SCD Diet - Days 29 - 3x

Day 29 - Mon
Well, today I started with an illegal muffin with 2 eggs on top....mmm...it was lovely. I'm struggling with continuing the SCD diet as I didn't see any positive change. Maybe I've just given up too soon. Maybe I need to put more into it, but the food is so bland and boring. I telephoned a local Naturopath but wasn't able to get an appointment with her this week as she's going to her practice in Geneva and then I'm away next week, so I'll call again when I get back to set up an initial appointment with her and see how it goes.

For dinner I was good and everything was legal, but unfortunately I couldn't resist lemon cake with strawberry icing :( ... and I believe that was my downfall this evening I think. :(


Meds - 3 x Salofalk (1g granules), pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), cod liver oil capsule (525mg)
Weight - 62.1 kgs(136.9lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Not much passed except for the remains of the enema.
2. 11am - Normal with M & B mixed in and
3. 7pm - Urgency - D, lots of it
4. 8pm - Urgency D

Day 30 - Tue
I had another muffin today with poached eggs for breakfast. Apart from the muffin, that was it as far as illegals went. The rest of the day I was good.


Meds - 3 x Salofalk (1g granules),, pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), cod liver oil capsule (525mg)
Weight - 62.0 kgs(136.4lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Small BM, a bit of D & M..too hard to tell if there was any B.
   
2. 8am - A larger movement with a bit of M
3. 2pm - A bit of M
   
4. 9pm - Small BM's with a bit of M
5. 10pm - Small BM's with a bit of M

Day 31 - Wed
Today was a felt a bit weird in the stomach / intestine area. Not crampy and definitely not like the painful ones last week....just weird if you know what I mean. I'm in a funny mood to, so the 2 could be connected. Today I also started a tablet probiotic, so we'll see how that goes.


Meds - 4 x Salazoprin
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), cod liver oil capsule (525mg), 2 probiotics(2x5 million)
Weight - 62.0 kgs(136.4lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - little to nothing & M with a few specks of B
   
2. 2pm - Slight urgency. M & B mixed in
3. 9pm - M and a bit of B only
4. 10pm - M only
   

Day 32 - Thur
The usual illegal of a muffin was eaten for breakfast along with a banana. Lunch was another muffin, some cheddar cheese and I shelled a few peanuts for a snack. I don't seem to have that weird feeling in my stomach today. Maybe the probiotic tablets did something although I was under the impression that it took at least 14 days for any benefit to be noticed. Maybe today is just a good day. Actually it was, I got my hair cut and coloured and really like it. Normally it takes until I wash it myself and the colour is a week old, before I like it ... I'm kind off fussy that way ☺


Meds - 3 x Salofalk (1g granules)
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), cod liver oil capsule (525mg)
Weight - 62.0 kgs(136.4lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Little to nothing & M with a few specks of B
2. 2pm - Little to nothing & M
3. 9pm - M and a bit of B only
4. 10pm - M only

Unfortunately I went on holiday and the SCD Diet was forgotten to my down fall....I'm back to scratch now and have to start with Day 1 of the SCD diet....I WILL try again

SCD Diet - Days 26 - 28

Day 26 - Fri
I'm wondering if I should have peeled my apple before I ate it this morning as I had real pains this afternoon...not enough to make you cry, but enough to make you sit there and hold on until the cramp passed. This week with so many BM's, I'm beginning to doubt the SCD diet...but I know that it takes time and I'm not even at the end of week 4 yet.

I want, I need, I should, I fear......

I just want to get better though, but I need to see some real signs of improvement and not just fleeting moments where I get my hopes up, only to have them dashed the next day.
I need to have a birthday where I'm not bleeding. The last 3 have been horrible.
I should be grateful though as I'm leading a relatively normal life and can out and about, but the fear is returning that I'm going back to my 30 secs notice.
I fear getting worse.

Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, Pred Enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), Cod Liver Oil (525mg one tablet)
Weight - 61.7 kgs(135.7lb s)

BM's

1. 7am - Only the remains of the enema with a bit of M. Could not see any B.
2. 7.30am - Small movement, og normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B
3. 2.00pm - Not much passed, but a normal consistency, a far bit of M & B
4. 3.00pm - Only Ms with a little bit of B
   
5. 10.50pm - Normal consistency, not sure if there is any M or B
   

Day 27 - Sat
I totally blew off the SCD Diet today after a horrible Friday and the feeling that the almond flour was doing me more damage than good. The stomach pains subsided finally in the afternoon and I went made toast with bread for lunch followed by pretzel sticks as a snack and my dinner also comprised of avocado on toast with garlic chicken.


