The Specific Carbohydrate Diet - testimonials [3]



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Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 18:58:47 -0500
From: "Montrel A. King"
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: success

To all of the SCD subscribers:

I am Jennifer King and I am a 3rd grade teacher in Missouri. I have
Irritible Bowel Syndrome and have been diagnosed for 7 years. I found
Elaine's diet by talking with a friend whose mother was on the diet. I
used to spend all day in the bathroom as many of you have, but my job
does not facilitate such an inconvenience. Every time I ran to the
bathroom, I basically risked a lawsuit leaving my students alone!
Anyway, July 1, 1998 will be my one year anniversary on the diet. I
have followed it faithfully and my life has changed for the better. I am
a nice jovial human being again!

I vowed that I would not do anything to change my diet during the school
year, but now that summer is here I have made a few changes and I have
not felt the same since. I added bread back into my diet and at first
it was great. It was sinfully great. But I have overdone it a bit and
I need to get back to the basics.

I am currently taking Elavil (anti-depressant to work as an
anti-spasmotic), Paxil (anxiety), and Prilosec (for gas.) Does anyone
out there take any of these medicines as well as follow the diet? If
so, I would like to hear from you. I am having trouble getting
motivated to go back to the diet in full force. It is hard once you have
splurged a bit. I am so proud of myself for being 100% faithful for 10
months and if you have experienced what I am going through, I would love
to hear from you as well.

One more thing, I have been experiencing panic attacks for the past year
and a half and I have read about the bowel-brain connection. I was
wondering if anyone else could shed the light in this area.

Thanks so much,
Jennifer King



Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 23:49:25 -0600
From: aagvani@muse.sfusd.k12.ca.us (Steve Hooker/Annie Agvanian)
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: ONE YEAR!

Well, we didn't write down the exact date or anything like that, but Matt
has been on the diet for a year this month. Things are going really well.
Even his respiratory problems, which started at the same time as all his
other symptoms, have finally all but gone away. He has gained weight
consistently during this year. He had lost a considerable amount of weight
prior to going on the SCD, not a good thing for a twelve year old to be
doing. At thirteen he is active, gaining weight, and doing all the things
his friends do except that hanging out at McDonald's is pretty out of the
questions. Luckily, his friends don't do a lot of that anyway. Thanks to
everyone who has been of assistance.



Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 08:46:08 -0400
From: "Jim"
To:
Subject: Re: Added Bread Back into diet

I have been on the diet faithfully since 12/24/96 and I never felt better,
I have Crohn's by the way. I was diagnosed with Crohn's 7 years ago. I
have started cheating I am not going to lie around 5 months now. I still
feel the same great! My stool hasn't changed, my stomach doesn't hurt and
no blood at all. The food that I am cheating with is bread. My weight on
12/24/96 was 125lb my weight now is 189lb WOW! Prior to my first Crohn's
attack I did weigh 186lb (this is my normal weight). Well if anything
changes for me I will keep you posted but, so far so good.

Jim Prousalis
President
J-Pro Contracting Inc.
For All Your Contracting Needs
j-pro@mindspring.com
Serving New York



Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 08:11:17 -0500
From: Matthew Cirillo
To: Yorktown Estates
Cc: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: SCD diet

Yorktown Estates wrote:

> I am curious about how long it was until you noticed significant changes
> in symptoms, how long it was until you were able to get off medication
> (if you were in it), and if you plan to stay on the diet for the rest of
> your life. I also would like to know what foods, if any, that were
> deemed acceptable for the diet, might have caused problems for you. Did
> you ever consider surgery?

I started the diet 2 1/2 years ago. I have Colitis.
I noticed changes in 2 weeks, which were significant. My swelling went down,
my urgency to go went down. I still had some bleeding, which only fully went
away for a few 2-3 week periods at a time. MY spirits went way up. It was
quite a while after that before I "found myself" at a higer level of remission, it
is a slow, slow process. I feel that it took "resigning myself" to being on the diet
for psychophysiological changes to occur to offset the frustration and
discouragement of being chronically ill. I stopped meds after about 6 months on
the diet. I should be on asacol, as a day-to-day maintenence drug which is
supposed to help you stay in remmision, but I think it increases my bleeding. So I
find that I just stop taking it.

