a 3 month period in the beginning and not better. He

did not have any faith in the diet, still doesn't have much but does know it

does hold truths that he discovers the hard way! It took a round of steroids to

help along with SCD to get things under control. He has battled getting sorted

on SCD only and even after a year and 1/2, he is still needing some help, but

less. The types of medications that help him is reversing its order. Used to

use asacol suppositories, then it was asacol tablets, then it was prednisone,

then it was 6MP, then back to prednisone, then it didn't work, the 6MP didn't

work, and now with LDN the asacol suppositories are getting rid of the last bit

of bleeding. His skin is showing eczema like it did in the beginning of his

illness. I take all these

> > as signs that he is healing because he is almost symptomless (except for

the skin), and on only 1 asacol suppository a day. But let me be clear that

he has had some form of bleeding, except for very few short periods, the entire

last 18 months--enough to bring about near lack of control and frequent urgency

(he would croak if he knew I was telling this! ).

> >

> > Some people have immediate improvement, others not. I totally do not blame

you for questioning the diet, nor do I doubt your efforts. Maybe, though, you

are stressing yourself because you don't see the help you think you should.

That would be very like the reaction my husband had/is having. If the slightest

increase in wind, frequency, blood happens, he is ready to give up and try a new

drug. It sounds very much like you are doing your best, but maybe too much.

Your bowels are trying to get accustomed to it's new flora balance. The foods

you are mentioning are very high in fat -- nuts, fried eggs, cheese, avocado,

etc. and that without veggies will lead to constipation, the bloated/distended

feeling -- I HATE that feeling! I get so grumpy and fixated on a BM until it

happens. : ) Don't forget about the warm water and lemon juice trick to see if

that will help instead of the laxatives.

> >

> > Have you tried backing off and sort of starting over? Trying some plain

chicken broth for two days then adding back in from there? Skip the yogurt,

skip the eggs, and skip the nuts for now. After the two days (along with some

epsom salt baths), try pureeing the cooked chicken into the broth for a couple

of days. Then try adding peeled cooked zucchini into the chicken/broth puree

for a couple of days, etc. Keep going with the broth, chicken and veggie soups

-- all pureed -- until you have a good repetoire you know you can tolerate.

Then, try taking one (chicken or one veggie) and eating it unpureed along with

the soup/broth, chewing well, and seeing what happens. Once you know you can

tolerate all of your repetoire of foods unpureed, then see about the eggs,

yogurt, nuts -- in a slow manner. I suggest the eggs in only boiled form at

first. If you can tolerate them, then try them in nut muffins -- but only use

nut flour or nut butter so that they

> > are as gentle as possible on the gut, not nuts as a snack in whole form. I

would add the yogurt last only because a lot of people react to milk products.

Again, I would drip it and start with like a teaspoonful and go up from there.

> >

> > Sorry if I suggest what you have already tried. My husband wouldn't do it

slowly and I think he suffered a bit for it. Also, at first one's body is

usually screaming for food because of the bacteria and the shift in the kind of

primary energy it is getting (high starch carbs versus protein and veggie/fruit

carbs). Once the body makes that conversion, the desparate hunger goes away and

a little bit of perspective can return.

> >

> > Amelia

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: liliholm <lilianhd@>

> > To: BTVC-SCD

> > Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 3:06:36 AM

> > Subject: Time to throw in the towel?

> >

> >

> > Hi all-

> > I've been following SCD religiously for 3 months now, over the past few

weeks adding candida-elimination guidelines to the mix. Judging how I feel now,

I can't see any difference, really. I'm very distended (prego-belly) unless I

forego food entirely for a few days.

> >

> > Distention is always there but varies in intensity, and there really are no

clear patterns as to what seems to bring it on full force. Last night I was able

to have dinner (fried egg, cooked tomato, some avocado) without the immeadiate

upper abdominal distention. This morning I repeated the exact same meal, with

bad effects. Food that I initially tolerated well (nut muffins, jello, honey,

cheese etc) later didn't seem to agree with me. A food diary hasn't helped shed

any light on this. Constipation has actually worsened, before SCD I was able to

go once a day with laxatives, no it's every few days with laxatives, and stool

is harder. This may be related to cutting out brown rice tortillas and most

veggies.

> >

> > At three months my repertoire of foods eaten has shrunk, not evolved.

> >

> > So at this point my question is, does this seems like a situation where SCD

isn't going to help? What could possibly be going on if bacteria (and possibly

yeast) and the management of them isn't the key? The only factor that has been

fairly predictable seems to be serotonin. Relaxation in a warm, sunny climate

(read: trip to the Caribbean, especially the one without the kids :^), the high

of starting a new relationship (and symptoms coming right back, worsened, after

vthat fizzled, sex, artificial bright light (like a sun bed) - what these all

seem to have in common is a good boost in serotonin levels, and they work like a

wonder-drug on my symptoms.

> >

> > It's been made abundantly clear that SCD is a slow cure etc, but shouldn't

there be some sign of improvement at the three-month mark? Or is there something

I'm missing?

> >

> > This is not meant to be a complaint, but rather a report of what I'm

experiencing. If anyone sees anything here that I'm missing, I'd be grateful to

hear.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Lilian

> > " IBS " -C 10 years, SCD 3 months

> >

>

[Guest guest]

In the BTVC, it says at least a year for celiac (before being symptom

free) then at least two or more for crohn's or uc. I don't think it's

easier for crohn's ;-). Each person is different. UC and Crohn's are

both inflammatory diseases.

Slower is better. It just takes some people longer depending on how

damaged you are when you start maybe.

Debbie 40 cd dx 3.02

> Alyssa,

> I am always impressed with your patience and initiative with SCD. I wish it

> were easier... for everyone.

> I think the teen years are hard.. with all the changes the body goes

> through. I hope things settle down for you soon.

>

> PJ

>

>

>> >

>> > Lilian,

>> >

>> > Please forgive me for not keeping track. I know you post fairly

>> > regularly, but I am not sure what all you have tried. I do know that my

>> > husband's symptoms were getting worse over a 3 month period in the

>> > beginning and not better. He did not have any faith in the diet, still

>> > doesn't have much but does know it does hold truths that he discovers

>> > the hard way! It took a round of steroids to help along with SCD to get

>> > things under control. He has battled getting sorted on SCD only and

>> > even after a year and 1/2, he is still needing some help, but less. The

>> > types of medications that help him is reversing its order. Used to use

>> > asacol suppositories, then it was asacol tablets, then it was

>> > prednisone, then it was 6MP, then back to prednisone, then it didn't

>> > work, the 6MP didn't work, and now with LDN the asacol suppositories are

>> > getting rid of the last bit of bleeding. His skin is showing eczema

>> > like it did in the beginning of his illness. I take all these

>> > as signs that he is healing because he is almost symptomless (except

>> > for the skin), and on only 1 asacol suppository a day. But let me be

>> > clear that he has had some form of bleeding, except for very few short

>> > periods, the entire last 18 months--enough to bring about near lack of

>> > control and frequent urgency (he would croak if he knew I was telling

>> > this! ).