Meds - 3 x Salofalk (1g granules)
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 61.7 kgs(135.7lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Not much passed except for the remains of the enema.
2. 10pm - Normal with a bit of M and possibly a bit of B.
   

Day 28 - Sun
Still not back on the SCD Diet. Instead I had cornflakes for breakfast, followed at lunch with a toasted cheese and ham sandwich, followed by a Tim Tam biscuit and then an ice-cream when we went out, but for dinner I returned to the SCD Diet. Now I have to decide if I should continue with this diet or not as it seems to be causing me gut pain and I'm not seeing any improvement at all. I would have assumed that after 4 weeks, the BM's would have at least drop slightly, but instead I'm going more. This again could be because I'm off prednisolne, but surely I should have seen some improvement since to begin with this was only a mild flare-up. I feel that I have gotten worse in the last few weeks. Tomorrow is a new day, so I'll see how I feel in the morning and I'll decide then if I should continue with the SCD Diet or not.


Meds - 3 x Salofalk (1g granules)
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 61.7 kgs(135.7lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Not much passed except for the remains of the enema.
2. 6pm - Slight urgency, but otherwise small movement with a bit of M, could not detect B
   
3. 8pm - Urgency with little passed. A bit of M noted.
   
4. 10.30pm - Slight urgency, normal BM, then D. This was immediately after I had finished a cup of tea.
   

What exactly is a flare-up?

flare-up (flârp)

n.

1. A sudden outbreak of flame or light: a flare-up of the embers.

2. An outburst or eruption: a flare-up of anger.

3. A recurrence or an intensification: a flare-up of rheumatism.

I've been thinking about this for a while now about what exactly a flare-up is. I wonder if the powers that be will ever include a definition of flare-up for Ulcerative Colitis suffers...mmm probably not.

Generally my flare-ups begin gradually. First I notice a few drops of blood on the tissue roll, possible it might feel itchy, but then within a week or two I get the urgency to go. For the past 3 months or so I've been getting mild stomach cramps in the lower abdomen, and visible blood and mucus in the stool. I haven't been able to get totally out of this flare-up since I dropped to 30mgs of Predisolne the first...way way back at the beginning of March. Is this normal...does anyone else suffer the same way as me....never been able to get out of a flare-up without the aid of steroids?

So I figured if steroids (or surgery) is my only way out, then I at least have to try something..hence why I started the SCD Diet. I'm just over 3 weeks into it and it's bloody hard to stick to. I haven't noticed any benefit yet, but then again, it's not a quick fix. I do wonder though how long it will take for me to see a change for the positive and a decrease in the mucus and urgency to go.

I'm trying to be realistic though...I'm coming of Predisolne even though there is mucus and blood present still. I can't live on those bloody awful little tablets for ever ... god knows what damage they have done already to my bones. As soon as I get home next year, I'm going to have to ask for a bone density test. I honestly couldn't face doing one here..it's all too hard living with this disease in a non English speaking country and that would lead me to stress. Actually, I've possible got a handle on my stress recently...I'm trying not to let things build up on me to the point where I explode.

So, back to flares...I read today that flared trouser (pants) will be back in fashion again for the 2010 Fall...OMG...I didn't wear them as a child in the 70's and I'm definitely not going to be wearing them this Autumn :)

And in case you're interested they are also saying that Metallic Dresses, Velvet Dresses, Capes and Ponchos and the Head To Toe Black Look will also be in this Autumn. At least I'll be happy to do black :)

SCD Diet - Days 23 - 25

Day 23 - Tue
You hopefully will have the gist of what I've been eating, so from now on I'm only going to post if I knowing or suspect I may have eaten something illegal or if I make something different and I'll still say how I'm feeling. Today I'm relieved to see that things are nearly back to what I call normal for now. Yesterday really scared me..it was just like being back in the bad old days of last summer and not being able to do anything. I'm still not entirely sure what happened...was it the potatoes and the other illegals, or was it because I changed maintenance medicines, or was it because I'm nearly off prednisolne...who knows...anyway I felt like crap yesterday.

