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Posted 3/18/2013 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Crazy! Have you not experienced TPN?
I found what it means to be no food in a very hard way, and that by nature, any living thing loves to eat, because I could not eat for 1 full month, and I was on liquid diet for two weeks after that...or else my colon had to come out. Even while I was fed via the tube given a nutrition I was required in order to live per a day, I felt miserably hungry, and the smell of food and any smell of soup, sandwhich or any good meal, I felt like I would have traded anything to be able to eat again like an average person and it was traumatic mentally.
I experienced TPN for almost 2 months, without any food, just medicine and all the nutrients were fed via central IV line under my collar bone (there is a big vein there.) I was terrified of eating normal food even after my dr said I should start eating because I associated food equals pain, blood and incontinence hell (I really thought my normal life was over then.) As a result of that TPN I lost 1/4 of my weight and it took me 3 months to get the weight back, because if you dont eat from mouth, the small intestine becomes inactive and I was not able to gain weight no matter what I ate, even after the remission stage.
After TPN stage, I was on the liquid (the one crohn person usually consume, the famous elemental diet, selections of flavor for palatablity, but basically its sugar, extremely sweet...)....etc. and slowly increase my diet like everyone else at the hospital for the severe UC.
I told myself if I get to the stage I got like last time, I would not hesitate but ask the doctor to take my colon out and happy to accept permanent illiostomy, because that is just better than experiencing that hell again.

So my question to you, have you been in a hospital and experienced TPN? It really took a toll on me last time (god I hate hospitals and useless doctors who dont know a thing about the cause of UC!)
Posted 3/18/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
"Soylent"????? Are you guys serious? Yum... liquid people.....!!!!! I like food alright, & yes- it is a big hassle to procure it, clean it, make it, & then clean up. But gimme a break, living "forever" with no food???
Posted 3/18/2013 4:45 PM (GMT 0)

Eva Lou said...
"Soylent"????? Are you guys serious? Yum... liquid people.....!!!!! I like food alright, & yes- it is a big hassle to procure it, clean it, make it, & then clean up. But gimme a break, living "forever" with no food???


haha I was wondering if anyone else got the reference to the 1973 sci-fi film Soylent Green. Basically an impoverished futuristic society where everyone eats these food tablets called soylent green, and in the end they find out that the 'food' they eat is in fact made up of people: "soylent green is people!"
Posted 3/18/2013 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Eva Lou-Haha I prefer the book definition of Soylent: soybeans and lentils. Better than people, anyway.

Also, I would not consume this exclusivley like him, just to cut down on some labor of cooking. Maybe five times a week.

Here's a link I posted earlier this morning that I think has gotten lost in responses. It's a guy who uses existing products so he doesn't have to use so many raw ingredients. I'm skeptical tho-especially of the 'body builder' product that is high carb.

http://calmcoder.blogspot.com/2013/03/soylent-recipe-and-nutritional-profile.html

He has a complete dietary analysis shown that shows what is included is reasonable and well-rounded. 

I would probably forego the probiotic and keep taking 1.8 trillion bacteria thru VSL per day

My concerns revolve around the first ingredient, the mass builder. First it is high in carbs. Not sure how this will affect me, or if it will be offset by the fact that my gut will not be processing as much waste if I replaced meals with this say, five times a week. Secondly, I've always looked askance at those huge body building tubs you see in health stores, but this is more of a 'gut' feeling I guess. Almost like if they are supposed to be an easy way out for muscle, there's got to be a downside. Sort of like diet pills, I suppose.

My main concern is "high in carbs." Any sage advice?

Posted 3/18/2013 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
sage advice HERE.....quit worrying about the freaking carbs...your body needs them, and your brain will continue to function. You know all those body builders?? the only way they look so good is a high intake of carbs before working out...it's what the body will burn instead of it consuming itself.

Making a commitment and believing in it shouldn't have you micromanaging the one part that you need.

sheesh...you don't care about the slower possible lazy colon but you worry about the carbs...rant over...


Keep us posted.
q
Posted 3/18/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
ya L, i agree with Heather - quit stressing - you're taking all the fun out of it - just jump in and go with it -
Posted 3/18/2013 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Calm down Quincy! I'm not low carb Zealot. Just a few months ago I was downing two Ensure a day. You're right though, I think I might try that to start with the body building formula, maybe next week if I get everything ordered.

I don't like to 'commit' to things or 'believe' in things. People commit to a course of action when there are two possible choices and they don't know which is right and people 'believe' they'll win the lottery all day long. I like data and evidence. I guess I'm just going to have to step out on a limb with this though... OK thanks soystud and quincy guess I'll just jump in and try it.

