Letters from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet support group
11/08/96 22:49
Subject: round robin
From: TRG,tguar@icom.ca,Internet
Jonas:
Leukocytes is just a fancy word for white blood cells. They are the cells
of the immune system and are responsible for any inflammation. So I guess
something that reduces the number of leukocytes in the colon is good for
people with IBD.
And it was interesting the point you made about that protein in milk. I
would think that it would also be present in yogurt and may partly explain
why some people find yogurt so helpful.
It also concerns me about the bacteria thriving on iron. I am currently
taking iron supplements because I have had a lot of bleeding lately, but
I
am beginning to wonder if that is a good idea.
I have noticed any problems with strawberries myself. They are pretty high
in fiber but I don't know if this would be causing you any problems.
Benito:
I know you mentioned at one time that Elaine feels iron supplements are
bad.
Do you happen to know why that is?
Athena:
I think the rule for the amount of protein we need is 0.8g for ever kilogram
of body weight. Just in case you don't know, to convert from pounds to
kilograms just divde by 2.2. This value from what I understand is for a
normal healthy person. I would imagine that someone with IBD would need
more protein because the body is trying to heal itself and repair damaged
tissue.
Bill L:
Welcome to the group. I was just wondering how long you have been on the
diet, and for how long you have been symptom free. I also have UC and
although the diet has helped me considerably (I am in my fourth month on
the
diet) I am currently going through a flare up that has lasted over 3 weeks.
I also noticed that you mentioned the book "Food and the Gut Reaction".
Does this mean you don't have the newer book? It contains some additional
recipes, including one for bread. If you would like the bread recipe just
let me know and I will pass it along.
Everyone:
The CD/UC Home Page has a section for mailing lists and news groups. Maybe
when we get our listserver working properly, we should consider having our
group listed here.
Take care,
Tina/On,Ca
*
Hi bill,
I had the rep from Sandoz come over the other day and she reluctantly gave
me the disclossure of the isosource product. There certainly is a lot of
stuff in there not on the diet carrageenan - used to deliberately cause
ulceration in rats. I'm not sure if that was in their top range product,
I
forget. but certainly the hydrolised corn starch and soy protein are not
on
the diet. If you wanted one without the soy protein you can get an
elemental formuola with amino acids only. I've found an interesting
breakfast alternative that has supplied me with all the calories I need
in
the morning for breakfast. It sounds a bit weird but I've started having
HOT juice.
I use the champion juicer which is a fantastic machine that extracts more
nutrients than any cheap juicer. The waste pulp comes out almost like saw
dust it's so dry. anyway I recommend this juicer heartily. I've had mine
for about 10 years no troubles. The juice I make is usally
3 apples
or
2 apples 1 pear
or
1 pear and a couple of buches of loose grapes
or
apple and pineapple
These all taste delicious. They are in harmony with "Fit for life"
(food
combining principles and since I started cooking the final juice product
in
the microwave I've had GREATLY reduced problem with gas and bloating. SO
maybe you could give this a try
I'm tempted to do somthing similar with the vege jhuices but there are a
number of people who advise against cooking tomatoes and spinach because
of
the inorganic oxalic acid conversion that causes arthritis (particular
problem in IBD)
Any way I'll probably be sticking with juices that have a few enzymes in
them for now rather than the elemental approach although I am thinking of
an elemental protein suplement only since I'm having a probelm wiht protein
fermentation. Hear forom you soon,
Regards
Micahel
*
Message 8 12/08/96 22:48
Subject: Mucus problem
From: Ben House,ben_house@qm1.mvbms.com,Internet
The discussion of IBD and smoking that went on last week makes me want to
ask
this question: Does anybody else have a problem with mucus? I've been on
the
diet 11 weeks now, and although soft or loose stools are a thing of the
past,
I still have bleeding and mucus (and rectal pain -- usually after going
to
the bathroom). I've had "accidents" on occasion where I thought
I was going
to be passing gas and ended up slime-ing my shorts. The number of bowel
movements I have is way down, but some of them don't even contain fecal
matter, just tan or bloody mucus (and mucus-smelling gas).