>> >

>> > Some people have immediate improvement, others not. I totally do not

>> > blame you for questioning the diet, nor do I doubt your efforts. Maybe,

>> > though, you are stressing yourself because you don't see the help you

>> > think you should. That would be very like the reaction my husband

>> > had/is having. If the slightest increase in wind, frequency, blood

>> > happens, he is ready to give up and try a new drug. It sounds very much

>> > like you are doing your best, but maybe too much. Your bowels are

>> > trying to get accustomed to it's new flora balance. The foods you are

>> > mentioning are very high in fat -- nuts, fried eggs, cheese, avocado,

>> > etc. and that without veggies will lead to constipation, the

>> > bloated/distended feeling -- I HATE that feeling! I get so grumpy and

>> > fixated on a BM until it happens. : ) Don't forget about the warm

>> > water and lemon juice trick to see if that will help instead of the

>> > laxatives.

>> >

>> > Have you tried backing off and sort of starting over? Trying some plain

>> > chicken broth for two days then adding back in from there? Skip the

>> > yogurt, skip the eggs, and skip the nuts for now. After the two days

>> > (along with some epsom salt baths), try pureeing the cooked chicken into

>> > the broth for a couple of days. Then try adding peeled cooked zucchini

>> > into the chicken/broth puree for a couple of days, etc. Keep going with

>> > the broth, chicken and veggie soups -- all pureed -- until you have a

>> > good repetoire you know you can tolerate. Then, try taking one (chicken

>> > or one veggie) and eating it unpureed along with the soup/broth, chewing

>> > well, and seeing what happens. Once you know you can tolerate all of

>> > your repetoire of foods unpureed, then see about the eggs, yogurt, nuts

>> > -- in a slow manner. I suggest the eggs in only boiled form at first.

>> > If you can tolerate them, then try them in nut muffins -- but only use

>> > nut flour or nut butter so that they

>> > are as gentle as possible on the gut, not nuts as a snack in whole

>> > form. I would add the yogurt last only because a lot of people react to

>> > milk products. Again, I would drip it and start with like a teaspoonful

>> > and go up from there.

>> >

>> > Sorry if I suggest what you have already tried. My husband wouldn't do

>> > it slowly and I think he suffered a bit for it. Also, at first one's

>> > body is usually screaming for food because of the bacteria and the shift

>> > in the kind of primary energy it is getting (high starch carbs versus

>> > protein and veggie/fruit carbs). Once the body makes that conversion,

>> > the desparate hunger goes away and a little bit of perspective can

>> > return.

>> >

>> > Amelia

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > ________________________________

>> > From: liliholm <lilianhd@>

>> > To: BTVC-SCD

>> > Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 3:06:36 AM

>> > Subject: Time to throw in the towel?

>> >

>> >

>> > Hi all-

>> > I've been following SCD religiously for 3 months now, over the past few

>> > weeks adding candida-elimination guidelines to the mix. Judging how I

>> > feel now, I can't see any difference, really. I'm very distended

>> > (prego-belly) unless I forego food entirely for a few days.

>> >

>> > Distention is always there but varies in intensity, and there really are

>> > no clear patterns as to what seems to bring it on full force. Last night

>> > I was able to have dinner (fried egg, cooked tomato, some avocado)

>> > without the immeadiate upper abdominal distention. This morning I

>> > repeated the exact same meal, with bad effects. Food that I initially

>> > tolerated well (nut muffins, jello, honey, cheese etc) later didn't seem

>> > to agree with me. A food diary hasn't helped shed any light on this.

>> > Constipation has actually worsened, before SCD I was able to go once a

>> > day with laxatives, no it's every few days with laxatives, and stool is

>> > harder. This may be related to cutting out brown rice tortillas and most

>> > veggies.

>> >

>> > At three months my repertoire of foods eaten has shrunk, not evolved.

>> >

>> > So at this point my question is, does this seems like a situation where

>> > SCD isn't going to help? What could possibly be going on if bacteria

>> > (and possibly yeast) and the management of them isn't the key? The only

>> > factor that has been fairly predictable seems to be serotonin.

>> > Relaxation in a warm, sunny climate (read: trip to the Caribbean,

>> > especially the one without the kids :^), the high of starting a new

>> > relationship (and symptoms coming right back, worsened, after vthat

>> > fizzled, sex, artificial bright light (like a sun bed) - what these all

>> > seem to have in common is a good boost in serotonin levels, and they

>> > work like a wonder-drug on my symptoms.

>> >

>> > It's been made abundantly clear that SCD is a slow cure etc, but

>> > shouldn't there be some sign of improvement at the three-month mark? Or

>> > is there something I'm missing?

>> >

>> > This is not meant to be a complaint, but rather a report of what I'm

>> > experiencing. If anyone sees anything here that I'm missing, I'd be

>> > grateful to hear.

>> >

>> > Thanks,

>> >

>> > Lilian

>> > " IBS " -C 10 years, SCD 3 months

>> >

>>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Alyssa,My husband has UC. It was officially diagnosed about 9 years ago, but he was having problems long before that and didn't know it was UC. He smoked for a number of years and that kept the symptoms at bay for the most part until we got married, unexpectedly got pregnant within the first two months and then he started an 2 year MBA program a year after the baby was born. I think it was the stress and quitting smoking that really upset the apple cart, but still it was another 5 years before the official diagnosis.You are fifteen and you said it was only a year from diagnosis until you started SCD, but it could have been building for 13 years and you have not known it. My 23 year old nephew, I am convinced, has a big gut problem that has been going on for 22

years. I am sure if I sat him down to explain it, he would not believe me. He thinks he is 'normal.' But does it really matter how long it has been going on? Damage has occurred and it will take time to heal, and we both know healing is very individual. Sometimes it is necessary to carry on even though no progress is apparent. Sometimes our only clue to healing is that as we carry on there are no worsening of symptoms. For example, are your stools getting more formed and less frequent while still bleeding? Even if the bleeding stayed the same, this would constitute progress. My husband didn't recognize this. He was getting hung up on the fact that he was still bleeding 18 months later. He very nearly had stopped bleeding when he began using the asacol suppositories again. I once read a book regarding learning to like oneself. It required viewing oneself

