January, 2012 marks the beginning of the eighth year since I began eating the SCD. I was strictly legal for the first four plus years then began to experiment with reintroducing illegals. I posted about it first here in April of 2009 and then here in May of 2010.
The May posting indicated that I was about 90% compliant with the diet. That helped me feel better and eventually I began to experiment a little more. I speculate that I’m closer to a 70% compliance now. I’ve found that sugars affect me much differently than grains. Eating sugars will likely increase my trips to the bathroom whereas grains are more likely to reduce my trips. I still do not get those Crohn’s cramps that I remember pre-SCD, but ironically, I will occasionally get discomfort from being a little too backed up.
I see my family doctor every year and have a SED rate test performed just to get a little objective measure of how I’m doing. I’m happy to say that I’m a five, well within the normal range of 0-15 for men.
Last update, May of 2010, here.
That’s fantastic. It gives us SCD’ers hope.
Thanks Julie.
-Paul
Congratulations and thank you for sharing all of your hard work and ups and downs of Crohns. It is giving my family hope.
Beth in Central, IL
Thank you Anonymous.
-Paul
THanks Paul for keeping us updated on your health. You give a bunch of us hope, (my wife would say the same I’m sure!!)
One other little thing,
you might be a “5″ with that medical test, but you’re a perfect “10″ in my book!!
thanks so much, your site was one of if not the first site i found on this topic back during my dark days of UC symptoms, and so happy to have found it.
Adam,
You are too kind.
-Paul
Fantastic Paul, thanks a bunch for the update.
It’s good to hear that grains are working for you. Do you find better success with any particular grains? how often and how much at a time to you eat grains?
thanks,
Ryan
Ryan,
I can’t see a noticeable difference between types of grains. I probably eat somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 serving of grains a day – sometimes more, sometimes less.
-Paul
Perhaps certain grain preparations would improve digestibility. Like soaking rice, MILLET, or QUINOA 12-24 hrs in 1-2tbsp whey, lemon juice, vinegar, or yogurt, then rinsing to remove the sour taste, followed by cooking in water… Would be safest.
Patty,
Thanks for the info.
Cheers,
Paul
Thanks Paul for sharing this gives me hope for my 6 year old granddaughter. She has been on this diat since September 2010. She was born with Crohns and this is our last resort, meds are not helping , the diat has helped some.
Anne,
You’re welcome and I’m sorry to hear that she is dealing with Crohn’s .
If she needs more help than the diet is giving her, perhaps you want to investigate low dose naltrexone or LDN. It seems to help some people and I believe it doesn’t have as significant a risk for side effects as some of the other meds. I have to admit that I don’t know anything about it’s pediatric use though. I’ve written about it a couple of times:
http://eatingscd.com/2009/02/20/ldn-for-crohns/
http://eatingscd.com/2011/05/19/study-results-naltrexone-reduces-crohns-inflammation/
-Paul
This makes me so happy to hear! More recipes, please?
Rinne,
Workin’ on it!
-Paul