By the way, the consistency (of the mucus) seems to be changing on the
diet -- it's much more watery (and splattery).
I hope I didn't gross anybody out with this post, but if there's any
group I can talk to about this (personal) matter, it's this one. Since
everyone's diagnosis is different and everyone's symptoms are different,
I'd
be interested in knowing if this affects any of you guys. For example, I've
never had any problems with bloating, but I have gotten a similar kind of
loud growling that normal hungry people can get, just much lower down the
trail than the stomach...
Thanks,
Ben (NYC)
*
Tina wrote:
>Benito:
>I know you mentioned at one time that Elaine feels iron supplements
are bad.
>Do you happen to know why that is?
I haven't seen this in the book. Does anyone know what page this is on?
Athena:
I think the rule for the amount of protein we need is 0.8g for ever kilogram
of body weight. Just in case you don't know, to convert from pounds to
kilograms just divde by 2.2. This value from what I understand is for a
normal healthy person. I would imagine that someone with IBD would need
more protein because the body is trying to heal itself and repair damaged
tissue.
This is correct: Most orthodox sports nutritionists indicate .8g per day
for a average person. up to 1.5g for an athlete. Anything more is dangerous
to your kidneys and bowels.(uric acid) I'm currently on 1.1 and have reason
to cutback or combine my meals a bit better. (fermentation) If you have
a
protein digestion problem, the stools will have a foul odour. if you have
a
carbohydrate digestion problem or if they are normal there will be no real
odour.
Bill L:
Welcome to the group.
Yes, welcome Bill!
Take care,
Tina/On,Ca
Regards,
Michael
*
Dear Ben, Sliming underwear and stooless bloody mucous. Boy does that bring
back some hurtfull unpleasant memories. For years, I went nowhere without
a
change of underwear. After a year and a half on the diet, I have to tell
you
I don't have this experience anymore. In fact it started getting better
on
the azulphadine and disappeared with the diet. I do still experience
bloating, especially if I've eaten too much at one sitting. Many small meals
seem to work best for me. It does sound like your symptons are improving.
How
long are you on the diet? Are you on an meds? I have UC, do you? Please
keep
me posted on your progress.
Dear Matthew, I'm sorry your symptoms are worse since you stopped smoking,
but you'd better consider carefully before going back. In case my letter
was
misunderstood, I was not saying that smoking really made me feel better.
I
was saying that I "used" this study to give in to a desire I had
for a
cigarrette. There are some things in the study that give me pause, for
example the bit about the onset on UC following the cessation of the habit,
which was exactly my experience. I don't really think that going back to
this
filthy addiction changed my symptoms one way or another but I guess that
the
only way to find out for sure is to stop again, and I guess I'm not quite
ready to do that. To buy that stress relief /nervous excitement scenerio,
I'd
also have to believe that my mind has the power to control my symptoms,
and
that's one theory I will never believe. I've had this disease for too long,
been through horendous times with no blood, and joyful times when I couldn't
get out of the bathroom. In any case, just give serious consideration to
your
motives before you decide to go back to smoking. Wishing you all good health,
Rachel
*
Message 5 13/08/96 4:10
Subject: round robin
From: Laing William,laing@upanet.uleth.ca,Internet
Bill L:
Welcome to the group. I was just wondering how long you have been on the
diet, and for how long you have been symptom free. I also have UC and
although the diet has helped me considerably (I am in my fourth month on
the
diet) I am currently going through a flare up that has lasted over 3 weeks.
I also noticed that you mentioned the book "Food and the Gut Reaction".
Does this mean you don't have the newer book? It contains some additional
recipes, including one for bread. If you would like the bread recipe just
let me know and I will pass it along.
Everyone:
The CD/UC Home Page has a section for mailing lists and news groups. Maybe
when we get our listserver working properly, we should consider having our
group listed here.
Take care,
Tina/On,Ca
Well tnx you very some much Tina and hello to all the others in the group.
Not too sure how I am to access the round robin, so if I am making any
errors plse correct me.
