Re: diet and severe IBD ~ can it work?

[Guest guest]

Hi Dorcas,

Please have your sister join us. She will " meet " many supportive people who will

help her here. I know she feels discouraged, but the people here won't blow her

off.

We can't make promises as everyone is different. Some use diet alone, others use

diet and medication. SCD has to be done 100% to work, and sometimes has to be

adjusted to the individual. Everyone progress at a different rate, and may

respond differently, but many find much improvement on SCD and are glad we did

it.

Let your sister know that many here will do their best to help her, and she will

learn a lot from this group.

PJ

>

> Hi Guys,

>

> I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD

symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and

torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in the

process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for endoscopy/colonoscopy

etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off and on for the last two

years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last FIVE MONTHS. It is getting

scary, to the point where I fear losing my sister.

>

> She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking his

sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has been

looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious cycle " book,

read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is willing to try it. In

fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close). The thing is, she is still

suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

>

> What I'm wanting to know is this:

> How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you feel

" I'm getting better " ?

>

> Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system calmed

down and then go on the diet?

>

> Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

>

> What has been your experience????

>

> You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the fact

is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels her only

option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

> I can't let that happen.

>

> Please help if you can.

>

> Dorcas

>

[Guest guest]

At 01:14 PM 9/7/2010, you wrote:

I'm wondering if any of you have

been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD symptoms (specifically bloody

diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and torrential mucus) with the

SCD ?

The lady who was my mentor in the diet was told, when she was diagnosed

with Crohn's, that her gut looked like bloody lace. 14 months of

fanatical adherence to SCD later, her doctor said that if he had not

diagnosed her himself, he would not have believed she was the same

patient. Because her gut was healed.

SCD isn't an easy diet -- you can help, Dorcas, by preparing food for her

and encouraging her to stick with it. My friend was having something like

14 movements a day. Her Mom made a lot of her food until she was feeling

better.

My friend stuck with it because she didn't want them yanking important

body parts.

Be sure to have her keep a food diary, because often, one feels better,

but because one isn't perfectly healed, there's a tendency to discount

the effects of the diet, until you look back at the diary and realize how

much better things are doing now than they were a few weeks or months

before.

Some people do need medication along with the diet. Others manage with

just the diet. There's no shame is needing some help to get her over the

tough spots. It's wonderful of you to look for a way to help

her.

—

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

[Guest guest]

> Hi Guys,

>

> I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD

symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and

torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in the

process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for endoscopy/colonoscopy

etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off and on for the last two

years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last FIVE MONTHS. It is getting

scary, to the point where I fear losing my sister.

>

> She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking his

sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has been

looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious cycle " book,

read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is willing to try it. In

fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close). The thing is, she is still

suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are very ill at

the beginning of the diet.

It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over night - it

takes time - and the sicker you

are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because it is

natural, internal healing, not

a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process - a

journey - not something that

works instantly.

>

> What I'm wanting to know is this:

> How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you feel

" I'm getting better " ?

>

> Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system calmed

down and then go on the diet?

You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very sick

people, it's recommended to be

on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along.

>

> Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds, then

you'll respond even

if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal satisfactorily.

>

> What has been your experience????

Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

>

> You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the fact

is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels her only

option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.

Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she hasn't

been on the diet long

and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being driven by

bacteria living in her gut.

Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't want

her off of sugar and gluten

and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections there

are between

brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are depressing the

neural

connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back to

their regular diet.

Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or

intestinal condition, this

very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect.

Mara

[Guest guest]

Hello, My name is , My Husband Barney was diag. with Ulcerative Colitis 4

months ago, He has been on the diet 6 and half wks , Before the scd , he had

been in Hospital 3 times in once in May and 2 times in June 2010. IV steriods ,

IV antibiotics, many other meds. Tried 2 other diets they did not work. The Dr's

wanted to take his colon out. Then, I found SCD 7 wks ago, Cook pots and pots of

chicken soup with chicken parts you can get at Sprouts Grocery or elsewhere .

Please help her cook , I have no one to help me cook and the first two or three

wks can be tiring . Husband was on 40 mg steroid a day May, June, July , and

into Aug. Now, he has done so well on the SCD he is weaning today 30mg , later

this wk we may try 25mg . Before, SCD he was going to bathroom 12 to 20 times a

day and yes, blood. As for my husband, the SCD works and this is what we will

do.

>

> > Hi Guys,

> >

> > I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD

symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and

torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in the

process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for endoscopy/colonoscopy

etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off and on for the last two

years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last FIVE MONTHS. It is getting

scary, to the point where I fear losing my sister.

