SCD survey responses part 1 How long have you been on the diet?: =>4 Months Age?: =>36 Male or Female?: =>Male Do you have Crohn's, UC, or IBS?: =>UC How long have you had the disease (In years & months)?: =>13 years On a scale of 1 - 10, how religiously do you follow the diet? (1 meaning cheating all the time, 10 meaning never cheating): =>9 If you ever "cheat" on the diet, what foods are you eating that are not on the diet, and what happens (symptoms if any) when you do? =>Had coffee once or twice a week What medications are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? =>Azulfidine 500 mg qid Has your medication regime or dosages changed within 1-2 months of starting the diet (either before or after starting)? =>No Do you feel your change in symptoms (if any) was due to the diet, or your medications, or both? =>Diet What supplements/vitamins are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet, how long have you been taking them, and do you feel they help? =>Multivitamin Describe your diet/eating habits before you went on the SCD? =>I love homemade bread! I eat relatively healthy. Most anything was ok. Do you eliminate or avoid any foods other than those listed in the book? =>Jicama Are there any foods that the diet disallows, which you still eat because they don't seem to bother you? =>N/A On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 meaning no improvement, 10 meaning all symtoms are gone since following the diet; How much do you feel the diet has helped your symptoms?: =>Whoops, where is the negative scale. I would rate the diet a NEGATIVE 8 Would you recommend the diet to other people with IBD?: =>I think it is an individual situation. I bring up the concept with others, yes. Does your doctor know you are following the diet?: =>I'm not on it anymore. If so, does he have an opinion on it (approve, disapprove, comments)?: How did you find out about the diet? =>A newspaper article from my mother-in-law. Any other comments about the diet plan?: =>My symptoms were extremely minor (providing I stay diligently on the Azulfidine). For 2-3 weeks, I was the best I had been in years, but rapidly moved to being worse than I had been in even more years. Wished I could have reviewed your study before going on the Diet! I have UC - 4 outbreaks in 10 years. My only symptoms are bleeding - sometimes quite severely. Originally only the lower 12 inches of the colon was involved - now it is 25 inches. Never any pain or diahrrea, probably due to a high fiber vegetarian diet for 15 years. Started the Diet June 1 and stayed on it 2 months exactly. At that point I had brought myself from severe bleeding to just streaks on the stool, using other, natural means. Couldn't clear up the last of it though, and thought I would try her diet. I eliminated everything she listed. I normally do not eat dairy or meat, and so did not include those, but otherwise followed her recommendations without deviating at all. No cheating. I think I stopped all my vitamins at first and then gradually went back to taking a multi-mineral (1000 mgs of calcium, 500 magnesium, etc.) Vit. E 400, Vitamin C varies usually 500 to 1000 mgs. and a Super B complex based on 50 mgs. B1, B2 etc. I am female, 49 years old. A naturopathic doctor gave me Gottshall's book, so he does approve. Don't go to MD's except every once in a while for a sigmoidoscopy. Don't use drugs. Unfortunately, the Diet did not clear up the bleeding. Once or twice I was clear, but over the 2 month period I would have to say it didn't help. However, for people with the usual symptoms of pain and diarrhea, it may be worth a try. I did notice a lessening of gas, my only benefit. How long have you been on the diet?: About 2.5 weeks - got the boo,k before then, but had a trip to Russia - hard to control the diet there. Age?: 34 Male or Female?: Male Do you have Crohn's, UC, or IBS?: UC How long have you had the disease (In years & months)?: Since april 96 - just a few months - had a pretty nasty summer till I got diagnosed early in August. On a scale of 1 - 10, how religiously do you follow the diet? (1 meaning cheating all the time, 10 meaning never cheating): I'd say I am at a 9.5 - if I do cheat it is a bite of a muffin or something like that. What medications are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? The sulfer based one, Azulfadine. What supplements/vitamins are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? Vitamin A, B complex, C *AND* taking Acidofilous. Get the f vitamins without sugar, yeast, starch fillers. Do you eliminate or avoid any foods other than those listed in the book? I am following the book religiously. Have not added others yet. Are there any foods that the diet disallows, which you still eat because they don't seem to bother you? Haven't tried yet. On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 meaning no improvement, 10 meaning all symtoms are gone since following the diet; How much do you feel the diet has helped your symptoms?: I'd say I'm at a 6.5 - 7 or so. Yes in