in a full length mirror completely naked. It allowed one to view, think, and describe mentally only the things one found appealing no matter how small, and completely ignore those things we didn't like no matter how glaring we thought them. So, I learned to like the shape of my ears, the angle of my jaw, the curve of my neck, the twinkle in my eye when I was happy, and to ignore the slightly plumper than I wanted thighs and stomach, and the not so large breasts. I ended up with a better understanding of my assets and detractions and over all felt balanced and happy with myself. The same holds true in healing your health. Focus on the areas in which you see improvement, and temporarily ignore the areas that are stagnant. You will have a more positive mental outlook on your state of health; that will in turn have a calming affect on the rest of your body, which will promote continued healing. I know that you have

faith in the logic of the diet and that gives you hope, just go a little further and have a little faith in your body's recuperative process. The body is an amazing 'machine' made by an incredible creator. I don't pretend to understand more than a little bit, but I stand in awe of it's design and function. You will get there*, even if it doesn't look like it yet. AmeliaPS. 'There*' means a place where you feel healthy and can enjoy life. Note it not the same as perfection or "normal." And be careful with the definition of "normal" because it changes depending on who is defining it! ; )To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sun, January 31, 2010 4:27:03 AMSubject: Re: Time to throw in the towel?

Hi Amelia,

I was just wondering; does your husband have Crohns or UC or something else? It seems like he's had kind of a hard time, wheras others can just get on full SCD without intro or anything and be healed. I've heard that the SCD works better/faster for Crohns than UC, and I'm beginning to believe that. I have UC, and though I started the diet only a year after my first symptoms (a few months after diagnosis), it seems like I can't figure anything out! I know life isn't fair and all, and everyone's different, but sometimes it seems like it should be easier than this.

Alyssa

>

> Lilian,

>

> Please forgive me for not keeping track. I know you post fairly regularly, but I am not sure what all you have tried. I do know that my husband's symptoms were getting worse over a 3 month period in the beginning and not better. He did not have any faith in the diet, still doesn't have much but does know it does hold truths that he discovers the hard way! It took a round of steroids to help along with SCD to get things under control. He has battled getting sorted on SCD only and even after a year and 1/2, he is still needing some help, but less. The types of medications that help him is reversing its order. Used to use asacol suppositories, then it was asacol tablets, then it was prednisone, then it was 6MP, then back to prednisone, then it didn't work, the 6MP didn't work, and now with LDN the asacol suppositories are getting rid of the last bit of bleeding. His skin is showing eczema like it did in the beginning of his illness. I take all

these

> as signs that he is healing because he is almost symptomless (except for the skin), and on only 1 asacol suppository a day. But let me be clear that he has had some form of bleeding, except for very few short periods, the entire last 18 months--enough to bring about near lack of control and frequent urgency (he would croak if he knew I was telling this! ).

>

> Some people have immediate improvement, others not. I totally do not blame you for questioning the diet, nor do I doubt your efforts. Maybe, though, you are stressing yourself because you don't see the help you think you should. That would be very like the reaction my husband had/is having. If the slightest increase in wind, frequency, blood happens, he is ready to give up and try a new drug. It sounds very much like you are doing your best, but maybe too much. Your bowels are trying to get accustomed to it's new flora balance. The foods you are mentioning are very high in fat -- nuts, fried eggs, cheese, avocado, etc. and that without veggies will lead to constipation, the bloated/distended feeling -- I HATE that feeling! I get so grumpy and fixated on a BM until it happens. : ) Don't forget about the warm water and lemon juice trick to see if that will help instead of the laxatives.

>

> Have you tried backing off and sort of starting over? Trying some plain chicken broth for two days then adding back in from there? Skip the yogurt, skip the eggs, and skip the nuts for now. After the two days (along with some epsom salt baths), try pureeing the cooked chicken into the broth for a couple of days. Then try adding peeled cooked zucchini into the chicken/broth puree for a couple of days, etc. Keep going with the broth, chicken and veggie soups -- all pureed -- until you have a good repetoire you know you can tolerate. Then, try taking one (chicken or one veggie) and eating it unpureed along with the soup/broth, chewing well, and seeing what happens. Once you know you can tolerate all of your repetoire of foods unpureed, then see about the eggs, yogurt, nuts -- in a slow manner. I suggest the eggs in only boiled form at first. If you can tolerate them, then try them in nut muffins -- but only use nut flour or nut butter so that

they

> are as gentle as possible on the gut, not nuts as a snack in whole form. I would add the yogurt last only because a lot of people react to milk products. Again, I would drip it and start with like a teaspoonful and go up from there.

>

> Sorry if I suggest what you have already tried. My husband wouldn't do it slowly and I think he suffered a bit for it. Also, at first one's body is usually screaming for food because of the bacteria and the shift in the kind of primary energy it is getting (high starch carbs versus protein and veggie/fruit carbs). Once the body makes that conversion, the desparate hunger goes away and a little bit of perspective can return.

>

> Amelia

>

>

>

>

>

> ____________ _________ _________ __

> From: liliholm <lilianhd@.. .>

> To: BTVC-SCD@yahoogroup s.com

> Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 3:06:36 AM

> Subject: Time to throw in the towel?

>

>

> Hi all-

> I've been following SCD religiously for 3 months now, over the past few weeks adding candida-elimination guidelines to the mix. Judging how I feel now, I can't see any difference, really. I'm very distended (prego-belly) unless I forego food entirely for a few days.

>

> Distention is always there but varies in intensity, and there really are no clear patterns as to what seems to bring it on full force. Last night I was able to have dinner (fried egg, cooked tomato, some avocado) without the immeadiate upper abdominal distention. This morning I repeated the exact same meal, with bad effects. Food that I initially tolerated well (nut muffins, jello, honey, cheese etc) later didn't seem to agree with me. A food diary hasn't helped shed any light on this. Constipation has actually worsened, before SCD I was able to go once a day with laxatives, no it's every few days with laxatives, and stool is harder. This may be related to cutting out brown rice tortillas and most veggies.

>

> At three months my repertoire of foods eaten has shrunk, not evolved.

>

> So at this point my question is, does this seems like a situation where SCD isn't going to help? What could possibly be going on if bacteria (and possibly yeast) and the management of them isn't the key? The only factor that has been fairly predictable seems to be serotonin. Relaxation in a warm, sunny climate (read: trip to the Caribbean, especially the one without the kids :^), the high of starting a new relationship (and symptoms coming right back, worsened, after vthat fizzled, sex, artificial bright light (like a sun bed) - what these all seem to have in common is a good boost in serotonin levels, and they work like a wonder-drug on my symptoms.