I had achieved a level of remission in March of this year that led me to believe
that I had "gotten all I was going to get" from the diet. All the mucus, swelling
and accompanying urgency to move bowels had disappeared. I had occasinal
sporadic showings of blood in my stool, but nothing like what I had experienced
before going on the diet. I had long given up any medication. A happy camper, I
was. I started "reintroducing foods." I figured corn (in the form of tortilla chips
and my own custom corn bread recipe) and rice, and beer were good starting
points. Much to my delight, I was able to handle them without any adverse
symptoms - at first. I noticed a significant boost in energy, most likely from
the carbohydrates, and put an extra maybe 7 pounds on, I felt more substantial.
Once I started putting ketchup on burger patties, and allowed myself to go out to
restaurants, the symptoms started creeping back until -- WHAM! I was having a
relapse! Now, 3 weeks later, on 15 mg of prednisone and back on the diet "with
fanatical adherance" I find that I'm coming around again. I think if I had tread
more lightly, or waited another 6 months, I would have been less succeptiple to
having this relapse. BUT - I've learned now that the diet definitely alleviates
the most bothersome symptom for me, the constant urge to go. I'm doing rather
well, I must say. I feel good. But, some of that new-found carbo-induced energy
is gone (replaced by the racey steroid induced frenzical state that prednisone
puts me in). I expect that I'll be able to taper off the prednisne in another couple
of weeks, thanks to eating only foods legal to the diet. I'm also back to being
sensitive to stuff like grape skins, which are irritating to my stomach, but I
don't feel that I'm back to square one by a longshot. If you ar pondering whether
or not to take the plunge and do the diet, you would be foolish not to give it a
shot. It must be done with 100% commitment, from my experience. Treat it like a
religion, and you are the high priest.

Matthew Cirillo



Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 10:15:57 -0700
From: "paulah"
To:
Subject: Flare after 2 & 1/2 years

Hi,
I've been on the SCD for 2 &1/2 years and I'm experiencing a bad Crohn's
flare. Several things brought it on. First I had my teeth cleaned - that has
always given me some trouble, maybe swallowing the plaque that is scraped
off sets off my immune system. Second during the few days after the teeth
cleaning, I ate some fresh cherries - only about five or so, but even after
2 yrs. on SCD I still can't eat fruit. Then a few days later while still not
feeling so great I ate dinner at a friends house. It was a BBQ, so there
probably was a little sugar in the BBQ sauce, plus I ate about 1 Tbs. of
baked beans -also probably had sugar in it. These are very small amounts
especially for someone on the diet for over 2 years. Well I'm now in 40mg
prednesone a day for the last 5 days. It has helped, but now I want to taper
off as fast as possible. I'm wondering what some of you have experienced as
far as tapering down and how quickly you have done it. of course I'm being
very strict with diet - only cooked meat and vegetables - not fruit or dairy
or honey.
Thanks,
Paula



Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 03:48:08 -0500
From: gjantzi
To: "'SCD-list@longisland.com'"
Subject: RE: SCD Questions

I have been on SCD for almost two years: (1) Acid reflux gone almost
immediately. (2) Constipation and D gone after 8 - 9 weeks. (3) I have
learned to listen closely to my body. Lately I have been cheating on
the diet to see what would happen. So far, I can sense when the food is
not agreeing with me (pizza) (chips)etc., and I immediately go back to
the diet. It has been a year with no symptoms. But my body seems to
say it is not ready yet. If it means that I will have to eat grilled
salmon seasoned with Cajun spices, meatloaf made with a combo of turkey,
pork and beef (lightened with V8), delicious nut muffins and smoothies
for breakfast, pies made with almond flour crust, lasagna made with
zucchini - I think I can enjoy it. In fact it seems like a very
healthy life choice to me.
Gerry



Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 22:22:08 +0200
From: ka_bart_cmt@juno.com (Karen A Bartlett)
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Doctor update

I went to my doctor today and he released me. He said I didn't need to
come back unless I had a problem. He said I really hadn't had a real
flare-up for over a year. I told him that is because I have been on this
diet for that long. He still does not think that the diet is what has
made me feel better. I am by no means completely cured. There are some
days that my side hurts, but it is not bad and does not last. I was so
glad to released from the doctor after 4 years. I am not on any
medication, but plan on staying on scd for the rest of my life. I had to
share this news with those people who understand how exciting this is .
Karen



Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 09:34:28 -0700
From: "Linda
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Is this the right diet for me?

Dear HLachs@aol.com,

(I didn't get your name).

I had the same problem you do. I was usually constipated and sometimes felt
as if I had a basketball in my gut, I was that bloated! Off and on this
would reverse to D, which many times I welcomed as it gave me relief. Just
before going on the SCD, Sept. 27, 1997, I also began bleeding. Another
problem was extreme chest pain along with sharp pains around my heart,
which fortunately ended up to be from my stomach, not my heart. My theory
on that was that all the stuff sitting in my intestines, due to
constipation, was causing gas to back up into my stomach.

The SCD has helped me become 'regular', which equates to one good bm in the
morning. I leave the house for work feeling light and good. I very rarely
experience the chest pain or sharp stomach pains now.

I still have to work at it though, because there are certain foods that are
allowed on the SCD that give me an adverse reaction. If I have a bad day,
I can usually track it back to a particular food, usually some type of
fruit.

I have also cheated on occasion and I can declare without a doubt that
grains will bring back the constipation immediately and can last for 4-5
days. So breads, pasta, anything with flour in it is harmful.

My doctor wanted me to also try a diet that would be right for my blood
type. I have not completely implemented it because combined with the SCD,
it restricts me even further. One thing that the blood type diet would
allow is corn, which the SCD does not. So my doctor said to experiment, one
food at a time if I want. Well, I tried corn (I love chips and salsa). I
do not recall having an immediate gut reaction, i.e. constipation, but it
did bring back my eczema, which some research has shown, the scaly
condition of the skin is an outward sign of what is occurring in the
intestines.

