Letters from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet support group 1997 (15)


Joy!
Thu, 1 May 1997 18:21:30 GMT

I just got back from my colonoscopy. I had my first colonoscopy last
May. It was awful and I had a severe case of UC. Ulcers were
everywhere. Well, today all ulcers were gone. No trace. I don't know
how common this is, the nurses seemed so blasse. I have been on this
diet for 9 months now. I also had 4 cranial sacral therapy sessions and
I'm taking Tai Chi. I think these things worked in concert with one
another to heal me. I guess it's possible for the ulcers to come back
but I'm not sure. I do know that the doctor will tell me that this is
just a remission and that it will come and go. They also took biopsies
to test for cancer since my last c showed signs of dysplasia. That
always scares the hell out of me. But that's just when I say to myself
"Danial-son...wax on...wax off..."
Nora




Re: Joy!
Thu, 1 May 1997 21:06:10 GMT

Dear Nora,
A soulmate!! I too got an all clear on my colonoscopy after being on the
diet only 6 months. My doctor also blamed the event on some kind of bizzare
remission. I've had another one since (this past Jan) which also came up
clear as a bell. He's not only speechless, but I hear he's passing on the
diet to those interested in nutrition with their pills. I'm no longer on
any meds at all. Took myself off about 8 months ago.What a great gift
hearing from you today. Today is exactly 2 years on this miraculous diet.
As for tai chi, I've been studying martial arts (karate) for 14 years and
tested and received my 2nd degree black belt last friday night. The only
thing you & I don't have in common is the cranial sacral therapy. Please
tell me more about it. Although my colon is in incredible health, I do have
problems with arthritis & wonder if this wouldn't help. Please keep me
posted. I'm thrilled for you. For me too.
Rachel





Re: NOVO-LOPERAMIDE
Fri, 2 May 1997 1:42:42 GMT

>Hello everyone!
>I went to see my GI specialist yesterday afternoon. One of my few
>complaints was the urgency I experience in the afternoons. This symptom has
>improved immensely without anything but I would like to see a bit more
>improvement just to make the day easier and for me to have the confidence to
>be more active in the afternoon. ( My frequency has decreased greatly but it
>is in the afternoons that I have the bulk of my bowel movements and it is
>rather inconvenient to be proccupied with the toilet when you'd like to be
>absorbed in other activities.) Any way he prescribed NOVO-LOPERAMIDE
>otherwise known as Immodium. He suggested taking one 2mg tablet with my
>lunch to help with the afternoon urgency. I was wondering if anyone on the
>diet has tried this. I would appreciate any comments regarding it.
>I've been on the diet 14 months, sticking with it faithfully; lots of
>improvements aiming for even more!
>THANKS
>Martine
>ALLAN


Urgency and diarhea are a reaction to a build up of toxins in the bowel.
your bowel movements should be mostly in the morning, so as to "empty" out
the toxins and give you a "light/clear/non-toxic" burst of energy for the
working day. Ways to encourage early morning evacuation are:

1. drink 2-3 glasses of water IMMEDIATELY upon rising. This is also the
best time to take an acidophilus (POWDER ONLY) suplement. with the LAST
glass of water

2. Get active immediately after you take the water. don't go out until you
have emptied your bowels. you will soon get the urge to go. you may need to
go a few times (2-5) times. Be patient with this as you retrain your body
as to the correct time to do this. After you feel comfortable (empty) and
if you have U.C., now is the best time to take a prednisone enema or just a
supositry .

3. take 1 teaspoon of slippery elm and 1 teaspoon of psyllium husks with
juice just before bed with 1-2 glasses of water. This will help to build a
formed stool for the following morning

4. As things improve, (1-2 weeks) start to take Take Slippery Elm 4 times a
day and psyllium 2-4 times per day (less or no psyllium if you are
bleeding).

