How helpful is a specific diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in the last

two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was really just

hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify the cause of the

problem. But.....

My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of my

problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset of

digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is this type

of diet?

Thanks!

Food aversions

Unable to digest greens

Bloated

[Guest guest]

It is important to know the cause and also to rule out something more serious.

It is important to know what is going on. SCD helps a lot of conditions, but

there are others that would require specific treatment, like infections, polyps,

and even colon cancer. Once you know what it is, or even if they can't tell you

what it is...what it is NOT.. then you can treat it.

PJ

>

> Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in the last

two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was really just

hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify the cause of the

problem. But.....

>

>

> My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of my

problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset of

digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is this type

of diet?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Food aversions

> Unable to digest greens

> Bloated

>

[Guest guest]

> Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in the last

two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was really just

hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify the cause of the

problem. But.....

>

>

> My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of my

problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset of

digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is this type

of diet?

IN a nutshell, sometimes the diet is sufficient, sometimes

it gets more complicated and the more information, the

better able to heal, because you have to deal with multiple

issues.

It really depends on what is going on - and without a diagnosis,

you are going to have a limit to your information.

You could try the diet and see if it works, and if it doesn't deal

with everything then decide to explore your health issues in

more depth.

OTOH, I personally feel that it is better to have a firm diagnosis in hand -

though not everyone gets one, even after seeing a doctor. But,

information is power for people who can be diagnosed.

As I said, it really depends on your symptoms, which you don't mention.

Why the hesitancy about going to see a doctor in the first place?

Mara

[Guest guest]

Hey ,Great question. I always think that the more information you have about your health and what is going on with you, the better. That is always my policy. You never know what you might be missing or over looking

however, that said, my situation with my digestive problems is a little unusual I think, in terms of my history. My doctors were completely incompetent, were not helpful in seeking a diagnosis, ignored symptoms I described, were misled in wrong directions, complicated by misuse of bad tests, and when severely ill, I (knock on wood) was extremely lucky to find the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and was able from what I learned in reading about the SCD, my history, experience, research, and knowledge, to understand and ascertain exactly what was going on and that the SCD would help, and lord knows it did!!!

I never ended up going for a colonoscopy, (yet (I might want to get cancer screened)), which I think is somewhat rare for IBDers. I did not do it, although a legal diagnosis sure would have come in handy several times, mainly because it A: would NOT have effected how I was treating my condition, as the diet was working, and I did not want to try meds because I understood that most would aggrevate adrenal problems, and my adrenals were so severely in hyperplasia, I knew I could not do that, and B: I am a severe abuse victim, including some sexual abuse, and the concept of doing a colonoscopy does things just thinking about it to me that I would rather not describe.

I did eventually consult with a somewhat competent MD for other reasons, who did agree with me that I had IBD, and tried to help me with it, but I had to pay out of pocket to see him, and only saw him once.Now, whenever I see a new doctor, who isn't a non-mainstream and competent physician, to defend myself against them giving me grief, or trying to force me into doing a colonoscopy, or just totally losing respect for me and not giving me any credibility whenever I deal with them, I just tell them I have " stomach problems " and am on a special diet. It's called the SCD, have you heard of it? That has kept me out of trouble so far. My latest PCP just said when he was filling out my history: " so.... shall we put down Celiac? " " uh, sure.... " I said, thinking to myself I wonder what this will mean, knowing I've had symptoms considered much worse than just Celiac, including a little bit of Crohn's symptoms... and, considering technically your not supposed to give a legal diagnosis of Celiac without a I think it's called a biopsy. But the doctors I've dealt with are so incompetent and ignorant they just go along with " stomach problems " and " special diet " , instead of trying to figure out if they can find some way to be helpful...

I'm sorry to ramble about myself, but I'm just letting you know of my example and experience with this issue, although I think it's been an extreme one. Again, I really believe the more information you can get about what is going on with your body and health, the better. However, I found in my case, I had to take on a large amount of responsibility for that, and thank God was fairly prepared and able to do that. It all really comes down to how much responsibility you want to take in analyzing your own health, how comfortable you are with doing that, how much time and energy you can contribute to that, and how much risk you want to absorb with that.

I never advocate completely turning responsibility for your health over to another person, even a doctor. That I consider very risky, and a bad concept. However, there is always a large amount of risk taking on things completely yourself. I always believe in safety first. And, minimizing risk.

If, in taking care of yourself, you want to seek advice of, consult with, and get information from health professionals, I think, with great healthy questioning of anything they might say or do, and independent research on your own, that that is always a potentially good idea.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure :)You may never be able to find out what specifically caused your digestive problems, but you may be able to figure out exactly what is dysfunctioning. And, knowing not enough about your symptoms, I can tell you however that there is no one-size-fits all digestive disorder, and though SCD works great for many in many ways, there is no one-size-fits all solution. Frequently, with whatever is going on, you may be experiencing subtle differentiations and complications, which sometimes will clear up with everything else when properly treated, and sometimes may need extra attention.

Also, i can offer you fair warning on what experience you might have with, advice, and information you might receive from, especially from mainstream Western medicine practitioners. Oh boy, can they be wrong sometimes!!! they can pressure you into doing things that are real bad for you, and they can completely mislead you. Personally, I think it is most useful to consult with them when you are having trouble getting all the information you want/need yourself, cannot find/afford someone better, and they might be able to provide you with some data or what I like to refer to as " hints " . But I would _always_ double check what they say with other sources, like getting a 'second opinion', but from a real different type of source.