>

> It's been made abundantly clear that SCD is a slow cure etc, but shouldn't there be some sign of improvement at the three-month mark? Or is there something I'm missing?

>

> This is not meant to be a complaint, but rather a report of what I'm experiencing. If anyone sees anything here that I'm missing, I'd be grateful to hear.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Lilian

> "IBS"-C 10 years, SCD 3 months

>

[Guest guest]

I can only say that my personal experience supports this. In my twenties I tried a strict yeast protocol but my brain needs carbs to function. I have tried to elimanate fruits many times for yeast but it never worked. However, as I had gradually improved my diet over time before SCD my yeast problems greatly improved.

Now on SCD it is probably I still have yeast but I am not eliminating fruit, honey, yogurt or any legal veggies. I am fortunate that I know my body pretty well and have been slowly healing over past twenty years and not getting worse.

But I have to agree, sometimes I think we are too harsh in trying to fix everything at once. I suspect my bodies inability to absorb nutriets because of gut problems is a primary problem, I have faith that over time with yogurt and elimination of disacharrides and polysacharrides my yeast will continued to diminish as it has over the years ... ie less fatigue, depression, brain fog, etc.

To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 6:45:05 AMSubject: Re: Time to throw in the towel?

Lilian,I'm going to suggest that you post a few days of your food diary for us to look at and see if we can spot anything that might give a clue.I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD, my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time than three months to clear up. Since diarrhea and constipation are opposite ends of the same spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.I can also tell you that eliminating most vegetables would do me in -- I wouldn't go at all, and it would be most uncomfortable.Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the stages, or in trying to add multiple other interventions / limitations like yeast prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.I read the Pecanbread list, and help out where I can. But one interesting theme I've been seeing is that parents are finding that while it takes longer, eliminating yeast by a balanced diet works better than using

extra strict protocols. Which is to say, some parents eliminated all fruit and all honey because of the belief that it fed yeast, and found out that their kids needed these carbs. There's a reason SCD is structured as a balanced diet -- but it's balance over time, and healing does take more time than most of us want to give it. My usual line is "G-d grant me patience... and grant it now!"

— Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

> I'm going to suggest that you post a few days of

> your food diary for us to look at and see if we

> can spot anything that might give a clue.

Thank you so much for offering to do this, I'll pots 3 day at the end of my

post.

> I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD,

> my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time

> than three months to clear up.

My concern is, I haven't really felt better. To be clear, the C isn't my biggest

concern, since at least I can use some form of laxative to help with that. What

bothers me the most is the abdominal distention I get after eating. I'm happy to

report that the stomach discomfort and out-of-control burping has been all but

eliminated since I've been taking HCl before eating (yeah!), but basically

eating makes me look (and feel, to the point of incontinence while running

(sorry abt the TMI, but somehow I suspect on this list details are ok :^) ) very

pregnant. And the fluid retention that goes hand in hand with this. All in all

adding about 6 or more pounds of fluid, gas and C.

Since diarrhea and

> constipation are opposite ends of the same

> spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.

Absolutely. Pimentel's theory of course is that some bacteria cause D, some

cause C.

> Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the

> stages, or in trying to add multiple other

> interventions / limitations like yeast

> prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.

This makes so much sense to me, thank you so much for pointing it out. Instead

of " going to war " against symptoms of imbalance one would perhaps be better off

helping elevate the level of health in the body so that it can restore its

homeostasis, including its microbial balance.

It feels like a relief not to think in terms of limiting one's diet more and

more and more, but rather gently lead it towards greater tolerance of the

healthful foods it needs in order to thrive.

And I know that for me, meditation and the other ways of

mentally/emotionally/spiritually feeling better I mentioned previously are

important for gut health. I'm looking forward to a trip to the Caribbean during

spring break; my gut are always so happy when I spend time in the sun :^).

So here are my past 3 days:

Saturday:

B; coffee with home-made coconut milk, 2 fried eggs, DCCC

L: leftover coffee (1/4 cup), yoghurt, apple sauce (felt worse after, suspect

the youghurt)

D: pork rib tips, squash, well cooked tomato, avocado

then- in a moment of despair and seized by cravings: one almond flour nut muffin

and cashew butter, scotch on the rocks (haven't had nut muffins in a loong time)

Sunday:

B: coffee, banana " pancake " (egg), applesauce, DCCC

L: chicken soup

D: ground beef patty, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomato, DCCC for taste

Monday

B: coffe, fried eggs, tomato, avocado

L: ground beef patty w/ legal mustard, squash, tomato

snack: small piece of Lara-bar

D: oven-baked chicken, eggplant, tomato, a few stalks of asparagus, 1/2 teaspoon

of cashew-butter (craving something good, some kind of dessert)

The above represents my departure from the candida-precautions I've been

observing lately, as well as my attempt to add a small amount of veggies

throughout the day. Other than that, it's fairly representative of what I've

been eating; meat, eggs, squash forming the bulk of the diet.

For some reason I didn't react well to most of the foods on the original intro

diet (cheesecake, even without honey), chicken soup, carrots, even yoghurt.

Ground beef patties and eggs are the safest bets for me.

Thank you so much for offering to take a look at this, thank so much to all who

replied, I value your help more than you know!

Lilian

" IBS " -C

[Guest guest]

Amelia,

you may well be right. I have used enzymes without much success, but perhaps

there's one you or someone else migth suggest that would specifically help

w/carbs?

Thanks!

Lilian " IBS " -C, SCD 3 1/2 months

>

> > I'm going to suggest that you post a few days of

> > your food diary for us to look at and see if we

> > can spot anything that might give a clue.

>

> Thank you so much for offering to do this, I'll pots 3 day at the end of my

post.

>

> > I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD,

> > my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time

> > than three months to clear up.

>

> My concern is, I haven't really felt better. To be clear, the C isn't my

biggest concern, since at least I can use some form of laxative to help with

that. What bothers me the most is the abdominal distention I get after eating.

I'm happy to report that the stomach discomfort and out-of-control burping has

been all but eliminated since I've been taking HCl before eating (yeah!), but

basically eating makes me look (and feel, to the point of incontinence while

running (sorry abt the TMI, but somehow I suspect on this list details are ok

:^) ) very pregnant. And the fluid retention that goes hand in hand with this.

All in all adding about 6 or more pounds of fluid, gas and C.

>

> Since diarrhea and

> > constipation are opposite ends of the same

> > spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.

>

> Absolutely. Pimentel's theory of course is that some bacteria cause D, some

cause C.