5. Around lunch time, use a smooth 2-3mm thick piece of solid natural
material (jade or other smooth stone with an edge. or polished wood or just
use your finger nails together (pushing down not scratching up). Do not use
plastic in contact with the skin. Firmly Massage the front of the thighs
and the small of the back along the spine; as will as the lower arms with
about 20 strokes each. Always stroke in the direction away from the heart.
Doing this will dissipate accumulated toxins and neutralise the bodies
reflex to "go" (ie reduce urgency if you do it right you can stop diarrhea)


Regards


Michael





Re: My 2 cents--Weaning from Prednisone/alternatives...
Sat, 3 May 1997 17:16:46 GMT

MARY WROTE:

I've been battling what has recently been diagnosed as Crohn's of the
colon (started as bleeding hemmorhoids, then became U.C.) for about 5
years and have the traditional round of meds, including varying doses
of prednisone for about 5 years. Had a successful pregnancy but after
my daughter was born this past September I went downhill, losing lots
of weight and having more severe symptoms. Tried the diet for a month
and got to 100 lbs. (I'm 5'8" and normally a slim 140) so my doc.
reccomended intravenous feeding (TPN) for bowel rest (I'm eating
NOTHING),increased prednisone in I.V. form, and the immunosuppressive
drug Imuran. I still believe in the diet, but further reading has
convinced me I have a profound Candida problem (apparently Candida
thrives on Prednisone and other hormones) so I believe I must cut out
fruits,honey, and cheeses and stick to mostly meats and vegies. I've
told my doc "no!" at this time to Imuran, and he has reluctantly
agreed to watch my progress for a few months on the diet, warning me
that I risk perforation of the colon, etc. if my condition doesn't
improve. I am feeling yucky from increased prednisone but feel chained
to this drug despite my fears.

I was hoping to hear input from you folks who have had similar
treatments - did you when you started the diet go easy on
honey,fruits, cheeses or did you find diarreah worsened when you ate
these things? Has anyone tried Nystatin or other yeast killing drugs?
I've heard these can make you really sick as the yeast dies off.

*****************************

Hi Mary:

I don't have Crohn's, so this might not relate to your problems
exactly. I do/did have severe Candida when I started this diet, and a
leaky gut caused by that candida. Thinking I would follow the diet
exactly, I was thrilled to have honey and fruit. These definitely
caused bloating and other candida-related problems, so I have totally
cut these things out. I am not so sure about cheese, though, I know
they always say to avoid mould when you have candida, but I don't find
it to be a real problem. You could try some cheeses with very low
carbohydrate content, like cheddar, if you want to experiment.

I have taken Nystatin, as well as the much more powerful
Diflucan. I didn't find the die-off problems to be very disturbing,
but I guess some people do for the first few days. If you take
Diflucan, be prepared for some hormonal side-effects (it makes the
body produce estrogen). In my view, the advice in Elaine's book
(aside from the sugars) has helped to keep my candida under control
without the drugs now. By consuming foods that are easily digested,
the nutrient supply is apparently cut off to the candida, which seems
to reside mostly in the lower gut. So the heavy carbo diet
recommended by many individuals treating candida may still be feeding
the candida if you have a severe case. I couldn't fully control the
candida before I started the diet, possibly because I was still
consuming vast amounts of rice, buckwheat, quinoa, etc. I have had a
dramatic improvement in the two months since I started. But I am a
stringbean myself now, which is a bit of a concern.

Hope this helps a bit.
Carrie Hull



Re: Candida and SCD
Sat, 3 May 1997 17:54:42 GMT

When I started the diet I too was delighted to be able to have so many
goodies -- but I immediately started having trouble with gas and
bloating and looser stool when I had honey. Chesse doesn't bother me,
but I now cut it out because I find I have less mucus when I do.
Previously, when I had my lab tests done that isolated the bacteria that
have caused me such gut trouble (diarrhea, auto immune and leaky gut
symptoms) -- they found no candida. However, symptoms are symptoms, and
I find I don't bloat or get gas if I stay away from honey and certain
fruits.

I've been able to tolerate small quantities of grape juice and apple
juice, and I use those in place of honey in the bread/muffin recipe
(works well). I also cut out carrots and try to restrict my winter
squash as well. This leaves me eating a lot of nuts, eggs, chicken,
fish, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, onions. There -- I pretty much
can name all the foods I eat right now! My condition doesn't seem to be
very bad, so I keep hoping any day to be able to have honey so I can try
that carrot cake recipe that came through the list recently! I do know
that even though it's hard, dealing with candida while on the scd is
possible and preferable to me to eating the grains that have caused me
such trouble.

Regarding yeast die-off, I find it helped if I drank a lot of water,
more than I usually would. The exercises Michael was suggesting for
toxin build-up sound interesting as well and I would consider trying
especially the massage he recommends. For achiness I found that epsom
salt baths helped immensely. I never took Nystatin, but my husband
did. It didn't help him very much. He is helped more by doing the scd
and cutting out sugar (fruit, honey) as well.

I too am becoming a string bean on this diet, even though I feel like I
am eating vaster quantities of food than I've eaten in my life!