I can summarize all of this by saying, I have tried the SCD, and I have
tested it with somewhat controlled experiments, and my conclusion is, it
works! And it doesn't pay to cheat. When I started the SCD I hoped it
would be a temporary thing, maybe 2 or 3 years. But I have adopted the
attitude that the SCD is the way for me to eat. Since it has made such a
difference in my life, I don't look at it as temporary anymore, and I also
don't see it as restrictive.

I have read that when you continue to eat foods that you are allergic to
you will gain weight. I had gained an unwanted 25 lbs. I would also notice,
when I was experiencing bloating, I could gain 5 lbs in one day! I have
lost that 25 lbs and am back to my ideal body weight. The daily weight
fluctuations have diminished as well.

Sorry for making this so long. I hope you try the SCD, and I hope you get
the same relief that I have. You will want to be fanatic about it,
especially for the first 4 weeks, to see if it is going to help you.

Regards,
Linda



Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 21:20:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa Quigley
To: scd-list@longisland.com
Subject: Hello from Northern B.C.

This is my first time on the chat site.

I was diagnosed in April with Celiac. During my first month my Naturopath
and I added pancreatic enzymes, plantzymes, Bile, HCL and Pepsin, Carbamide.
I am already taking biotin and folic acid, calcium, magnesium etc. etc.
Within the first month of gluten free and my new supplements, I felt alot
better.

Prior to being diagnosed I lost 20 pounds in 3 months. I now weigh 98
pounds and am 5'7". A little bit slim for my liking! As well, prior to
April 5th, I was a vegetarian for 2 years as I thought that I was doing my
body a favour cutting out the meat. I had problems digesting it but now as
I think back it was probably what I ate with it that was causing the
problem. For my entire life, I have been affected by digestive and
constipation problems and just sort of learned to live with it as "this is
me". My energy levels in March 1998 were so low that I was sleeping most of
the day and had incredible headaches and stomach aches (especially after
eating - in the gallbladder area). I am now a meat & veggie eating-aholic!
and have never felt better!

On May 25th I dug out my copy of "Food and Gut Reaction" by Elaine
Gottschall that I had purchased about 5 years ago, read, put away and
thought that I could never eat like that. As of that date I have been on
the SCD. It was about a month after that and I really started to notice the
increase in energy. Like wow! Up to May 25th I was feeling OK but new there
was still something wrong.
I like a few others (notes that I have read on the chat line) dove right in
and was eating nuts etc and salads from day one as I didn't really read the
instructions properly. Something else that I notices as I reread the book a
few days ago was that seeds are not allowed. I've been eating tahini and
sunflower seeds quite a bit. No more now though.
I have a few questions that I was hoping for input if possible.

I still am constipated. I went to see a different ND who told me that at
one time in my life, I have had the Epstein Barr Virus (I cann't seem to
remember having it) and that the symptoms will be low grade for the rest of
my life. He said that this causes improper liver function, therefore poor
elimination as well. I was unable to take the homeopathic tincture
(barberry) as it made my feel fatigue and have a horrible headache. Have
you heard of this and do you think that it could cause the constipation.

I still also have an "Oily substance" that I see in the toilet water, when I
go to the bathroom. What does this mean. Could it be from the seeds that I
have been eating?? Not digesting the fat??

I have not gained any weight back yet and cannot wait to put it back on. I
read some of the info about certain veggies (squash, pumpkin, turnip) that
may do it and I will increase this in my diet asap. Any other
recommendations? Would eating smaller meals 4 x a day be good?

I was taking a colloidal mineral drink prior to being diagnosed called
"Longlife Minerals". It has all 90 colloidal minerals and a few other added
nutrients such as nopal cactus, 100% soluable fibre. It is in a base of
crystalline fructose, potassium gluconate, magnesium gluconate, citric acid,
malic acid, calcium gluconate, zinc gluconate, potassium benzonate,
potassium sorbate, copper gluconate etc. etc. I think the colloids are good
but the base is not allowed on the SCD. Therefore, can you recommend a
product that would give me the collodial minerals. Do you think they are a
good thing???

Is gray hair (I am 29) caused by my body being starved of nutrients? Will
it turn brown again?

What can you do for a prolapsed bowel??

