Meadowsweet,
Thanks for keeping in touch, Glad things are improving for you.
I am going over to Candida Board as I feel that could be some of my problem.
Take Care and all the best.
Solofelix.
Sorry to hear about your health. I've recently started taking 1 to 2 teaspoons of powdered L-Glutamine each day.
I read that someone cured their colitis by taking powdered l-glutamine. It's an amino acid and as well as helping to digest food it somehow heals inflamed intestines. This person said that it took 3 weeks of taking it faithfully each morning before at last they had a solid and normal stool - which was the first time in many years. Oh yes, it is also supposed to help with constipation too. I know you haven't mentioned diverticulitis or colitis in your post, but some people say that all these conditions are just a variation of the same thing.
If that doesn't work for you, you might also like to research the story of a guy called Jordan S. Rubin who cured himself from Chrohn's disease. He did it through a particular diet and by taking a powerful probiotic containing bacteria found in the soil. I believe they're called HSO - homeostatic soil organisms. It took about 3 months, I think, before he turned a corner, but he went from being at death's door to being totally healed. If the glutamine doesn't work for me within a month or two I'm going to try Jordan's regime. Here's wishing you every success Tony.
Last edited by moderator2; 03-29-2011 at 01:55 PM.
Reason: please do not post a commercial website
I've just re-read your post and realised you've been taking different types of medicines, so maybe they're causing the changes in your bowel movements. If so my comments above might not be relevant for you. Sorry.
Maybe you need to treat your acid reflux problem first, and when that's cured you won't need the medicine, then maybe your bowels will sort themselves out.
Last edited by moderator2; 03-29-2011 at 01:54 PM.
Reason: please do not post a commercial website
Hi Meadowsweet,
Been in the U.K and just returned today. Any further news on your Bowel problem. What are you taking at the present time.
I returned with worse stomach issues than I went away with. Probably owing to flight regulations, couldn't take my Aloe-Vera with me also Grapefruit Seed Extract. Also ate more sugar things while I was away.
Seeing the Consultant on Friday (Hope he doesn't suggest more scopes)I've had five of them(Arh... Help!!...).
All the best. Solofelix.
Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear your stomach is worse. I am still the same, however, today is my second day of a new diet. During my internet research I came across something called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. If you type that phrase into any search engine it should take you to the relevant sites. Apparently it is a diet which many people with colitis, IBS, crohn's disease etc have used to good effect for curing their intestinal problems. Apparently it cuts out all sugars and most starches, so that's no potatoes, no grains, no sugars (except for clear honey), no lactose and so forth. The theory is that the IBS problems are due to an imbalance of gut bacteria - this is similar to candida I think, where there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast in the intestines. By avoiding certain carbohydrates, the bad bacteria are starved of their food source and consquently die. Somehow when the good bacteria is back in balance the body is able to heal the inflamed intestines. Many people are cured and are able to resume a normal diet - back to their milk and gluten - after 3 months. But others say to stay on the diet for a year for complete healing to take place. I'm on day 2 today so we'll see how things go. I'm also on one teaspoon of powdered L-glutamine a day, as this has healed other people of their IBS symptoms. I remember you saying you thought your problem might be candida, so maybe this diet is something worth investigating?
There's no point me sending you the website as this forum deletes them. But if you type in the phrase I mentioned above you should be able to find more information. I've had to stop my magnesium and potassium, on doctor's orders, as I have a thyroid problem - nodules with mild hyperT - and the doc doesn't want the supplements masking the condition prior to me seeing a specialist.
keep in touch and let me know how you go.
Bye for now.
Meadowsweet. :-)
Last edited by Meadowsweet33; 04-11-2011 at 12:21 PM.
Reason: Missed an important word out
The following user gives a hug of support to Meadowsweet33: solofelix (04-11-2011)
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Hi Meadowsweet,
Good to hear from you and I will certainly look up the Specific Carbohidrate Diet you mentioned. I do know that I am much better without sugar, which is really bad for Candida. I go to the Hospital on Fri, Drs have strange views on Candida. I would rather try something natural if possible,such as you mentioned. Solofelix.
The following user gives a hug of support to solofelix: Meadowsweet33 (04-12-2011)
Hospital visit today. Consultant doesn't want to do any more scopes at present (Thank God...). Had blood tests to check for Bacteria in the Bowel and recommended (Fibergel) for loose bowel and recommended I see a Dietitian for my weight loss, even tho I eat well. (waiting for an appointment). Hope I haven't got H.Pylori again!! I really dread Antibiotics. How are things with you. Take Care, Solofelix.
Hospital visit today. Consultant doesn't want to do any more scopes at present (Thank God...). Had blood tests to check for Bacteria in the Bowel and recommended (Fibergel) for loose bowel and recommended I see a Dietitian for my weight loss, even tho I eat well. (waiting for an appointment). Hope I haven't got H.Pylori again!! I really dread Antibiotics. How are things with you. Take Care, Solofelix.
Ooh, I'm surprised they'll check for bacteria, I didn't think the NHS believed in candida etc. Hope you get sorted soon. I'm afraid I've gone and broke my SC diet. I bought some yoghurt to make my own starter and had a few spoonfuls before realising the shop bought stuff contains lactose which is illegal on that diet. I'm also going to a friend's house for lunch on Sunday, and I really don't fancy saying I can't eat potatoes or starch or sugar or anything because I don't fancy telling them I have loose stools every day!! With that in mind I've eaten four choccy biccies today (naughty) and plan to start the diet afresh on Monday. I had a quick look at the candida diet and it's similar to the SCD one, but with candida I think there's a few more restrictions. Bye for now.
