SCD Journal

[Mazen]

Well, after having a partial obstruction several months ago, cleared by a 2 months course of Prednisone and antibiotics, and major pain about a month ago cleared by 10 days of antibiotics, my pain is coming back. It's mainly in the ileum and climbs up my right side. Mostly mild cramping pain and a burning sensation, sometimes all over my abdomin.

So i figured, since antibiotics seem to work, and I don't want to take any more drugs in addition to the ones I'm taking (Pentasa and Imuran), I decided to try the SCD, as it's main premise is the decrease of bad bacteria in the intestines allowing them to heal.

So now i'm on day 2, and will post a journal to share my experiences. I'm starting with the intro diet as defined in the book "Breaking the Vicious cycle".

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/beginners.htm

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/the_intro_diet2.htm

I have a question for all those on SCD. How long did you stay on the intro diet and what did you eat? The only things it seems I can eat are boiled eggs and chicken soup? is some weak tea with honey acceptable?

 

[Crohns08]

honey is acceptable, I don't know about the tea though.

It seems like I ate boiled eggs and chicken soup forever! I think I stayed on that for about a week... Maybe two. However, I still eat boiled eggs for breakfast for the protein. I used to eat them scrambled for the iron, but I have a good iron supplement now.

Good Luck on the diet, I have my Crohn's in the ileum. In combination with this diet, Pentasa, LDN, my SCD vitamins, and iron supplement, I haven't felt this kind of relief since March. I hope you will find a drastic improvement as well.

 

[Mazen]

Hi Crohns08. My Crohn's is in the terminal ileum also.

Well i'm on day 4 now, and surprisingly most of the pain is Gone My problem now is I always feel hungry and tired without eating starches (bread ,rice...). Any idea or help with this?

As for tea, I read in the book that weak tea is allowed. So it should be OK.

I also cannot find any SCD legal multivitamin here in Lebanon. Any tips?

So currently I'm on SCD, Pentasa, Imuran and Cod liver oil.

Will keep you posted on my progress....

 

[Crohns08]

I ordered my vitamins on the internet, I don't remember the website, but they are specifically for people who are on the SCD.

I eat quite a few snacks. I usually snack at least once in between meals. I eat three meals a day. I usually eat pickles (That are rinsed from the preservatives, may not be technically legal, but I haven't suffered any from it) and cheese. Note: I only eat the cheeses allowed, and the moderation I am allowed to have them. I am lactose intolerant, and I haven't had a problem with cheese in a long time.

I'm glad you are already seeing improvement! Please keep us posted!

ETA: I just found the website for the vitamins, here's the link: http://www.freedavitamins.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=019-0354&Category_Code=cat_01

 

[Mazen]

Thnaks. Well after about a week on the diet I'm more or less pain free This is great. The only thing that's bothering me is the craving for bread and chocolate, and the feeling of always being hungry with nothing to eat.

A question about cheese: I tried Cheddar but it doesn't see to suit me well. Any suggestions for other kinds of cheese I may tolerate better?

What about the nut flower baked stuff. Do you use them?

 

[D Bergy]

I really think a diet without starches could really help with Crohn's. Bacteria feed on starches and sugar and you certainly are starving them by not eating these foods.

I actually think the reason my symptoms were non-existant for so long was because of my high protien (mostly meat) diet. It is when I started eating less meat that I started having problems. Also my bad reaction to Onions and Malt played a substantial role.

Dan

 

[Mazen]

Yeah Dan. I agree with you;. It is after the success I had with antibiotics, that I decided to try this diet so I can have a more natural approach with less side effects.

Also it is important to find which foods you have bad reactions to (even if allowed on SCD) and avoid them. I'm still in the experimental phase, but I know I have bad reaction to garlic, so I'm avoiding it for now.

My main problem now, is that I don't think I'm getting enough vitamines and minerals for now, and cannot find any SCD legal multivitamin in my country. I'll try to see if any of my friends in the US or Canada is coming and then they can bring it with them.......

 

[Crohns08]

I feel your pain, I wanted chocolate so bad! But don't worry, once you have been on the diet for a few months, you can cheat with a little bit of chocolate. I cheated yesterday... But it was in celebration!

I posted a recipe for peanut butter caramels.. Those are definately worth looking into!

Dry curd cottage cheese (farmer's cheese) is really good melted, so if you melt that on vegetables or something, that would be really good.

I use nut flour a good bit, I use it in frying chicken (Not legal I think, but I use corn meal or nut flour, whatever I have in peanut oil, this is also something that I can eat, whether it is chicken or fish, if you do this, only eat a little bit of it, but I would wait after a month or so on the diet first)

I also use it for cookies, and other odds and ends that the book calls it for. I always have to have honey, it just seems like everything requires it in the book.

Also, if you can eat pork, go for those honey garlic ribs! They are the best!

 

[Mazen]

Well my mother preapred to me 2 days ago the nut flour muffins and they are great! I seem to be able to tolerate one or 2 a day. do you think it's a good idea to eat nut flour products so early in the diet or should I wait a month or so??

 

[Crohns08]

I just jumped right in. My case is mild, I'm not sure if yours is, but if it isn't, you may just want to wait another week, or just eat one muffin, along with something else, like yogurt, or some cheese.

 

[Mazen]

Hi everyone. another update

Unfortunately I had to stop the diet because I had a 1 week business trip to Malaysia and it was impossible for me to be on SCD and go to meetings and eat at the hotel. Well, the food in Malaysia was terrible for somebody with Crohn's. All spicy, and sometimes you don't even know what's in the food!! So I had to eat pizzas, crackers, cheese, chocolate...... Needless to say my pain came back and my stools are soft again

Now I'm back home and just went back to SCD. It's only been a day now, so I cannot say but I hope it will have the same effect as last time...

 

[fenway1971]

I admire you for starting this diet. Have been reading about it and it all makes intuitive sense to me. I'm on prednisone and feeling ok (mild symptoms).

I think the hardest part about any diet is not seeing immediate feedback. In your opinion, was feedback near immediate (i.e., < week) before seeing noticeable changes?

 

[Mazen]

Hi. Well , I guess it depends . In my case improvement usually comes after 2-3 days and after a week or so I'm feeling very good. My problem is now it's holiday season and I'm finding it impossible to stay on SCD with all those family dinners and eating out. So I'm cheating now (and suffering the pain). I plan to go back to SCD in the new year. Keep you updated and good luck with the diet if you try it

 

[CazMc]

Hello,

I had been following the SCD for about 2 weeks and then I had to go out for dinner lastnight and was not able to follow diet like I should and am paying for it today! Guess that shows it is working for me....I am back on it today

Home for some pork and baked apple and then peanut butter and coconut muffins!!

Caz x

 

[Mazen]

Thanks Pen. Yeah, it's my first time with the wife. We just celebrated Eid holidays in my country and now Christmas and New Year are coming. Also we are moving next week to our new house aftre spending the last months cramped in a furnished studio, so things are a bit hectic and exciting these days

 

[fenway1971]

Congrats, Mazen.

I have yet to pick up the book but started on Monday with my own version of SCD - at least the little I know about it. No bread (is all bread a no go?) and no sugar (well, except for that piece of carrot cake last night). I feel good - but it's probably the prednisone.

I think this is a diet that I have to ease into. Wife is getting me the book for xmas.

 

[Mazen]

Thanks fenway. A helpful site to begin SCD is below:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/