I also have another bit of information that I would like to share. I have
just recently read "Eat Right for your Blood Type", by Peter D'Adamo. It is
really an interesting book. One thing that fascinated my was that I am a
Type "O" and the diet that he outlines for Type "O"'s is very close to the
SCD. I am interested to know how many people there are out there that have
Celiac etc. are Type "O" people???? The Type "O" is known as the "Meat
Eater - Hunter Gatherer" and was the first known blood type for prehistoric
man. There is a web site about the "Paleolithic Diet" if anyone is
interested. On this diet the individual eats only what the Hunter Gatherer
would have ate back then - meat, veggies, certain legumes, certain nuts, no
dairy, no grains and no potatoes. The Type "A" came along later when mankind
began growing food for agricultural purposes. They Type "A" is the
vegetarian and can tolerate the grains and dairy but isn't very tolerable
red meat etc.
I apologize for dragging on so long, but I thought is was interesting and
Food for Thought!!!! Hee Hee

I feel really good, the best in years (have been losing weight for about 4
years now). I would like to sincerely thank Elaine Gottschall for writing
both of her books and giving me a new life. I also enjoyed the new
information about Celiac in "Breaking the Viscous Cycle". I can actually
think straight again and have colour in my face! We have been trying for
children for a few years now and can now hopefully see them in the future
sometime. I look forward to helping anyone I can with this information.

I look forward to any of your knowledge when you have a moment!!!

Thank you again!
Lisa Quigley
Fort St. John, British Columbia




Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 09:48:24 -0400
From: paulasirois@juno.com (Paula Sirois)
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: chat site

Dear Niall,

This diet has been the answer to our prayers of the last three-and-a-half
years. My son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 11. We tried
alternative therapies ranging from acupuncture to hypnosis, as well as
prednisone, Asacol, sulfasalazine and cortisone enemas. Nothing made much
difference. Now, I can happily report that at fourteen, he is doing much
much better, after only three months on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
He has improved tremendously, and his response was startlingly obvious
within only two days of starting the elimination of certain (most)
carbohydrates. The book to get is Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by Elaine
Gottschall, and it will answer all your specific questions. If you don't
have it yet, be sure to order it from Barnes and Noble. It is a dream
come true for us.

My heart goes out to you and your family. You need not watch your son
suffer like this, despite what the doctors say: there is help available.
And is not difficult to integrate into your lifestyle, so you can now
begin to relax into accepting that you have just stumbled across a
miracle.


Love,

Paula



Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 19:52:11 -0400
From: "Jim Prousalis"
To:
Subject: Re: Update

I have been on this wonderful diet since 12/24/96
I was at my worst, I was diagnosed with Crohn's 7 years ago. Never had
surgery
and was told that I should have due to my blood count and to my massive
weight loss. I was on med's like prednisone, asacol, etc. up until 3/97 I
was told that I would need to stay on asacol or 6mp for the rest of my
life. I guess I had to prove them wrong. Off all med's eating bread and
potatoes, so far so good.

Good luck to all and GOD bless Diane.

Jim Prousalis
President
J-Pro Contracting Inc.
For All Your Contracting Needs



Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 04:31:20 -0400
From: "Steven A. Melnick"
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: Smoking

I have been on the diet for 2 years with tremendous (perhaps miraculous!)
results. I do occassionally enjoy a cigar (every few days) and have done
so for years. It was not until I went on this diet that remission
occurred. In fact, I was on a serious downward spiral until I started the
SCD.

The diet works. Stick with it.

Steven



Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 21:12:31 -0400
From: paulasirois@juno.com (Paula Sirois)
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: The FUN Factor

Hi Rachel,

When my son was going to the bathroom twelve to fourteen times a day, he
never had to break from the roller hockey ring during a game or practice.
I always figured it was the sheer exhilaration he was experiencing when
he played. And it never failed to bring me to a state of tearful joy to
watch him in the rink, zooming around at top speed. For a while, I hoped
we could move beyond this illness by focusing on the emotional realm. We
tried to do it through hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback, three and a
half years of homeopathy....not much happened. If we could've kept him
surrounded by friends, on roller blades...twenty four hours a
day...perhaps, but that wasn't all together feasible.


We are so grateful for Elaine's dedication and SCD. It has turned
Daniel's life around. Right now, he is out for a bike ride on a summer
evening...away from the bathroom, just being a teenager.

Life is good.


With Love,

P



Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:47:28 EDT
From:
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: Off to college

My daughter Chanelle is off to college this Saturday. It is a miracle when you
consider that last Oct. she was in the hospital receiving three blood
transfusions along with massive doses of antibiotics and cortisone. It was
touch and go for a week if she would need emergency surgery for toxic mega
colon. She started the SCD diet in Dec. and has followed it with fannatical
adherance ever since.She has been good about it, never once complaining "why
me?" She did suffer two bad flare ups at the three and six month marks.Both
of these flare up occured when she got down to low doses of prednisone(once at
7 mg and once at 0) Each time she needed to go baack to 40mg. to put the fire
out.We have never had the courage to try to get through a flare up without
drugs because of how fast and hard it hit her the first time. Anyway she has
been on 8 mg. all summer and holding while we slowly switched her from Asacol
to Sulfasaline (because of the lactose filler in Asacol). She looks great (no
gross side effects of prednisone) feels great, and is so joyfilled about going
to college.
I have been cooking for weeks and freezing so I can send her
whatever she needs to supplement the food plan. She will have a small
ref.-freezer right in her room and a full kitchen on her floor she can use.
The food director is a doll and said he will do anything he can to help her.
If there is a will there is a way. We are determined not to let UC run her
life and make her decisions for her. She was an honor student in HIgh School
and played varsity lacrose dispite her UC. We are so grateful to Elaine and
the SCD and to all of you for not having to feel alone and for all the great
info. you all share with us.
Love Jill



Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 20:59:40, -0500
From: DCournoyer@prodigy.com (MR DAVE COURNOYER)
To: scd-list@longisland.com
Subject: Our Story

-- [ From: David Cournoyer * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --

We thought we should give our story since we know about lots of you.