Nice to meet you Tina, sorry to hear you are having a flare up with your
U.C.hope you can find the cause of it. Perhaps just a small oversight in
your diet. Elaine Gottschall spoke of flare ups early into the diet,and
didnt know the cause, nor the cure. Sometimes it can be the silliest little
things.
Cream in my coffee does it for me, in short order. So hang in there on the
diet, you may well solve your problem sooner than you think. Yes I think
I
will take you up on that offer for the bread recipe. And no I never bought
the new book, havent worn the old one out yet. If I can help you with
anything just give me a shout.
You where disscussing strawberries with someone ealier.I have a question
regarding both stawberries and rasberries, I have heard the small seed on
these berries can become lodged in the flutes of the intestines, and
wondering if this to be a fact. Perhaps someone can help me with that one.
The first attempt at the diet for me was three and ahalf years ago. A few
errors and afew months later the diet worked wonders for me. I have nothing
but praise for it. If I had given up on the first try, I would now be able
to say the diet didnt work for me. Somethings take seem to require more
than
one attempt. This diet in my opinion is worthy of any number of attempts.
I
do understand it well may not work for in very instance.
Deb A.Dowb
Hello Deb, tnx for getting bk to me as quickly as you did. You must get
up
before the roster crows by the time shown on your note to me.
Just wished to say I appriecated you sending me the copies of the
conversations of the group with Elaine Gottschall. Very intresting. I
enjoyed it emmensely. tnx you agn.
Bill l//ab/ca
*
From: Ann Valinski, INTERNET:flow@postoffice.ptd.net
Ben: Mucous seems to be the thing that lasts the longest. I have UC
and have always found that because stool has formed, that all else has
passed. Mucuous was always next to the last go for me and then bleeding
the last. I have been going through bouts this past week of suddenly
have gastric symptoms and passing a small amount of liquid diarrhea.
When I get heavy spasms, I have been passing small amounts of whatever
that go to the bottom of the bowl and are mostly blood. I am down to
1-3 heavy bowel episodes in the a.m. Usually at least 2 being with
stool. I may have 1 or 2 of the other episodes mentioned. I was doing
well with no activity during the balance of the day and have suddenly
found myself having the liquid episodes (1-2) during the day. I don't
know if they are from food or stress. Anyway, I have been very confined
for the past 2 months since my recent flare. Limited to being in the
house, getting to my job and home again. For the first time this past
Saturday, I ventured, with the aid of my husband in case I had to dump
everything in his hands and make the 5 alarm dash, out to a couple of
stores. I have been avoiding that because of the anxiety of "what if".
I made it through a small amount of shopping in a couple of stores
without incident and was absolutely elated. I picked the time of day my
system is the calmest. I told my husband people would think I was a nut
if they saw my reaction because I was able to shop in a store. No one
has any idea what we all go through - no one understands that this goes
far beyond a physical thing. Anyway Ben - your issue should pass soon -
If not, take a good look at what you have been eating.
I was having trouble with my server and have been able to read but not
send mail out for the past two days. I guess the SCD server is not
working and no one has been getting anyones messages. I know some I
sent out there on the SCD must have gotten lost because I got no
responses. One question I had asked was why it was okay to use tomato
juice for pasta sauce. Couldn't you use tomatoes in the can? I thought
tomatoes acidity was a villan. I know I have to watch how much acidity
I have in my system. I am Italian and have always used canned tomatoes.
When in season, I have made pasta sauce from fresh tomatoes. Can
someone fill me in on this.
Anne
PS - Deb - Thanks for being the go-between for the group while waiting
for the server
*
From: michael cabarles, INTERNET:cabarles@geko.net.au
Dear Deb,
I originally offered to set up the listserver to try and make things easier
for us not more work. To answer your questions:
>it still needs to work somehow, even if we don't need to
>subscribe to it as you say.
I intended only to set everyone up on the EXISTING list in one day so as
to
avoid leaving anyone behind on the old system. Anyone after that will have
to use the listserver as usual and join up by personally subscribing. (help
files can be made available)
And, if John's listserver can indeed get the bugs
>out, do you really think that we need TWO listservers?