> >

> > She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking his

sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has been

looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious cycle " book,

read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is willing to try it. In

fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close). The thing is, she is still

suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

>

> The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are very ill

at the beginning of the diet.

> It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over night -

it takes time - and the sicker you

> are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because it is

natural, internal healing, not

> a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process - a

journey - not something that

> works instantly.

>

>

> >

> > What I'm wanting to know is this:

> > How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you feel

" I'm getting better " ?

> >

> > Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system

calmed down and then go on the diet?

>

> You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very sick

people, it's recommended to be

> on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along.

>

>

> >

> > Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

>

> Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds, then

you'll respond even

> if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal satisfactorily.

>

> >

> > What has been your experience????

>

> Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

>

>

> >

> > You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the fact

is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels her only

option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

>

> A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.

>

> Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she hasn't

been on the diet long

> and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being driven by

bacteria living in her gut.

> Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't want

her off of sugar and gluten

> and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections there

are between

> brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are depressing

the neural

> connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back to

their regular diet.

>

> Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or

intestinal condition, this

> very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect.

>

> Mara

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've copied and pasted all your comments to my sister and encouraged her to join. I hope she will. I've actually gone on the diet with her for moral support but I should really be helping her cook as she's got a husband and two little boys  and tends to put herself last. So needless to say she's getting very sick of salad and boiled eggs. :-(

Dorcas

 

Hello, My name is , My Husband Barney was diag. with Ulcerative Colitis 4 months ago, He has been on the diet 6 and half wks , Before the scd , he had been in Hospital 3 times in once in May and 2 times in June 2010. IV steriods , IV antibiotics, many other meds. Tried 2 other diets they did not work. The Dr's wanted to take his colon out. Then, I found SCD 7 wks ago, Cook pots and pots of chicken soup with chicken parts you can get at Sprouts Grocery or elsewhere . Please help her cook , I have no one to help me cook and the first two or three wks can be tiring . Husband was on 40 mg steroid a day May, June, July , and into Aug. Now, he has done so well on the SCD he is weaning today 30mg , later this wk we may try 25mg . Before, SCD he was going to bathroom 12 to 20 times a day and yes, blood. As for my husband, the SCD works and this is what we will do.

> > > Hi Guys,> > > > I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in the process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for endoscopy/colonoscopy etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off and on for the last two years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last FIVE MONTHS. It is getting scary, to the point where I fear losing my sister.

> > > > She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking his sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has been looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious cycle " book, read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is willing to try it. In fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close). The thing is, she is still suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

> > The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are very ill at the beginning of the diet. > It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over night - it takes time - and the sicker you

> are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because it is natural, internal healing, not> a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process - a journey - not something that

> works instantly. > > > > > > What I'm wanting to know is this:> > How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you feel " I'm getting better " ?

> > > > Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system calmed down and then go on the diet?> > You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very sick people, it's recommended to be

> on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along. > > > > > > Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?> > Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds, then you'll respond even

> if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal satisfactorily. > > > > > What has been your experience????> > Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

> > > > > > You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the fact is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels her only option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

> > A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.> > Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she hasn't been on the diet long> and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being driven by bacteria living in her gut.

> Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't want her off of sugar and gluten> and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections there are between > brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are depressing the neural

> connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back to their regular diet. > > Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or intestinal condition, this

> very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect. > > Mara>

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

I would have loved some help with the cooking. I am sure that would be a big

help to your sister. It would be great if you could make her some fish soup-

using the bones- and also help her with the yogurt. Those were the two things

that took a lot of time for me at first. Some people don't tolerate the yogurt

at first but I did right away. It can be trial and error. First I would start

with the soup and intro- stage 1 foods and introduce yogurt when things settle

down for her. Can you get the Friendship Farms dry curd cottage cheese where you

live?

PJ

> > >

> > > > Hi Guys,

> > > >

> > > > I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE

> > IBD symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue

> > and torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in

> > the process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for

> > endoscopy/colonoscopy etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off

> > and on for the last two years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last

> > FIVE MONTHS. It is getting scary, to the point where I fear losing my

> > sister.

> > > >

> > > > She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking

> > his sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has

> > been looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious

> > cycle " book, read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is

> > willing to try it. In fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close).

> > The thing is, she is still suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

> > >

> > > The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are very

> > ill at the beginning of the diet.

> > > It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over

> > night - it takes time - and the sicker you

> > > are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because

> > it is natural, internal healing, not

> > > a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process -

> > a journey - not something that

> > > works instantly.

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > What I'm wanting to know is this:

> > > > How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you

> > feel " I'm getting better " ?

