Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)

[kkcarlton]

Hi Kristina - if she doesn't reply, try PM-ing Artgirl - I am sure she makes good yogurt with coconut milk. You may be able to get away with certain brands of probios if you can't do the yogurt - I have been trying an experiment of opening one capsule and emptying it into my mouth before I lay down - it's not brilliant but I feel that I need to get some more good guys into my mouth and down the top end of my digestive tract which the capsules don't do.

I am really keen to try the Neem for that. As one of the many things it is supposed to help is Diabetes (and presumably high BS) I wonder if it works because it kills the bacteria that are preventing the body working properly. They may have set up home in my pancreas!

Ali.

Hi Ali,

I have Healthy Trinity from Natren right now and these you are supposed to take WITH food. They have some encapsulation process and you need gastric juices to release the probios. Go figure! It's actually sort of a hassle but I like that they are cultured on garbanzo beans and not dairy or soy so they are completely dairy, soy, and gluten free.

I may try the Neem but am concerned about die off. I tried taking my Olive Leaf Extract yesterday and felt like my pain increased.

Kristina

[kkcarlton]

Kristina...Google SCD + quack. You will find sites that say the SCD diet is bunk and hokem. Also if you go to www.quackwatch.com you will learn that any and everything you have tried/will try that is "alternative" is quackery to the people that run that site. I do not worry about sites that dismiss ANY healing modality when you can find TONS of anecdotal reports that something works. Instead, I just try it (as long as it isnt expensive or dangerous in anyway). Like the SCD, not expensive and in fact less costly than all of those organic gluten-free grains and could not possibly hurt me. So I tried it. The oil pulling is the same, cheap, not dangerous and all it really costs me is a little time in the morning. So I am giving it a go!!

Day 2 of the oil pulling....nothing yet. But will keep you guys updated.

Hi ShayFL,

Great points about oil pulling and I may try it again. Which oil are you using for it? I'll try to find your post on it.

Kristina

[ShayFL]

I have used the virgin coconut oil "coconut oil supreme" and cold pressed sesame so far.

[kkcarlton]

Dawn - I

I have to admit though that I am also wondering if this is really all due to bacterial overgrowth. You would think it would go away during the night and flare up when I eat like it did sometimes but now it's just 24/7 and for 25 or 26 days now.

I am on the fence about EFT. My husband is a pastor and we are Christians. He says from a Christian standpoint I should not be doing it. Personally I am not sure about that part but it's hard to believe that tapping parts of my body while repeating certain sentences will help but who knows, maybe it really does. I know a lot of people swear by it. I actually downloaded the free manual at one point but it also seemed "complicated". I almost felt that in order to do it right I would need a practitioner to help me. I was afraid I would use the wrong affirmations, etc. LOL That's perfectionism talking!

Ali - I forget to mention, I wonder if there is something going on with my pancreas and maybe it's bacteria like you say. In May 2006 I had what felt like a gallbladder attack. At the time I did not know what was going on but after hours of agonizing pain in my right front right under my rib cage and radiating into my back, I finally went to the ER. I was in so much pain they gave me morphine and the doctor said he may have to take my gallbladder out - based on symptoms I was describing. However, all blood tests came back normal and an ultrasound showed nothing. Since then I have had about 4 more of them. And since then I have also read that pancreatitis can have similar symptoms. In addition, earlier this year I had relatively high iron levels and if iron is too high it gets deposited in organs and messes them up. Anything from cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes to pancreatic cancer. I now go regularly to get a phebotomy to make sure my iron levels stay down. All that to say, my stomach and the area immediately to the right are tender every day now and more so when I eat. I feel discomfort and when I push on it gently it hurts.

All - so far today I have had nothing but chicken broth and about 3 bites of very soft cooked chicken. We'll see how the rest of the day goes and how I feel tomorrow.

Given all my symptoms and since my husband's new job probably won't come through until February which means we won't have insurance coverage until February or March, I will probably go see my doc this week and at least talk to her about the results of the ultrasound and what's going on. If she suggests further testing like a CT, MRI, or blood tests I doubt I will be able to do it now. I will discuss the SCD with her and the possibility that bacterial overgrowth is causing my symptoms.

