Re: 3 month flare-up

[Guest guest]

,

A flare up of symptoms at this point is very typical. I'm wondering if you might

have to increase the dosage again.... just a little bit.... on his

prednisolone.... just to get through this. If you've been using illegals (the

commercial baby foods), then eliminating them may have augmented additional

die-off at this time. The illegals in the current probiotic may still undermine

your ability to make headway.... so I know you're sticking with it for good

reason, but I sure wish there was a way for them to make that particular product

without the inulin, darn it. It's hard to know what effects that could have....

but I realise that for now, the benefits may outweigh the negatives for him.

If you are seeing blood in his stool at the moment, I personally would feel

inclined to pull out anything that could have the slightest fibrous texture....

I'm think of the herbs. I wouldn't advise oregano for someone new to the diet

(and you still are, at only barely 3 months in).... unless it could be something

you cook with, but then pull out. I just feel like it's sort of " woody " or

" twiggy " in texture. I also am certain I would not advise the use of cilantro

for someone new to the diet. This is also something you might be able to put

whole sprigs into a cooking pot.... but then pull them out. You'd still get the

flavors.

Are you pureeing his vegetables? I understand that he might object to that

big-time.... but I almost feel like because of the flare, I would treat this

like someone with a bad case of the flu, and resort to very bland, very soft,

plain foods. Maybe do like an " intro " chicken soup with all those veggies he's

used to eating.... but whir it all up with a hand blender and have him just

drink his meal. Maybe not the most fun.... but it would be easier on the gut.

The broth from the soup is SO healing, too.

I'll admit, I don't have as much experience helping kids with more severe forms

of GI disorders, like your son has.... so I just don't know how potentially

long a flare could last for him. If this was just a typical die-off flare at 3

months, I'd just pat you on the shoulder and say not to worry.... that it might

last a week and then all would be well. In your case, I just honestly don't

know. I wish I could help more.

Epsom salts baths will help with any flu-ish, achey feelings.... those kinds of

die-off symptoms.... but for the GI symptoms, I think the chicken broth is a

MUST.... and maybe the Electrolyte Drink from Elaine's website.

Patti

3 month flare-up

Our 8yo ds has severe UC, and has been on SCD since just before

Halloween. We've seen great improvement, and were able to avoid

surgery which was being urged upon us by his doctor after 2

transfusions in Sept and Nov. Over the past 3 months he's continued

to improve, went from 10-15 movements/day to 2/day, but has always had

some b and m in his stools. We've been tapering him on prednisolone

(down to 10.5mg/day), and he's also on 1500 mg of azulfidine/day. He

also takes Culturelle, which we know is not allowed, but we've had

terrible problems changing probiotics and feel for now we need to stay

with this, which seems to help. His last bloodwork in late December

came back normal, with a rbc of 12.7 (after a low of 7.4), which was a

huge relief.

This week, he got a scratchy throat and then a really runny nose, his

first illness (other than UC) since the summer. His movements became

more frequent, with much more b than we've seen in a while. He also

reported pain for the 1st time in months. My dh and I are very

anxious because of how sick he was before he started the diet, where

the last big flare became really terrible over the course of just a

few days.

Here's what he's eating: plain roast chicken, chicken baked with

olive oil, lemon juice, fresh cilantro; cod and salmon prepared in

olive oil and lemon juice with dried dill or oregano; cooked carrots

and thin green beans. The only change in his diet over the past week

is that we stopped giving him commercial organic baby pear or pears

and raspberries, and introduced homemade pear/raspberry sauce (with

seeds removed).

He's never had milk products, so our doctor recommends we don't try

yogurt until he's off the pred. He's anaphylactic to peanuts and tree

nuts, so those will always be out. He also has tested positive to

eggs in the past so we avoid those too. As I write this I'm sauteeing

onions and spinach and he's begging for some, so he tasted little of

that today with his chicken (but didn't like it much).

I've been reading on this list about die-off -- could this be it? If

so, how long might it last? Is there anything else we can do to help

him through this?

Thanks in advance --

(celiac) mom to 8yo ds with UC since 4/05, SCD since 11/06

[Guest guest]

Activated charcoal can help as can epsin salts baths. Also, it may help for him

to go back to the intro diet for a couple of days. More than likely, this is

the common three month die off.

Meleah

3 month flare-up

Our 8yo ds has severe UC, and has been on SCD since just before

Halloween. We've seen great improvement, and were able to avoid

surgery which was being urged upon us by his doctor after 2

transfusions in Sept and Nov. Over the past 3 months he's continued

to improve, went from 10-15 movements/day to 2/day, but has always had

some b and m in his stools. We've been tapering him on prednisolone

(down to 10.5mg/day), and he's also on 1500 mg of azulfidine/day. He

also takes Culturelle, which we know is not allowed, but we've had

terrible problems changing probiotics and feel for now we need to stay

with this, which seems to help. His last bloodwork in late December

came back normal, with a rbc of 12.7 (after a low of 7.4), which was a

huge relief.

This week, he got a scratchy throat and then a really runny nose, his

first illness (other than UC) since the summer. His movements became

more frequent, with much more b than we've seen in a while. He also

reported pain for the 1st time in months. My dh and I are very

anxious because of how sick he was before he started the diet, where

the last big flare became really terrible over the course of just a

few days.

Here's what he's eating: plain roast chicken, chicken baked with

olive oil, lemon juice, fresh cilantro; cod and salmon prepared in

olive oil and lemon juice with dried dill or oregano; cooked carrots

and thin green beans. The only change in his diet over the past week

is that we stopped giving him commercial organic baby pear or pears

and raspberries, and introduced homemade pear/raspberry sauce (with

seeds removed).

He's never had milk products, so our doctor recommends we don't try

yogurt until he's off the pred. He's anaphylactic to peanuts and tree

nuts, so those will always be out. He also has tested positive to

eggs in the past so we avoid those too. As I write this I'm sauteeing

onions and spinach and he's begging for some, so he tasted little of

that today with his chicken (but didn't like it much).

I've been reading on this list about die-off -- could this be it? If

so, how long might it last? Is there anything else we can do to help

him through this?

Thanks in advance --

(celiac) mom to 8yo ds with UC since 4/05, SCD since 11/06

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. My husband made chicken soup this

afternoon, and I raised the pred a little bit this AM before posting, so it is

nice to know our instincts may be on target here. We'll also figure something

out about the herbs, that was a good thought. I'll let you know how it goes.

On the good side, he has a lot of energy and is in good spirits, so we know he's

ok for the moment. Just don't want things to get any worse.