I believe the blood test was to check for H.Pylori which I had previously, to check it has not returned(I hope not..). What do you eat in place of potatoes, I guess pasta is a NO NO as well. The Consultant recommended (Fibre Gel) for my loose stools, can be bought (OTC). Do you eat Bread, as I live in Ireland Soda Bread is very popular here. I make my own, I know just what goes in it. Solofelix.
I believe the blood test was to check for H.Pylori which I had previously, to check it has not returned(I hope not..). What do you eat in place of potatoes, I guess pasta is a NO NO as well. The Consultant recommended (Fibre Gel) for my loose stools, can be bought (OTC). Do you eat Bread, as I live in Ireland Soda Bread is very popular here. I make my own, I know just what goes in it. Solofelix.
Up until I started (or tried to start the SC diet) I used to make my own bread as much as poss. I tended to use wholemeal flour, sometimes mixed with rye, or rye and white flour. I then read about the benefits of long ferment bread where you leave it to ferment for 24 hours; it's supposed to help break down the phytates in the grains and make it more digestable - but I was still trying to experiment with that to avoid getting a doughy mixture. All grains - yep, that includes pasta - and potatoes are illegal on the SC diet (and the candida diet, I think). For the three days I tried it before failing miserably I used mashed swede in place of potatoes. To try and get something that resembled a slice of bread I sliced an aubergine thinly, laid it on a plate and sprinkled it generously with salt to get the bitter flavour out, then dipped it in beaten egg and shallow fried it. There is a 'bread' recipe for the diet where you use ground almonds instead of flour, but ground almonds are really expensive. I haven't tried it yet. I also can't really start the diet properly until I get a yoghurt maker, as that is important. It's a really difficult diet to try, but if it brings about a cure I'm willing to give it a shot.
Hospital visit today. Consultant doesn't want to do any more scopes at present (Thank God...). Had blood tests to check for Bacteria in the Bowel and recommended (Fibergel) for loose bowel and recommended I see a Dietitian for my weight loss, even tho I eat well. (waiting for an appointment). Hope I haven't got H.Pylori again!! I really dread Antibiotics. How are things with you. Take Care, Solofelix.
Well I'm glad you had your hospital visit and they did blood work. Keep us posted how they turn out as I've been trying to follow this thread and was wondering how you both are making out.
If they say no potatoes does that also mean sweet potatoes? I know there is suppose to be a big difference between the two, as they even say Diabetics are ok with the sweet ones as I guess they digest slower.
Wishing you both luck, and keep me posted...JJ..
__________________
When you come to the end of your rope..tie a knot and hang on!
Mashed Swede in place of potatoes sounds great, I will try that. I don't make cakes/bread with white flour. I use Bicarbonate-Soda in bread as a raising agent and I make cookies with Ground Almonds in place of flour.
With digestive disorders the diet takes some adjustment. For sugar I use Xylitol (its made from the Birch tree) tastes same as sugar. Just got some Digestive Enzymes, will start them tomorrow. Solofelix.
Yeah give them a try as I was told they do take longer to digest and doesn't effect your sugar like white potaotes can. Figured if it's good for Diabetics just might be good for the old digestive system. Like anything, we have to try what we can and hope for the best.
Take care and keep us updated..both of you...JJ....
__________________
When you come to the end of your rope..tie a knot and hang on!
As far as I'm aware sweet potatoes are banned on the specific carb diet too. I think it's to do with the sugar content feeding the bad bacteria in the gut. Hope to post any success stories in the future. :-)
The soda bread sounds delish ... but if you're doing the SC diet I don't think it's allowed :-/ If you make cookies with ground almonds instead of flour you'll probably be familiar with a lot of the recipes on the SCD websites. Ciao for now.
Hello Meadowsweet,
How are things going with the SCD. When I saw the Consultant he told me to increase my fibre intake for the loose bowel problem. He suggested ( Fibregel ). I tried it once before and didn't like it. Instead I bought (Benefibre) which is a powder you add to food/drink, no taste to it. It has worked well (2tsp) per day. Thought this might be helpful for you! Waiting on the results of my Blood Tests.
Cut out all sugar (Arrh...) and Candida has improved. Gerd still remains.
Keep me up to date with your progress. Solofelix.
Glad to hear the Benefibre is working well. I'll make a note of that and try some if the SCD doesn't work. It's now day 4 of the diet and it's really hard ... eating only eggs, meat, fish and veg is tough going. They do say to wait until week 2 or 3 - after the diarrhoea has cleared up - before trying cooked fruit, but I've had an avocado for the last two mornings for a bit of variety. I don't have a success story to report yet, but I'll let you know if I do. It's good news about your Candida too. Thanks for thinking about me and suggesting the Benefibre. Have a good weekend. :-)
Oh yes, about your GERD, is it acid reflux? Some people swear by taking a bit of apple cider vinegar (around 1 tablespoon in half a glass of water or something like that) before each meal. Some people find that their acid reflux isn't due to too much acid, but due to not having enough stomach acid. The vinegar helps to supply the missing acid. Also, for people who suffer with acid reflux at night, sometimes eating an apple before going to bed works. Somehow the acid in the apple is what's needed to help with the reflux problem. I mentioned it to a friend two years ago and she eats an apple every night now, and she hasn't had the reflux at night since then ... mind you, I don't know how serious yours is, but maybe it's worth investigating?
Best wishes. M.