Denise
Davis, CA




Re[2]: Diet after colon removal
Mon, 5 May 1997 15:40:34 GMT

I'm interested in this subject too. At present it is hard for me to
know what I am digesting and what I'm not - after being on the SCD for
8 months, I had a flare, and tried to wait it out by staying on the
diet and staying out of work for 10 weeks. Nearly died once again (for
the fifth time in 4 years) but I felt this last flare might be the
'first-year relapse' in Elaine's book. But it went on and on, and I
ended up too weak to walk, needing 3 pints of blood, all veins
collapsed etc. For me, it was the end of the road, for I have tried
everything I can think of both medically and alternatively over the
past 10 years, and I opted for surgery. I am halfway through my
ileoanal pouch procedure, which means I have a temporary diverting
ileostomy while my new pouch, made from 20 cms at the end of my small
intestine, heals. My entire colon - Yikes - is gone. In a month my
ileostomy will be reversed, and I'll eliminate the 'normal' way,
except more often. If any of you are having nightmares reading this,
join the club - I would have done, and did do everything possible to
avoid this fate. Now that it's done, I am grieved, but want to nourish
myself in the best way possible, and wonder if I should stay on the
SCD (currently I'm avoiding wheat, but eating corn meal, beans,
starches, - eveything well-chewed). But it doesn't make sense to me
that I can now blithely eat whatever I want when my digestion must be
impaired by removing my colon. On the other hand, I'm gaining health
and strength (but no weight yet) and since all my output is relatively
soft and there's no more blood, it's hard to know what's agreeing with
me.
Sorry for the long note. I'd just appreciate any input, suggested
reading, anecdotal evidence, moral support for my 'gut' feeling that
the SCD still makes sense for me even with my colon gone.

Thanks! Lynne




diverticulitis / seeds
Mon, 5 May 1997 16:32:12 GMT

Victor,
Regarding the seeds, they are allowed on the SCD but Elaine recommends in the
book that you do not eat them until all symptoms have disappeared, and then
only introduce them by trial and error. After being on the diet for several
months (I had little or no symptoms), I decided to try some roasted pumkin
seeds that I got out of a pumkin and roasted myself. I ate 3 seeds only.
Within a few minutes I got diarreah and cramps. I have avoided them ever
since. I believe that seeds are not the easiest thing to digest. Everyone is
different, so I would not rule out seeds entirely. But I would wait until you
are symptom free and then experiment. Apparently a lot of people on this diet
are eating tahini, which is ground up sesame seeds. I would try that first.
Raw sesame seeds contain more calcium than any other food on earth (I heard).

Regarding whether or not or how the SCD can work for diverticulitis, I would
definately call Elaine personally and ask her. I got the impression from her
that she doesn't mind a phone call at all. She actually seems to prefer a call
to a fax or letter because it takes much longer to reply to people longhand. I
don't have her new number (since she moved), but someone on this list does, so
whoever that is, could you please post Elaine's new phone #.

I really think this is your best bet Victor, because most of the people on this
list have IBD or IBS I believe. You are the first I have heard from with
diverticulitis.
Anna







Elaine Gottschall's new tel. #
Tue, 6 May 1997 12:55:18 GMT

Hello all.

Elaine Gottschall's new telephone number is: (905) 349-3443

the FAX number is: (905)349-3420

the new address is: 396 Grills Road, R.R. # 2, Baltimore, Ontario K0K, 1C0


Happy spring, Ann Watts





Re: Nystatin, Psyllium, etc.
Tue, 6 May 1997 14:50:59 GMT

For the past 6 weeks, I have made some changes which have really
helped me. I starting taking Nystatin and Psyllium and limiting the
amount of honey, fruit, and cheeses I eat. Although this initially
(for a week or two) did give me some more diarrhea and some gas and
odor in my b.m.s (which I hadn't experienced previously), these things
didn't last. I believe that this was the infamous candida die-off
reaction. Over the past several weeks, I have had MANY NORMAL b.m.s.
It HAD been years since I had ONE.

Thanks to all of the people on this list who have spoken against
candida and for Nystatin and Psyllium. Some of the credit also is due
to a nutritionist/doctor team who I consulted and who prescribed the
Nystatin and recommended the Psyllium and dietary changes -- Doug
Kaufmann and Dave Holland of Nutrition Resources in North Dallas. I
had heard them on the "Your Health Matters" radio show (Saturdays from
7-9 AM on WKRD 94.9 FM in Dallas and 1-3 hours elsewhere in the
nation) which Doug hosts and went in for 2 consultations, so far. It
is so refreshing to find medical practitioners who recognize the
connection between diet and IBD.

