Specific Carbohydrate Diet (IBS / Crohn's)

[jennipurrr]

For years I have had "tummy problems"...basically my whole Dad's side of the family has these issues and its a running joke that my Mom is left at the table alone after a meal as we've all run to the bathroom. It has never impeded my life...just have to make sure I know where the bathroom is after a meal. It is not all the time, but more often than not. In addition I seem to get bouts of what I thought were food poisoning or a 24 stomach bug more often than most people.

Earlier this week I was hospitalized with the worst pain I have ever felt. It was stabbing pain in my abdomen that would not go away. From the first test they were worried I had a blockage. After some rounds of morphine, a CT scan, xray, etc...they told me I just have inflammation of the small intestine and thickening. I am now home, on soft, bland food and recovering pretty well.

So now I am going to a GI doc next week to follow up and see how the inflammation is and also do test for Crohn's. I have a friend with Crohn's and she has gone through some major stuff, surgery, horrible meds, etc. So, I am worried about that diagnosis, and the Dr. said with my symptoms, what I thought was IBS, could very well be Crohn's.

Online I read about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and was extremely intrigued. I know that my mind and body feel better when I eat less carbs. Its something I have been saying for years and not quite following up with, expect sporadically. Has anyone used this diet? Do you strict to it religiously? I feel like if I knew it would prevent another attack like that I could buckle down and do it, but of course there hasn't been a lot of research in it since there is no gain for drug companies. I have a distant relative with severe Crohn's who is on $10,000 meds/month! I cannot imagine.

My plan is to talk to the GI doc, start with eliminating refined sugars as that is easy to cut out and go from there. Any experiences are appreciated!

[JaneV2.0]

I've heard nothing but good things about this approach, and I've read a lot of anecdotal reports of digestive complaints resolving when people embark on a range of low-carbohydrate plans. Call me a cynic, but I have a feeling gastro doc's first line of defense will be pharmaceutical. Don't be distracted. And good luck!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well Chrons is correlated with celiac. I would seem reasonable to me to get tested for celiac (at least the less invasive tests) if you've never been (both because celiac is correlated with Chrons and because you symptoms could just be celiac alone?). And that would definitely be a carbohydrate link (wheat - gluten - symptoms).

[Rosemary]

I tried the SCD to see if it would help my digestive issues (which are nowhere near as severe as yours). I stayed on it for about 2 weeks, which is probably the minimum time that any dietary change should be attempted. I can say that my digestion was good that week, but I still had reflux - so it was not the fix I was seeking. I can also say that it was a very difficult diet for me to stick to, but if I had pain like you've described I'm sure that would be strong motivation.

[JaneV2.0]

One of the chapters in Allen and Lutz's Life Without Bread addresses IBS and Crohn's disease. Dr. Lutz treated thousands of patients with diet; it's worth a read.

[Dhiana]

In doing some basic research on digestive issues for a friend one of the tests needed the patient on their regular diet because if they started the elimination diet and the inflammation went away the test would show they did NOT have condition when in fact they did. They had already been taking the 'cure' with the GF diet.

I do agree with the other posters, see the Doc, but also realize that you may have the greatest power to heal yourself through your food choices.

[fidgiegirl]

Beware the GI doc!!!! I was on the verge of a Crohn's diagnosis as well, I think she was pretty convinced - but then it wasn't and I got the catch-all "IBS" diagnosis. Fast forward a few years to seeing my integrative MD and all my issues have cleared up with a gluten free diet. I know it isn't the answer to everyone's problems and I don't know anything about the SCD but I am a believer after this experience and would encourage anyone to exhaust all dietary options before going on the Crohn's meds - my understanding is they are basically chemo drugs. Not good. It doesn't seem like you'd need to go there yet, especially if this is your first major GI issue aside from "tummy problems," which lead me to believe that your prior issues were inconveniencing, but not particularly painful or disruptive to normal life.

When I had the incorrect diagnosis of IBS, I got a hold of this book, something like "The IBS Diet," which encouraged individuals to always be eating soluble fiber, mostly in the form of breads and pastas, at all times. The logic behind it seemed right, keep the colon full of this stuff so it always has something to be working through - for someone who actually DID have IBS, not someone like me whose doc just couldn't figure it out so slapped a generic label on my maladies. Eating like that was the worst thing, I just didn't know it at the time!!