I've sent it to a lifelong friend who is a pharamacist and will look into it tonight and she is interested in helping with the first formula. Her father was a brillant chemist but was killed by a drunk driver a few years ago. I've no doubt he would have loved helping with this and we'd have it figured out in a few weeks :(
Posted 3/18/2013 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I learned something else from this thread-Quincy thinks bodybuilders are HOTT!

hahaha

Posted 3/18/2013 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Then the words "high in carbs" shouldn't even come to your mind.

we're rooting for you....in support. not that I'd do it, but I do get why the high carbs.

q
Posted 3/18/2013 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
I do think a consistent diet would be useful in evaluating what else is going on.

I get bored on scope prep low residue diets though. :)
Posted 3/19/2013 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
When I read this post, that was the first thing I thought of....Soylent Green lol
Posted 4/1/2013 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Here's an update on this along with two questions:

Short version: I hate this disease.

Long version: So I decided to start out with just some protein shakes or muscle builders in between meals to try to get my weight back on that I had lost when I stopped Ensure (158-146 pounds). I ordered a body builder supplement called Mutant Mass. It was taking so long to get here, so when I was in Raleigh last week I purchased a supplement called MET-Rx Protein Plus and also some hemp protein powder. I tool a little of the whey powder Thursday. Friday morning I used the bathroom twice before lunch and that was it for the day, but I haven't been twice before lunch since I achieved my DMSO remission. So this was unusual.

Friday I took a 200 calorie serving of the whey and two servings of the hemp (I believe the hemp has ~60 percent DV of fiber over two servings. Saturday started normal, BM in morning and another at 4:00 PM. Went out to eat that night and then went again about 9PM. Even though it was the first time in 35 days I've had more than one or two BMs, everything came out normal and perfect, not even any poop on the TP to wipe any of the three times. Could the large amount of fiber in the hemp protein be responsible for the increased frequency?

I thought maybe, so Sunday I did one serving of the whey and a morning and evening serving of the Mutant Mass and none of the hemp. (I also took Mutant Mass when I got home from supper Saturday.) I've noticed my stools were softer both last night and this morning and I'm worried it's from the Mutant Mass. The two servings I took yesterday have 530 calories, 4 grams or 18% DV of fiber, and 19 grams of sugar. Could it be that I took away too much fiber (took 730 calories of supplements with only 4 grams of fiber) and this caused the softer stool?

 I was hoping this could be a way to get me back to 155-160 lb weight but if it's already causing such noticeable changes after only a few days I'm not so sure I should continue.

Posted 6/3/2013 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well...I just donated to the Soylent Kickstarter (not actually Kickstarter they don't accept those type projects.) Anyway my reward is a one month supply of Soylent. They should be ready to ship in August.

He wanted to raise $100,000, which he did in two hours. It's up to $430,000 now.

I won't stop eating food entirely as I mentioned before. I will use it some so I don't "have" to cook all the time. Being on a special diet makes it especially stressful to know something has to be prepared before you can eat.


I've also gained a dozen pounds, up to 160, while taking the Mutant Mass. I've been lifting some weights, and while I've always had large leg muscles from jogging and stuff, never had anything but small arms with a little bit of muscle. That's changing now, slowly but surely.  wink   

 

Post Edited (Levi) : 6/3/2013 4:00:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/4/2013 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I've never been a big fan of eating, except in social situations. Then it’s entertainment rather than nutrition.

Today my normal breakfast consists of a bottle of Glucerna (like Ensure but lower in carbs), a scone, a few swallows of kefir, and a can of iced cappuccino. Then I eat lunch out so it’s whatever looks good on the menu. And in the evening, I'm as likely as not to just have a low carb granola bar and a cup of 2%.

I could happily go on a soylent diet!
Posted 6/4/2013 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Now i'm not poo-poohing this... lol

I suspect there may be some potential in this. But when they say 'bowel rest' is that actually more a case of starving out the bad bacteria/pathogens?
Posted 6/5/2013 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Jimbo, I wouldn't use it as a method of starving out the bad bacteria-because I'd still be getting the exact same nutrients. I would take it to mean that it would allow the gut time to heal because there isn't as much physical interaction between the waste from the food and the walls of the intestines. For example, the first month this guy tried this he didn't eat at all-and he didn't poop. A lot of people with Crohn's are trying this, or at least posted on the blog that they were, and stated that foods aggravated their intestines.

I just want it to supplement my ordinary diet for two reasons. One, I typically eat a LOT during the day. The more I have to eat to get full, the less healthy my overall food choices are. If I'm trying to gain weight I'm not eating five plates of fruits vegetables and lean meats. I am adding peanut butter, a lot of carbs, too much dark chocolate etc. This could help with that.

