Day 3 of SCD and struggling

Aww hugs to you! I don't follow this diet, but have heard that its really difficult in the beginning and gets better within time. I follow a low residue diet and it works good for ME.   I like you, have to eat every few hours or else I get really really nauseous, then things just go from bad to worse for me if I don't eat quickly enough.  Good luck!

What you're feeling is very common for the first days of the diet. Most people feel like they're starving. As the bacteria and yeast are dieing, they have a way of influencing their host to eat something (starch/sugar) that will feed them (there was a good article about this at the NYTimes website, but I can't find it right now). And then there is the die off symptoms. The dead yeast and bacteria release toxins into your system, which explains your nausea. Hang in there, it will pass. Soaking in a Epsom salt bath is quite helpful. Drink lots of water too.

Here's a link to the symptoms a person can have at the beginning of the diet, and things that can be done about it: http://pecanbread.com/p/how/temporarysymptoms.html

"List of possible die off temporary symptoms: Most children will not exhibit all these symptoms.. A few people don't have significant symptoms or may not notice any symptoms.

* Flu Like Symptoms
* fever
* extreme hunger
* nausea and vomiting.
* dizziness
* achy joints and back
* change in bowels (diarrhea or constipation)
* strange skin rashes
* runny nose and funny cough
* headaches
* behavior changes/irritability/tantrums/short tempered
* sleep disturbances

Things you can do to make it more tolerable:

* It is important to note that the die-off reaction is an inflammation response brought on by the increase in bacterial toxins. Epsom Salt soaks in a warm tub
* Activated Charcoal Capsules for a brief time. Do not take it during meal times or within 2 hours of medications and supplements.
* Green tea has an incredible ability to neutralize some of the harmful effects from bacterial toxins. You might want to drink green tea before starting SCD and during the initial stage of SCD until the die of reactions subside.
* Chicken soup and bone broths have natural anti-inflammatory properties. This is important because the die off reaction is an inflammation response brought on by the increase in bacterial toxins. Click here to view recipes and info about the benefits of chicken soup and bone broths.
* Drink 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with a pinch of salt in a glass of water as needed (on an empty stomach). As the bacteria die off the toxins cause your pH to become acidic which makes you feel much worse. The baking soda buffers the acid. (Catherine Tamaro)
* You can also use the electrolyte drink to help prevent dehydration: Recipe for the electrolyte drink
* Slowing down the introduction of enzymes (some call this the "low and slow" method.
* Going slower in the introduction of the SCD probiotics and yogurt. You should wait before introducing these if you have a strong die-off symptoms (www.pecanbread.com has ideas on introducing this yogurt)
* Following the directions for the introductions of foods. Click here to view chart for the gradual introduction of foods."

GLAD YOU GOT SOME GREAT INPUT..LYN        KEEP US POSTED ON HOW YOU ARE DOING K ..

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I am confused. I never experienced any kind of die off symptoms. I have also had very limited success with three months of this diet (although the weight loss makes me feel great!). I am actually relapsing the last two weeks. I wonder if this bacterial overgrowth was ever my problem since I never experienced the die off symptoms and am not getting better?

I don't have the typical gut symptoms (just rectal) so maybe that's why I never had the die off symptoms. Or maybe it's because I always ate my daily yogurt, although it was "illegal" yogurt at the time.

As for the diet, I've never had to go hungry. There is a huge amount of good food to choose from that is legal. I can understand if you can't tolerate certain foods but this IS NOT A STARVATION DIET! I run marathons on this diet.

Peanut butter apples are delicious and make a great legal snack.

Thank you Spooykhurst. I'm still a believer, just frustrated! I'm not going to stray afer all this hard work.

And to be completely honest, I've cheated maybe 4 times. meaning I ate a hamburger 3 times and a bbq sandwich another. No more of that!!!!!

I have started the SCD during bad flare ups and can never quite stick with it! I'd love to be able to but it's so restrictive... so right now I'm just going with a mostly low residue diet, eating other things I can tolerate and cutting out things I can't. Diet is so complicated for us crohnies!
Good luck with the diet and I hope these initial symptoms ease up for you!

Pre-SCD, I didn't really feel any foods bothered me (with the exception of maybe french fries). Nothing caused overt symptoms anyway. But once I went SCD, I had a variety of ailments clear up (like those stupid fistulas). I'm not sure what the big offender was. Probably sugar or gluten.

A mac and cheese recipe that's supposed to be really good was posted at the yahoo BTVC group. Here it is, along with someone's modification:

One recipe idea I can give you as my husband really missed his
rice and ptoatoes in the begining. we get the dry curd cottage cheese
(about one cup), mix one egg 1/2 cup almond flour, salt, pepper, and
then grate cheddar cheese (about 1/2.cup) and mix all together.
Butter a small crock dish (personal pan size). Put the mixture in,
grate a little more cheese on top. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes
or until it is lightly browned on top. It turns out like baked mac
and cheese. We all love it. Your husband may not be able to tolerate
it right away but try it once he starts to heal. It has become a main
staple for my husband as a side dish.
I hope this helps.
Genine

I modified it a bit;
before cooking- i added a layer of parmesean cheese on the top like
2/3 of a cup, i covered in with tinfoil cooked for 15 minutes and than
i removed the foil and i cooked it even further under the broiler
until it turned a nice golden brown and got all bubbly, crunchy,
carmelized and delicious. a real treat!

who knew i could cook?

jodi