Tonight I made a new meal ...chicken cooked in garlic butter...lovely... lets see if there is any fall out from that :D

Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne, pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), Cod Liver Oil (tablet with 525mg)
Weight - 62.1 kgs(136.6lb s)

BMs - sorry but this is really just for me to track on how I'm going and as a reference to look back on....

1. 7am - Possibly only the remains of the enema with a bit of M. Could not see any B.
2. 12.30pm - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B
   
3. 6.45pm - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B
4. 9.50pm - Normal consistency, very little (and dare I say if any) M

*Again sorry to gross anyone out, but I need to note this...All movements are still on the narrow side (width approx 1.5 cm) so assuming inflammation still inside. I've no idea what normal is for everyone, but for me I'll assume 2.5cm would be a good width...normal..and if I can get to that then I'll be as happy as a pig in mud.

Aches & Pains - Slight ache on the left side of my back..could be from sitting wrong at the computer or a something to do with the descending colon...not sure...yesterday's pain was in the front and lower down. If only I was a doctor I'd know :D

Day 24 - Wed
No fall out yet from the garlic chicken :) and I don't know if I dare type this as I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm seeing big improvements. Maybe last weekend was my test and although I failed, I didn't stuff too much stuff into me to cause real damage and was able to get right back on the SCD diet again. I reckon another week will tell, but the flare-up symptoms are definitely reducing and the mucus is going. I'm not using an enema tonight, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. My guts felt really achy today after lunch. Pains and all sorts. At one stage I went to the bathroom for the just in case, but the pain eased back around 3 hrs after my lunch. Anyone have any ideas what may have caused this. I didn't have a huge lunch or eat anything that wasn't SCD illegal.

Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 62.1 kgs(136.6lb s)

BM's

1. 7am - Only the remains of the enema with a bit of M. Could not see any B.
2. 9.50pm - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B

Day 25 - Thur
Woke up this morning with a splitting headache. Either I'm dehydrated from yesterday as I really didn't drink enough water or something else is going on. I'm sick of eating bananas for breakfast..time to try apples I think unless anyone else has got any good SCD Diet ideas. Today marks my first steroid free day since April when I had to restart at 30mg after only being off them for 2 weeks. My gut still feels a bit achy and I've no idea what is causing this. There is a possibility that I need to eat more in the mornings before I take the magnesium tablet though. Tomorrow I'll try to eat more.

Today I did a big lunch for some of the girls I hang around with. Loads of families are leaving France and heading home as their time is up here. It's sad to see them go, but in the end we all leave. We've no more than 9 months left here now. I can't say I'll be sad to leave, but when I've been feeling OK, I've enjoyed my time here.

Has anyone ever hated doing the shopping and cooking when in a flare-up? Sometimes I find it so hard to do either. I can't stand the smell of food cooking and at the moment it's hard sitting at a table when people are eating. Maybe I'm just jealous :) ......


Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet), Pred Enema
Weight - 61.7 kgs(135.7lb s)

BMs

1. 7am - Normal consistency with a bit of mucus this morning mixed in and possibly a bit of blood...can't be sure for definite
2. 7.30am - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B
3. 11.30am - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, could see no B
4. 9.45pm - Normal consistency, a little bit of M, possible a bit of B

SCD Diet - Days 17-22

Day 17 - Wed
Breakfast - 2 x SCD Raspberry Muffin
Lunch - Chicken, cucumber, cheese
Dinner - Pork Chops, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, grated cheese
Dessert - Fruit salad (Melon, strawberry, kiwi fruit, pears), Green Tea

Bowel Movements - 1 - More than normal M with a very very small bit of B mixed in.
Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin,10mg Prednisolne
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 62.2 kgs(136.8lb s)

Other - Today is my last day on 10mg Pred..yeah..I'm happy about that and happy that I'm finally going to drop another 5 mgs tomorrow. Today I realised that over the last week there has been a lot less rumblings and gurgles int he stomach / intestine areas...hopefully that's a good thing. OK, confusion time ... I cheated today with a 2cm x 2cm piece of biscuit...chocolate, toffee & biscuit bottom... I couldn't help myself, it was calling to me...anyway I ate it and liked it (not loved it mind you!) and washed a glass of water down with it. I will try not to do that again.

