A Regimen for Remission
This log tracks my regimen of attitude, exercise, stress management, and SCD foods. Since I started this regimen in 1997, I've been able to keep my Crohn's in a drug-free remission.

Monkey-see,
monkey-don't
Even though I may have experimented beyond the SCD from time to time, one must remember that everyone is different. Follow the intro diet for 3-5 days, and stick with the SCD until you are completely symptom free for at least one year before experimenting.

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Permalinks:
The linked timestamps are your permanent links to individual log entries.

Get the book:
Ready to get your shit together? Got the intestinal fortitude? Yearning for a nirvana of peristalsis? Buy Breaking The Vicious Cycle! Written by Elaine Gottschall B.A., M.Sc., the book includes guidelines for dietary relief and sustainable remission of Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis, and other IBDs.

Feel free to contact me if you still have questions.

To a parent who had posed a question on the SCD listserve regarding the diet, teens, and success rates:

I saw your post, as well as Elaine's post, regarding your child. I was 16 when I was diagnosed with Crohn's. I took drugs, on and off, for almost 15 years. While I never had any bleeding during that time, I had considerable pain and D throughout that period.

I finally started the SCD on 1/1/97. I was taking Asacol at that time, and in a position of "drug-based stability"-- 4-10 trips to the BR each day, but little or no pain. So, even under the drugs, I was never as healthy as I am now. (As you will see in my testimonial on scdiet.org, I'm doing great now.)

The delicate consideration I want to raise is what I refer to as "attitude". In my own case I personally had to mature and ask myself why I was letting Crohn's "stay around". It sounded arrogant when the question was first posed to me--after all, all M.D.'s "know" that CD is uncurable! Nevertheless, I started to realize how wonderful life would be without it, and especially if it could be put into a natural, sustainable, controlled remission. And so I started the diet, opened my mind to ways of reducing stress, sought exercise, etc.

I'd recommend reading some of the testimonials on scdiet.org for ideas on how to support the diet. You may also find the 'critical success factors' page to be of assistance. My personal belief is that healing happens in its own time, under the right conditions. And my personal belief is that neither drugs nor scd will work if the timing is "wrong", people stress themselves out about it, etc. I wish my folks had known about the SCD many years ago! I would have loved to lovingly help prepare the foods that were so healthy! Your child is a lucky kid to have you caring for him/her and exploring the many alternatives to healing. I think involvement in self-healing is quite beneficial. Perhaps your child has an email address and would also like to join the list to ask his/her own questions? Perhaps s/he is interested in reading BTVC (if s/he hasn't already) so s/he starts to understand "the hows and the whys".

---

And the wonderful reply:

Thank you for the letter. I was moved that you wrote to me personally with so much good will and care. I'm going to show it to my son, and suggest him to start writing. You are so right! I can help, but it is his decision if he is going to let to be cured.

So far I was trying to protect him, to do all the research for him, but he needs to be involved more. I was afraid that he would reject the natural approach, but I can tell that he is getting more and more mature (thank you for finding the right word), regarding his illness. I read your testimony about critical factors, and I'm agree[ment] with every single word. ... Oh, I have a new dream since I've read your letter today. I wish him to have your luck finding a wife.
mhs@21:23

Dinner: leftover roasted chicken and veggies, stir-fried stringbeans and garlic (while watching the ABC special on The Beatles).

Speaking of the UK, here's a holiday recipe from the SCD listserve:

CHRISTMAS PUDDING

8OZ SULTANAS WHOLE
8OZ SULTANAS MINCED
8OZ RAISINS MINCED
3OZ RAISINS WHOLE
16 DRIED PRUNES (SOAK FOR TWO DAYS THEN STONE &MINCE)
4OZ FINELY CHOPPED WALNUTS/ALMONDS
8OZ JUICE FROM SOAKING PRUNES
JUICE OF LARGE ORANGE
GRATED RIND OF ORANGE
8OZ GROUND ALMONDS OR FRESHLY GROUND HAZELNUTS (FILBERTS)
4OZ WHISKEY
2 EGG YOLKS WELL BEATEN
1 TSP MIXED SPICE (REMEMBER TO BUY THE SPICES SEPARATELY TO MAKE UP A MIXED SPICE)

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER.
GREASE 2 I/4 PINT MIXING BOWL
COVER WITH BUTTERED GREASEPROOF PAPER AND STEAM FOR ONE HOUR.
IT WILL FREEZE SATISFACTORILY FOR 6 WEEKS. ALLOW TO THAW OUT GRADUALLY AND STEAM FOR 45 MINUTES, OR MICROWAVE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS.
(BY JOANN)
mhs@21:13

Lunch: turkey sausage, sauteed kale. Afterwards, a brisk walk around the neighborhood. We got even got to hear some hummingbird airbrakes!
mhs@13:27

Breakfast: fruit, dccc.

I got a wonderful thank-you note from a woman in Florida who has found the SCD for her son. Here's a "you're welcome" right back!
mhs@09:52

Thursday, November 16, 2000

Dinner: another delicious roasted free-range chicken with carrots, onions, and celery!!! My wife is soooo wonderful! :-)
Lunch: tossed salad, leftover chicken cacciatore.
mhs@20:31

Breakfast: fruit, dried figs.
mhs@08:02

Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Dinner: grilled salmon, sauteed string beans with garlic, and some roasted beets.
Lunch: tossed salad, spinach quiche.
mhs@21:19

Breakfast: fruit, dccc.
mhs@07:15

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Dinner: leftover turkey burgers, cauliflower "mashed potatoes".
mhs@21:19

Lunch: leftover turkey burgers, tossed salad with flax seeds.
mhs@13:04

Breakfast: fruit.

Dinner, yesterday: grilled turkey burgers, collard greens sauteed with onions, and oven roasted beets with rosemary.
Lunch: leftover quickie chicken from yesterday.
mhs@08:54

Monday, November 13, 2000

Breakfast: fruit!

Dinner, yesterday: steamed artichokes and butter, cauliflower "mashed potatoes", and a quickie chicken fricassee/cacciatore type dish that I whipped together in about 20 minutes. Two big breasts of chicken (bone and skin included) chopped into 3 chunks each, chopped garlic, fresh ground pepper, chopped scallions, chopped celery, chopped carrots, two sliced Italian brown mushrooms, 3/4 cup Pomi tomato puree, a handful of chopped parsley, dash of dried oregano. In a skillet with hot olive oil, add the chicken pieces and brown the skin so it gets crispy. [Adding salt beforehand will add more depth and flavor to the dish] Toss in the mushroons and garlic, lower heat, keep stirring for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the veggies and herbs, cook for 5 minutes, then add the tomato puree. Lower heat to a simmer, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool somewhat and serve.

I didn't really have lunch yesterday because Laura and I went for a hike on the King Canyon in the Tucson Mountains. It was a lovely fall day, the air was cool and the sky was cloudless. It was wonderful to be outdoors on the trail again! I grazed on carrots, celery, raisin and nut mix, and some sulfur-free pineapple rings from Trader Joe's.
mhs@08:22

Sunday, November 12, 2000

Research indicates that "colon reflorestation" can cure chronic diarrhea. Here's the scoop from an article in the Nov. 2000 issue of The Americal Journal of Gastroenterology.
mhs@09:35

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