Kristina

[ShayFL]

EFT shouldnt conflict with your Christian beliefs. The technique and tapping arent evil or satanic. There are Christian acupuncturist and massage therapists who use reflexology!! No different. With that said, I bought a book on EFT and I tried it for a good week a few times a day and it did NOTHING for me. But that is just me. There are things that have worked for me, but not others. All you can do is try things.

[kkcarlton]

In case anybody is interested in a yogurt maker and/or yogurt starter.

Open Original Shared Link

[AliB]

Kristina - when you had your 'gallbladder attack' did you get the floaty stool thing with it?

When I was given the Byetta my stomach got really bad. Although I have suffered with digestive issues for years, up to then for a while it was pretty good. Stopping the Byetta after 3 months did not help and eventually it collapsed. A few weeks earlier I had started taking some Milk Thistle capsules to try and boost my Liver as my hair was falling out all over the place. I am sure it wasn't connected as the stomach problems were already there and by the time my digestion went, my hair had stopped falling out which indicated that the capsules had done some good.

They do also help the gallbladder and it wasn't till later that I realised that the things I had seen in the toilet during that time that looked like peas (I hadn't had any and thought it was strange!) must have been stones. I suppose that passing them might have upset the gall-bladder for a while. I ended up in the hospital too and an ultrasound showed a completely empty gall-bladder.

They could find nothing wrong(?) so I went home and decided to find out for myself what was going on. The floaty stools and diarrhea led me to Celiac. I went gluten-free on the 29th Jan and about a week later I was sitting in the lounge reading when I suddenly felt a strange feeling in my upper right ribs under my arm on the right. It felt like something moving down tubes inside. Immediately I also started getting a quite painful regular throbbing under my left foot. When I checked the Reflexology Chart it equated with the Liver.

I suspect my Liver had had a right old clear-out of stones and sludge. It is likely that stopping the gluten finally gave it a chance to start sorting itself out. Gradually over the next 2 days both the pain in my foot and the soreness under my armpit gradually receded and has been fine ever since. I do get a pain in my upper back when I eat wrong foods but that is gradually improving.

I did wonder whether the awful pain I was getting in my stomach may have been Pancreatitis. After I stopped taking the Byetta it came out that it had been implicated in some cases of that which was worrying. But going gluten-free actually had an effect within hours. The pain stopped and so did the diarrhea.

I was still very intolerant of a lot of things but at least I was no longer in pain. I also dropped dairy and went back to low-carbing (the only 2 times I have ever been well was when I was low-carb) then a couple months later started the SCD and haven't looked back since.

I haven't been as disciplined as I would like but I am still improving albeit at a slower pace than I might have been.

Just out of interest, in the 'Related disorders' section is a thread on Dientamoeba Fragilis & Blastocystis Hominis - two potentially pathogenic bacteria and parasites. That's 2 more to add to my growing list of known pathogens.

[mftnchn]

Kristina, I agree with Shay. Acupuncture and related treatments are not considered a problem by Asian people of the same faith as you--only by westerners who don't understand. The one that they do say is a problem is the qi gong--which is one of the things connected to martial arts and sometimes also used in Chinese medicine. I'd be glad to discuss it more with you but it isn't convenient when I am out here. You can PM me at the end of January when I am in the USA.

[DMarie]

Kristina - I was in a specific type of therapy some years ago that was very helpful - and totally in keeping with Christianity (I consider myself to be Christian). At the time I had various "episodes" of self doubt and dredging up all things bad from the past to beat myself up with. Since going through this therapy - that ended. I don't remember the name of the therapy - but I do remember what we did - and honestly it can be done by yourself at home.

If you are interested, feel free to PM me. I would say it is along the lines of prayer.

I forgot about the melatonin - I forget where I read that at. It may have been on the Pecanbread site for supplements - but I am not sure.

I have had gall bladder attacks in the past. I have done a gallbladder flush 2x - and both times it stopped the problems. I think I followed a protocol put out there by a Hulda Clark (not sure if she was a doctor or not).

I did get some Acidophilus (spelling??) and Neem at our local Sprouts. We will see what happens! I looked at the DGL there - but all of it was chewable - and I stay away from chewables (because they always have sugar of some sort added). But it would seem like that particular supplement might be beneficial.

[DMarie]

Kristina - I was in a specific type of therapy some years ago that was very helpful - and totally in keeping with Christianity (I consider myself to be Christian). At the time I had various "episodes" of self doubt and dredging up all things bad from the past to beat myself up with. Since going through this therapy - that ended. I don't remember the name of the therapy - but I do remember what we did - and honestly it can be done by yourself at home.

