Stricture and raw fruit/veggies

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My colonoscopy last week showed a, " very strictured ileocal valve, but otherwise

normal looking colon. " Does this mean that stage 3 foods will be as far as I can

go diet wise? Are there any foods from stages 1 - 3 that I should avoid as well?

Someone at pecanbread said that I should avoid all raw fruits and veggies,

fibrous foods like asparagus and dates, and potentially even applesauce. I'm

looking for any second and third opinions out there . Any for anyone else with

a strictured ileum, please share what foods work/don't work for you.

Here's a picture of my tiny ileum for the non-squeamish (don't mind the one red

picture, it was taken post-biopsy). They were unable to go any further with the

scope, but did manage to reach through to snag a couple biopsies.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e373/spookyhurst/colon.jpg

Thank you!

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

I loved seeing your picture! Thanks for sharing!

I dealt (kind of weird saying that past tense) with some strictures one of them

being in my ileum too.

It was a really long hard process for me to learn what to not eat to set it off.

I have emailed with quite a few old timers off-list. Some people do really well

on the diet even with a stricture others like me have to have it removed due to

constant bowel obstructions (I was so incredibly good food wise really. Cannot

fault myself in the slightest for not really trying)

Foods that were and absolute nono;

Grapes, Celery, Fennel.

Later I learned asparagus caused significant issues but the weirdness comes in

that at times it didn't. This is where things got particularly challenging for

me as at times some stuff would work and others it wouldn't. That is where Kim

M's knowledge and coaching became extremely invaluable. The way she deals with

ideas of food rotation and candida triggers and her constant diligence really

pushed me ahead.

Foods that I found that I need to be careful with;

amount of nuts, whole nuts and nut flours. Nut flours had this way of just

sneaking up on me causing the horrible spasms.

Green leafy veggies could be difficult. For a time I was steaming the heck out

of it after removing the large " vein " or stem in lets say collard greens or

kale. I steamed, pureed and added ghee and sea salt. Ghee really worked there

for a while until my setback in Israel which we don't know if it was

Pancreatitis (fats triggered the second episode) or if it was a small bowel

obstruction which interestingly I ate asparagus on the plane. I ate asparagus a

couple of weeks ago too and ended up with a small bowel obstruction.

Peel and deseed stuff. Juicing became an awesome friend. In fact my Omega

juicer is one of my favorite SCD purchases. I also bought a chiniois from a

restaurant supply store (I got 2!) to really strain my juice well.

Zucchinis and squash really worked well.

I also love bison meat and wild salmon and pastured eggs.

Dates can be a challenge on many levels but I did give in once in a while.

I am trying to think of other things to say but please don't hesitate to ask me

any questions. I will try my best to answer according to my experience.

Hang in there!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the input Jodi

I haven't tried nut flour yet, and was hoping to soon. Maybe I'll stick to nut

butter for a bit longer though.

How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if that's

okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last time, I

felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought maybe I

just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them both a

few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I didn't

have an problems when I ate them).

I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how fast you

got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy hospital

staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just understaffed or

incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the wrong meds,

giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help), and ignoring

the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to take care of

you when you're at your most vulnerable.

Holly

>

> Hi Holly,

>

> I loved seeing your picture! Thanks for sharing!

>

> I dealt (kind of weird saying that past tense) with some strictures one of

them being in my ileum too.

>

> It was a really long hard process for me to learn what to not eat to set it

off. I have emailed with quite a few old timers off-list. Some people do

really well on the diet even with a stricture others like me have to have it

removed due to constant bowel obstructions (I was so incredibly good food wise

really. Cannot fault myself in the slightest for not really trying)

>

> Foods that were and absolute nono;

>

> Grapes, Celery, Fennel.

> Later I learned asparagus caused significant issues but the weirdness comes in

that at times it didn't. This is where things got particularly challenging for

me as at times some stuff would work and others it wouldn't. That is where Kim

M's knowledge and coaching became extremely invaluable. The way she deals with

ideas of food rotation and candida triggers and her constant diligence really

pushed me ahead.

>

> Foods that I found that I need to be careful with;

> amount of nuts, whole nuts and nut flours. Nut flours had this way of just

sneaking up on me causing the horrible spasms.

