Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 > Hello all, > > I'm new to the Group, and am hoping that some of you may be able to > shed some light on the " three month flare " . I started the diet on > January 5, 2009, after a six month flare of ulcerative colitis. It > took about three weeks to see some results in the form of less > frequent, more solid bowel movements, and I seemed to be progressing > fairly well until about a week ago, when my movements began to > loosen and give off a particularly foul odour, almost ammonia-like > in scent. Blood has also begun to appear in my movements as well. > I know BTVC mentions the possibility of experiencing a three month > flare, and I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences > with such. Specifically, how long did it last and how severe were > the symptoms? Also, has anyone restarted the diet after > experiencing a flare? > > The return of my symptoms coincided with a decrease in my dosage of > Prednisone from 20 to 15 mg/day, so I'm concerned that the flare may > also have something to do with that. Well, it could be die off, it could be a normal 3 month flare, or it could be a flare induced from your decreased dosage or just to make it really confusing, it could be a mixed flare/die-off. If the symptoms continue, instead of abating, it's a flare rather than die-off. Though the foul odor is at times very symptomatic of die-off, which is why I mentioned that. OTthirdH, the blood makes it seem more likely a flare. Or, as I said, it could be mixed. <vbg> Confused enough yet. <g> The best thing to do is to get back on intro and stage 1 foods - soft food, food you have no problems with, a lot of broths and pureed soups and marrow bones in your broth, that kind of thing. Simple meats and fish. And don't decrease prednisone any more. The prednisone may have been masking food reactions at a higher dose and now you'll have to go through painstaking process of figuring out your reactions at a lower dose. What probiotics and supplements are you taking? Mara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 At 12:02 PM 3/21/2009, you wrote: Thanks very much in advance, and apologies for the graphic nature of my post. Brad, The graphic nature of the post isn't a problem because most of us have had the same or worse on our own accounts! What we sometimes call " the three month flare " is because (tah-dah!) it occurs around 3 months on SCD. As you're aware, the objective of SCD is to starve out the bad bacteria. Well, it has been observed that right around three months on the diet, you've done such a good job of starving them that their numbers are dropping rapidly. You've gotten rid of most of the weak sisters amongst the bad bacteria and the remaining ones are the stronger ones. So in effect, right now, you're saying, " Away with you! " and they're saying " H-ll no, we won't go! " and creating havoc for your poor gut. So it is absolutely critical that you hold fast at this point and not eat any illegals, because if you feed the bacteria right now, you'll let those stronger ones multiple, and then they'll be that much harder to starve out. The " three month flare " can occur anywhere from 9 weeks to 16 weeks. It can also occur again at 6-7 months, and 10-12 months. Those bacteria are stubborn. But YOU are more stubborn. My suggestion would be to drop back to easier-to-digest foods for a couple of days. Rest as much as possible, and don't push. Then gradually (probably not quite so gradually as the first time) reintroduce your regular foods. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Hi Brad, When my daughter had flares we put her back on the intro diet for a couple days. That usually worked quickly and she was back to normal in no more than 4-5 days. That being said I know everyone is different but I learned from this group how to handle flares. Donna O'Connor DD Crohn's -SCD 9 mos.- no meds. > > Hello all, > > I'm new to the Group, and am hoping that some of you may be able to shed some light on the " three month flare " . I started the diet on January 5, 2009, after a six month flare of ulcerative colitis. It took about three weeks to see some results in the form of less frequent, more solid bowel movements, and I seemed to be progressing fairly well until about a week ago, when my movements began to loosen and give off a particularly foul odour, almost ammonia-like in scent. Blood has also begun to appear in my movements as well. I know BTVC mentions the possibility of experiencing a three month flare, and I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences with such. Specifically, how long did it last and how severe were the symptoms? Also, has anyone restarted the diet after experiencing a flare? > > The return of my symptoms coincided with a decrease in my dosage of Prednisone from 20 to 15 mg/day, so I'm concerned that the flare may also have something to do with that. > > Thanks very much in advance, and apologies for the graphic nature of my post. > > Brad. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 > > > Hello all, > > > > I'm new to the Group, and am hoping that some of you may be able to > > shed some light on the " three month flare " . I started the diet on > > January 5, 2009, after a six month flare of ulcerative colitis. It > > took about three weeks to see some results in the form of less > > frequent, more solid bowel movements, and I seemed to be progressing > > fairly well until about a week ago, when my movements began to > > loosen and give off a particularly foul odour, almost ammonia-like > > in scent. Blood has also begun to appear in my movements as well. > > I know BTVC mentions the possibility of experiencing a three month > > flare, and I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences > > with such. Specifically, how long did it last and how severe were > > the symptoms? Also, has anyone restarted the diet after > > experiencing a flare? > > > > The return of my symptoms coincided with a decrease in my dosage of > > Prednisone from 20 to 15 mg/day, so I'm concerned that the flare may > > also have something to do with that. > > Well, it could be die off, it could be a normal 3 month flare, or it > could be a flare > induced from your decreased dosage or just to make it really > confusing, it > could be a mixed flare/die-off. > > If the symptoms continue, instead of abating, it's a flare rather than > die-off. > Though the foul odor is at times very symptomatic of die-off, which is > why > I mentioned that. OTthirdH, the blood makes it seem more likely a > flare. > Or, as I said, it could be mixed. <vbg> Confused enough yet. <g> > > The best thing to do is to get back on intro and stage 1 foods - soft > food, food you have no problems with, a lot of broths and pureed > soups and marrow bones in your broth, that kind of thing. Simple > meats and fish. And don't decrease prednisone any more. > The prednisone may have been masking food reactions at a higher > dose and now you'll have to go through painstaking process of > figuring out your reactions at a lower dose. > > What probiotics and supplements are you taking? > > Mara > Hi again, Thanks for the advice to those who replied - I'm going to stop my introduction of new foods for a while and go back to basics. I hope this isn't related to the decrease in Prednisone, as I've been on it for seven months and desperately want to get off of it. Mara, to answer your question, I'm taking: B12, B100, D, C/Calcium, Potassium, Omega-3 fish oil, L-Glutamine and Proferrin iron supplements. All of these were recommended by my naturopath or GI. In addition, I take a Chinese herbal supplement called Pulsatilla. I'm not exactly sure what's in it, but I explained very carefully my dietary limitations to the Chinese herbalist, and he assured me it was onside. I also take Prednisone at 15/mg day, Mezavant at 4.8 g/day and Fosamax at 70 mg/week. Thanks again, everyone. Brad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 > >> >> >> What probiotics and supplements are you taking? >> >> Mara >> > Hi again, > > Thanks for the advice to those who replied - I'm going to stop my > introduction of new foods for a while and go back to basics. I hope > this isn't related to the decrease in Prednisone, as I've been on it > for seven months and desperately want to get off of it. > > Mara, to answer your question, I'm taking: > > B12, B100, D, C/Calcium, Potassium, Omega-3 fish oil, L-Glutamine > and Proferrin iron supplements. All of these were recommended by my > naturopath or GI. In addition, I take a Chinese herbal supplement > called Pulsatilla. I'm not exactly sure what's in it, but I > explained very carefully my dietary limitations to the Chinese > herbalist, and he assured me it was onside. Well be careful with the L-Glutamine - doesn't work for everyone with UC. I know it gave me cramp like feelings when I tried it. Mara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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