>

> > Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the

> > stages, or in trying to add multiple other

> > interventions / limitations like yeast

> > prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.

>

> This makes so much sense to me, thank you so much for pointing it out. Instead

of " going to war " against symptoms of imbalance one would perhaps be better off

helping elevate the level of health in the body so that it can restore its

homeostasis, including its microbial balance.

>

> It feels like a relief not to think in terms of limiting one's diet more and

more and more, but rather gently lead it towards greater tolerance of the

healthful foods it needs in order to thrive.

>

> And I know that for me, meditation and the other ways of mentally/emotionall

y/spiritually feeling better I mentioned previously are important for gut

health. I'm looking forward to a trip to the Caribbean during spring break; my

gut are always so happy when I spend time in the sun :^).

>

> So here are my past 3 days:

>

> Saturday:

> B; coffee with home-made coconut milk, 2 fried eggs, DCCC

> L: leftover coffee (1/4 cup), yoghurt, apple sauce (felt worse after, suspect

the youghurt)

> D: pork rib tips, squash, well cooked tomato, avocado

> then- in a moment of despair and seized by cravings: one almond flour nut

muffin and cashew butter, scotch on the rocks (haven't had nut muffins in a

loong time)

>

> Sunday:

> B: coffee, banana " pancake " (egg), applesauce, DCCC

> L: chicken soup

> D: ground beef patty, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomato, DCCC for taste

>

> Monday

> B: coffe, fried eggs, tomato, avocado

> L: ground beef patty w/ legal mustard, squash, tomato

> snack: small piece of Lara-bar

> D: oven-baked chicken, eggplant, tomato, a few stalks of asparagus, 1/2

teaspoon of cashew-butter (craving something good, some kind of dessert)

>

> The above represents my departure from the candida-precautions I've been

observing lately, as well as my attempt to add a small amount of veggies

throughout the day. Other than that, it's fairly representative of what I've

been eating; meat, eggs, squash forming the bulk of the diet.

>

> For some reason I didn't react well to most of the foods on the original intro

diet (cheesecake, even without honey), chicken soup, carrots, even yoghurt.

Ground beef patties and eggs are the safest bets for me.

>

> Thank you so much for offering to take a look at this, thank so much to all

who replied, I value your help more than you know!

>

> Lilian

> " IBS " -C

>

[Guest guest]

Some things that I noticed work for me with gas and bloating.

I not only eat yogurt but also have a refridgerated probiotic that is

cultured on peas and carrots and is only acidophilus. I have been

taking 2 of these probiotics 2 times a day in addition to the

yogurt. If sugar slips into my diet somehow, like if I miss reading

the ingredients on something and it turns out there is sugar in it, I

get extremely gasey and if I take the probiotics before I go to bed

it seems to help rectify the situation.

[Guest guest]

Lilian,I can't personally recommend any, but I hear this is a good brand http://www.houston-enzymes.com/ and it will at least give you information regarding the type of enzyme you would need for carbs.AmeliaHusband UC 9 years, SCD 19 monthsLDN 3mgTo:

BTVC-SCD Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 9:40:41 PMSubject: Re: Time to throw in the towel?

Amelia,

you may well be right. I have used enzymes without much success, but perhaps there's one you or someone else migth suggest that would specifically help w/carbs?

Thanks!

Lilian "IBS"-C, SCD 3 1/2 months

>

> > I'm going to suggest that you post a few days of

> > your food diary for us to look at and see if we

> > can spot anything that might give a clue.

>

> Thank you so much for offering to do this, I'll pots 3 day at the end of my post.

>

> > I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD,

> > my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time

> > than three months to clear up.

>

> My concern is, I haven't really felt better. To be clear, the C isn't my biggest concern, since at least I can use some form of laxative to help with that. What bothers me the most is the abdominal distention I get after eating. I'm happy to report that the stomach discomfort and out-of-control burping has been all but eliminated since I've been taking HCl before eating (yeah!), but basically eating makes me look (and feel, to the point of incontinence while running (sorry abt the TMI, but somehow I suspect on this list details are ok :^) ) very pregnant. And the fluid retention that goes hand in hand with this. All in all adding about 6 or more pounds of fluid, gas and C.

>

> Since diarrhea and

> > constipation are opposite ends of the same

> > spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.

>

> Absolutely. Pimentel's theory of course is that some bacteria cause D, some cause C.

>

> > Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the

> > stages, or in trying to add multiple other

> > interventions / limitations like yeast

> > prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.

>

> This makes so much sense to me, thank you so much for pointing it out. Instead of "going to war" against symptoms of imbalance one would perhaps be better off helping elevate the level of health in the body so that it can restore its homeostasis, including its microbial balance.

>

> It feels like a relief not to think in terms of limiting one's diet more and more and more, but rather gently lead it towards greater tolerance of the healthful foods it needs in order to thrive.

>

> And I know that for me, meditation and the other ways of mentally/emotionall y/spiritually feeling better I mentioned previously are important for gut health. I'm looking forward to a trip to the Caribbean during spring break; my gut are always so happy when I spend time in the sun :^).

>

> So here are my past 3 days:

>

> Saturday:

> B; coffee with home-made coconut milk, 2 fried eggs, DCCC

> L: leftover coffee (1/4 cup), yoghurt, apple sauce (felt worse after, suspect the youghurt)

> D: pork rib tips, squash, well cooked tomato, avocado

> then- in a moment of despair and seized by cravings: one almond flour nut muffin and cashew butter, scotch on the rocks (haven't had nut muffins in a loong time)

>

> Sunday:

> B: coffee, banana "pancake" (egg), applesauce, DCCC

> L: chicken soup

> D: ground beef patty, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomato, DCCC for taste

>

> Monday

> B: coffe, fried eggs, tomato, avocado

> L: ground beef patty w/ legal mustard, squash, tomato

> snack: small piece of Lara-bar

> D: oven-baked chicken, eggplant, tomato, a few stalks of asparagus, 1/2 teaspoon of cashew-butter (craving something good, some kind of dessert)

>

> The above represents my departure from the candida-precautions I've been observing lately, as well as my attempt to add a small amount of veggies throughout the day. Other than that, it's fairly representative of what I've been eating; meat, eggs, squash forming the bulk of the diet.

>

> For some reason I didn't react well to most of the foods on the original intro diet (cheesecake, even without honey), chicken soup, carrots, even yoghurt. Ground beef patties and eggs are the safest bets for me.

>

> Thank you so much for offering to take a look at this, thank so much to all who replied, I value your help more than you know!

>

> Lilian

> "IBS"-C

>

[Guest guest]

Reposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the time to

take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post) too see if you can

spot anything I'm doing wrong.