Day 18 - Thur
Breakfast - Banana
Lunch - SCD Muffin
Dinner - Chicken, Cucumber, Cheddar Cheese
Dessert - SCD Biscuit

Bowel Movements - 3 - A bit of M, but it does appear to be decreasing and more B than normally seen over the last week or so.
Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne, pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 62.1 kgs(136.6lb s)

Other - Felt sick all day and I'm beginning to wonder is the almond powder is causing a problem. I'll persist for another few days and see if anything changes. Initially I thought it was because of the whole diet. The problem I have with almond flour is that we're not supposed to eat nuts as it can irritate the colon itself...it's hard to know...one group says one thing, another group says the opposite and mean while, I'm stuck in the middle trying to fix myself.

Day 19 - Fri
Breakfast - Banana
Lunch - SCD Biscuit
Dinner - Chicken, a piece of Pizza (illegal), Tim Tam Chocolate Biscuit (illegal)
Dessert - None

Bowel Movements - 3 - A bit of M and an increase in b noted especailly on the last movement.
Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 62.0 kgs(136.6lb s)

Other - Bored with this SCD Diet. A bit pissed off with life :(

Day 20 - Sat
Breakfast - Banana, SCD Discuit
Lunch - Chicken, Cheddar Cheese, 2 eggs
Dinner - Potatoes (illegal), Baked Bean (sauce only - but still illegal), mince
Dessert - none
Bowel Movements - 3 - A bit of M and again an increase in b noted especailly on the last movement.
Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 61.6 kgs(135.5lb s)

Other - At dinner time I was so hungry that I felt the need to eat potatoes. Totally fell off the SCD diet. Had an achy stomach all night...I'm not feeling very happy at this moment. I seem to have been in this flare-up for ever. I only got relief from the symptoms in Dec when I went back on the Preds. Since Feb though I've been back in a mild flare-up even though I was still at 30mgs Pred.

Day 21 - Sun
Breakfast - SCD Biscuit, 2 eggs
Lunch - Avocado, Tuna, Cheddar Cheese, SCD Biscuit
Dinner - Mince, Broccoli, Carrots
Dessert - Melon
Bowel Movements - 3 - A bit of M and a further increase in b noted especially on the last movement.
Meds - 4 x Salazopyrin, 5mg Prednisolne
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 61.7 kgs(135.7lb s)

Other - Woke up this morning and had to run to the bathroom. I'm guessing the potatoes, but who knows.
As the day went on though, I felt normal, but it is disheartening to see more and more blood.

Day 22 - Mon
Breakfast - Banana
Lunch - SCD Raison Muffin with cinmamin
Dinner - Pork Chops, Carrots
Dessert - none, just green tea later
Bowel Movements - 6 - A far b it of M each time with traces of B mixed in. 3 movements were mucus only.
Meds - 3 x Salofalk granules (1g), 5mg Prednisolne, pred enema
Vitamins - Magnesium with Folic acid and Vit D (combo 1 tablet)
Weight - 62.0 kgs(136.6lb s)

Other - Yikes, today was not a nice day. Every time I ate things just went through me and I had to rush to the bathroom. I can only assume that have illegals on the weekend, have caused this problem. It felt like the bad old days...little or no notice and one accident. Not happy with myself. Thankfully I was at home most of the day when the urges came. I could have handled an hours round trip to school to pick the kids up otherwise.

Thoughts / Problems on SCD diet

• Days 19 & 20 saw me totalling blowing the SCD Diet. I'm not sure what was going on in my mind, but I'd had enough of the diet and digressed. I'm assuming that loads of people feel the same thing, but I acted on my hunger and cravings this time.
• Day 21 - I'm changing back to Salofalk to see if I can see any changes.
• I seems to feel a lot more angrier these days. Is that the diet or is that just UC? I don't remember being so angry so much of the time before UC. Maybe it was the anger that gave me UC....yes, I've been reading "How to Heal yourself" again...oh, just to be happy with life eh? Now wouldn't that be nice or would I still me mad about something or rather
• I'm back on the SCD Diet again and I'm trying to be good.