my bowels a flare up

harma · Post by **harma** » Thu May 19, 2011 12:15 pm

Well, even I have been doing so well on only one entocort a day and diet, I have had to face a flare up the last weeks. It has been going a bit up and down. Sometimes normal bm, sometimes soft and sometimes d. Last weekend was really bad, just brown water with undigested food pieces in it. Haven't really felt sick or that I had really to rush to the toilet, most of it came out in morning, but than like in 4 or 5 times (another flare sign).

I have been wondering what could have caused it. I have been a bit sloggy with my diet (oh still GF DF SF, just adding new things to my "10 ingredient" diet). Partly I think it was because I was so fed up with diet, and also partly the two friends I was staying with were asking critical questions about my diet (it is very often very difficult for outsider to imagine that I really need to be on this diet). Also last weeks I wasn't the most confident firm person of the world, going to all the changes again and probably more sensitive to comments on my food. So I have tried different things, rice bread, rice cookies, hoummos, decaf espresso and lemon/mint/ice drink etc.

On one hand I suspected the food, on the other hand I thought it was stress, of going through all those changes and not having my own place. But what also was a bit scary that the one entocort day is not a guarantee for me, I can eat anything I want.

I still think food changes are the biggest cause of the flare up. hoummos is a big NO. But the real course I think is mint. Yes mint, it even surprize me. But it all started when I started using fresh mint in my tea, drinking those very nice fresh lemon/mint with crushed ice drinks. On the worst morning, I had two of those drinks the night before. I still find it hard to believe, but it is really amazing how quick it recovers after going back to by my simple boring food routine.

For me again again and again this proves the importance of diet. I know now the reason why I have been doing so great on one entocort a day alone, it is diet. Ti me it also proves that GF, SF, DF etc sometimes cannot be enough and you have to look further to find out what bothers you.

I think my "mint allergy" is a personal thing, but maybe useful information for others here. And it's a pity since green tea with fresh mint is my favorite drink nowadays.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu May 19, 2011 2:48 pm

You know I've always had trouble with mint tea and fresh mint, especially in Mojitos. I always blamed it on the citrus in the drink, but it cleans me out more than any other cocktail. There may be something about mint...

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:46 pm

Harma and Zizzle,

Recently I started having fresh lemon in my water, and it seemed to help with my energy level, as lemon is highly alkaline. However, guess I had to much of a good thing, as I started reacting to the fresh lemon. I later had myself tested for lemon by my acupuncturist, and sure enough, it showed that I was highly sensitive to it. I know we're all so different in our sensitivities, but perhaps it's the lemon rather than the mint you're reacting to?

Love,
Kari

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:57 pm

Harm, thanks for the update. I'm sorry your reacting to mint, I love the stuff.

Kari how did your acupuncturist test you for a sensitivity?

Joe

Post by **tex** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:50 pm

Kari,

Lemon was a no-no for me, also, when I was still reacting.

Love,
Tex

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Thu May 19, 2011 6:23 pm

I have benn in remission for 6 years and even with the ocassional *drop out of remission* Lemon Juice only bothers me when I am out of remission.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu May 19, 2011 6:30 pm

Joe,

Wish I could find the thread where this topic was discussed very recently - Gabes had some good links, as well as a very straight forward explanation of how the process works.

Anyhow, it is a very simple muscle response test. You hold a vial with some of the food extract in one hand, and then the other arm is tested for muscle weakness. It works like a charm.

Tex,

It's so interesting to me how you figured out all your sensitivities without the aid of testing. However, I must say that at this point in time, I've become so tuned in to my system that I know pretty quickly if I'm reacting to something, so I use the acupuncture process to verify what I already think I know. Then I use that session to work on 'desensitizing' to the food in question.

Love,
Kari

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:09 pm

Kari is that the thread about bio impedance analysis BIA? I had a chance to visit wupith Gabes nutritionist during the recent vist and the results wre almost the same as the MRT testing. I was wondering if what you were using us similar

Joe

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:26 pm

Joe - finally found it - it's in the Bubbles and Squeak thread!!!

Love,
Kari

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:40 pm

Kari, how do you work on desensitizing? Is that something you practice ongoingly, on your own, or only in your acupuncture sessions?

(Just hoping to keep lemons in the mix!)

Love,
Sara

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:47 pm

Harma-Sorry you've been in a bit of a flare for the last couple of weeks. In light of all that you have been through with multiple moves, new environment and new/different foods, there are so many possible factors in the why... the important thing is that you are settled for a bit and life in Amman seems to be a good fit - you sound so happy. Hopefully these positive details will be enough to settle that MC monkey down and Norman will be a regular visitor again.

I would have never guessed a sensitivity to mint but I tested high yellow for spearmint on MRT. I had to change to a cinnamon toothpaste. I'm definitely going to miss Mojitos on a hot summer day.

Kari (or anyone else)- How did you find your acupuncturist? There are so many in my area but I don't know how to begin to determine what/who would best fit my needs/issues.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:07 pm

Thanks Kari, I forgotten about that part of the thread

Joe

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:15 pm

Sara - the desensitizing is done in the acupuncture session. I've been going once a week, and it seems to be helping.

Kelly - I don't think there are very many acupuncturists who work with food sensitivities - so you have to inquire about that. I was fortunate to find someone close to where I live by doing an internet search. She specializes in allergies - airborne, as well as food.

Love,
Kari

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:28 pm

Sara - just reread your question and realized that you're also asking about the process itself. It consists of lying down for 20 minutes with needles strategically placed and holding a jar with the substance(s) being worked on.

Love,
Kari

Post by **tex** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:33 pm

Kari,

I kept a "Winning the poo" diary for over 2 years.

Love,
Tex