2 months on diet and seeing increase in symptoms

January 6, 2007

Our 8 yo son with severe UC has been on the diet for 2 months, and

over the past 2 weeks we've been seeing a gradual increase in the

bleeding, which never entirely went away but had subsided a great

deal. He's still only having 2-4 movements in the morning (down

from 10-15 day and night mvts), but the later ones have b and m.

The first movement of the day sometimes has form, but mostly it's

loose.

Before starting SCD he was bleeding so much he needed 2 transfusions

over 6 weeks and the doctor was encouraging us to take out his

colon. Since beginning the diet he's improved a lot, gained back

weight, his latest blood work came back entirely normal. He is also

on prednisolone (15mg/day, hoping to taper) and azulfidine (1500

mg/day).

Because the bleeding has been getting worse I'm getting very

concerned, probably because he was so very sick just a short time

ago. I've been reading here about the 3-month die-off, but wondered

if others seen an increase in symptoms after about 2 months? I

should also note he started back to school part-time this week for

the first time since early September. Other than the b he's great,

has energy, playing with friends again, and enjoying school.

Should I try to get him to do the intro diet again? He'll hate it,

but if it may help I can try.

Right now he's eating chicken (usually baked with lemon, olive oil,

and cilantro), salmon and cod (baked with lemon, olive oil and

oregano), very ripe pears without the skin, canteloupe (also very

ripe), very well-cooked broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and zucchini

from a frozen blend. He's eating huge amounts of chicken and fish

each day, and will eat 5-6 pears a day if we let him.

The prednisolone syrup probably has sugar in it, and it may take us

12 weeks to wean him from it. His doctor said we could switch to

the pills -- are they any better?

Thanks for any suggestions.

(celiac) 8 yo ds w/UC since 4/05, SCD 11/06

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