>

> Green leafy veggies could be difficult. For a time I was steaming the heck

out of it after removing the large " vein " or stem in lets say collard greens or

kale. I steamed, pureed and added ghee and sea salt. Ghee really worked there

for a while until my setback in Israel which we don't know if it was

Pancreatitis (fats triggered the second episode) or if it was a small bowel

obstruction which interestingly I ate asparagus on the plane. I ate asparagus a

couple of weeks ago too and ended up with a small bowel obstruction.

>

> Peel and deseed stuff. Juicing became an awesome friend. In fact my Omega

juicer is one of my favorite SCD purchases. I also bought a chiniois from a

restaurant supply store (I got 2!) to really strain my juice well.

>

> Zucchinis and squash really worked well.

> I also love bison meat and wild salmon and pastured eggs.

>

> Dates can be a challenge on many levels but I did give in once in a while.

>

> I am trying to think of other things to say but please don't hesitate to ask

me any questions. I will try my best to answer according to my experience.

>

> Hang in there!

> Jodi

>

[Guest guest]

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten

> them both a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for

> my gut (although I didn't have an problems when I ate them).

Holly, if you don't have problems with them, then you don't have

problems with them.

Mara

[Guest guest]

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten

> them both a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for

> my gut (although I didn't have an problems when I ate them).

Holly, if you don't have problems with them, then you don't have

problems with them.

Mara

[Guest guest]

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten

> them both a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for

> my gut (although I didn't have an problems when I ate them).

Holly, if you don't have problems with them, then you don't have

problems with them.

Mara

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

> How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if that's

okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last time, I

felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought maybe I

just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

Do you feel your stricture is cranky? Do you get active episodes of it

narrowing? From what I have experienced and corresponded with people that have

this there are; some don't ever actively feel those " narrowing episodes " others

like myself feel it from time to time. I used to experience horrible spasming

episodes. I vomited so much on those first couple of months on the diet today I

know it was the stricture. It was awful in the begining of the diet but it just

seemed to gradually get better but it never totally went away food often times

triggered it.

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them both

a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I

didn't have an problems when I ate them).

I happen to not agree with what Mara wrote you. If you have a cranky stricture

it can mean that sometimes you react and sometimes you don't. This could have

to with so many reasons. One of the big ones is mechanical function that is

beyond our control. Kim M constantly talks about her faulty upper GI and how

she has to use different techniques to deal with those mechanical issues. I am

not saying this is what you should do. But your concern and confusion is

warranted! listen to it.

Personally I would err on the side of caution especially in the begining year!!!

Strawberries are great but have many seeds. Cut off or like peel the outer

layer. Pineapple can be chunky and fiborous and would be problematic at times.

I bought a juicer and I strain it really well and dilute and it is absolutely

wonderful.

Is it ideal to have to do this, no. But I think if you want to be careful and

avoid things that trigger you this is a great way to do it. It also gives you

easier to digest foods which makes healing easier. I think as you do better

with time you can graduate to eating things like the strawberry seeds.

> I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how fast

you got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy hospital

staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just understaffed or

incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the wrong meds,

giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help), and ignoring

the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to take care of

you when you're at your most vulnerable.

You are so right. It is beyond tragic the incompetence. The system is just

broken.

I am doing ok today. Having a lot of small bowel pain which I did not have up

until now. I think it was just years of inflammation and then bowel obstruction

to surgery. My body has been through a lot.

Anyway.. Keep asking questions!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

> How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if that's

okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last time, I

felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought maybe I

just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

Do you feel your stricture is cranky? Do you get active episodes of it

narrowing? From what I have experienced and corresponded with people that have

this there are; some don't ever actively feel those " narrowing episodes " others

like myself feel it from time to time. I used to experience horrible spasming

episodes. I vomited so much on those first couple of months on the diet today I

know it was the stricture. It was awful in the begining of the diet but it just

seemed to gradually get better but it never totally went away food often times

triggered it.

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them both

a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I

didn't have an problems when I ate them).

I happen to not agree with what Mara wrote you. If you have a cranky stricture

it can mean that sometimes you react and sometimes you don't. This could have

to with so many reasons. One of the big ones is mechanical function that is

beyond our control. Kim M constantly talks about her faulty upper GI and how

she has to use different techniques to deal with those mechanical issues. I am

not saying this is what you should do. But your concern and confusion is

warranted! listen to it.

Personally I would err on the side of caution especially in the begining year!!!