Ten years ago, we were active professionals. First Shannon mysteriously
got sick followed a few months later by Dave. He was eventually
diagnosed as UC. Shannon was never diagnosed - the symptoms were too
mysterious (nauseous, weak, nervous, parasites). Believe me, not
knowing is worse than knowing. And for both of us to be sick at the
same time with similar symptoms was very strange. Dave had diarhhea and
Shannon didn't usually. Dave has seen 15 doctors in 4 states with no
relief. Several batches of flagyl for parasites, followed by another
parasite drug, the symptoms persisted. They put Dave on prednisone and
sulfasalazine but it just made him worse. Doctors didn't help Shannon
so she stopped going and tried natural approaches.

This summer, we realized what it was: Lyme Disease we had gotten 12
years ago on a trip to New England. We read all of our symptoms on
lymenet.org. We both went to the doctor because we didn't feel well
shortly after the vacation and Shannon had the classic arthritis for
several months. We had Dave tested (he has medical coverage) and it was
positive. The only treatment for the late disseminated disease (meaning
you've had it forever and it's fully entrenched) is months of I.V.
antibiotics. Shannon's always been allergic to them. We've been
searching for another answer.

Dave's current doctor, a naturopath, put him on the blood type diet and
Shannon joined him. It was a terrible experience where we both lost
lots of weight we couldn't afford to lose but it led us to the web site
where someone recommended the scd book. We discovered by elimination
that grains were hurting us, one by one taking them away until we were
almost on the scd diet anyway. Being on two separate diets was terrible
(Dave's an O and Shannon's an A) With Dave's UC, we knew he should try
the scd. Shannon went along because of the problem she was having with
grains. The diet also kills bacteria, etc., so we knew it should work
for Lyme Disease.

Only three weeks later, we're both feeling somewhat better. We can see
the rainbow on the other side. Over the course of this illness, we've
lost everything. Neither of us can work. Dave is on disability. His
symptoms were specific enough that he could be approved. We've gone
bankrupt. Both of Shannon's parents died and she wasn't well enough to
go to see them or their funerals (Shannon's family sees her as heartless
).

This diet is truly a Godsend. Sorry we got so longwinded.

Dave and Shannon
Idaho



Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 08:40:41 -0400
From: Rachel Turet
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: a UC moment

>Luckily, she let me take a shower, wash my clothes
>and borrow some of her clothes. It was a nightmare. I cried at the time -
>but now I think its funny.

Dear Cathy,
I so admire your being able to look back at your incident and smile. I wish
I could recall even one of mine without shuddering. Its been 3 & 1/2 years
since I began remission on this diet. Your story brought back to mind my
blackest moment, definately not an Oprah story.
About 10 years ago, freinds bought tickets for our anneversary to see Elton
John at madison square garden. I had to meet them & my husband at penn
station, so I left work, going to the bathroom first of course. I walked
the 2 blocks to the train station and as I walked up the stairs, IT hit me.
I had to go SO bad. As the train approached, I seriously considered
throwing myself in front of it to finally put an end to my miserable
existance. I can actually feel myself standing there swooning, with the
train whistle screaming its approach. I always carried underwear with me. I
got on the train crying, and went into the 2 foot smelly bathroom. The
floor was filthy and sticky with G-d knows what. I had to remove my shoes,
trying to do one at a time, to take off my pants. It was just blood and
mucous I'd released, but even so, it was so disgusting. By the time I met
them, all I could think about was going home. It was the most miserable
night of my life. I couldn't shake the horror of what I'd almost done. I
kept saying nothing was wrong, until the train ride home when I burst into
tears and told my husband what had happened, leaving out the suicide
thoughts. In fact, I only told him of that recently. I'm grateful every day
for Elaine, the diet and the wonderful life I almost threw away.
Rachel



Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 13:46:04 -0500
From: porter@sprint.ca
To:
Subject: Ken is back--spread the SCD word!

Last summer my husband, Ken (29 years old) was diagnosed with Crohn's
Disease. He was 6'5", 210 lbs, and went down to 165 pounds in a VERY
short time. Really, I thought we would lose him; we had no idea what
was wrong and it seems our doctors didn't either. He was so sick that
he had to go on disability for three months.

During that time he learned about Breaking the Vicious Cycle. A man at
work had a relative's young son who was "cured" by this diet. He was
impressed with the fact that this woman was on television with Dini
Petty! (I presume he meant Elaine.) He gave me the phone number and
from there I went to the library and devoured the book. It made sense.
Ken read it and agreed. He went on the diet and began to feel GREAT!
He did not need to introduce new foods slowly, it was almost an instant
remission. He gained back all his weight.