Secondly, simply as a time and money saver. I donated $230 to the Crowdfunding and got one month worth of Soylent. That's not bad considering that's not the price of the month supply, a lot of that is going to the fundraising costs so they can mass produce the stuff. And last night I was really wishing I already had some. I feel like death warmed over this week, if you Kiwis have that expression :) due to ANOTHER sinus infection (thanks 6mp). I got home from work at 6:30 last night and cooked till 8:30, got out of the kitchen at 10:00. If I had that Soylent and I had proven it out, I would have spent five minutes consuming it at 6:30, taken a shower, and called it a night. Much better...
Posted 6/5/2013 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'm all for going on liquid diets to aid during really rough periods with my disease, but I mine as well be dead if I were to stop eating food all together...it sickens me how much this fricken disease takes away everything from us, even basic things we need for human survival...how depressing.
Posted 6/5/2013 10:12 AM (GMT 0)
My 21 year old son feels the same way about eating. He does it because he has to. He drinks water and apple or orange juice only, eats very few sweets and one healthy meal daily. Zero body fat and very healthy. Ask him what he would like for a meal and all you get is "the look".
Posted 6/15/2015 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
I've done fully liquid before, although not this particular diet, and found that it didn't help beyond reducing the amount of times I was running to the restroom. I felt significantly weaker.

I ended up adding FODMAP-friendly solids during weekends, when I kinda of had the time to weather a terrible reaction. It wasn't ideal, but I understand the impulse to avoid cooking or intense food prep when you know that everything you're going to put in your mouth will ultimately make you sick.
I consulted a nutritionist throughout the process, which I would recommend. Also, if you can ask your doc to order some blood work first, that can help you make decisions about your diet. I was B12 and iron deficient due to malabsorption, for example, and ended up having to use injections to get the vitamins I needed.
Posted 6/15/2015 2:34 PM (GMT 0)

L Rachel said...
I've done fully liquid before, although not this particular diet, and found that it didn't help beyond reducing the amount of times I was running to the restroom. I felt significantly weaker.

This is exactly my experience without consuming food. In my opinion, it's definitely worth it for the reduction in trips to the toilet. Also in my case, I have a good 10 or 15 pounds to lose to it's nice to make a dent in that. The problem is that you can't do this forever and that the UC symptoms don't really improve aside from going less often (which is hugely beneficial for me). I think if I ate normal while flaring I would be house-bound.
Posted 6/15/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Tread with caution when doing liquid diets, when your intestines are not getting actual solid foods that can wreak havoc on the how the muscles work, you can become constipated by not eating enough solid foods regularly each day (dietitian smartened me up about that) there's a lot that gets put at risk when doing just a liquid diet, especially if done too frequently...it definitely adds to the feeling of exhaustion too, really a catch 22 as with most things when you have IBD.
Posted 6/15/2015 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
This drink was created by the same guy who nuked his gut bacteria to stop defecating in order to save the planet, or something.

Feces are almost entirely deceased gut bacteria and water. I massacred my gut bacteria the day before by consuming a DIY Soylent version with no fiber and taking 500mg of Rifaximin, an antibiotic with poor bioavailability, meaning it stays in your gut and kills bacteria. Soylent’s microbiome consultant advised that this is a terrible idea so I do not recommend it. However, it worked. Throughout the challenge I did not defecate.

I wouldn't buy a cup of coffee from him, personally speaking. But each to their own.
Posted 6/15/2015 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the last few posts. This is not really the solution. It kind of reminds me of my ex-wife who was having some kidney issues once with an outside possibility of having to have one of them taken out. She was quite a bit overweight and was actually hoping that they would have to take out a kidney and then she would weight less.
Posted 6/15/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
I agree with the last two posts. This is not really the solution. It kind of reminds me of my ex-wife who was having some kidney issues once with an outside possibility of having to have one of them taken out. She was quite a bit overweight and was actually hoping that they would have to take out a kidney and then she would weight less.

She'd have lost a whopping 0.2-0.3lb, or a quarter of a pound on average. She'd have become a positive sylph afterwards: well worth losing a kidney for... rolleyes

www.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_a_kidney_weigh_in_pounds

If anyone is interested, apparently an empty colon only weighs a pound. So don't go having a colectomy to lose weight, folks... :p

www.answerbag.com/q_view/2093363
Posted 6/15/2015 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well, if people just stopped eating so much, losing weight isn't that difficult. I could definitely lose a few pounds very quickly just by managing food intake. I guess when you crap constantly it's a lot easier to eat less. If constant craps weren't at risk, i probably wouldn't have very good luck with lowering my food intake. It's crazy what it takes to get someone to eat less. :)

i am definitely not saying this is healthy or a good idea but there is a definite correlation between how much you eat and how much you poop, this is common knowledge. It's not going to make you better but it has made it possible for me to get to a desk job many times over the years. obviously it's no way to live long-term and if that's what you're doing, you need to try different medication.
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