> > > >

> > > > Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system

> > calmed down and then go on the diet?

> > >

> > > You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very sick

> > people, it's recommended to be

> > > on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along.

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

> > >

> > > Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds,

> > then you'll respond even

> > > if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal

> > satisfactorily.

> > >

> > > >

> > > > What has been your experience????

> > >

> > > Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the

> > fact is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels

> > her only option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

> > >

> > > A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.

> > >

> > > Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she

> > hasn't been on the diet long

> > > and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being driven

> > by bacteria living in her gut.

> > > Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't

> > want her off of sugar and gluten

> > > and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections

> > there are between

> > > brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are

> > depressing the neural

> > > connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back

> > to their regular diet.

> > >

> > > Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or

> > intestinal condition, this

> > > very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect.

> > >

> > > Mara

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry- I meant Dorcas...

> > > >

> > > > > Hi Guys,

> > > > >

> > > > > I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat

SEVERE

> > > IBD symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish

tissue

> > > and torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in

> > > the process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for

> > > endoscopy/colonoscopy etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms

off

> > > and on for the last two years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last

> > > FIVE MONTHS. It is getting scary, to the point where I fear losing my

> > > sister.

> > > > >

> > > > > She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking

> > > his sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has

> > > been looking into other alternatives. I found the " breakingthe viscious

> > > cycle " book, read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is

> > > willing to try it. In fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close).

> > > The thing is, she is still suffering horribly as though she's done

nothing.

> > > >

> > > > The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are

very

> > > ill at the beginning of the diet.

> > > > It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over

> > > night - it takes time - and the sicker you

> > > > are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because

> > > it is natural, internal healing, not

> > > > a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process

-

> > > a journey - not something that

> > > > works instantly.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > What I'm wanting to know is this:

> > > > > How long does it take for the diet to " kick in " to the point where you

> > > feel " I'm getting better " ?

> > > > >

> > > > > Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her

system

> > > calmed down and then go on the diet?

> > > >

> > > > You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very

sick

> > > people, it's recommended to be

> > > > on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

> > > >

> > > > Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds,

> > > then you'll respond even

> > > > if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal

> > > satisfactorily.

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > What has been your experience????

> > > >

> > > > Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the

> > > fact is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels

> > > her only option is to give up and let " whatever it is " take its course.

> > > >

> > > > A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.

> > > >

> > > > Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she

> > > hasn't been on the diet long

> > > > and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being

driven

> > > by bacteria living in her gut.

> > > > Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't

> > > want her off of sugar and gluten

> > > > and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections

> > > there are between

> > > > brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are

> > > depressing the neural

> > > > connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back

> > > to their regular diet.

> > > >

> > > > Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or

> > > intestinal condition, this

> > > > very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect.

> > > >

> > > > Mara

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dorcas.

You are a wonderful sister to be so caring and helpful. Do keep

gently helping your sister, prodding when necessary. I think if you

can cook for her for awhile, even if it's not every day, that would be

the best thing. The utter exhaustion can really be daunting. Of

course she is going to need to learn to value her own self and health,

too. I do have one suggestion. I'm not sure salad is the best

thing for her at this point if she's got so much blood, etc.

Perhaps you can help her mass-cook things like broth and meats for the

freezer. It would sure help. The diary is the best suggestion

of all. At this point, I must admit I've simplified my diary to where,

regarding food, I list anything I do that is different from my (very

small) normal list of foods. But I've been on the diet almost 14

months now. It was different last year.

Good luck,

Thanks everyone for your input. I've copied and pasted all your

comments to

my sister and encouraged her to join. I hope she will. I've actually

gone on

the diet with her for moral support but I should really be helping

her cook

as she's got a husband and two little boys and tends to put herself

last.

So needless to say she's getting very sick of salad and boiled eggs.

:-(

Dorcas

[Guest guest]

Hello Dorcas,My husband is a UC sufferer and he too didn't show a lot of progress at the beginning and wanted to quit. I think that the worse the gut imbalance is, the worse the die-off effects will be. Some things that she can do to help are to take epsom salt baths (2 cups in tub to the navel of very warm water -- soak about 15 minutes). It will help her relax to sleep better, help her gut heal, and assist the body in getting rid of the toxins from the dying bad bacteria. Jumping into supplements at the beginning isn't usually recommended, but bromelain is good for inflammation. It is a pineapple core extract that works as a digestive enzyme when taken with food, and as an anti-inflammatory when taken away (1 hour before or 2 hours after) from food. The long