Strawberries are great but have many seeds. Cut off or like peel the outer

layer. Pineapple can be chunky and fiborous and would be problematic at times.

I bought a juicer and I strain it really well and dilute and it is absolutely

wonderful.

Is it ideal to have to do this, no. But I think if you want to be careful and

avoid things that trigger you this is a great way to do it. It also gives you

easier to digest foods which makes healing easier. I think as you do better

with time you can graduate to eating things like the strawberry seeds.

> I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how fast

you got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy hospital

staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just understaffed or

incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the wrong meds,

giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help), and ignoring

the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to take care of

you when you're at your most vulnerable.

You are so right. It is beyond tragic the incompetence. The system is just

broken.

I am doing ok today. Having a lot of small bowel pain which I did not have up

until now. I think it was just years of inflammation and then bowel obstruction

to surgery. My body has been through a lot.

Anyway.. Keep asking questions!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

> How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if that's

okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last time, I

felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought maybe I

just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

Do you feel your stricture is cranky? Do you get active episodes of it

narrowing? From what I have experienced and corresponded with people that have

this there are; some don't ever actively feel those " narrowing episodes " others

like myself feel it from time to time. I used to experience horrible spasming

episodes. I vomited so much on those first couple of months on the diet today I

know it was the stricture. It was awful in the begining of the diet but it just

seemed to gradually get better but it never totally went away food often times

triggered it.

> Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them both

a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I

didn't have an problems when I ate them).

I happen to not agree with what Mara wrote you. If you have a cranky stricture

it can mean that sometimes you react and sometimes you don't. This could have

to with so many reasons. One of the big ones is mechanical function that is

beyond our control. Kim M constantly talks about her faulty upper GI and how

she has to use different techniques to deal with those mechanical issues. I am

not saying this is what you should do. But your concern and confusion is

warranted! listen to it.

Personally I would err on the side of caution especially in the begining year!!!

Strawberries are great but have many seeds. Cut off or like peel the outer

layer. Pineapple can be chunky and fiborous and would be problematic at times.

I bought a juicer and I strain it really well and dilute and it is absolutely

wonderful.

Is it ideal to have to do this, no. But I think if you want to be careful and

avoid things that trigger you this is a great way to do it. It also gives you

easier to digest foods which makes healing easier. I think as you do better

with time you can graduate to eating things like the strawberry seeds.

> I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how fast

you got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy hospital

staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just understaffed or

incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the wrong meds,

giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help), and ignoring

the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to take care of

you when you're at your most vulnerable.

You are so right. It is beyond tragic the incompetence. The system is just

broken.

I am doing ok today. Having a lot of small bowel pain which I did not have up

until now. I think it was just years of inflammation and then bowel obstruction

to surgery. My body has been through a lot.

Anyway.. Keep asking questions!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Hi Jodi,

Since starting SCD, my stricture has only gotten a little cranky one night in

the second month. I started having the little pain contractions that often are

the sign of a blockage. Thankfully, the pain didn't get that bad, the

contractions didn't get closer together, and the whole thing was over in a

couple hours. Other than the occasional bloated feeling, I've been lucky to not

have a lot of pain on SCD.

Pre-SCD, I did suffer from occasional blockages. The last time was in August. I

made the mistake of eating raw cucumbers (my mom makes a very yummy dish with

them) 2 nights in a row. After being in awful pain all night (I really hate to

wake my parents in the middle of the night), I woke up my mom at like 6 in the

morning. She went to get dressed to take me to the ER, and when she came back,

the pain has miraculously and mysteriously disappeared. Never had that happen

before! Saved me a stay in the hospital. In late August, the Humira I'd been

taking for a couple months finally kicked in, and I think it got rid of the

inflammation I had.

My mom has a really nice juicer, so that's a possibility. I've never had

strawberry juice before, sounds yummy!

I need to call my GI this week and see if my biopsy results are back, and to

find out what her treatment suggestions are. I'd have to have my ilecocal valve

cut out, but it's probably inevitable that it will need to be done someday. I'm

hoping that maybe they could do a strictureplasty instead. Since I don't plan on

returning to the SAD diet, maybe it wouldn't scar any further.