Anyway because he felt so good, he decided he could go back to his old
way of eating. I told the SCD list that I would lurk until Ken decided
to return to the diet. I had to see him get crampy (D) and sick again,
although not to the same extreme. We both knew that if he kept up
eating this way, he could very well end up with colon cancer. So, a
month ago, Ken went back on the diet. And once again, he is feeling
great, as though he is not plagued with the disease at all!

Being clergy in a stressful ministry, it is important that my husband
remain healthy and strong. We are the Senior Chaplain Couple at a
Rescue Mission, working with street men and women, and running a
substance abuse recovery program for men. These are the outcasts of
society and very hard to the core.

Working at a Rescue Mission means dodging all types of traditional
goodies on a daily basis: donuts, brownies, cakes, pies, breads of all
kinds. Ken ate these every day! I'm surprised his relapse wasn't
faster. It was actually so slow and gradual we barely noticed he was
getting sick again.

When I had told the SCD list what was happening, I recieved wonderful
support from Rachel, Dan, and Val. You said that it would have to be his
decision, but in the end he would have to come back to the diet as his
remission would fail going back to a standard American diet. I am so
appreciative of all of you on the list. I am grateful that Ken made the
decision to go back on the diet, completely free from my nagging or
hinting. Most of all I must give the thanks to G-d.


Michelle

PS. I hope this wasn't too long for you all. There is actually a moral
to this story. Spread the word of this fantastic diet to everyone you
know. Don't be ashamed and don't be shy. Word of mouth is a wonderful
tool and if it were not for a man who knew very little about it except
that it had helped a distant relative... where would my husband be
today? Perhaps with the Lord. Who knows.

PS. Rachel, is it possible to forward this letter to Elaine? I think
she would be encouraged by it. Does she have email? Let me know
please.


Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 20:44:00 -0600 (CST)
From: Paul Fleming <pfleming@computerpro.com>
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: Ryan's Story

Hello All,

I know this will be long, but I feel Ryan and I should tell his story
now that he has made the 1 year mark.

My son, Ryan, was diagnosed Jan. 1st, 1996 with Crohn's. He was in
8th grade at the time. His pediatrician had no idea of what his
problem was, and told us to take Ryan to a GI specialist.

The GI had Ryan undergo a CAT scan and upper GI. By the results of
these two tests he was able to determine Ryan had Crohn's. We had
never heard of this disease. He suggested prednisone for starters.
By Feb. he was much worse. The GI suggested resectioning surgery. A
colonoscopy detected that surgery could kill him, because the lining
of his intestines was all but gone.

The doctors had no answers, they suggested we take Ryan to the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, MN. While there Ryan was given extensive drug
therapy. We took him home 3 weeks later, with 6 different
prescriptions. Ryan did well on the drugs. As summer came he was
doing very well. He was tapering off the drugs. As fall approached,
Ryan began to flare. He was again put back on all the drugs.
By Feb. of 1997 Ryan was back at the Mayo again. This time a
resectioning was done; however, 3 weeks later Ryan was in pain,
the symptoms were returning. The doctors at the Mayo did another
colonoscopy and discovered the colon was now infected.
By Oct. 1997, the doctors were advising more surgery. It was at
this point that a doctor in the ER told us of his brother. He
said his brother had Crohn's and after 5 years started a diet that
helped him more than drugs. He gave us the name of Elaine's book
and said, "you didn't hear this from me."

It took a lot of phone calls and searching but finally found a local
bookstore that could order the book for us. November 9, 1997 Ryan
began the diet, within 4 days he started to feel relief. By the end
of the first week, Ryan no longer had the bloody stools, the cramps,
or the D. By the second week, Ryan was getting more energenic. He
did experience the 2nd month flare, but it only lasted for 4 days.
While on the diet, we started tapering Ryan's drugs. Ryan has now
been drug free for 7 months. He does take vitamins, magnesium,
potassium, and calcium. Most of these were suggested by members of
the list, over the last year.

Ryan and I have learned so much by reading through everyone's
postings. Every time we had a question for the list, BINGO, someone
else asked before we could. So, we just sat back and waited to read
the posts.

During August, we called Elaine to tell her of Ryan's success.
She asked us to help spread the word. Well, we had already done that.
We've told several people in our area. We even spoke to the Crohn's
Support group in our area. I offer to help others get started if they
want to commit to the diet. Our next plan is to buy enough copies of
the book, to have them put in all branches of our public library.

Good health.
Marilyn (Ryan's mother)
and Ryan
(Duluth, MN)
:-)



Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 13:59:51 -0000
From: "Neil Heyes" <n_heyes@thelab.force9.co.uk>
To: "scd" <SCD-list@longisland.com>
Subject: Colonoscopy

Hi,

I had to share this with the group:

I have been on the diet for 3 months, and most of my symptoms have disappeared already, and yesterday I had a colonoscopy and they found no inflamation in the gut and no ulceration.

I am so pleased, I had been on steroids for nearly 9 years in September, and now I am on no medication. This diet has really changed my life!