three weeks. I think it is mostly the diet i since I wa s on my medicine while in Russia - no help. Would you recommend the diet to other people with IBD?: I would definitely give it a whirl for anybody who has not tried it. Does your doctor know you are following the diet?: Have not talked o to him yet since I have not seen him since diagnosed. If so, does he have an opinion on it (approve, disapprove, comments)?: Any other comments about the diet plan?: How long have you been on the diet?: 6 months Age?: 34 Male or Female?: Male Do you have Crohn's, UC, or IBS?: Crohn's of the colon How long have you had the disease (In years & months)?: 20 years On a scale of 1 - 10, how religiously do you follow the diet? (1 meaning cheating all the time, 10 meaning never cheating): 9! If you ever "cheat" on the diet, what foods are you eating that are not on the diet, and what happens (symptoms if any) when you do? When eating out, I sometimes eat foods to which in themselves are not disallowed, but which are often sold with added disallowed ingredients. If these foods are so adulterated, I may develop diarrhea. Also, I have often cheated by eating too much raw fruits/vegetables (allowed on the diet, but restricted until diarrhea is under control) and some other things too soon, paying for it with diarrhea. What medications are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? Asacol tablets and Rowasa (suppositories) for CD itself. Cipro and Flagyll (both tablets) for anal fistulas. Has your medication regime or dosages changed within 1-2 months of starting the diet (either before or after starting)? Yes. I changed from Azulfidine to Asacol shortly before the diet. I just added the Rowasa a few days ago. Do you feel your change in symptoms (if any) was due to the diet, or your medications, or both? I don't believe that the change from Azulfidine to Asacol made much of a difference. (It may actually be hurting me, since Asacol contains lactose -- a complex carbohydrate). Within days on the diet, it greatly reduced my diarrhea. Rowasa seems to be reducing it further. What supplements/vitamins are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet, how long have you been taking them, and do you feel they help? For 5-6 months - Multi-vitamin/mineral, and B-12 - seem to give more energy and improve overall health For 1-2 months - Biotin and Garlic&Parsley - really seems to help, presumably by (the biotin and garlic killing off fungi, such as yeasts (the parsley deodorizes the garlic) Digestive Enzymes - help to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates Describe your diet/eating habits before you went on the SCD? A low-fat, medium-to-high-carbohydrate diet (what would generally be considered a healthy diet). However, I did often have a daily doughnut (which is a notoriously unhealthy food), since they are offerred free at our morning break time. Do you eliminate or avoid any foods other than those listed in the book? Avoid blueberries Limit grapes/raisins Are there any foods that the diet disallows, which you still eat because they don't seem to bother you? No On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 meaning no improvement, 10 meaning all symtoms are gone since following the diet; How much do you feel the diet has helped your symptoms?: 9! Would you recommend the diet to other people with IBD?: ABSOLUTELY! Does your doctor know you are following the diet?: Yes. If so, does he have an opinion on it (approve, disapprove, comments)?: He does admit that "Too many complex carbohydrates have been shown to cause diarrhea (in IBD patients)." However, he seems to think that their total avoidance (as on the diet) is unnecessarily extreme. How did you find out about the diet?: On the World Wide Web. Any other comments about the diet plan?: I wish doctors would become more aware of it. Hopefully, the results of this survey are something we can show them to enlighten them. Following the diet has forced me to become more disciplined and self-controlled, which is helpful to me in other areas of my life. How long have you been on the diet?: @ 5 months Age?: 35 Male or Female?: Female Do you have Crohn's, UC, or IBS?: UC How long have you had the disease (In years & months)?: 6 years On a scale of 1 - 10, how religiously do you follow the diet? (1 meaning cheating all the time, 10 meaning never cheating): Around an 8 If you ever "cheat" on the diet, what foods are you eating that are not on the diet, and what happens (symptoms if any) when you do? I cheat on little things, mostly condiments: xanathan gum in salad dressings, soy sauce, probably some sugar in salad dressings when I go out to eat, also there is probably sugar in some of the sauces that are on other foods. Mostly when I eat out. There is also a candy that uses fruit sweetener (malted milk balls and chocolate covered almonds) that are probably questionable, but I figure it's the lesser of an evil and it makes it more tolerable. Also, one major cheat is that I add white rice to my diet. So, I also eat a product called Rice Dream that is similar to ice cream (rice syrup and fruit sweeteners). Symptoms? If I eat a whole bunch of malted milk balls or Rice Dream, I get a little "gurgly" and can tell that my colon is somewhat irritated, but it's not a big deal. What medications are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? Asacol. 