Thanks for you suggestions! It's always good to hear the experiences of people

who have been there :-)

Holly

>

> Hi Holly,

>

>

>

> > How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if

that's okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last

time, I felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought

maybe I just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

>

>

>

> Do you feel your stricture is cranky? Do you get active episodes of it

narrowing? From what I have experienced and corresponded with people that have

this there are; some don't ever actively feel those " narrowing episodes " others

like myself feel it from time to time. I used to experience horrible spasming

episodes. I vomited so much on those first couple of months on the diet today I

know it was the stricture. It was awful in the begining of the diet but it just

seemed to gradually get better but it never totally went away food often times

triggered it.

>

>

>

> > Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them

both a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I

didn't have an problems when I ate them).

>

>

> I happen to not agree with what Mara wrote you. If you have a cranky

stricture it can mean that sometimes you react and sometimes you don't. This

could have to with so many reasons. One of the big ones is mechanical function

that is beyond our control. Kim M constantly talks about her faulty upper GI

and how she has to use different techniques to deal with those mechanical

issues. I am not saying this is what you should do. But your concern and

confusion is warranted! listen to it.

>

> Personally I would err on the side of caution especially in the begining

year!!!

> Strawberries are great but have many seeds. Cut off or like peel the outer

layer. Pineapple can be chunky and fiborous and would be problematic at times.

I bought a juicer and I strain it really well and dilute and it is absolutely

wonderful.

>

> Is it ideal to have to do this, no. But I think if you want to be careful and

avoid things that trigger you this is a great way to do it. It also gives you

easier to digest foods which makes healing easier. I think as you do better

with time you can graduate to eating things like the strawberry seeds.

>

>

>

> > I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how fast

you got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy hospital

staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just understaffed or

incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the wrong meds,

giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help), and ignoring

the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to take care of

you when you're at your most vulnerable.

>

>

>

> You are so right. It is beyond tragic the incompetence. The system is just

broken.

> I am doing ok today. Having a lot of small bowel pain which I did not have up

until now. I think it was just years of inflammation and then bowel obstruction

to surgery. My body has been through a lot.

>

> Anyway.. Keep asking questions!

>

> Jodi

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

> Since starting SCD, my stricture has only gotten a little cranky one night in

the second month. I started having the little pain contractions that often are

the sign of a blockage. Thankfully, the pain didn't get that bad, the

contractions didn't get closer together, and the whole thing was over in a

couple hours. Other than the occasional bloated feeling, I've been lucky to not

have a lot of pain on SCD.

That is awesome Holly. My situation only improved for the better on the SCD. I

had a lot of work to do.

One thing I would caution you about is ferments and probiotics;

I am not really sure if you have intro'd these things a lot but one of my

biggest lessons and challenges has been working with probiotics and fermented

foods including yogurt.

So even as I intro'd one of these things and usually felt miraculously better

(it is amazing how I chugged along fine on the diet but when probitics came into

the picture- how my stamina and improvement significantly jumped. The yogurt is

our medicine) with that said things like skipping doses or going out of town and

forgetting to take the probiotics with me or just becoming mindless about it.

Well, many many times these careless gaps that I thought nothing about- when I

would just resume probiotics as normal boy did I suffer!!

Also when intro'ing I did a very slow methodical route with the probitics.

Keep that in mind!

> Pre-SCD, I did suffer from occasional blockages. The last time was in August.

I made the mistake of eating raw cucumbers (my mom makes a very yummy dish with

them) 2 nights in a row. After being in awful pain all night (I really hate to

wake my parents in the middle of the night), I woke up my mom at like 6 in the

morning. She went to get dressed to take me to the ER, and when she came back,

the pain has miraculously and mysteriously disappeared. Never had that happen

before! Saved me a stay in the hospital. In late August, the Humira I'd been

taking for a couple months finally kicked in, and I think it got rid of the

inflammation I had.

Remicade did that for me for a while too.

Bummer that cucumbers 2 nights in a row can cause this

> My mom has a really nice juicer, so that's a possibility. I've never had

strawberry juice before, sounds yummy!

Juicing is awesome! Wait to you do something like Pineapple.

Recently I have done Pineapple with spinach which is awesome (always wanted to

have a green drink daily) and pineapple with parsley is yummy too and is a

natural diuretic so it helped with the Edema situation. Remember to Dilute!

> I need to call my GI this week and see if my biopsy results are back, and to

find out what her treatment suggestions are. I'd have to have my ilecocal valve

cut out, but it's probably inevitable that it will need to be done someday. I'm

hoping that maybe they could do a strictureplasty instead. Since I don't plan on

returning to the SAD diet, maybe it wouldn't scar any further.

