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.

Be sure to read:
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Laura's IBS log
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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.

Cooking, Round 2: Escabeche Oriental, from A Cook's Tour Of Mexico.
mhs@15:32

A good start, optimistic news from Europe:
The management of irritable bowel syndrome: a European, primary and secondary care collaboration

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001 August;13(8):933-939

Objective: To develop recommendations for the diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome for European doctors delivering primary care. These recommendations can be adapted by local medical groups according to their language, custom and health-care systems.

Methods: Twenty-one general practitioners and gastroenterologists from Europe attended a workshop planned by a steering committee. After a state-of-the-art symposium, four working groups considered the following aspects of irritable bowel syndrome management: what to tell the patient, diagnosis, non-medical treatment and psychosocial management. Current and future drug management was reviewed by the steering committee. The resulting recommendations were considered at two plenary sessions during the meeting, and by circulation of the material during development of the manuscript.

Results: The process permitted a unique dialogue between general practitioners and gastroenterologists, in which it was necessary to reconcile the specialists’ emphasis on thoroughness with the practical, epidemiological and economic realities of primary care. Despite this dichotomy, consensus was achieved.

Conclusions: European general practitioners and gastroenterologists have produced recommendations that emphasize education of the patient, a positive symptom-based diagnosis, diet and lifestyle advice, psychological support and a critical analysis of current specific psychological and pharmacological treatments.
mhs@13:38

Lunch: tossed salad, leftover turkey burgers. The entire house smells of wonderful chicken soup!
mhs@13:32

Breakfast: Fun in the kitchen! I'm making a pot of chicken soup, complete with free range chicken, onions, carrots, parsley, celery, and a little salt and pepper. The whole house smells delicious! I can't wait.... Meanwhile, grazing away on cheese, nuts, an apple, a banana....

Dinner, yesterday: grilled chicken sausages from Wild Oats, tossed salad, a glass of cream sherry.
mhs@09:03

Friday, September 28, 2001

Lunch: tossed salad, leftover grilled salmon.

WebDemo sales are up! :-)
mhs@13:41

Breakfast: a delicious, organic Arizona gala apple, dry curd with mezquite honey.
mhs@06:19

Thursday, September 27, 2001

Dinner: grilled salmon (half with butter and pepper, the other half with black bean and garlic sauce), tossed salad.

Lunch: tossed salad, leftover turkey burgers, a banana, nuts and raisins.
mhs@20:12

Breakfast: an apple, some dccc with honey, Havarti cheese, pecans.
mhs@06:15

Wednesday, September 26, 2001

Dinner: tossed salad with a mustard vinaigrette, grilled turkey burgers, havarti cheese.

Lunch: chicken cacciatore, fruit, cheese.
mhs@19:51

Breakfast: an apple, a banana, and a carrot-walnut muffin. Good morning, Kay! ;-)
mhs@06:12

Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Dinner, before and after yoga: a melange of things from the refrigerator: cheese, sliced veggies with organic peanut butter, fruit juice, raisins, pecans.
mhs@21:01

Lunch: Laura's delicious homemade chicken soup, havarti cheese, carrot-walnut muffin.
mhs@13:36

Breakfast: an apple, a banana. I'll be taking some homemade chicken soup to work for lunch..it works wonders in so many ways!
mhs@06:34

My wife Laura and I are working on a book about our experiences with IBS and IBD (respectively). As part of the research for our upcoming book, (working title: A Tale Of Two Tummies) I am interested in hearing specifically how stress affects others with IBD and IBS, and what people do about it. I’ll share a few short paragraphs of personal experience here before posing my questions to this group. I’m hoping by sharing our experiences we can help each other grow, learn, and heal. Your responses will not be used without your permission. :-)

In my own case, I have enjoyed remission in my Crohn’s disease for quite awhile (5 years this coming January). I attribute my success to a reduction in stress, a change in diet, a positive attitude, and a supportive environment of family, friends, and general surroundings (this is in a stark contrast to the hectic life I followed when I lived on the East Coast six-plus years ago).

Recently, I have been aware of some increased symptoms in my CD. As much as a month ago I noticed a little tightening in the area of the ileum. I did not experience any pain, but from time to time I was aware of the transit of digested material in that area. More recently I have awoken in the middle of the night with cramping in that same area, and further along (in what is probably the transverse colon). While I don’t have any blood or increased diarrhea at this time, I am aware that personal and world events of the past few months and weeks, combined with my reaction to these events, plays a role in my increased symptoms.

My solution will be to first, recognize that things have changed. For me, awareness and recognition are the foundation from which I can regain my health. Secondly, I will re-assess my personal outlook and attitude, and find ways to ensure it is positive (especially relating to my intestinal health), as negativity breeds and festers (both inside and outside). Thirdly, I have already modified my diet to remove foods I find to be irritating. This includes not eating known irritants which only satisfy short-term eating whims and other no-no foods eaten among my new co-workers, which I have done on more than one occasion in the past few weeks. Finally, I am finding ways to reduce stress by talking about my feelings so that the negativity can go away, and making sure I get lots of exercise and a few minutes of yoga each day (I find that even a few sun salutations can free my mind quite nicely!). That is basically my ‘recipe’.

Again, I’m interested in hearing from each of you! Without getting into the details, I’m interested in your answers to the following questions:

Have recent events affected your intestinal health in any way? If so, how? What steps are you taking to deal with the situation?

If recent events have not affected your intestinal health, why do you think so? What would you be doing differently if they had affected you?

Post replies here, or email me directly via: mike @ glassbird dot com.
mhs@06:33

Monday, September 24, 2001

Dinner: tossed salad, leftover guacamole and grilled chicken.
mhs@20:23

Lunch: Ah, the perfect way to feel better--some of Laura's home made chicken soup! Mmmmmmm!
mhs@12:43

Breakfast: an apple, some dry curd with honey. I ate too much last night, or too late...it was a tough night for sleeping as my lower gut was quite bloated.
mhs@06:04

Sunday, September 23, 2001

Dinner, with Lucy Ann and Geoffrey: Laura's guacamole with crudite, herbal peppermint iced tea, grilled chicken breasts Moroccan style, grilled eggplant, string beans with garlic. Dessert: carrot-walnut muffins, organic strawberries and cantaloupe.
mhs@21:12

Lunch: tossed salad, leftover grilled eggplant and swordfish (from dinner last night).
mhs@12:53

Breakfast: an apple, a banana, some pecans, havarti cheese...I'll be grazing all day!
mhs@07:51

mhs@07:43

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