I don't trust health care professionals much at all anymore, at least any I've met, I trust ones who's books and papers I've read sometimes, but i still consult with them once in a while for more information and 'hints'. But I'm an extreme case. Not everyone has the situation i do to be able to take as much responsibility for my own health knowledge as I have. I think fortunately, not everyone else has had to.

Best wishes! And I continue to encourage you to increase your knowledge and seek out health, and alternative medicine :)p.s. what the doctor in the emergency room said to me in parting years ago when they couldn't figure out what was going on: " Good luck. "

  

Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in the last two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was really just hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify the cause of the problem. But.....

My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of my problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset of digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is this type of diet?

Thanks!

Food aversions

Unable to digest greens

Bloated

[Guest guest]

My initial work up was not very pleasant as well. Still, even if you don't know

what you have, there is benefit in knowing what you don't have.

Not getting a colonoscopy is a personal choice and a personal risk. In my case,

I was over 50. My dad had colon cancer, but they caught it early and he was

surgically cured. So I was quick to get scoped, and greatly relieved to know

that I did not have colon cancer, thank G-d.

I agree that we should not put our health entirely into one person's hands. We

have to work at being healthy too. However, SCD was not designed as a substitute

for medical care, but to work with it.

I think SCD is blessing, but conventional medicine can offer many life saving

procedures and treatments as well. Stay informed of all your options.

PJ

>

> >

> >

>

>

> > Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in

> > the last two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was

> > really just hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify

> > the cause of the problem. But.....

> >

> > My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of

> > my problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset

> > of digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is

> > this type of diet?

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Food aversions

> > Unable to digest greens

> > Bloated

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

They can't tell for sure--from what I've read if you have IBD--without scoping you.  If it still needs to be determined, they do a Prometheus test to rule out Celiac and determine UC or Crohn's.  That's what they did with me anyway.

 

The only downfall would be pre-existing conditions for insurance purposes.  Since you've already had documentation on several records and some tests then they would probably jump on that right off.  They went back five years (supposedly, I think they went as far back as possible since I had the same doctor for so long) and they saw one note saying 'possible IBS' from a long, long time ago.  It was like a never-ending battle *but*...I would find out because if you have polyps or need anti-inflammatory medicines or just need to avoid the celiac foods/products--you could get better fast once you have an idea what's going on.  You don't want to get better then relapse later because of something unknown.  And ruling out something extremely serious would be a weight off.

 

Good luck, tough decisions right now.

 

Debbie 41 cd

 

My initial work up was not very pleasant as well. Still, even if you don't know what you have, there is benefit in knowing what you don't have.Not getting a colonoscopy is a personal choice and a personal risk. In my case, I was over 50. My dad had colon cancer, but they caught it early and he was surgically cured. So I was quick to get scoped, and greatly relieved to know that I did not have colon cancer, thank G-d.

I agree that we should not put our health entirely into one person's hands. We have to work at being healthy too. However, SCD was not designed as a substitute for medical care, but to work with it. I think SCD is blessing, but conventional medicine can offer many life saving procedures and treatments as well. Stay informed of all your options.

PJ

> > >> >> > > > Although I've had digestive problems for 15 months, it's only been in

> > the last two weeks that I've acknowledged the extent of the problem. I was> > really just hoping this would go away or the doctor could easily identify> > the cause of the problem. But.....

> >> > My question: Is it a waste of time/money to try and identify the source of> > my problem? Do people find, in general, that the reason for the sudden onset> > of digestive woes is irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is

> > this type of diet?> >> > Thanks!> > > > Food aversions> > Unable to digest greens> > Bloated> >> > > >>

[Guest guest]

At 09:30 PM 4/26/2010, you wrote:

My question: Is it a waste of

time/money to try and identify the source of my problem? Do people find,

in general, that the reason for the sudden onset of digestive woes is

irrelevent - that despite the cause, the solution is this type of diet?

Although I tend to be a bit suspicious of the medical community, since I

dealt with gut issues for 25 years with no resolution, there is a point

at which we may need their clinical experience, in order to deal with

things which we, on our own, can't.

I believe that the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is an extremely healthy

diet, and whatever else you may end up doing for your digestive issues,

it is the best foundation you can have. It may be the only thing you need

to do, or you may need something additional.

But you need to rule out certain things, among them, the possibility of

cancer, to which people with gut issues are more susceptible than

most.

I am particular conscious of the cancer issue, because in 2007, I had

post-menopausal bleeding and severe gut-cramps. My then PCP dismissed it,

saying I didn't have a UTI, to just go home and take my little herbals

for the cramping.

I didn't. I looked up a gynecologist (hadn't been to one in 30 years

because of a very bad experience with one, which was, on my part, a

mistake). She did an examination, ran some tests, and told me I had

endometrial cancer. She referred me to an oncologist, and I had

major surgery two years ago in April. So far, I'm doing great,

tests all negative. But if I had just stayed home and continued with my

herbals, I might now being dying of cancer.

In my case, a specific diagnosis was critical.

OTOH, my oncologist was stunned by how well I did after the surgery -- no

infection, no wound separation, didn't need a transfusion, etc. etc. And

all of that is due to the good health I have from the Specific

Carbohydrate Diet.

In this situation, proper medical care AND the SCD worked

together.

That's why a diagnosis can be a good thing.

(Oh, yeah, my grandmother died of complications of diverticulitis. My mom

suffered with it. It's " the family disease. " But, when I had a

colonoscopy in January of 2009, there was no sign of that " family

disease. " My gut looked so great, the gastro didn't even bother to

do any biopsies.) GO SCD!

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

Babette the Foundling Beagle