diet and remission

Maryse · Post by **Maryse** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:56 am

I'm sorry if this has been discussed before. My daughter's MD is upset with her because she's decided to postpone her Entocort treatment until she has explored her food sensitivities. Has anyone here achieved remission with diet alone? I need some encouragement that not jumping into the meds bandwagon is a valid choice. (our doctor said it was a bad decision even though he knows that her only symptom is loose BMs 2 or 3 times a day, no pain, zero discomfort). thank you!!

Grahm · Post by **Grahm** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:48 pm

I'm fairly new here, just joined the 1st of June. I tried the meds and could not take them. I'm not on anything but the vitamins that have been recommended here. I'm sure I'm not in remission but I'm controlling it with diet. I think everyone would agree that it you can do it without the meds it's a great thing.

Good luck,
Connie

coryhub · Post by **coryhub** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:59 pm

My personal experience was to use the Entocort for 6 weeks and allow my gut to settle down. This gave me time to get a handle on how to eat gluten free, and roughage free. My kitchen was cross-contaminated with wheat flour so I scoured, bought new pots & cutting board, and purchased gluten free products. When I tapered off the Entocort I used a food log to keep track of introducing new foods. But then I was having BMs up to 15 times a day!

Cory

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:05 pm

There are many here that achieved very good management - remission with diet alone.

Some used OTC meds for a few weeks, that slow motility until they got a stable eating plan.

Me, I was minimal OTC meds for 2 months or so, strict diet, with some acupuncture and good quality supplements. A colonoscopy 2 years later, the mc was in remission.

Keep in mind, there is no quick fix, all options take time.

Diet wise, you have to remove all the major triggers, and stick with a low inflammation, low fibre, eating plan for at least 6-12 months, for some it has taken 3-5 years before they could expand the eating plan to include more ingredients.

Hope this helps

Post by **tex** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:05 pm

As Gabes pointed out, many of us here have reached remission without the use of medications (including me). The time required for actual healing of the gut is slightly shorter without the drugs, because corticosteroids actually retard healing. Many members here choose to use medications though, because they will mask the symptoms of the disease and thereby make life more pleasant while the diet changes are allowing the gut to heal.

There's little point in arguing with most GI specialists though, because most of them still insist that diet has nothing to do with the disease, so naturally they don't even realize that food sensitivities are the reason why the inflammation is perpetuated with this disease (unless those foods are removed from the diet). Many/most doctors actually believe that the medications will heal the gut. Obviously that's not true, because if it were true, then almost every patient who doesn't change their diet to avoid all their food sensitivities wouldn't relapse after the drug treatments are ended.

Tex

Maryse · Post by **Maryse** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:22 pm

Thank you all. I'm so glad I found Wayne's book and this forum! I just ordered the Enterolab test. We'll get it done before my daughter leaves and will tackle this when she returns in December. She's determined to get to a drug free remission even if it takes a few years. Best wishes to everyone!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:27 pm

If she is prepared to stick at it for a couple of years her chance of success are very high!!,

Hope your days are filled with Wellness for both of you

lisaw · Post by **lisaw** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:58 pm

Hi Maryse:

As her symptoms are not bad, and not causing a major effect on her life, I would agree with her, to start with modifying her diet. Doctors generally do not recognize the impact of diet, so will not agree with her choice. Many people here have improved significantly just from diet. Personally, I did not go on Entocort, until 2 years in, managing until then with diet. I had a bad flare, that I couldn't get myself out of, and went on Entocort.

Lisa

C.U.B. girl · Post by **C.U.B. girl** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:43 pm

Maryse,
I've been able to manage this disease with diet alone, both when I was first dx'd (2 years ago) and with my most recent flare (beginning two months ago). The flare, I'm quite certain, was caused by me getting sloppy with my eating habits and going back to eating dairy and soy. I had been in remission for two years, but because of the dairy and soy, inflammation set in again and a flare erupted. It was hard to get it under control at first, and I almost wished I had some Entecort! Of course, I immediately eliminated the dairy and soy, but because there didn't seem to be much progress, I took the C-1 Enterolab test. By eliminating the other foods that came up in the test results, I've seen a complete turnaround in only two weeks!

Of course, not everyone reacts the same way, and for some, a course of Entecort may be necessary to get a handle on the symptoms. But unless all of the reactive foods are eliminated, relapse is likely once the Entecort is stopped. Diet, and also eliminating all other inflammatory agents present in medications, cosmetics, etc., is the key to remission, IMHO.

Wishing the very best to your daughter as she tackles her own unique path to health!