If you are interested, feel free to PM me. I would say it is along the lines of prayer.

I forgot about the melatonin - I forget where I read that at. It may have been on the Pecanbread site for supplements - but I am not sure.

I have had gall bladder attacks in the past. I have done a gallbladder flush 2x - and both times it stopped the problems. I think I followed a protocol put out there by a Hulda Clark (not sure if she was a doctor or not).

I did get some Acidophilus and Neem at our local Sprouts. We will see what happens! I looked at the DGL there - but all of it was chewable - and I stay away from chewables (because they always have sugar of some sort added). But it would seem like that particular supplement might be beneficial.

[AliB]

Dawn. if the Neem is in capsule form I wonder whether it might be helpful to open a capsule each day, either first thing in the morning or last thing at night and take it in a little warm water to get it into your mouth and down your gullet. That way you will get it right through your digestive tract.

Shay, you have used it, do you think that might help?

[ShayFL]

I just swallowed a pill, so I do not know. But it is extremely bitter because I punctured one of the gel caps once and tasted it. VERY BITTER. Like most antimicrobials I would assume if you take it in the mouth and swallow it would kill any bad guys on the way down.

[mftnchn]

Shay I am noticing my teeth feel especially clean after the oil pulling and then brushing. More so than usual. Also I might be having a bit of die off symptom. It could be due to other things though.

[mftnchn]

Ali, I'm going to ask about more extensive parasite testing when I get back to the USA. The blastocystis h. and dientamoeba f information is fascinating. Fits my symptoms plus I know that I have been very vulnerable to pick up parasites, and that the SCD is having a cleansing effect.

From your reading, do you think the SCD approach is adequate to address all of these bugs over time? Assuming good probiotic replacement, etc.

[AliB]

I don't know on that one, Sherry.

It must certainly make a difference - but then perhaps that is because of the reduction in the amount of, and type of carbs. Certainly it helps and supports the immune system and that alone must be a great help in combating the beasties but whether it actually gets rid of them is an unknown factor. I suspect that when the immune system is given the support it needs it will eventually be able to control them. Many of these potentially pathogenic bacteria live in the gut as part of the flora - it is only when things get out of balance that they become pathogenic.

Something must change in the gut flora balance over time. It seems that the gut flora of people who are meat-eaters is totally different to those who are vegan so what we eat must make a difference. I read somewhere (may have been Michael Pollan's book) that although the Inuit survive perfectly well on their high meat/fat diet, and the Maya survive well on their almost totally vegetarian diet, they would both get very sick on each others' diet - because their gut flora is totally different.

That's interesting isn't it. I wonder if half the problem isn't because of the now cosmopolitan nature of our Western diet. We continuously consume food from all walks of life - it makes life interesting, but is it something our bodies can adapt to well enough - or rapidly enough?

A lot has changed in a very short space of time. Within the last Century we not only have radically changed the way we eat, but we are overloaded with chemicals and processed 'foodlike' substances. We are surrounded by pollution - in the food, the water and the air. We have been subjected to thousands of new substances like drugs and genetically modified substances of which record of long-term damage or degeneration is unknown.

Alexander Fleming created Penicillin in 1928 - it has taken 80 years for the Medical fraternity to finally wake up to the damage of having unrestrainedly dished them out all these years.

[DMarie]

What kind of testing is there for parasites? Would this be done through a regular doctor - or is this the type of testing that can only be done in alternative labs (and a regular doctor would laught at)?

Just wondering...

[ShayFL]

Your doctor can order them or you can get them on your own www.directlabs.com has them. It is a stool test and it is important that you do both a regular stool sample and a "purge" sample to get parasites that are further up in the tract.

[AliB]

Funny isn't it how when you start the SCD you suddenly become avid poop inspectors!

I have to say that after all these months I have never seen anything remotely resembling a parasite - but then I suspect some of them are so small they may not be that obvious.

I certainly think that my problem is more likely to be bacterial but where to start - the SCD seems to be pretty much my only option - with perhaps the Neem when I get it. Here in the UK doctors seem to be pretty much clueless about parasites and bacteria unless they are blatantly obvious infections like Salmonella.