And though I don't have Celiac, I am religious about avoiding gluten. I KNOW I've been glutenized a few times. It's not the worst, just makes a lot of gas. So I know I could maaaaaybe have it once in a while, but my mind doesn't work like that. I'm not good at "once in a while." I'd be having it every day, and then I wouldn't be gluten free anymore, and I'd be sick. So I'm religious about it, and feeling great - ALL my GI stuff is gone. STAY STRONG!!!!!! I am so sorry this is happening to you. It just sucks.

[Kestra]

My story is similar to yours (OP) and result same as fidgiegirl's. I also was in the hospital for severe lower abdominal pain, IV, morphine etc. Had a CT-scan, biopsies for Celiac etc. Doctors said IBS, anxiety, or nothing depending on who I spoke to.
I went gluten free on my own advice and it's helped immensely. Now if I eat a trace amount I notice it - chest pain, bloating. Things like salad dressing, non-gluten free soy sauce etc are the worst for having trace gluten without it being obvious on the label. Most of my symptoms included GI stuff, chest pain, reflux, shortness of breath, chronic sore throat have all cleared up.

Someone mentioned, which is important, that if you are getting tested for Celiac you need to be still eating gluten for the results to be accurate. Hopefully they'll tell you that, but I don't trust them.

[Rosemary]

Kestra - I have also noticed a connection to gas-caused chest pain and wheat (can't say that I've noticed it with other gluten-containing grains but when I eat those it's in smaller quantities, plus I think that both barley and rye have significantly less gluten than wheat). It took me years to realize that this particular pain was caused by gas (years of stress, since chest pain is concerning!). And it wasn't until I did an allergy elim a couple years ago that I realized it was particular foods that caused this pain - because it vanished during that time. Since then I've learned that wheat is a major cause of it. (Side note: I've had the blood test for the gliaden sensitivity, and it was negative... but seems like a lot of people have a negative blood test but other sensitivities to wheat and/or gluten.) Interesting that your reflux and chronic sore throat cleared up as well, because that's what I struggle with. Did you make any changes other than eliminating gluten?

[Kestra]

Kestra - I have also noticed a connection to gas-caused chest pain and wheat (can't say that I've noticed it with other gluten-containing grains but when I eat those it's in smaller quantities, plus I think that both barley and rye have significantly less gluten than wheat). It took me years to realize that this particular pain was caused by gas (years of stress, since chest pain is concerning!). And it wasn't until I did an allergy elim a couple years ago that I realized it was particular foods that caused this pain - because it vanished during that time. Since then I've learned that wheat is a major cause of it. (Side note: I've had the blood test for the gliaden sensitivity, and it was negative... but seems like a lot of people have a negative blood test but other sensitivities to wheat and/or gluten.) Interesting that your reflux and chronic sore throat cleared up as well, because that's what I struggle with. Did you make any changes other than eliminating gluten?

Well, I've always been vegetarian, so no meat ever. When I went gluten free I started eating eggs more often. I still have some dairy and soy as well, though neither in huge quantities. Also still have caffeine and sugar. So yeah, it seems gluten is my main trigger and I haven't completely given up anything else.

[rosarugosa]

Just to toss out another perspective, I've had IBS (self-diagnosed) for over 25 years, and foods like white bread and white rice are my tummy's best friends. Most fruits are OK, but I've really had to pick my way around the vegetable kingdom to identify some friends among the foes. I'm not saying that white bread is healthiest of foods, but my personal experience is that it has palliative benefits for me.

[jennipurrr]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and resources. I am feeling much better today...slowly getting almost back to normal. I tried to jog bc the dr said today exercise should be fine, but it felt like my stomach area was painfully flopping around inside me :/ I also talked to my friend with Crohn's who agreed I need to be eating my current diet when they do tests. I am working on up a sheet of questions to ask the doctor so I feel like I will go in informed.

Part of me things this may be a one time thing, but the dr. spoke like it is not, that I have been doing damage probably when I think I have food poisoning. I do NOT want to be on crohns medications, and am willing change my diet completely if that will stop the damage to my intestine. We will see how it goes...the first meeting is just the consultation. Definitely want to be prepared!!!

[Suzanne]

I've found that my IBS vanishes when I'm eating low starch, low sugar, lots of leafy greens and live culture, plain, whole milk yogurt. I do better with sweet potato than with potato or banana, probably because sweet potato is low glycaemic index and has way more fibre. I also do better when gluten-free or as close to it as I can manage; actually, I usually do better when my grain intake drops - starch? Not all starches are created equal, though, so some experimentation is in order. Lately I'm having trouble with coffee, but I think that's because my stress level is currently so high that it doesn't take much to hit tipping point.