simmered chicken soups, especially if you add a bit of apple cider vinegar about 1/2 to 1 hour before simmering, are very healing as well.As soon as she is able, she needs to be taking the homemade SCD yogurt. It will help to put in place the good bacteria she needs. She will need to start very slowly (made this mistake with my husband!), so have her try only about 1/8 of a tsp a day and build from there if she tolerates it. Sometimes adding the yogurt helps kill off even more bad bacteria and the adjustment can cause some symptoms, but usually only for a few days. She needs the yogurt to keep the yeast in check. If there are not sufficient bacteria (good or bad) in the gut, the yeast will take over and cause more problems. It is a learning process, but with anything worthwhile, persistence is required! Please tell her she shouldn't give up. Meds do help and are sometimes necessary in the

short term to help get things under control while the diet heals the body. One more thing, read up on LDN (low dose naltrexone), it might be helpful for her.AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Wed, September 8, 2010 12:37:06 AMSubject: Re: diet and severe IBD ~ can it work?

> Hi Guys,

>

> I'm wondering if any of you have been able to successfully treat SEVERE IBD symptoms (specifically bloody diarrheah with blood clots, greyish tissue and torrential mucus) with the SCD ? Let me explain. My sister is still in the process of getting an accurate diagnosis (is waiting for endoscopy/colonoscopy etc~ next Tuesday) but has had these IBD symptoms off and on for the last two years but NONSTOP AND GETTING WORSE for the last FIVE MONTHS. It is getting scary, to the point where I fear losing my sister.

>

> She is reluctant to go the steroid route (and as the doctor is taking his sweet time seeing her, she hasn't even had that option yet)and so has been looking into other alternatives. I found the "breakingthe viscious cycle" book, read it myself and gave it to her. She also read it and is willing to try it. In fact she has started it (not 100% but pretty close). The thing is, she is still suffering horribly as though she's done nothing.

The thing is, with SCD you have to be 100% - even more so if you are very ill at the beginning of the diet.

It also takes time - unlike Western medicine, it doesn't happen over night - it takes time - and the sicker you

are when you begin, the more time it takes - it needs patience, because it is natural, internal healing, not

a magic pill that changes things really quickly. It's a healing process - a journey - not something that

works instantly.

>

> What I'm wanting to know is this:

> How long does it take for the diet to "kick in" to the point where you feel "I'm getting better"?

>

> Should she perhaps consider the medication just til she gets her system calmed down and then go on the diet?

You can do them simultaneously - it's not an either or. And for very sick people, it's recommended to be

on prescribed drugs. They certainly (can) help things along.

>

> Is there a point where you're too bad to respond to the diet?

Not everyone responds to the diet - but if you are someone who responds, then you'll respond even

if you are very bad - though you may also need drugs to heal satisfactorily.

>

> What has been your experience????

Wouldn't still be here if I thought it didn't help a lot.

>

> You may be wondering why I am writing this and not my sister. Well the fact is, after getting pushed off by her doctor yet again today she feels her only option is to give up and let "whatever it is" take its course.

A) Lose the doctor. He sounds terrible.

Depression is related to gut bacteria. And in fact even though she hasn't been on the diet long

and isn't on it 100% yet - this kind of reaction is probably being driven by bacteria living in her gut.

Their lives are literally being threatened by her diet changes and don't want her off of sugar and gluten

and lactose because it will kill them. Considering how many connections there are between

brain and gut, you have to understand in effect the bacteria are depressing the neural

connectors to make her depressed and want to give up so they can go back to their regular diet.

Which is to say, that even though there are not yet changes in stool or intestinal condition, this

very reaction does show that the diet is already having an effect.

Mara

[Guest guest]

Donna,I don't think anyone has mentioned yet, but stop eating salad for now as well as the nuts. It will contribute to the problem just like the nuts will. And remember to chew your food thoroughly so that the saliva is mixed well and the food is in nearly liquid form -- the gut doesn't have teeth! ; )

I would suggest you start over with the intro diet of soup and simple grilled meats and such and then add in ripe bananas as tolerated, and then peeled, cooked fruit and veg one at a time to make sure it isn't causing a problem. And yes, people skip the intro just to find out that they need to start over and go through the intro to help calm things down. It does two things, it is gentle on the gut and it allows you to find out what you do and don't tolerate by adding in new foods slowly. Try not to eat the same thing everyday. My husband found that for him, eating the same foods over and over didn't sit well, so try mixing it up as much as you can with tolerated foods. It is normal at first to sort of lose your appetite and then become ravenously hungry for a period. Then things will normalize. Also, my husband found it helped to remember not to overeat at one meal because the actual weight of the food

caused him problems.Hang in there.Amelia