I had some kind of 24-hour bug a year or two back and thought it was food. My stool was checked out by the local Environmental Health Dept., but nothing was found, but then they are only looking for the obvious culprits like E.Coli and Campylobacter, etc.

There are one or two labs that do a relatively comprehensive parasite/bacteria test but they are very expensive and not available on the NHS. But then how comprehensive are they? They are only going to be looking for known pathogens.

It's back to the banging, head and brick wall thing. I am on my own - thank goodness for the moral support I get on here - and the gems of useful information.

[AliB]

Another thing - I have just been reading about St John's Wort. I hadn't realised that it is quite a potent antibacterial and antiviral - it is even being looked at as a possible alternative remedy for antibiotic-resistant Staph. Aureus.

Interestingly, my daughter, who has had major mental health issues bordering on Bipolar (and who I am convinced is struggling with rogue bacteria herself - she certainly has Candida) has found that St John's Wort has been a lifeline for her.

She is not totally well, but at least she is now generally able to cope and does not suffer with the horrendous mood swings anything like she did.

I read that the optimum dose is one 300-500mg capsule x 3 per day. I have a feeling she is only taking one capsule a day so I may encourage her to at least try 3 x for a bit to see if it makes any difference. I got the last lot cheaper on ebay and they seem to be good, but if I can dry the leaves myself it would be free!

I so wish she (and her sweet boys) would get on the SCD - I am sure that whilst she is still eating the foods that encourage the bacteria - she is only keeping them at bay with the SJW, rather than getting the upper hand.

Here I am desperately trying to get hold of Neem, yet I now wonder if I don't actually have the remedy already growing in my garden!

Goldenseal is another potent antibacterial as is garlic, cayenne, burdock, fennel, licorice (my Dad used to chew licorice twigs from the health store!). Perhaps if I try the lot I might have more success! I already have some of these common herbs and spices in my kitchen.

I had always associated SJW with depression, but as that is not really a problem for me I had discounted it - but it has so many other benefits - when I look at what it helps, I can't help feeling that they are all problems that are caused by bacteria and it is very likely the antibacterial qualities of the SJW that are actually the bits that make the difference.

The consensus is (and we found that to be true) that it takes about 8 weeks for the SJW to take proper effect - perhaps that is the amount of time it takes to start getting the upper hand on the bacteria! I have some downstairs - I am going to take some right now.

The following is a useful herb glossary and what they do.

Open Original Shared Link

[mftnchn]

Shay, I'll take a look at that link. What I have learned is that first of all most doctors scoff at this. I recently had a routine colonscopy and the NP that was doing intake was totally of that genre. I got mad and just shut up. She finally decided that I only had them because I had lived overseas (i.e. they read the no trespassing signs at the US borders, LOL), and that attititude was so culturally arrogant!

There are challenges to both getting a good sample and finding a lab that will test well. Years ago when I first tested positive to ameoba, the doctor had to take a sample from the mucus just inside along the colon wall. It had to be handled a special way. I learned that all traces of ameoba disappears with exposure to oxygen. (This was many years ago so might be outdated).

I don't think they can test that well for even the common tapeworms, roundworms, etc.

Doing a parasite cleanse sometimes you don't see anything because they disintegrate. I've seen stuff though and continue to see stuff. Some I am not sure is parasite, might just be tissue like you see on the pictures on the web when people do cleanses. But others are clearly the nasty beasties.

Sherry

[kkcarlton]

Hi All,

Well I had a visit with my doc today and left relatively frustrated. When I told her that I have gone up two sizes in my lower body she said "I don't believe it". When I asked her about fluid retention she said that fluid retention "doesn't work that way" meaning you don't retain fluid in your hips, butt, and thighs. I am no doctor, but I Know my body. I have had days when my jeans were relatively snug and the next day they were practically falling off of me. What would that be besides fluid retention? And it always happened during PMS before my hyst (well, it still does) for several days and then my period would start and slowly within a day or two it would go away. My friend Simone in Germany has the same issue when she eats wheat and/or dairy but this doctor says fluid retention does not work this way. UGH! Doctors!

