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Has anybody tried specific carbohydrate diet as only treatment for Crohn’s?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/2/2014 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in July of 2013 and have yet to get on medicine as the diagnosis process and even eligibility process for certain medicines took until just last week. Due to another medical condition, the only medicines I can take according to my doctor are azathioprine and methotrexate. Well, both scare the hell out of me. I have been doing some research and I was lead to the specific carbohydrate diet.

I need to know:

1. Has this diet worked for anybody on this forum as the only treatment?

2. Have colonoscopies and MRI’s proved that the ulcers are gone?

Please help me with this... thank you!
Posted 2/2/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I started SCD in June of 2013. I am not super-strict, but feel that the diet has helped my system significantly.

I have been as Asacol since 2003. I am allergic to sulfas. My IBD got much worse about two years ago, despite a maintenance dose of asacol. My doctor doubled the dosage, but I was still having a lot of pain.

SCD was the next step before I got started on a biologic.

Our bodies are pretty individual, and people's response to diet varies widely. It's worth a try, IMO, obviously, because I did try it and stuck with it. Others feel differently.

If you have been managing this long without medical intervention, perhaps this is the time to try SCD.
Posted 2/3/2014 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have been doing SCD for the last 4 years, or so. I am 100% strict.
I had tons of ulcers in the small bowel, and just had a pill cam and colonoscopy and there was zero evidence of crohn's (as stated by the doc).

I do not want to take any drugs, but do take a low dose of pentasa and LDN. I believe these are very low risk drugs and am prepared to take them if they lessen the risk of getting out of control by even 15 or 20%. If I stayed on them for ever, I would be ok with it.

As SCD has worked for me I would encourage it for everyone. If you do it please be aware of the following. SCD list of legal foods is the maximum you can eat. There are lots of legal foods I do not eat. Like everyone SCDers have to spend time figuring out what works for you. I use the phases on pecenbread.com but this is not an official approach just what has worked for some (including me).
Also, the book encourages 100% compliance until you have at least 2 years symptom free. You really have to give the diet time to heal all the way. As I have IBS, carbohydrate mal absorption, slow bowel motility... I have never had 2 years symptom free so I stay 100% fanatically compliant.
Do not be intimidated by this diet/lifestyle. It is like all change. At first it seems like a big deal and even weird, but after some time it is becomes normal.
I hope you find your healing path that works for you in the long run
Dave
Posted 2/3/2014 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was told I was steroid dependent. But I have been on the SCDiet now for 13 months. And never had to go back to steroids.

I have reduced my Imuran by 50 mgs. My fistulae are not active any more.

I do use cannabis to help me stay active and it keeps me hungry! It is also good for fighting inflammation.

The combination of these 3 things make me feel almost 100%!
Posted 2/12/2014 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Any other people try this? I am so scared to try medicine that I would like to try this first but don't want to do it if it doesn't help...
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