Feeling worse than ever (more C'd, more abdominal bloating) than ever. Now 3 1/2

months in on SCD.

Also, q question that's been on my mind. I received some comments on my low

vegetable intake, people questioning it or stating that they would feel very bad

without vegetables. I, too, am very concerned to be unable to tolerate fruit and

vegetables, but eating them causes my symptoms to increase. I thought the idea

was to try adding food gradually, and sticking with what is tolerated. For

example, I've largely given up on nut muffins (except for a slip-i-up on days

where it doesn't feel like it matters, since I'm constipated and bloated anyway)

.. So have I gotten this wrong, should I just press on with veggies even though I

don't seem to be digesting them?

Thanks for any help,

Lilian

" IBS " -C

> >

> > > I'm going to suggest that you post a few days of

> > > your food diary for us to look at and see if we

> > > can spot anything that might give a clue.

> >

> > Thank you so much for offering to do this, I'll pots 3 day at the end of my

post.

> >

> > > I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD,

> > > my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time

> > > than three months to clear up.

> >

> > My concern is, I haven't really felt better. To be clear, the C isn't my

biggest concern, since at least I can use some form of laxative to help with

that. What bothers me the most is the abdominal distention I get after eating.

I'm happy to report that the stomach discomfort and out-of-control burping has

been all but eliminated since I've been taking HCl before eating (yeah!), but

basically eating makes me look (and feel, to the point of incontinence while

running (sorry abt the TMI, but somehow I suspect on this list details are ok

:^) ) very pregnant. And the fluid retention that goes hand in hand with this.

All in all adding about 6 or more pounds of fluid, gas and C.

> >

> > Since diarrhea and

> > > constipation are opposite ends of the same

> > > spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.

> >

> > Absolutely. Pimentel's theory of course is that some bacteria cause D, some

cause C.

> >

> > > Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the

> > > stages, or in trying to add multiple other

> > > interventions / limitations like yeast

> > > prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.

> >

> > This makes so much sense to me, thank you so much for pointing it out.

Instead of " going to war " against symptoms of imbalance one would perhaps be

better off helping elevate the level of health in the body so that it can

restore its homeostasis, including its microbial balance.

> >

> > It feels like a relief not to think in terms of limiting one's diet more and

more and more, but rather gently lead it towards greater tolerance of the

healthful foods it needs in order to thrive.

> >

> > And I know that for me, meditation and the other ways of mentally/emotionall

y/spiritually feeling better I mentioned previously are important for gut

health. I'm looking forward to a trip to the Caribbean during spring break; my

gut are always so happy when I spend time in the sun :^).

> >

> > So here are my past 3 days:

> >

> > Saturday:

> > B; coffee with home-made coconut milk, 2 fried eggs, DCCC

> > L: leftover coffee (1/4 cup), yoghurt, apple sauce (felt worse after,

suspect the youghurt)

> > D: pork rib tips, squash, well cooked tomato, avocado

> > then- in a moment of despair and seized by cravings: one almond flour nut

muffin and cashew butter, scotch on the rocks (haven't had nut muffins in a

loong time)

> >

> > Sunday:

> > B: coffee, banana " pancake " (egg), applesauce, DCCC

> > L: chicken soup

> > D: ground beef patty, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomato, DCCC for taste

> >

> > Monday

> > B: coffe, fried eggs, tomato, avocado

> > L: ground beef patty w/ legal mustard, squash, tomato

> > snack: small piece of Lara-bar

> > D: oven-baked chicken, eggplant, tomato, a few stalks of asparagus, 1/2

teaspoon of cashew-butter (craving something good, some kind of dessert)

> >

> > The above represents my departure from the candida-precautions I've been

observing lately, as well as my attempt to add a small amount of veggies

throughout the day. Other than that, it's fairly representative of what I've

been eating; meat, eggs, squash forming the bulk of the diet.

> >

> > For some reason I didn't react well to most of the foods on the original

intro diet (cheesecake, even without honey), chicken soup, carrots, even

yoghurt. Ground beef patties and eggs are the safest bets for me.

> >

> > Thank you so much for offering to take a look at this, thank so much to all

who replied, I value your help more than you know!

> >

> > Lilian

> > " IBS " -C

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Reposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the time to take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post) too see if you can spot anything I'm doing wrong.The DCCC stands out to me. I know many people don't do well with dairy, even with the lactose removed, so that would be the first thing I'd try to do without. Also the coffee, just because it seems like caffeine isn't really good for anything. But again, that's just what stands out to me. Peace =)Alyssa 15 yoUC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Alyssa-

coffee is something I tolerate well, I have it every day and also on my " have to

not be mega-bloated so I'll only eat meat -patties " -days, and it works well for

me. I'd probably be more C'd without it, actually. But the DCCC is probably not

good; I accidentally had a bigger helping than usual yesterday and felt really

bad afterwards. I've suspected that and yoghurt for a while. If cheese is

supposed to be constipating, so should other forms of dairy too, right?

Lilian

>

> > Reposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the

> > time to take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post)

> > too see if you can spot anything I'm doing wrong.

>

>

> The DCCC stands out to me. I know many people don't do well with

> dairy, even with the lactose removed, so that would be the first thing

> I'd try to do without. Also the coffee, just because it seems like

> caffeine isn't really good for anything. But again, that's just what

> stands out to me.

>

> Peace =)

> Alyssa 15 yo

> UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008

> SCD June 2009 (restarted)

> Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

>

[Guest guest]

The dairy would explain it. Calcium is binding. The DCCC is helpful with intro

for people with D because it is binding, so I can see why it is giving you

trouble.

PJ

> >

> > > Reposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the

> > > time to take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post)

> > > too see if you can spot anything I'm doing wrong.

> >

> >

> > The DCCC stands out to me. I know many people don't do well with

> > dairy, even with the lactose removed, so that would be the first thing

> > I'd try to do without. Also the coffee, just because it seems like

> > caffeine isn't really good for anything. But again, that's just what

> > stands out to me.

> >

> > Peace =)

> > Alyssa 15 yo

> > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008

> > SCD June 2009 (restarted)

> > Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, yes it does look like I need to be more aware of the fact that intro SCD

seems a bit more geared towards D than C. So dairy would point towards why no

change in C. But why the continued bloating, no matter what I eat (SCD or not).

That's why I don't get. I don't expect to be cured by now :^), but I would have

hoped for, and frankly needed (in order to stay motivated) some little hint that

staying strict SCD is worth it for me.

Thanks!

Lilian

IBS-C

SCD 3 1/2 months

> > >

> > > > Reposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the

> > > > time to take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post)

> > > > too see if you can spot anything I'm doing wrong.

