Specific Carbohydate Diet Success?

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Magyar
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Specific Carbohydate Diet Success?

Post by Magyar »

HI,

Just wondering if anyone healed themselves of MC using the SCD? I tried it a few years ago and it didn't do too much for me (I may have added raw fruits and veggies too early on). But, the science behind it makes sense to me. I just wonder if it would work for MCers the way it does for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Thanks,
Magyar
Celiac (gluten-free since 2000), Lymphocytic colitis since 2000.
starfire
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Post by starfire »

If I remember correctly, Matthew started out with that diet and it helped him tremendously. I'm sure he will respond when he sees your post.

Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
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Post by cludwig »

Hi Magyar,

That was the first book I read when I got sick....but since I couldn't eat diary the yogurt thing wouldn't do for me. I did eat strictly paleo for a full 12 mos. and felt a bit better...but I never had anything help with the D until I took Diflucan last year. At that time I didn't understand the yeast diet and was consuming fruit and not taking a probiotic.

I am now waiting on test results...until I get them I am not eating fruit or sugar and limiting starchy vegetables. I am also taking garlic freeze dried from pharmax (no smell). I don't think I am curing anything...I think my immune system is not functioning correctly or I would have been able to recover from this yeast/bacterial infection before now. I am waiting for test results from a CFS doctor, and hopefully we can get my body in a healthy place to help me fight off this stuff.

The SCD makes total sense to me and if one's immune system is healthy it sounds like it should work. I enjoyed eating paleo and may end up going back to that way of eating(I eat very small amounts of brown rice now), but I am kind of in limbo right now waiting for the test results.I am back to soft stools since doing this for a month.

How are things going for you? Do you still think yeast is an issue for you? I think I remember you saying you were going on diflucan. When I was on it it took a month for my D to stop. It wasn't a gradual improvement either...I remember having really awful D the day before my BM changed to normal. Good luck.

Love,
Cristi
Magyar
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Post by Magyar »

Hi,

Thanks for the responses.

I'm not sure about the yeast. I realized I was tested (blood) for it this year and tested negative for it. Also, I had the comprehensive stool analysis test and it didn't mention any yeast (though it did point out a severe imbalance of bacteria). Anyway, I'm eating beef, chicken, turkey, fish and I just added dry curd cottage cheese (lactose free). I'm not casein sensitive, and I was dying for something other than meat.

So far, the D has gotten worse. I'm not sure if it's die off or what. The rumbling and bloating seem a little better. And, my mind is clearer and my energy is a little better. I feel like I'm on the right track but it's tough when the D gets worse.

My diflucan prescription is only for two weeks. I haven't tried it yet. I'm afraid of a more severe die off reaction.

Magyar
Celiac (gluten-free since 2000), Lymphocytic colitis since 2000.
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Post by bobh »

starfire wrote:If I remember correctly, Matthew started out with that diet and it helped him tremendously.
Yep, and he is a great success story. He was helping me with PM's when I was trying it, I did a very strict application of that diet for months... and it didn't help me personally. I mean not at all.

some people do get results, and I wish I knew why others don't. My "D" actually became more explosive, and I started having "accidents" after the first 2 months on the diet, that hadn't happened before and I had "D" for 15 years prior to my MC diagnosis in 2004. So I am on the statistic of it not working for me.

Entocort worked for me, and as Tex has said, it has the highest success rate of the various meds. I tried the smaller guns first (Asacol) and nothing else helped. I had a great remission from Entocort, stayed on Entocort for 3 months, then weaned off with continuing remission.