Anyway, since some of you were posting about parasite tests, she recommended I get the CDDSA/P (Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis with Parasites) by Geneva Diagnostics (formerly Great Smokies Lab). That same test is available on www.directlabs.com, however, this lab will give a reduced fee if your doctor is registered with them as long as you are not insured with Aetna, Principal, Humana, or Tuft. It's called a "Payed Assured" program and the test would be $129. Unfortunately I have Aetna so I have to pay full price and I am not sure how much that is yet.

However, she suggested an Iridology test. I haven't read more about it yet myself but here's a link. Open Original Shared Link Of course quack watch says it doesn't work but supposedly it's only 10 dollars. There's an herbal shop that does it here and then it prints out a list of herbs you need and suggests a cleanse. She feels that some sort of liver/bowel cleanse would be good and that my problems could be from gut dysbiosis. I have an appointment to get the test on the 22nd. We'll see what it says. She recommended doing that first because she feels the test is accurate and will tell you what is wrong with you. Plus it's a lot cheaper than the stool test.

As I had already planned, I will start a cleanse/fast on January 1st and after the cleanse will start the introduction of the SCD without legumes and minimum fruit and honey since I still can't handle that much sugar. Until then I will try my best to avoid the carbs that are not allowed on SCD realizing that with Christmas, my husband's birthday, and New Year's Eve, I may mess up a few times. I really hope this will help.

Also thank you for all the other suggestions posted by some of you yesterday - our internet was down half the day yesterday and earlier this morning so I didn't really get to reply until just now. And now my husband is sick - some stomach bug - and I need to go take care of him.

Thank you all for being here.

AliB - I feel the same way in that I am on my own. Doctors either don't know anything or can't give concrete answers. This doc had never heard of SCD or the book! She is an osteopath and will use natural remedies before trying meds. you would think she would know about it.

Kristina

[ShayFL]

I've been inspecting my poop for years.....LOL

[kkcarlton]

This may be a better link to iridology.

Open Original Shared Link

Thoughts?

I am finding more sites indicating it's a hoax than sites indicating it really works.

Kristina

[mftnchn]

Kristina, I haven't a clue about iridology. The site is interesting. My iris looks like the spastic bowel picture, which I think is totally true. Today I have been having a lot of pain with it too.

There are quite a few chronically ill people that use energetic testing of various ways to check for what the body wants and needs. More expensive than $10 though.

Today I found this site on colonic cleansing. Open Original Shared Link I don't know if that has any helpful ideas.

[kkcarlton]

I am going to call today and find out more about the iridology. If they just tell you which organs are not functioning properly I may still do the stool test. I really would like to know if what I am experiencing is from gut dysbiosis and the stool test would tell me if things have gotten worse or better since I had a similar one done in April this year. Here is a link to a sample report:

Open Original Shared Link

However, I talked to my husband two days ago about being scared about what's going on in my body. We said that we would pray about the appointment with the doc. So I prayed all morning and while I was waiting to see her. She recommended doing the iridology before the stool test (financial reasons and she thinks it really works) so I guess I will do it. I looked at their pamphlet and it's actually $20. The fact that the first available opening is next Monday says something. When I asked the lady if she would call me if there is a cancellation she said she would but that she doubts she'll get a cancellation.

Here is what is odd to me. Most people on these forums complain of pain, diarrhea, and/or weight loss. I am experiencing no pain, weight gain in my lower body, and constipation if I don't take any magnesium. How can that be gut dysbiosis?

I will do the fiber cleanse starting January 1 simply because I think it would be good and hopefully it will get some of this weight off which would eliminate the majority of my frustration and depression. Then I will get strict on the SCD and I will be as strict as possible over the holidays. But if the abdominal distention does not go away say after a month of being on SCD, then I would say there is something else going on. Or is that expecting too much?

The other thing my doctor said is that I may just be gaining weight because I am getting older. I hate it when doctors do that. Yes, my metabolism will slow down as I age but going from a loose size 9 to a loose size 13 in 3 weeks is not normal aging in my opinion. I pointed that out to her and she didn't say much.

I am going to have to find a good doctor when we move to Nashville which will hopefully be soon. The problem is finding one! I went to see a doc in Nashville for my hormonal imbalance, he charged me $399 for a 1.5 hour visit and he turned out to be an idiot. I am sorry, that sounds harsh, but some of the things he said gave me major red flags. When I discussed some of it with another doctor he said, "where did you find this guy". And he was recommended by two women on a forum who loved him and "highly" recommended him.

This is all so frustrating.