Letters from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet support group 1997 (15)

Re: My 2 cents--Weaning from Prednisone/alternatives...
Sat, 3 May 1997 17:16:46 GMT

MARY WROTE:

I've been battling what has recently been diagnosed as Crohn's of the
colon (started as bleeding hemmorhoids, then became U.C.) for about 5
years and have the traditional round of meds, including varying doses
of prednisone for about 5 years. Had a successful pregnancy but after
my daughter was born this past September I went downhill, losing lots
of weight and having more severe symptoms. Tried the diet for a month
and got to 100 lbs. (I'm 5'8" and normally a slim 140) so my doc.
reccomended intravenous feeding (TPN) for bowel rest (I'm eating
NOTHING),increased prednisone in I.V. form, and the immunosuppressive
drug Imuran. I still believe in the diet, but further reading has
convinced me I have a profound Candida problem (apparently Candida
thrives on Prednisone and other hormones) so I believe I must cut out
fruits,honey, and cheeses and stick to mostly meats and vegies. I've
told my doc "no!" at this time to Imuran, and he has reluctantly
agreed to watch my progress for a few months on the diet, warning me
that I risk perforation of the colon, etc. if my condition doesn't
improve. I am feeling yucky from increased prednisone but feel chained
to this drug despite my fears.

I was hoping to hear input from you folks who have had similar
treatments - did you when you started the diet go easy on
honey,fruits, cheeses or did you find diarreah worsened when you ate
these things? Has anyone tried Nystatin or other yeast killing drugs?
I've heard these can make you really sick as the yeast dies off.

*****************************

Hi Mary:

I don't have Crohn's, so this might not relate to your problems
exactly. I do/did have severe Candida when I started this diet, and a
leaky gut caused by that candida. Thinking I would follow the diet
exactly, I was thrilled to have honey and fruit. These definitely
caused bloating and other candida-related problems, so I have totally
cut these things out. I am not so sure about cheese, though, I know
they always say to avoid mould when you have candida, but I don't find
it to be a real problem. You could try some cheeses with very low
carbohydrate content, like cheddar, if you want to experiment.

I have taken Nystatin, as well as the much more powerful
Diflucan. I didn't find the die-off problems to be very disturbing,
but I guess some people do for the first few days. If you take
Diflucan, be prepared for some hormonal side-effects (it makes the
body produce estrogen). In my view, the advice in Elaine's book
(aside from the sugars) has helped to keep my candida under control
without the drugs now. By consuming foods that are easily digested,
the nutrient supply is apparently cut off to the candida, which seems
to reside mostly in the lower gut. So the heavy carbo diet
recommended by many individuals treating candida may still be feeding
the candida if you have a severe case. I couldn't fully control the
candida before I started the diet, possibly because I was still
consuming vast amounts of rice, buckwheat, quinoa, etc. I have had a
dramatic improvement in the two months since I started. But I am a
stringbean myself now, which is a bit of a concern.

Hope this helps a bit.
Carrie Hull

Re: SCD: Tuna & DHEA
Tue, 6 May 1997 16:39:58 GMT

> For me, Rosa makes a very timely comment about tuna, as just this week
> I was looking at the tins trying to figure out which to buy. The
> better brands, like Bumble Bee white in water, have many more
> ingredients than the cheaper brands and types like light tuna. Does
> anyone else have an opinion on the soy protein that gets put in these
> white tunas? I suppose it is 'forbidden', but how much is in those
> cans anyway?

I wouldn't worry about how much soy is in there, just avoid it. In my stores
it is quite easy to find tuna with only tuna, water, and salt as ingredients
listed, or tuna, and oil. Read all the labels on the shelf and see if you
can't find a good one before accepting the soy one. I don't think Elaine would
approve of the soy at all. Someone compared it to the difference between corn
and corn oil, the latter being allowed. I don't know if this is the case
because soy milk and rice milk are not allowed either. I could be wrong
though.

> I was one who complained a couple of months ago about some of the way
> out advice that was passing back and forth, but was convinced by
> others that in moderation anything is O.K. All I care about is that
> the main focus doesn't turn to another area of treatment altogether.
> In fact, it was here that I heard about DHEA. I have been taking 25mg
> daily for about two months, and must say that no real effect is
> noticeable. Anyone else?
>
> Bart Hansen
> hansenb@frb.gov
> Alexandria, VA

Bart, I have been taking DHEA too, obtained by prescription from an ND in a
famous clinic in Washington state. I made a special trip down there from
Canada where I live, and spent thousands of dollars to do this. I was counting
on the experience of the doctors at this clinic. They are supposively world
renowned for their work with DHEA and other alternative therapies. An MD heads
the clinic (called Tahoma Clinic) and several NDs and other alternative
practitioners work there.

All in all, I ended up with a lifetime refillable prescription for DHEA which
is a high quality pharmaceutical grade product, prepared by the pharmacy. They
say it is better than the stuff you buy over-the-counter (which is not
legally available at all in Canada, by the way), but God only knows the truth.
I just keep buying it from the pharmacy in Kent, Washington. To tell the truth, I
don't know if it helped me or not. I find this to be true with many of the
vitamins, supplements, or even drugs for that matter. Unless you only do or
use one thing at a time, how can you possibly know or prove that any one of the
things is working or having any effect. For example, I took Asacol for ages,
but I have no idea whether it did anything for me. I happen to Know that
Prednisone had an effect, and I know that the SCD had an effect. But those two
are the only things I know for sure. I still take the DHEA because it may be
helping me, and I don't think it is harming me. I did a lot of research and
reading on the subject, and that's how I came to this decision for myself. I
take about 30mg a day. My theoretical reason for taking it is that it helps
get the adrenal glands working again after being on Prednisone for a long time.
The prednisone shuts down those glands, which are VERY important for proper
body functioning overall. Anyway, I think that if people are interested in
DHEA, they should do some reading and then decide if it is for them. If I had
it to do over again, I wouldn't bother seeking the advice of an MD or a
Naturopathic doctor for that matter because they all have a different opinion
on DHEA, and there are no standard treatment protocals for this
supplement. In other words, when it comes to dosage prescribing, they are all
pretty much making it up as they go along and we are the guinea pigs. I have
no problem with being that, but if I already know their theories behind it, I
can figure out my own dosage. They usually start you out on about 5 - 15 mg
per day, and see what happens. If the patient gets side effects, like acne, the
dosage is assumed to be too high, and is reduced. 5mg per day is a perfectly
safe dose. I figured all this out from a very good book which seems to be
written in a non-biased way. Many doctors are quoted as to their methods and
theories on the subject and research studies are cited as to what DHEA will and
will not do. The author seems very scientifically minded, and he actually says
so when there is no solid proof that it works for certain things. Anyway, for
people who are wondering if they should take it, get this book. I found it at
my public library and it was a very interesting read.

DHEA - A Practical Guide
by Ray Aahelian, M.D.

Dr. Sahelian is known as the credible voice in the field of hormone therapy.
He's a renowned expert on cutting-edge hormone supplements and nutrients.
Anna

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