Neil


Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 10:48:08 -0400
From: Nancy Emerson <nemerson@newfound.k12.nh.us>
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: Need help to get started on the carbohydrate diet.

Sheri,
Wow, your story sounds so much like mine. I just subscribed to the list yesterday, and posted some general background, but it sounds like you're also new so you may not have read it.

The quickie version: I was diagnosed at 17 with Crohn's Disease. I've had one resection (6.5 years ago). I'm now 27 and teaching high school math. A few weeks ago it would have been more accurate to say I was trying to teach high school math, as I had no energy and was in very frequent pain/discomfort which I just couldn't stand anymore. I know where every public restroom is in many areas of NH, and I know the walls of my bathroom at home more intimately than any other room! I was, even more, just trying to survive.

I knew the diet would help, as I had started it most of the way (some cheating) over the summer and it helped significantly. I couldn't/didn't maintain it completely once school started, and I had gotten to the point 3 weeks ago where I was almost as sick as I had been last June.

I restarted at square one, and after 3 weeks I feel GREAT!! This is the third day in a row I've had no discomfort to speak of. The trips to the bathroom have decreased from at least 6-10 a day to between 2-4, frequently (though not yet always) formed. These things really excite me these days. It feels SO good.

Last summer I had certain things I just couldn't resist, and I didn't improve nearly as quickly as I have this time. Following the diet strictly is definitely important. It helps even when you cheat, but it won't have the chance to fully work it's magic.

AND, once you start to feel better, it starts to be easier to maintain. Now when I look at even my favorite forbidden foods, I connect them with how sick I was not long ago. It was awful, and I NEVER want to be back there. The more I associate certain foods with that pain, the less appealing they seem. It helps a lot.

So yes, the diet works.

The last thing is, I too had the idea that I would be sacrificing/investing a couple of years of difficultly in order to be "over it" after that and never have to worry about it again. One thing that has helped in the last 3 weeks, as compared to my summer attempt, is that I realize that the diet itself is no sacrifice at all compared to the sacrifice of not being able to live any kind of enjoyable life when I was so sick. It starts to seem like a gift. Yes, I would like to eat garlic bread again in a few years, but if I don't it's still okay. I wasn't convinced of that until recently, but now I need no more convincing.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Nancy


Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 09:29:37 -0500
From: "Jim" <j-pro@mindspring.com>
To: "SCD LONG ISLAND" <SCD-list@longisland.com>
Subject: 2 YEARS ON DIET

Today I have been on this wonderful diet for 2 years!
I have had Crohn's for over 8 years now and the last 2 years of having Crohn's have been great! I thank GOD for Elaine and my doctor for introducing me to the diet. When I started the diet I was at my worst. I weighed 125lb and I am 5'11". My normal weight prior to having Crohn's was 180lb. When I was diagnosed with Crohn's I went down to 150lb and I could not gain a pound for the life of me. Every day I had pain in my gut and every day I had to worry when I was leaving my house where the next bathroom was located. Once I started the diet I noticed a great improvement. I was gaining approximately a pound a day for the first 34 days. My energy level went through the roof. Well 2 years ago on this day I started the diet and to this day that was the best Christmas present I can ever receive HEALTH!
God bless you all and Happy Holidays.
P.S. There is something on the News at 5:00pm tonight regarding a break through on Crohn's Disease. If anyone lives in the NY area figured it might help.
Jim Prousalis
President
J-Pro Contracting Inc.
Serving all of New York
For All Your Contracting Needs


Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 19:36:02 -0700
From: "Mike Simons" <msimons@rtd.com>
To: "*SCD List" <SCD-list@longisland.com>
Subject: 2 Successful Years on the SCD

Tomorrow marks the completion of my 2nd year on the SCD, and all is well. Many thanks to all of you for your support and guidance, and to Elaine for her groundbreaking work. Slowly but surely the "rest of the world" will realize that one can take significant steps on one's own to cure oneself.

For those of you who have contributed to or wish to see my little diatribe, it's here:
http://www.rtd.com/~msimons/healthy.htm

Happy New Year to all of you!

-Mike Simons
Tucson AZ


Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 19:02:09, -0500
From: DCournoyer@prodigy.com (MR DAVE COURNOYER)
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Elaine's Address

Elaine said on the web site in a fax that she has 200 or so letters saying how the diet helped them. Wouldn't it be nice if for Christmas/Holidays she got a card from each person on here? That would be 200 more. Her address is:

396 Grills Road, R.R. #2, Baltimore, Ontario, Canada K0K 1C0

Shannon

(UC and Lyme Disease)
Idaho



Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 17:30:59 -0700
From: Partridge <raparch@planet.eon.net>
To: <SCD-list@longisland.com>
Subject: Re: HELP


