Another success story with spinach and sunflower seeds!

I wanted to post our success story, as it was the posts of others' that gave us the information and courage to try this diet, and it has worked wonders for our lives!!! Sorry it is a bit of a long post, but if our story can help anyone else, I feel that I owe it to them to write it just as others helped us.

My husband was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 2 years ago. He was put on mesalamine suppositories and they worked well for a couple of months and then his symptoms got a lot worse. Then he was put on the enema version, which again worked great for a couple of months and then his symptoms were back--and then some. At this point he was getting depressed as the medical options were starting to get scary in terms of invasiveness, side effects, etc. Also, his symptoms were begining to negatively impact our lives. He was having difficulty being productive at work and was running out of excuses for spending so much time in the bathroom. He didn't want to go anywhere or do anything as it was a hassle scoping out where and how to get to a bathroom, and frankly dealing with it at work was about all he could take. So he would sit at home, and I started to feel like a single mom. He did not go anywhere with me or our daughter for over a year! It was awful!

I just got sick of it one day--I felt like there had to be something we could do with diet or alternative med. So I started reading everything. I said we are going to try anything and everything (at least within the realm of reason) and just keep trying things until we find something that works. I think that he was already on the low residue diet--didn't make much of a difference. The only thing that he was able to do to manage his symptoms at that point was just not eat--anything.

First we tried Aloe-lu-yah, not much difference but maybe it helped a little. Next we tried probiotics --This helped quite a bit, and he noticed a difference within a day or two. Then I read posts on this site about the spinach and sunflower seed diet. He didn't want to try it as it was definitely off of the low res diet and he was afraid for his symptoms to get any worse. I convinced him to try just one serving on a Friday night, as he would have all weekend to cope with any bad effects. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but he did better even that first night--only getting up to go to the bathroom 2 times versus his usual 7+. He started eating a couple of tablespoons every morning and evening and his symptoms got improved. I again had to convince him to add the sunflower seeds as he was reluctant to try anything that might upset the apple cart, as he was just starting to feel like he could function. I ground up roasted lightly salted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and had added about a table spoon to the spinach. He liked the flavor they added and they didn't make him worse so he stuck with it. After about 2 months he started using the enema everyother night, mainly because he forgot it one night and his symptoms didn't worsen. His symptoms continued to improve for another month to the point that he felt completely normal. He stopped his meds altogether and now he doesn't have to get up inthe night at all to go to the bathroom. It has been about 3 months and he has remained symptom free. I have to add that as his symptoms improved his diet became less careful to the degree that he now drinks coffee and some drinks alcohol, he eats lots of deserts (that is his big downfall he has a major sweettooth) he even ate chili at a playoff game party recently with no problems at all. 6 months ago that would have put him in the ER.

He started with the canned spinach, because that is what the original poster used. He found the taste really, really bad, so he switched to frozen, about 1/3 to 1/2 cup in morning and evening. Wtih about a tablespoon of ground nuts (sunflower and pumpkin) sprinkeld on top. He has to travel with work a lot and so is not as consistent as he would like but so far no issues wven if he goes a few days without.

I know that it could be a coincidence, but I am hopeful that a diet rich in spinach and sunflower seed will keep us both healthy and happy for many many years to come. GO POPEYE!!!!!!

It is surprising that the only meds he ever used were suppositories and enemas. That in itself sounds fortunate to me! I love spinach and eat it often, also almonds (which are considered anti-inflammatory, along with a host of other foods). I hope he continues to improve and glad this has helped.

Female/49

It's great to know that he's doing better with spinach and sunflower seeds! I found it extremely helpful too.

And since it's just a matter of taking a bit of spinach and sunflower seed/butter a day, more people should give it a try. Even if it doesn't work for someone, it's still some healthy food to add to your daily diet.

hrhmum

Sounds like you guys are doing well---can you tell me what I need to do to get in remission.  I have never heard of spinach and sunflower seed diet-can you tell me about it in details so i can try it out.

hrhmum:

Please describe your husband's symptoms, how long he's had the disease, how many flare's he's had and what the flare consist of. I understand he was having very frequently bm's but was he bleeding and, if so, how much. If he had a colonoscopy do you know the extent of the ulcers (how far in he was inflammed) and were there bleeding ulcers or inflammation. I tried this diet a couple months ago and had no improvement but I really never have improvement from anything but immune system altering medication (steriods, imuran, remicade). I'm not sure if it's because my flares are more severe than others so that's why I want to know, in detail, all your husband's symptoms and history. I may try this diet again, after I get into full remission if I then ever notice my symptoms going downhill or as I am going into remission to speed things along.

Thanks much!

