Specifc Carbohydrate Diet and initial setbacks?

I've been on the SCD for 6 days. I had been having 2-4 loose BMs per day with bright red blood the TP or on the last bit of stool each time. After two days, I had formed, solid BMs, with little blood, for the first time in 6 months. The formed stool continued until this afternoon. I had 2 formed BMs in the morning (typical for me) and then a loose BM with blood on the TP and the last bit of stool. My wife says its probably my hemorrhoids causing the blood. I've had them for a while. GI doctor wants to do colonoscopy if the blood does not go away by next week.

I was wondering if anyone on the diet has seen setbacks at the beginning? I know Elaine G. says to give it one month, but after such a great start, I'm now concerned the diet may not be for me. Am I worrying too much? Any suggestions?
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-UC since April 2006
-Flare May 2007, 28 days in hospital, (pancolitis DX June 2007)
-Remicade, June 2007, brought symptoms under control, but second infusion delayed because of MRSA infection in hospital
-Severe reaction during second Remicade infusion
-Asacol October 2007, but GI stopped due to reaction (increased D and frequency)
-prednisone since May 2007, started at 60mg/day.
-tapering now, 20mg for last 3 weeks, (will go to 17.5mg next week, if blood is gone)
-digestive advantage for CD&UC, 1 tablet per day

From what I know of the SCD, I think it is similar to an antifungal program/diet I went on. If so, you may be experiencing what is known as "Herxheimer's response". It is an initial die-off of fungus/yeast that may have been contributing to your symptoms. You will feel worse before you feel better. Everyone is different as to when the "die-off" kicks in, and what you may experience. For me it was day 2-5. I felt terrible....flu-like symptoms, major D, lethargy, achiness, etc. You may, or may not be experiencing this. I guess the only way to tell is to see if your symptoms improve in the next week or so. I would not give up on the diet. It may take a long time before you can tell if it will help you, or not. It is not a quick fix. It took you a long time to get sick. Can't expect miracles overnight, unfortunately. Even 4 weeks is not enough time. Do you have any symptoms beside the D and bleeding? And, have you thought of taking natural antifungals while trying this diet, or having your doctor prescribe Nystatin to quicken your results, in case it is a fungal condition you have? Good luck. I really hope this will be something that works for you!

thanks for all the support and information. I am going to continue the diet for at least another 3 weeks and than re-evaluate. Today has been slightly better. 3 BMs. first was loose with blood on TP, second was soft and formed with blood on TP, third was soft and formed with no blood. I'm crossing my fingers that the change in BMs is my body's reaction to getting rid of the toxins, yeast, etc. We'll see.

I also went back and reviewed my daily food journal. The loose BMs started the day after I introduced baked apples and two days after adding ripe bananas to my diet. It was not a gradual process like discussed in BTVC. I stopped the bananas and apples yesterday and will gradually add one back in later this week Also, I was drinking a lot of grape juice, not always cut with water. Too much juice has had a laxative effect on me before.

My main concern is keeping my weight steady and/or increasing. I'm tracking my calorie intake now. I'm sure my intake was much less than before SCD.

Hoping to avoid another colonoscopy. Will be talking to my GI this week.

thanks again everyone. I'll keep you posted.
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-39 male, UC since April 2006
-Flare May 2007, 28 days in hospital, (pancolitis DX June 2007)
-Remicade, June 2007, brought symptoms under control, but second infusion delayed because of MRSA infection in hospital
-Severe reaction during second Remicade infusion
-Asacol October 2007, but GI stopped due to reaction (increased D and frequency)
-prednisone since May 2007, started at 60mg/day.
-tapering now, 20mg for last 3 weeks, (will go to 17.5mg next week, if blood is gone)
-digestive advantage for CD&UC, 1 tablet per day

In my experience, treating UC with dietary manipulation and/or other natural, non-pharmaceutical approaches can be extremely beneficial, but it is NOT a quick-turn around process. IMHO, there's no way you can know definitively whether or not the SCD will work for you after only six days. It's going to take time for your gut to heal.

The blood you describe does sound like hemorrhoids, but a flex sig would tell for sure.

The other thing with the SCD and other dietary approaches is there is a lot of individual variation for what is helpful and well-tolerated in different folks who all have the same UC (or Crohn's) tag stuck on them. Unfortunately, there's not really anything you can do but experiment and keep a detailed food journal to track your own responses to different foods.

I got discouraged by my lack initial lack of response to the SCD, but I learned over time that the wonderful homemade yogurt that's supposed to be so beneficial and is very helpful for a lot of people just didn't work for me... not with cow's milk and not with goat's milk. I switched to a powdered, non-dairy probiotic to rebuild my helpful gut bacteria. Some folks just can't do dairy, regardless. It may be a lactose or a casein thing.

A lot of folks get tripped up by the nut flour, too. The baked goodies are so tasty and really help when you're craving the cakes and cookies you used to eat before the diet. However, too much of the nut flour too early on, when you're not totally healed can be problematic. Same thing with eating whole nuts, beans and raw fruits and veggies.

I would suggest you try to establish what for you is a subset of SCD foods that you know to be good for you. In my experience, these include tender white meat of chicken and turkey, scrambled eggs and omlettes (if you don't have an egg allergy), organic, canned, soft-cooked veggies like peas, carrots and green beans, canned or baked fruits with skins removed (apples and pears), very ripe bananas, nut butters, avacado and healthy oils - (Udo's, fish, flax and olive). I'd give that very safe diet a couple of weeks to a month, then start branching out and experimenting with other SCD foods.

It sounds like you are on the right track with your adjustments. I did well on the SCD and the vit e enemas (for the first few weeks only to speed things along, no other meds) for a year and a half. I ate some illegal stuff b/c I'd been well for so long, and I think it threw me into a flare a month later. I'll never know, and I couldn't get back on track. I suggest you be 100% dilligent for as long as possible. It's WONDERFUL when it works.
I will also suggest "Grain-free Gourmet" and "Eat Well, Feel Well"...both EXCELLENT books on SCD recipes available at B&N or Amazon. They saved my life when I started it.