So-called "carnivore diet"

[tex]

Not all brands of colestyramine appear to be effective for us. Lite versions usually won't work. Those who need it, seem to have the best results using the Sandoz brand. It usually takes much longer than two weeks to find a dose that works for you, because you have to experiment with the dosage, slowly increasing it until it becomes effective for you, but back off a little on the dose if it begins to cause constipation symptoms.

I hope this helps,

Tex

[Jungyst]

Thanks Tex. I do have the Sandoz brand, in 4 gram packets. MY GI doc said to take 3 packets daily. There is Sucrose in the packet which I hope won’t be a problem as I have 2plus months worth of packets. I have read up on how to take so as not to interfere with other supplements. When you mentioned increasing dose did you mean taking more than one packet at a time? Today was day one and I noticed less volume in the watery stools.

[tex]

Taking it more than twice each day can make it difficult to schedule taking other meds or supplements, so yes, you may need to take more than one packet at a time. Good luck with your experimenting to find the best dose.

Tex

[HockeyMom]

I take 8 packets a day, 4 after breakfast and 4 after dinner. 2 weeks isn’t enough time to figure it out. Trust me on that My pharmacist mixed in some Epic cholestyramine last time. It’s packaged exactly like Sandoz, the only thing different is the brand name on the lower right corner of the packets. Seems to be the same stuff. I googled it and can’t quite figure out if they are one and the same company or what . I figured they were some spin off from Sandoz maybe.

I think I should add that my pharmacist asked me if I wanted to try it...he didn’t just randomly replace some of my Sandoz! I’m all about being able to use more than one brand...

Laine

[Jungyst]

Thank you, both!!! This is so helpful! I will experiment with the doses.

[TrinitySue]

Hi Everyone! I’ve been lurking and learning from you all for about a year now, but this post about Carnivore Diet has really caught my eye! When I was first diagnosed with CC in December 2020, it was my Gastroenterologist who suggested increasing my meat consumption- which did not sit well with me at all. I was the queen of green breakfast smoothies and veg every meal. I had Ulcerative Colitis in my early 30’s (now 57), which was eventually ‘burnt out’ by the supposed correct dosage of Mesalazine after being mis-treated by a surgeon as opposed to a Gastroenterologist who got me on the correct protocol. Mum had Coeliac - diagnosed in her 50’s after many years of undiagnosed problems, so there is obviously something within our family. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and then with Metastatic breast cancer in 2016. I am currently very well (no evidence of disease since June 2017) and have treatment every three weeks (immunotherapy, not Chemo), but one of the side effects is D . It wasn’t until two separate o/seas holidays where I experienced spontaneous nocturnal D, that I was eventually sent for colonoscopy and diagnosed. I eliminated dairy, gluten, went low FODMAP, etc, etc. I’ve had several attempts of reducing/ceasing the Budesonide - CC always flared up. These last two months, I have finally bit the bullet and gone full carnivore. What a bloody great change! I wish I’d experimented sooner. It is still weird to have meat, meat and more meat, but I’m finally getting into a rhythm. I also include eggs and a little hard cheese with some meals. I’m still on 6mg Budesonide each morning and have gone from 1-2 D per day, to ‘normal for carnivores’ - 1 normal, but small poop, every couple of days. No rumbling tummy, no pop-offs, no smells etc! I have another appt with Gastro next week, so will suggest to him that I reduce down to 3mg for a couple of months, whilst still being a carnivore. I follow several carnivores on social media etc, so am learning lots. I am an active female and have not felt run-down, fatigued etc for my lack of veg/fruit, I look healthy, feel healthy and have my fingers crossed that I can really get on top of my CC. Although, if it’s caused by my anti-cancer meds, then I may have it for life, as I’m not about to give up those life-saving drugs!!
I really appreciate this forum and Tex’s books which I purchased a while back. I think I’m also fortunate that I seem to have a good Gastro, who is aware of the benefits of the carnivore diet.

[LauraGld]

Hi Sue,
You have had a long road...and survived so much. I am also a breast cancer survivor (triple neg) and I believe much of my road back to health triggered my CC over time. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the carnivore diet. I was vegan for a few years, then vegetarian...so I understand the discomfort with going carnivore but so glad it is working for you...so it is so worth it :)

Glad to hear your doing well! Again thanks for sharing.

Laura

[tex]

Hi Sue,

You're very fortunate to have found a gastroenterologist who seems to understand how to treat this disease. He's way ahead of his peers, at least in the rest of the world. I hope that you can continue to recover after you reduce the budesonide dose.

Tex

[Jungyst]

Hello to everyone on this feed and thank you!! An update for me now that I have been on Carnivore diet with Cholestyramine (four 4gram packets a day) for 3.5 months. According to my notes I am still, on average, having 8 watery diarrhea stools a day. I added honey and some fruits at month 2 on advice of my GP who recommended the Carnivore elimination diet. He said he expected that I would see less D by now and he endorsed my going back on Budesonide and work down to a low dose(3mg) a day. My Gastroenterologist will put me back on Budesonide if I want it. I am considering doing so and getting down to 3 mg a day which I was on before and was way more stable then I am now. I have read that low dose Budesonide is safe long term. It was diagnosed with Celiac in 2011 an MC in 2017. I have been on Autoimmune paleo, Fodmap, SCD diets and never really had impressive, positive results. It gets discouraging as you may know. I welcome anyones feed back that can relate to my current course of action.

[tex]

Are you aware that sugar is one of the known causes of leaky gut? Too much sugar can cause most of us to react, especially before we reach remission and actually allow our intestines sufficient time to heal. Honey and fruit are loaded with sugar. In addition, most of the sugar in fruit is in the form of fructose which has to be digested by the liver, rather than the digestive system, which means that it doesn't trigger the release of insulin, as sucrose would do. Fruit also contains more fiber than many of us can tolerate, especially before we achieve remission. This might be some of the reasons why you have been unable to achieve remission, at least those are my initial thoughts.

Tex

[HockeyMom]

I’m just spit balling here....but maybe you are like me and need a little (or a lot) of supplemental stomach acid to help digest your food? Betaine HCl was the missing piece of my puzzle. And of course, I take more than the AVERAGE BEAR with every meal.

Laine