> > >

> > >

> > > The DCCC stands out to me. I know many people don't do well with

> > > dairy, even with the lactose removed, so that would be the first thing

> > > I'd try to do without. Also the coffee, just because it seems like

> > > caffeine isn't really good for anything. But again, that's just what

> > > stands out to me.

> > >

> > > Peace =)

> > > Alyssa 15 yo

> > > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008

> > > SCD June 2009 (restarted)

> > > Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The problem is resistant biofilms:http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/blog/Teasing the biofilm apart is an important component of a successful treatment program, especially in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease complex infections, autism, and other chronic conditions. If you are a patient and experience fevers, chills, or other chronic immune system activationsymptoms, or treatment-resistant intestinal symptoms ***********like bloating, gas, IBS, constipation alternating with diarrhea, or malabsorption************, I would highly recommend you speak with your local Fibro and Fatigue Center physician or integrated medicine doctor to address these issues—they are not likely to go away without focused treatment.____I'd keep the fruit and honey stuff low meanwhile, and no larabars - the dates in that is really bad for newbies. and cashew butter is not helping you - it's very sweet -and the bacteria/yeast etc. in those biofilms can absorb sugars from honey and dates and cashews very easily.try almond butter or pecan butter, if you have to. or maybe baking with coconutflour.Have you tried kale? Sauteed, for example. MaraReposting my post from a while back, to see if anyone would have the time to take a look at my food diary (at the very end of the post) too see if you can spot anything I'm doing wrong.Feeling worse than ever (more C'd, more abdominal bloating) than ever. Now 3 1/2 months in on SCD.Also, q question that's been on my mind. I received some comments on my low vegetable intake, people questioning it or stating that they would feel very bad without vegetables. I, too, am very concerned to be unable to tolerate fruit and vegetables, but eating them causes my symptoms to increase. I thought the idea was to try adding food gradually, and sticking with what is tolerated. For example, I've largely given up on nut muffins (except for a slip-i-up on days where it doesn't feel like it matters, since I'm constipated and bloated anyway) . So have I gotten this wrong, should I just press on with veggies even though I don't seem to be digesting them?Thanks for any help,Lilian"IBS"-CI'm going to suggest that you post a few days of your food diary for us to look at and see if we can spot anything that might give a clue.Thank you so much for offering to do this, I'll pots 3 day at the end of my post.I can tell you that while I felt better on SCD, my soft, mushy stool took quite a bit more time than three months to clear up. My concern is, I haven't really felt better. To be clear, the C isn't my biggest concern, since at least I can use some form of laxative to help with that. What bothers me the most is the abdominal distention I get after eating. I'm happy to report that the stomach discomfort and out-of-control burping has been all but eliminated since I've been taking HCl before eating (yeah!), but basically eating makes me look (and feel, to the point of incontinence while running (sorry abt the TMI, but somehow I suspect on this list details are ok :^) ) very pregnant. And the fluid retention that goes hand in hand with this. All in all adding about 6 or more pounds of fluid, gas and C. Since diarrhea and constipation are opposite ends of the same spectrum, one might expect the same to be true of it.Absolutely. Pimentel's theory of course is that some bacteria cause D, some cause C.Sometimes I think that in trying to follow the stages, or in trying to add multiple other interventions / limitations like yeast prevention, we actually continue the imbalance in our guts.This makes so much sense to me, thank you so much for pointing it out. Instead of "going to war" against symptoms of imbalance one would perhaps be better off helping elevate the level of health in the body so that it can restore its homeostasis, including its microbial balance.It feels like a relief not to think in terms of limiting one's diet more and more and more, but rather gently lead it towards greater tolerance of the healthful foods it needs in order to thrive.And I know that for me, meditation and the other ways of mentally/emotionall y/spiritually feeling better I mentioned previously are important for gut health. I'm looking forward to a trip to the Caribbean during spring break; my gut are always so happy when I spend time in the sun :^).So here are my past 3 days:Saturday:B; coffee with home-made coconut milk, 2 fried eggs, DCCCL: leftover coffee (1/4 cup), yoghurt, apple sauce (felt worse after, suspect the youghurt)D: pork rib tips, squash, well cooked tomato, avocadothen- in a moment of despair and seized by cravings: one almond flour nut muffin and cashew butter, scotch on the rocks (haven't had nut muffins in a loong time)Sunday:B: coffee, banana "pancake" (egg), applesauce, DCCCL: chicken soupD: ground beef patty, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomato, DCCC for tasteMondayB: coffe, fried eggs, tomato, avocadoL: ground beef patty w/ legal mustard, squash, tomatosnack: small piece of Lara-barD: oven-baked chicken, eggplant, tomato, a few stalks of asparagus, 1/2 teaspoon of cashew-butter (craving something good, some kind of dessert)The above represents my departure from the candida-precautions I've been observing lately, as well as my attempt to add a small amount of veggies throughout the day. Other than that, it's fairly representative of what I've been eating; meat, eggs, squash forming the bulk of the diet.For some reason I didn't react well to most of the foods on the original intro diet (cheesecake, even without honey), chicken soup, carrots, even yoghurt. Ground beef patties and eggs are the safest bets for me.Thank you so much for offering to take a look at this, thank so much to all who replied, I value your help more than you know!Lilian"IBS"-C------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

nner.

>

> Lemon meringue pie - or just the custard part.

>

> Since you can eat eggs and coconut milk:

>

> http://flog.cookingforceliacscolitiscrohnsandibs.com/category/coconut-milk/

This does look delic, thanks! Coconut flour made me very gassy when I tried it,

but maybe a smaller amount would work.

> It doesn't have to be bland - add herbs and spices and butter and make it

really good. SCD food

> can be delicious. Can you eat onions and/or garlic?

I didn't mean that SCD food per se is bland, but I'm basically stuck on my intro

:the meat. Chicken soup, cheesecake etc didn't agree with me so my intro ended

up being meat patties and fried eggs and that's where I am, almost 4 months

later. I think I may be especially distended and C'd right now because I've

tried to advance, adding a small amt of veggies to every meal, or perhaps it's

the DCCC I went back to trying, or whatever it is beyond the plain meat patties.

I also stopped using honey, jello etc. SO that's why it's bland, not because of

SCD. I have the cookbook and the recipes look delicious, but they affect me juts

as badly as non-SCD food does.

> When I started out, I had delicious veggie/herb omelets every morning.

> Can you eat smoked salmon? That's yum, too.