Dear Steve,
I don't usually correspond, I'm more of a silent member of the group, but after reading your message I feel compelled to respond. I'll tell you a little bit about myself and my history with Crohn's Disease. I was diagnosed at the age of fifteen (I'm now 21) and much to my surprise because I didn't feel I was "dealing" with anything by any stretch of the imagination. I thought it was "normal" to be slightly fatigued and have boughts of diarreah which were few and far between. A colonoscopy soon showed I actually had extensive Crohn's all the way through the digestive tract and was anemic (which was causing the fatigue as a result of malabsorption and chronic bleeding - sometimes the blood loss can be so small over such a long period of time that we don't notice it.)
Anyways, I more or less grumbled along without taking the drugs for about a year and then resorted to the horrible stuff - worst of all the prednisone. During all of this the SCD had always been surfacing, but I never really took it seriously, fooling myself with the reasoning "I'm just not sick enough". What I'm about to tell you next, makes me wish I had taken the SCD sooner and embraced it as the foundation to intestinal health that it is. In my last year of high school, I had a SEVERE exacerbation of my disease. I ended up in the hospital for a total of six weeks on TPN (kind-of like an intravenous feeding to give the intestine rest), MAJOR doses of prednisone, and the horror of surgery hanging over my head.
My GI at the time felt that a complete colectomy (meaning having a pouch) was the only solution - without it I would deteriorate more and put my life in jeapordy is what he thought. I had never been so scared, but you can understand, as a young person, I was determined to leave no stone unturned in order to avoid "the knife". I talked my GI into letting me go home and and do nasogastric feeding (every night I would insert a tube through my nose, down my throat, and into my stomach to feed myself with liquid stuff much like Boost or Ensure), this in itself was horrible but still better to me than surgery and the pouch. This feeding sort of masked the symptoms of CD and then when I started to try to eat normally (still not smart enough to try the SCD, because there was no arguing that now I categorically was sick enough!) I was TERRIBLY ILL, couldn't leave the house as I needed a bathroom literally 24 hrs/day and now I was extremely underweight. Words cannot express how miserable I was.
FINALLY, with the help of my parents I started the SCD. It's been 2 1/2 years since I made the commitment and I haven't looked back, I consider it my lifeline. It truly has given me my life back. My days are happy and fulfilled and best of all I'm physically entact. I'm not scared anymore of surgery because I have the best prevention of that in the SCD.
I know I've been rather long-winded and I don't want to scare you I simply think you should see a professional, find out what is going on and if your official diagnoses is IBD, then I cannot more highly recommend the SCD. It's non-invasive and works - I'm living proof.
All the best!
Martine
The Partridge Family (Edmonton)


Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 15:11:01 EST
From: IRENKEN@aol.com
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Re: Crohn's disease

My husband has Crohn's disease - about 8 years now. He has been through alot.
Nine months ago he went on this food plan. We found Elaine's book through a co-worker of mine. He is soooo much better. His last colonoscopy was excellent. There is hope.


Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 07:42:44 -0500
From: Nancy Emerson <nemerson@newfound.k12.nh.us>
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Weight gain!!

This is simply a triumphant success note!!

I started really gaining some weight, slowly but surely, a few weeks ago, but this week it's really taken off! I had lost 25 lbs being sick and another 4 when I first started the diet.

I have now gained back a total of 15 lbs! Another 10-15 and I'll be back to normal!!

Yahoo!!!! I really I am going to have the rest of myself back again soon!

Thank you so much to everyone who has given advice and suggestions and to those who have just read my messages. Writing to this list sometimes is just what I need to feel like someone out there is listening.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

Nancy


Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 13:31:33 PST
From: "Matt Michaels" <mattmichaels@hotmail.com>
To: SCD-list@longisland.com
Subject: Anybody from Kansas

I have been on the diet for just over a year and it has been a great remedy for me. I have just recently discovered this list and it has helped me a lot, and helped me stick with it. It is so good to hear other peoples stories. I am from Kansas and wanted to know if there was anybody else around here that was on the diet. I have been reading this list for a while and just decided to get on and say something. I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I had horrible gut pains. It was the night before I was to go into the Darrien Jungle in Panama on a missions trip. I has been a wild ride since then, but the diet has been a great help.
Thanks.

Matt
(Crohn's)



Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 19:49:52 -0500
From: "Jim" <j-pro@mindspring.com>
To: "SCD LONG ISLAND" <SCD-list@longisland.com>
Subject: CURED?

Well I have been on this wonderful diet for over 2 years now and I feel "Thank God" cured! I am eating things that I really shouldn't be eating with no adverse reaction. I stuck with the diet 110% for over a year. After that I started to introduce foods real slow and nothing. I was 125 LB. on 12/24/96 and now I am 186 LB. I don't run to the bathroom 12 times a day, I don't feel any pain in my gut, and no bleeding. I am currently eating on a regular basis bread, pasta, rice, milk, potatoes and sugar type foods. I did not just throw all these foods down my throat. First I introduced pasta for a few weeks, then bread, for a couple of moths, etc.
I recommended a few people to this diet and to this web e-mail list.
Well as I said I was going to check in every few months. This is the only time I have chance, I am busy with work.

Good health and God bless,
Jim Prousalis
President
J-Pro Contracting Inc.
Serving all of New York
For All Your Contracting Needs





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