You know, I have emailed with SCD'ers (some long timers) who have extensive

stricturing that have not needed surgery for it.

One woman- incredibly inspiring has a stricture so bad that a scope cannot fit

through but the location of the stricture is in such a place that she would

require a bag for the rest of her life if she got surgery. She says food

sometimes gets backed up but she doesn't experience hard core blockages and

recurrent bowel obstructions. Amazing what this diet can do!!!! I also got an

email from an SCD'er that did the strictureplasty route and was very successful.

So there are a couple of ways to approach this.

My situation, well.. I was too far gone scar tissue wise by the time I found

the diet. I think many are much better off than I was when they started the

diet.

Also, have you heard of Low Dose Naltrexone? Maybe that is something you would

want to look into. That really helped my situation as well and since SCD is

naturally an anti Candida diet it works beautifully together. I would caution

if you have Lyme disease or Thyroid issues to work with an LDN prescribing

physician.

> Thanks for you suggestions! It's always good to hear the experiences of people

who have been there :-)

Sure thing!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

fresh strawberry/orange used to be my favorite!!!

eileen

> >

> > Hi Holly,

> >

> >

> >

> > > How did shrimp go over with you? It's a little stringy, so I wonder if

that's okay for me to eat? Most of the time, I've been fine with it. But last

time, I felt kind of bloated all night after eating it. At the time, I thought

maybe I just overate, but maybe it was the stricture that was holding things up.

> >

> >

> >

> > Do you feel your stricture is cranky? Do you get active episodes of it

narrowing? From what I have experienced and corresponded with people that have

this there are; some don't ever actively feel those " narrowing episodes " others

like myself feel it from time to time. I used to experience horrible spasming

episodes. I vomited so much on those first couple of months on the diet today I

know it was the stricture. It was awful in the begining of the diet but it just

seemed to gradually get better but it never totally went away food often times

triggered it.

> >

> >

> >

> > > Also, did you ever try cooked pineapples or strawberries? I've eaten them

both a few times, but maybe they're too fibrous and seedy for my gut (although I

didn't have an problems when I ate them).

> >

> >

> > I happen to not agree with what Mara wrote you. If you have a cranky

stricture it can mean that sometimes you react and sometimes you don't. This

could have to with so many reasons. One of the big ones is mechanical function

that is beyond our control. Kim M constantly talks about her faulty upper GI

and how she has to use different techniques to deal with those mechanical

issues. I am not saying this is what you should do. But your concern and

confusion is warranted! listen to it.

> >

> > Personally I would err on the side of caution especially in the begining

year!!!

> > Strawberries are great but have many seeds. Cut off or like peel the outer

layer. Pineapple can be chunky and fiborous and would be problematic at times.

I bought a juicer and I strain it really well and dilute and it is absolutely

wonderful.

> >

> > Is it ideal to have to do this, no. But I think if you want to be careful

and avoid things that trigger you this is a great way to do it. It also gives

you easier to digest foods which makes healing easier. I think as you do better

with time you can graduate to eating things like the strawberry seeds.

> >

> >

> >

> > > I'm glad you're recovery is mostly going well! It's rather amazing how

fast you got out of the hospital. I can completely empathize with the lousy

hospital staff you had to deal with. I don't know if if they're just

understaffed or incompetent, but I always have problems with them giving me the

wrong meds, giving the meds late (usually by the time it's too late to help),

and ignoring the doctor's orders. It's sad that you can't really trust them to

take care of you when you're at your most vulnerable.

> >

> >

> >

> > You are so right. It is beyond tragic the incompetence. The system is just

broken.

> > I am doing ok today. Having a lot of small bowel pain which I did not have

up until now. I think it was just years of inflammation and then bowel

obstruction to surgery. My body has been through a lot.

> >

> > Anyway.. Keep asking questions!

> >

> > Jodi

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jodi,

I eat 2 cups of yogurt a day, but don't take any additional probiotics. I'd read

that there are way more probiotics in yogurt than pills, so thought I didn't

need the pills. Is that a wrong assumption?

I've done orange juice with spinach, and found it surprisingly tasty! I'll have

to try it with pineapple juice too. I'm going to buy some more strawberries

today to make juice too.