Well, I'm not much of a cook, could never produce a " delicious omelet " , LOL. But

I have fried eggs every morning, and putting cheese on makes them very good. BUt

lately I've been avoiding cheese because of it's reputation as a constipator. I

don't eat smoked salmon because of the salt content; one of my main symptoms is

fluid retention that always goes hand in hand with the distention, so I avoid

salt.

Thank you so much for the input!

Lilian

[Guest guest]

>

> What kinds of things di8d you like to eat before

> SCD that did not include starch and sugar?

Meat, eggs, fish. I can still eat those. It's the non-SCD foods that used to add

some flavor to my day, I guess.

My diet pre-SCD was not a typical SAD diet, but I did eat brown rice products,

chocolate and didn't peruse labels about small amts of sugar and other illegals.

Lilian

[Guest guest]

I didn't mean that SCD food per se is bland, but I'm basically stuck on my intro :the meat. Chicken soup, cheesecake etc didn't agree with me so my intro ended up being meat patties and fried eggs and that's where I am, almost 4 months later. I think I may be especially distended and C'd right now because I've tried to advance, adding a small amt of veggies to every meal, or perhaps it's the DCCC I went back to trying, or whatever it is beyond the plain meat patties. I also stopped using honey, jello etc. SO that's why it's bland, not because of SCD. I have the cookbook and the recipes look delicious, but they affect me juts as badly as non-SCD food does.When I started out, I had delicious veggie/herb omelets every morning. Can you eat smoked salmon? That's yum, too. Well, I'm not much of a cook, could never produce a "delicious omelet", LOL. I just fry up some veggies/fresh herbs in butter first and then add scrambledup eggs - with grated cheese if you want some. And then scramblethem together - unless I am going for a more formal omelet if I amin the mood, or if there is company, etc. But I have fried eggs every morning, and putting cheese on makes them very good. BUt lately I've been avoiding cheese because of it's reputation as a constipator. I don't eat smoked salmon because of the salt content; one of my main symptoms is fluid retention that always goes hand in hand with the distention, so I avoid salt.Have you tried miralax? Does that work for you?Kim uses that. Myself, I'd probably be tempted to do occasionalenemas, if nothing else was working, until thingsnormalized more. The thing is, you are probablyhaving all kinds of toxins released into yoursystem by die off at this point, which are making you feel worse since you are not expelling them regularly.Are you feeling tired, and achy? Or having headaches?Those are signs of die off. Plus, the lingering C, itself can bea sign. But, you could say, C is not really my area of expertise,so I'll leave dealing with that to others. Mara

[Guest guest]

looser. My problem is motility, it seems. Since SCD my stool has become very

hard, so I think that's what's increasing the C.

My symtoms seem consistent with low serotonin levels, but apart from recalled

meds that I'd be sacred to use I find it hard to find info on how to increase

intestinal levels on Serotonin. There is much more info on Serotonin and the

brain.

> Myself, I'd probably be tempted to do occasional

> enemas, if nothing else was working, until things

> normalized more.

Enemas never helped me either. I even tried one of those colonic irrigations

(mechanical enemas, really) once, and I reacted very badly to it (more bloating,

immediately). I've tried repeated enemas in the past, couldn't get things going

no matter what.

> The thing is, you are probably

> having all kinds of toxins released into your

> system by die off at this point, which are making

> you feel worse since you are not expelling them

> regularly.

>

> Are you feeling tired, and achy? Or having headaches?

> Those are signs of die off. Plus, the lingering C, itself can be

> a sign.

No signs of die-off at all. A little more tired because of the season (live in

northern IL) and low-normal thyroid hormone levels, but absolutely nothing that

sounds/seems like die-off.

> But, you could say, C is not really my area of expertise,

> so I'll leave dealing with that to others.

Yeah, we tend to have " expertise " in either one or the other, don't we :^)?!

Thanks!

Lilian

IBS-C

[Guest guest]

At 06:59 AM 2/5/2010, you wrote:

I don't eat smoked salmon

because of the salt content; one of my main symptoms is fluid retention

that always goes hand in hand with the distention, so I avoid

salt.

Lilian,

As you may know, I battle with lymphedema because they removed a bunch of

lymph nodes during my cancer surgery in 2008.

I do exercises to get the fluid circulating. But even that wasn't helping

my feet and lower legs. (When your feet are so puffy you can't get them

into a pair of open-toed sandals...!)

Literally, just this week, I was messing around with when and how much of

what supplement I was taking, trying to find something which would work,

and I stumbled on l-taurine, an amino acid which I have used for years.

The recommendation was to take taurine on an empty stomach, so I did. And

discovered that one of the things taurine does is help you to retain

potassium and magnesium in your cells, and to excrete sodium.

My feet and legs still swell, but not nearly so much. (They have been, on

multiple occasions, so swollen the skin was painfully

stretched.)

You might check with a health care practitioner about getting training in

handling the fluid retention, ie, circulating it past the gut area so it

can be disposed of.

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

At 07:04 AM 2/5/2010, you wrote:

Meat, eggs, fish. I can still

eat those. It's the non-SCD foods that used to add some flavor to my day,

I guess.

Then what you need to do is find a way to recreate the taste sensations

without the junk.

What spices and herbs do you enjoy? Any ethnic cuisines?

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

Lillian,

I have always loved spicy foods and I was thrilled to find I could grind up my own dried hot peppers that I found in the store and add them to intro foods and it really helped with the boredom factor.

I used to sautee ground meat and add tomatoes and zucchini and add grated cheddar cheese and the hot peppers at the end. I could eat that 'till the cows came home. It felt like spaghetti without the pasta.

Elaine allows peppers, that includes dried hot peppers. In fact, I believe mara wrote they have been shown to help with IBD--the capsaicin in the hot peppers is shown to be beneficial.

Terry

[Guest guest]

Lillian,

I'm sure you've done this but just in case.... have you tried cooking

the mildest of veggies a lot...very soft... and then pureeing? This

really does help in a lot of cases where you are having trouble

breaking them down. Same with fruit. Or, how about smoothies to get

some veggies and fruits in? Alyssa has some neat smoothie ideas she uses.

And I would second, or third, seeing how you do without dairy. I'd

be horribly C if I were eating milk products of any kind.

[Guest guest]

Skipping Larabars, yoghurt and cashew butter; is there *anything* at all I could eat when I'd like to taste something good?Fruit smoothie? Those are basically my dessert, since I'm not eating honey =) Also, I made a whole chicken from scratch the other day (aren't you guys proud of me??) and the skin got super crispy and it was AMAZING. I put butter and marjoram and salt on it, and baked it at 350 (I think) for a little over an hour. Super greasy goodness =D Peace =)Alyssa 15 yoUC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)