LFTC: Thanks for the info...my testosterone has been checked...well above normal

Yes, mine is clearly immune system kicks on then off and nothing's ever changed it. I've tried and will continue to try different things.

thanks for the help anyway

congratulations on the diet and its working for you. What do you need to ground up those seeds (pumpkin and sunflower)

ellen

journey2health said...
congratulations on the diet and its working for you. What do you need to ground up those seeds (pumpkin and sunflower)

ellen

I use my personal blender (tribest) with coffee grinder attachment. Makes just about any seed or nut into powder.

Burli I appreciate all of your questions. I too think there seems to be a bit of information (or more) being left out. So can you eat whatever you want, just add some spinach and sunflower seeds each day to your diet? It does not really sound logical to me. They are both anti-inflammatory foods, along with many others. But it seems like you have to eat more then just these two things to sustain yourself. And if the other foods you are eating are considered inflammatory, then it would not seem helpful overall. Also, I personally like fresh spinach! I think more answers are needed.... Diet has never made much difference to my UC. And I tend to be a pretty healthy eater overall: no fried foods or fast foods, very little if any red meat. I actually like tofu and eat a lot of almonds, pecans, fresh produce, and I avoid processed foods as much as possible. To me all this is common sense healthy eating, for many reasons. But it does not and has not changed my UC. But this does not mean I am not open to suggestions. Also, I have been adding turmuric to my diet for several months because I had heard it was an anti-inflammatory and good for the digestive system in particular. I have been in a flare since August (end of July).

f/49

Am Curious and have question.

Leafy? I chew it very much. Leafy means it can not be chopped or chewed into very digestable? I also chew seeds.

Anyway I'm not on meds, and will let you what happen.

LFTC: Awesome!

Thanks for the detailed description! You described your flare beautifully. I think where we are different are that your flares come much more sudden than mine. I gradually, over weeks and months, get worse until I get to the point of what we're talking about. It sounds like you get there in days. During the downslide I try all these different things (supplements, diets, etc.) and still continue to get worse until I give in and take prednisone. At first it was all I needed but now 80 mg is a speed bump. At the beginning of this flare I took the prednisone and upped my Imuran but finally had to go for the IV steroids at the hospital (3^rd time for that).

So my body's not responding to the "tricks" others in here say work for them.

I'm jealous and frustrated that these tricks work for you and others, who are also in such a severe state, but not me. I am also happy for you that you that you found your solution. But it seems a crap shoot what to try...basically everything like I've done.

My jaw is open to the floor as I am angry that I do not benefit from these because I administer them with great discipline yet still continue to decline. I fear my next flare even as I'm coming out of this one as, each time; I have to go for more potent immune altering meds.

I will not give up trying other things. I never took the VSL#3 prior to the flare getting severe. It keeps my sister’s at bay so maybe that’s my diamond in the rough.

Thanks again for giving me the details of your flare (as did subdued in another thread). I find this most beneficial because adjectives like "severe" don't do the flare justice ("bent the towel bar in pain" tells me exactly what type of pain you were in). It's a scary feeling being in that pain because you fear your colon will perforate at that point. What’s terrible is that point at which you feel the bm coming on and you are preparing for the pain yet to come. I walk around the house scared at what I’m about to face. You bent the towel bar whereas I chose to bite on a rag and yell into it. I'm so glad those weeks are over.

LFTC:

I agree that VSL#3 works because my sister said it works for her; there are also double blind studies with placebo backing up the fact it helps a great percentage of UC patients' flares.

I thought you used diet alone to repair things; my mistake. My sister’s husband is an Internist with an autoimmune disease. His understanding with VSL#3 (he’s researched UC due to his wife, my sister, having UC) is that the probiotic is feeding the immune system something to go after instead of the tissue of your colon.

I agree the VSL#3 is your major fix and I hope to make it mine as well. I started it in the hospital and am getting better but I’m also taking Remicade and Imuran along with Colozal and Lialda. I will drop the Remicade but am afraid to drop the Imuran.

At present I’m taking 2-3 packets of VSL#3DS per day and reducing prednisone.

How much do you take when not flaring? My sister takes one pack of VSL#3/day and if she skips 3-4 doses and is under stress she will start to bleed. Taking the VSL#3 used to clears it right back up but lately she's started to require some prednisone.

I notice nothing at 60 mg prednisone but at 80 I start to see some slowing of the downturn. At 120 mg I bet your heart was beating through your chest. In the hospital they usually give me solumedrol which is much stronger than prednisone but doesn't have the same bad side effects for me. That's something to consider as flares like ours usually get tougher to beat as the years go on. You may not have another flare is my wish. Keep it up.

Dr-A said...
I added in the canned spinach two days ago. Forced to go to that and the ole baked potato due to getting really bad over last week. Slept all way through night last night (Been up 6-10 times every single night for 4 months). Haven't had that happen since September. Start remi this morning so the UC will get a double attack on it.

Dr-A good luck with Remi. I find that canned spinach is great at helping get formed (and fewer) BMs, so it's good that you finally managed to get a good night's sleep.