That's very comforting to hear that there are people with strictures who get by

without surgery. Naturally, I'd like to avoid it if possible. I'm hoping that by

sticking with SCD, it at least won't get any worse.

I've found the talk about LDN very intriguing. I especially like that it can

give you much needed energy! At some point, the Humira will probably quit

working for me, and LDN is the drug I'm most interested in as a replacement.

Off the topic of me now, I was wondering how you've been doing with fat since

your surgery? Does it still upset your pancreas, or was your problem all due to

your angry intestines?

All the best!

Holly

>

> Hi Holly,

>

>

> > Since starting SCD, my stricture has only gotten a little cranky one night

in the second month. I started having the little pain contractions that often

are the sign of a blockage. Thankfully, the pain didn't get that bad, the

contractions didn't get closer together, and the whole thing was over in a

couple hours. Other than the occasional bloated feeling, I've been lucky to not

have a lot of pain on SCD.

>

>

>

> That is awesome Holly. My situation only improved for the better on the SCD.

I had a lot of work to do.

>

> One thing I would caution you about is ferments and probiotics;

> I am not really sure if you have intro'd these things a lot but one of my

biggest lessons and challenges has been working with probiotics and fermented

foods including yogurt.

>

> So even as I intro'd one of these things and usually felt miraculously better

(it is amazing how I chugged along fine on the diet but when probitics came into

the picture- how my stamina and improvement significantly jumped. The yogurt is

our medicine) with that said things like skipping doses or going out of town and

forgetting to take the probiotics with me or just becoming mindless about it.

Well, many many times these careless gaps that I thought nothing about- when I

would just resume probiotics as normal boy did I suffer!!

>

> Also when intro'ing I did a very slow methodical route with the probitics.

>

> Keep that in mind!

>

>

>

>

>

> > Pre-SCD, I did suffer from occasional blockages. The last time was in

August. I made the mistake of eating raw cucumbers (my mom makes a very yummy

dish with them) 2 nights in a row. After being in awful pain all night (I really

hate to wake my parents in the middle of the night), I woke up my mom at like 6

in the morning. She went to get dressed to take me to the ER, and when she came

back, the pain has miraculously and mysteriously disappeared. Never had that

happen before! Saved me a stay in the hospital. In late August, the Humira I'd

been taking for a couple months finally kicked in, and I think it got rid of the

inflammation I had.

>

>

>

> Remicade did that for me for a while too.

> Bummer that cucumbers 2 nights in a row can cause this

>

>

>

> > My mom has a really nice juicer, so that's a possibility. I've never had

strawberry juice before, sounds yummy!

>

>

>

> Juicing is awesome! Wait to you do something like Pineapple.

> Recently I have done Pineapple with spinach which is awesome (always wanted to

have a green drink daily) and pineapple with parsley is yummy too and is a

natural diuretic so it helped with the Edema situation. Remember to Dilute!

>

>

>

>

> > I need to call my GI this week and see if my biopsy results are back, and to

find out what her treatment suggestions are. I'd have to have my ilecocal valve

cut out, but it's probably inevitable that it will need to be done someday. I'm

hoping that maybe they could do a strictureplasty instead. Since I don't plan on

returning to the SAD diet, maybe it wouldn't scar any further.

>

>

>

> You know, I have emailed with SCD'ers (some long timers) who have extensive

stricturing that have not needed surgery for it.

> One woman- incredibly inspiring has a stricture so bad that a scope cannot fit

through but the location of the stricture is in such a place that she would

require a bag for the rest of her life if she got surgery. She says food

sometimes gets backed up but she doesn't experience hard core blockages and

recurrent bowel obstructions. Amazing what this diet can do!!!! I also got an

email from an SCD'er that did the strictureplasty route and was very successful.

So there are a couple of ways to approach this.

>

> My situation, well.. I was too far gone scar tissue wise by the time I found

the diet. I think many are much better off than I was when they started the

diet.

>

> Also, have you heard of Low Dose Naltrexone? Maybe that is something you

would want to look into. That really helped my situation as well and since SCD

is naturally an anti Candida diet it works beautifully together. I would

caution if you have Lyme disease or Thyroid issues to work with an LDN

prescribing physician.

>

>

>

> > Thanks for you suggestions! It's always good to hear the experiences of

people who have been there :-)

>

>

>

> Sure thing!

>

> Jodi

>