2 pills 2x per day. 3x per day if I am having symptoms. Has your medication regime or dosages changed within 1-2 months of starting the diet (either before or after starting)? No. Do you feel your change in symptoms (if any) was due to the diet, or your medications, or both? Oh yes. I was recovering from a flare up when I started the diet. My appetite had been bad, with a constant dull nausea for about 2 months. My appetite came back, the nausea disappeared, within 2 weeks. What supplements/vitamins are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet, how long have you been taking them, and do you feel they help? None. Describe your diet/eating habits before you went on the SCD? Very high carb, high grain vegetarian. Do you eliminate or avoid any foods other than those listed in the book? Peanuts and peanut butter seem to give me a problem. Also, I will not touch beans and legumes. They give me gas, bloating and diarrhea no matter how much I soak and rinse. I also avoid coffee, drinking decaf a couple of time a month. Are there any foods that the diet disallows, which you still eat because they don't seem to bother you? White rice. This includes cream of rice cereal, rice milk and Rice Dream (mentioned above). On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 meaning no improvement, 10 meaning all symtoms are gone since following the diet; How much do you feel the diet has helped your symptoms?: Around an 8. Gas and bloating has all but disappeared, I have had days of actual "normal" bowel movements, normal appetite. Would you recommend the diet to other people with IBD?: Yes Does your doctor know you are following the diet?: Yes If so, does he have an opinion on it (approve, disapprove, comments)?: Yes. His words: "it's always better to control this with diet." He cautioned me that the disease was very idiosyncratic, and to allow for individual differences. Also, give it plenty of time. How did you find out about the diet? Compuserve Natural Health Forum. Any other comments about the diet plan?: Not too hard to deal with, once you get used to it. >How long have you been on the diet?:7 mths > >Age?:15 > >Male or Female?:Female > >Do you have Crohn's, UC, or IBS?:UC > >How long have you had the disease (In years & months)?:16 mths-diagnosed 10 mths ago > >On a scale of 1 - 10, how religiously do you follow the diet? (1 meaning >cheating all the time, 10 meaning never cheating):10 > >If you ever "cheat" on the diet, what foods are you eating that are not on the >diet, and what happens (symptoms if any) when you do?---- > >What medications are you also taking at the same time you are on the diet? >Down to 5mg prednisone from 40 mgs 8 mths ago >Has your medication regime or dosages changed within 1-2 months of starting the >diet (either before or after starting)?yes- an "experiment was done when at 15 mgs (1wek on the diet and 1 week off: after 5 days I went back on the diet,immediate positive results) > >Do you feel your change in symptoms (if any) was due to the diet, or your >medications, or both? definitely the diet > >What supplements/vitamins are you also taking at the same time you are on the >diet, how long have you been taking them, and do you feel they help? Cacium (because I'm a teen,) Halibut liver oil capsules, and B+C -my cousin, a nutritionist recommended that after looking at the diet > >Describe your diet/eating habits before you went on the SCD? alot of pasta, chips, bread,pizza,etc,-"teen food" > >Do you eliminate or avoid any foods other than those listed in the book?no, I stick to the book > >Are there any foods that the diet disallows, which you still eat because they >don't seem to bother you?no > >On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 meaning no improvement, 10 meaning all symtoms are gone >since following the diet; How much do you feel the diet has helped your >symptoms?:9 to 10 > >Would you recommend the diet to other people with IBD?:yes! > >Does your doctor know you are following the diet?yes > >If so, does he have an opinion on it (approve, disapprove, comments)?: >He says if it helps go for it. My specialist (whom I no longer see)said that diet does not affect this disease. >How did you find out about the diet?A friend of my mom gave the book to her when I was in the hospital and on TPN. I wouldn't go on the diet then but Mom asked me to try it for two weeks last Feb. until I had anothe app. with a dirrerent specialist. I was down to 30mgs prednisone then and starting to be sick again.Salofalk was tried at threedifferent times but it makes me major worse. > >Any other comments about the diet plan?:It's very hard at first, but i got used to it . back to start page