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SCD and Maker's diet for constipation?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/3/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I recently had most of my TI removed and a long strictureplasty on over 2 feet of my small intestine. I tried the SCD diet (sort of) in '99 when I had a flare to avoid prednisone and it worked pretty well. I didn't make the yogurt but I cut out the majority of my sugars and starches...previously I lived on bagels, bread & juice. Currently my disease constipates me and in rereading the SCD book it seems as if it is really geared to those with the opposite problem. Has anyone who tends to be more constipated had luck on these? I eat a ton of fruit normally and avoid white flour, but right now I'm scared of a few veggies and dairy.
Posted 3/3/2008 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
This is a pretty complex issue, I'm not sure there is a simple answer.  Have you read the info on constipation on the SCD site:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/constipation.htm

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/constipation_continued.htm

I follow the SCD and do have issues with constipation, but it is due to a stricture I developed pre-SCD.  I don't feel that the diet necessarily makes it worse, though it could if one ate too much of one thing (like nuts or nut flour baked goods) or didn't actively try to figure out what makes things better or worse for one's own condition.  With my stricture and constipation, I find it helps if I eat lots of soft smooth things like pureed vegetable soups, smoothies, homemade applesauce.  Prune juice and stewed prunes also help me. 

I also eat a lot of homemade yogurt.  In my opinion you don't really get the benefits of the SCD if you don't make the yogurt.  There are two elements to the diet--taking out the bad stuff (grains, sugar, etc.) and adding the good stuff (probiotics, good bacteria in the yogurt).  If you only do one of these I think the diet can only do so much.  I feel the yogurt is saving my life, not to be melodramatic.  Even if I someday stop the SCD, I will always keep making the yogurt.

Have you considered joining one of the SCD listserves?  They would probably be a great resource for questions like this.  I don't notice many SCD folks here at HW. 

 

Posted 3/3/2008 9:08 PM (GMT 0)

butterfat said...
Have you considered joining one of the SCD listserves? They would probably be a great resource for questions like this. I don't notice many SCD folks here at HW.

Sorry to be behind here, but what is a listserve? I think I might be interested! Is it anything like the yahoo groups?

Welcome to the forum, Scorpio!! We started w/the Maker's Diet, but now incorporate aspects and recipes from the SCD. I don't know about folks w/CD, but flaxseed oil has always kept things moving for me when they come to a screeching halt...if you know what I mean. Have you tried anything like that? It has many health benefits and it just might help your C. I buy the "high lignan" and Barleans is the brand I like.
Posted 3/3/2008 9:46 PM (GMT 0)

eMom said...
Sorry to be behind here, but what is a listserve? I think I might be interested! Is it anything like the yahoo groups?

Yes, they are similar to Yahoo groups.  I think there are 3 main SCD listserves:  SCD Info, Long Island Listserve, and SC Diet.  There are links and you can subscribe to the lists here:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/support/support.htm

They are basically the same as a forum like this but happen over email as far as I understand.

eMom said...I don't know about folks w/CD, but flaxseed oil has always kept things moving for me when they come to a screeching halt

Interesting!  I will have to try that.  Do you mix the flaxseed oil with something?  Is there a standard amount you use or does it vary?  Anyway, thanks for the idea!

 

Posted 3/3/2008 10:22 PM (GMT 0)

butterfat said...
Interesting! I will have to try that. Do you mix the flaxseed oil with something? Is there a standard amount you use or does it vary? Anyway, thanks for the idea!

I usually take my flaxseed oil straight; one tablespoon a day. It does emulsify well, so if you prefer, you can mix it in yogurt, juice, or sometimes I mix it in soy milk. Some people use it as a salad dressing, you're just not supposed to heat it. It also needs to be kept refrigerated.

Also, I don't know how old either of you are or even whether you are male or female, but for females in their forties, flaxseed oil with borage oil is AMAZING! (a little more expensive than straight flaxseed oil, but well worth it! Barlean's is called Omega Twin.) It totally took away my "peri-menopausal symptoms." My apologies if you're a guy. Too much information....

Thanks for the link, Butterfat!!! I think I may sign up!
Posted 3/3/2008 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the ideas. i am female, I had strictures but had the surgery 4 weeks ago. Pre surgery I was addicted to laxatives somewhat- exlax, suppositories, etc so I've pretty much tried everything under the sun. Adding the yogurt to my diet might be a good idea though. I am lactose intolerant, but with lactaid I'm usually ok. It's very hard for me to keep to one of these diets at work since I live off of oatmeal packets.
Posted 3/4/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
when i started the maker's diet i was suffering from colonic inertia on top of crohn's. basically my colon stopped working and i couldnt go to the bathroom. they wanted to do a colectomy and fit me with an ostomy. 3 days after starting the makers diet (and cheating by starting on phase 3) i started going to the bathroom. things are fantastic now and i kept my colon. so yeah, i would have to say these diets work for constipation.
Posted 3/4/2008 11:52 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the flaxseed oil info, eMom :-)

Scorpio, I can understand your fear of veggies and dairy if you haven't been able to eat them so far.  If you do the SCD it is worth starting with the Intro diet which doesn't have a lot of those foods and then work your way up slowly.  It might also help if your vegetables are well cooked or even pureed.  Also, did you know that SCD yogurt is lactose-free?  Store-bought yogurt isn't lactose-free because it is not cultured/fermented long enough, but SCD yogurt is fermented for 24 hours and during that time all the good bacteria eat up the lactose sugars and the final yogurt is lactose and sugar free.  This site has some good info on yogurt and yogurt-making:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/yoghurt/yoghurt.htm

How did your surgery go, and how are you recovering?  I hope that the strictureplasty will ease your constipation eventually. 

CrazyHarry, your story is very inspiring.  Congratulations on all your success.  I am going to research colonic inertia since it sounds like something I might have a mild case of, if that's even possible.

Posted 3/4/2008 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
I would still probably take lactaid with the SCD yogurt- I've been burned by other 'lactose free' foods before! I have trouble with whey protein in protein shakes, etc. My surgery went well and I am glad my surgeon was able to do the strictureplasty. I am actually going back to work tomorrow (4 weeks post op)- I'm pretty nervous about returning! I am supposed to be on a lighter schedule at first, but my boss is a workaholic so who knows. I don't really like my job right now so that adds to the stress.
When I did a SCD type diet in '99, it was more atkins style- no carbs really at all. I was starting college that fall and didn't mind the weight loss. However, I think cutting out all the starch and introducing veggies to my diet was a great help. Previously, I only ate refined carbs and maybe a carrot or apple once in a while.
Surgery HAS helped my issues, but I am still not as regular as I would like. I take citrucel and colace as well on a daily/every other day basis.
Posted 3/4/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)

Good luck with your return to work, Scorpio!  Please don't let your boss stress you out too much.

One thing you can do if you make the SCD yogurt is drain the yogurt before eating it.  (You just pour the yogurt into a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a flour sack towel for a couple hours.  Set the strainer over a pot or bowl.)  That makes it thicker and the liquid that drips out is the whey.  Removing the whey sounds like it might make it easier to digest for you.

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