No I believe we only need one list server, but John's setup is out of his
control. It's administered by fwi who are probably charging him money for
the service. Our listserver is at my office where I can monitor it every
day.
>
>The last several messages that you have sent out were mixed up, in that
they
>included several messages from different people. Is this what you intend
to do
>with your listserver? If so, is there any way that you could break the
>messages
>down to be more clearly defined as being from different people?
When someone wants to send a message to the group, they would send their
message to scd@filmgraphics.com. Then the list server will forward each
message individually to each member of the group.
The author must identify themself with a signature at the bottom of the
body:
eg. Regards Chris (NYC)
Only If someone wants, I believe that there is a DIGEST facility in this
program that allows an individual to specify a time period over which to
collect all the mail and send a "bundle of mail all at once" this
means
they could read their mail all in one message rather than having to deal
with dozens of messages amidst their other incomming (work) mail. however
the default is to send mail messages as individual packages.
>
>John is supposed to be working out the details on what is going wrong
with his
>listserver. I do like the idea of subscribing, as that takes the pressure
off
>one person and allows people to access the list via a web site (as
>suggested) on
>their own. As it is now, people write to me and want me to "connect"
them with
>the group. I don't mind doing this, as I can then offer each new person
>information, but keeping track of the addresses was getting confusing.
>Not only
>did I have to make sure I got them all correct for myself, but for each
new
>person, I had to make sure that the list they got was up to date . .
. not as
>easy as it sounds.
>
>How do you propose to keep track of the addresses on your listserver?
The list is stored in a file on the server. I requested the complete
EXISTING list to initiate this file only. Any SUBSEQUENT subscriptions
would be handled by the list server using the SUBSCRIBE command and would
require no intervention by the list manager.The program we have is called
majordomo which is a very standard and popular program for this
application.
>
>Thank you for your help, Michael. The best idea will be to let the group
>decide, once we know all the details.
>Take Care.
>Deb
Forward This to the group. we could be up and running within a day as soon
as I get the full list.
Regards,
Michael
* * *
Hi Ben,
I'm in exactly the same phase as Ann Valinski at the moment. I have been
having exactly the same bowel motions as her. I also have UC. I look at
it
on the positive side. Since the mucous means that the bowel walls have
healed enough to start producing mucous again. but the irritation
(microbial toxins) is still there signalling the flushing mechanism of the
bowel. Are you on meds Ben? I'm using the Prednisone enemas at the moment
and find that they are holding me at this level. before I was on the diet
they were not working. I'm also considering to start the salazopyin again
as soon as I get over my flu. Speaking of which, I have been really
surprised at the way I've been able to escape the worst of this flu (winter
here) at the momment. I'm taking the chinese scratching therapy at the
moment and finding that it's doing wonders for the flu. BUT the day after
my bowels are a mess with diarhea. Then they improve better than before.
The mucous stage is the hardest for me since I find I get heavy and
depressed. with a lot of toxic buildup in the body since the bowel is
starting to work the right way round - absorbing rather than producing
water in the lumen of the bowel. this means that more mucous and more
toxins are taken into the body. Water to flush the kidneys Deep breathing
to oxidate the CO2 acid buildup and any Liver cleansing thing you can think
of are important adjunctive therapies. Legs and lower back seem to be where
most of the toxins accumulate with UC and massage and a Bicarb Soda bath
can really help here.
Anne:
>responses. One question I had asked was why it was okay to use tomato
>juice for pasta sauce. Couldn't you use tomatoes in the can? I thought
>tomatoes acidity was a villan. I know I have to watch how much acidity
>I have in my system. I am Italian and have always used canned tomatoes.
> When in season, I have made pasta sauce from fresh tomatoes. Can
>someone fill me in on this.
> Anne
>
Anne,
I personally only take raw fresh tomatoe juice at the moment since it does
contribute to a buildup of inorganic acids in the body that lead to pain
and arthritis. I pop them in the Champion with Spinach Carrot and Green
pepper (capsicum) for a delicious juice full of vit, minerals and live
enzymes.
Regards to all
Michael
*