Then I got a bad case of Flue a month ago, and the D returned with the illness. I am back on entocort 2 a day, and it maintains a remission for me, with zero side effects. Some of us have worse cases than others. I am convinced that my MC is very, very stubborn. I am able to lead a normal life with Entocort.
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Post by artteacher »

Hi,

I just wanted to give you some input about the SCD. I really enjoyed the book - it was the first thing I'd read that taught me anything about how digestion works, and the diet helped a bit. But I noticed that honey seemed to upset my stomach, despite being a simple molecule. Dairy cultured completely the way she recommended still made me sick. So I realized I had intolerances beyond her recommendations. But tips like avoiding nut fiber were really helpful. I read that her daughter (who she originally developed the diet for) even after a lifetime of eating by the SCD plan, cannot deviate from that diet without getting sick.

Love, Marsha
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Post by mle_ii »

So what's the premise behind the SCD diet, how does it help? I can see some reasons (gluten, soy and fiber) but what is her reasoning behind the foods that work or don't work. Guess I'll have to pick up the book. From what I can tell it seems that bacterial overgrowth and/or dysbiosis would be one reason why this diet would work for someone.

Oh and FWIW having problems with honey can be a sign of bacterial overgrowth and/or fructose malabsorption. How well can you handle an average size glass of apple juice? I couldn't handle either when I was trying them. Honey would give me lots of gas. This is due to the body not being able to absorbe these hard to digest carbohydrates (hard in that they require enzymes). Dairy is the same way, though if it's lactose free not as much.

Mike
Magyar
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Post by Magyar »

Hi,

The SCD diet is based on the bacterial imbalance theory. Unfortunately, I find that I also cannot tolerate the limited dairy on the diet nor the fruit, honey and nuts. So, I'm sticking with cooked, non-starchy veggies, meat poultry and fish. I'd like to add eggs but will wait. I find that I'm constantly hungry. I hope that my body adjusts and that constant hunger disappears.

I'm basically following the diet outlined here:
http://www.biblelife.org/bowel.htm#starting

My stomach feels calmer, but the D is still around. I'll keep you posted on whether or not it's successful. Sometimes I wish I could get a short dose of Prednisdone to jump-start some healing.

Magyar
Celiac (gluten-free since 2000), Lymphocytic colitis since 2000.
mle_ii
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Post by mle_ii »

Magyar wrote:Hi,

The SCD diet is based on the bacterial imbalance theory. Unfortunately, I find that I also cannot tolerate the limited dairy on the diet nor the fruit, honey and nuts. So, I'm sticking with cooked, non-starchy veggies, meat poultry and fish. I'd like to add eggs but will wait. I find that I'm constantly hungry. I hope that my body adjusts and that constant hunger disappears.

I'm basically following the diet outlined here:
http://www.biblelife.org/bowel.htm#starting

My stomach feels calmer, but the D is still around. I'll keep you posted on whether or not it's successful. Sometimes I wish I could get a short dose of Prednisdone to jump-start some healing.

Magyar
Yeah, honey, nuts and too much fruit (or the high in fructose kinds) would be very problematic for someone with a bacterial imbalance. And sticking with cooked, non-starchy veggies, meat poultry and fish sounds like a good idea to me if bacterial overgrowth/imbalance is the cause.

If things work out for me I plan on writing up something myself.
Pat
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Post by Pat »

Magyar,
I had the same wish about Prednisone and my GI doc obliged. It didn't help me at all. I had taken Neomycin just before taking the Pred and it made me sick. I just knew the Prednisone was going to help but it didn't. He has me taking VSL #3 while he studies my old lab results. I am having some success with the VSL#3 so I will keep taking it. Hope he comes up with a plan soon. I am also eating GF.
Pat
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Post by artteacher »

Hi there,
Elaine G's diet (SCD) was developed for her daughter. She found that if she gave her only simple carbs, not complex ones, it was easier for the body to digest them completely, leaving little for bad bacteria to grow on. The theory is that the body can still be nourished, yet the bad bacteria colonies are reduced to normal levels over time, and any damage to the digestive tract can heal itself because it's not so stressed.
It really is an informative book, and has interesting recipes. I used the ones with almond flour as a sub for wheat flour for a long time. The net has recipes also for the diet - I especially like almond flour pancakes.

Love, Marsha
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