I thank God for what I see as truly an answer to prayer.

- Russ Johnson
Dallas, TX USA






Re: SCD: Tuna & DHEA
Tue, 6 May 1997 16:39:58 GMT

> For me, Rosa makes a very timely comment about tuna, as just this week
> I was looking at the tins trying to figure out which to buy. The
> better brands, like Bumble Bee white in water, have many more
> ingredients than the cheaper brands and types like light tuna. Does
> anyone else have an opinion on the soy protein that gets put in these
> white tunas? I suppose it is 'forbidden', but how much is in those
> cans anyway?


I wouldn't worry about how much soy is in there, just avoid it. In my stores
it is quite easy to find tuna with only tuna, water, and salt as ingredients
listed, or tuna, and oil. Read all the labels on the shelf and see if you
can't find a good one before accepting the soy one. I don't think Elaine would
approve of the soy at all. Someone compared it to the difference between corn
and corn oil, the latter being allowed. I don't know if this is the case
because soy milk and rice milk are not allowed either. I could be wrong
though.

> I was one who complained a couple of months ago about some of the way
> out advice that was passing back and forth, but was convinced by
> others that in moderation anything is O.K. All I care about is that
> the main focus doesn't turn to another area of treatment altogether.
> In fact, it was here that I heard about DHEA. I have been taking 25mg
> daily for about two months, and must say that no real effect is
> noticeable. Anyone else?
>
> Bart Hansen
> hansenb@frb.gov
> Alexandria, VA


Bart, I have been taking DHEA too, obtained by prescription from an ND in a
famous clinic in Washington state. I made a special trip down there from
Canada where I live, and spent thousands of dollars to do this. I was counting
on the experience of the doctors at this clinic. They are supposively world
renowned for their work with DHEA and other alternative therapies. An MD heads
the clinic (called Tahoma Clinic) and several NDs and other alternative
practitioners work there.

All in all, I ended up with a lifetime refillable prescription for DHEA which
is a high quality pharmaceutical grade product, prepared by the pharmacy. They
say it is better than the stuff you buy over-the-counter (which is not
legally available at all in Canada, by the way), but God only knows the truth.
I just keep buying it from the pharmacy in Kent, Washington. To tell the truth, I
don't know if it helped me or not. I find this to be true with many of the
vitamins, supplements, or even drugs for that matter. Unless you only do or
use one thing at a time, how can you possibly know or prove that any one of the
things is working or having any effect. For example, I took Asacol for ages,
but I have no idea whether it did anything for me. I happen to Know that
Prednisone had an effect, and I know that the SCD had an effect. But those two
are the only things I know for sure. I still take the DHEA because it may be
helping me, and I don't think it is harming me. I did a lot of research and
reading on the subject, and that's how I came to this decision for myself. I
take about 30mg a day. My theoretical reason for taking it is that it helps
get the adrenal glands working again after being on Prednisone for a long time.
The prednisone shuts down those glands, which are VERY important for proper
body functioning overall. Anyway, I think that if people are interested in
DHEA, they should do some reading and then decide if it is for them. If I had
it to do over again, I wouldn't bother seeking the advice of an MD or a
Naturopathic doctor for that matter because they all have a different opinion
on DHEA, and there are no standard treatment protocals for this
supplement. In other words, when it comes to dosage prescribing, they are all
pretty much making it up as they go along and we are the guinea pigs. I have
no problem with being that, but if I already know their theories behind it, I
can figure out my own dosage. They usually start you out on about 5 - 15 mg
per day, and see what happens. If the patient gets side effects, like acne, the
dosage is assumed to be too high, and is reduced. 5mg per day is a perfectly
safe dose. I figured all this out from a very good book which seems to be
written in a non-biased way. Many doctors are quoted as to their methods and
theories on the subject and research studies are cited as to what DHEA will and
will not do. The author seems very scientifically minded, and he actually says
so when there is no solid proof that it works for certain things. Anyway, for
people who are wondering if they should take it, get this book. I found it at
my public library and it was a very interesting read.

DHEA - A Practical Guide
by Ray Aahelian, M.D.

Dr. Sahelian is known as the credible voice in the field of hormone therapy.
He's a renowned expert on cutting-edge hormone supplements and nutrients.
Anna





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