I am taking the full spectrum of probiotics, am on the elemental diet, take George,s aloe vera, and UDOs oils. They finally put me on predinsone last night at the hospital, and it was the first night I didn't crap myself all night long. ANy suggestions.

Hi, mishla.

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time - I remember what that was like.

How long have you been on the elemental diet? And you are having nothing but shakes, clear broth, clear fruit juice, etc., right?

That will help me answer your question better.

I'll wait to hear from you.

Nicole

I was on the elemtal diet for one week until two days ago when I stopped that altogether and drank only water. Until then it was only shakes, water, probiotics, and Georges aloe, and Udos oil. I have been on high dose steroids and salofalk for three days and I am finally starting to see a hinkering of improvement. I gave in-I couldn't take it anymore. Now what? You should know I was having synptoms for 4-5 weeks when it suddenly got worse 4 days before the hospitalziation-My electrolytes were completely out of whack-even drinking 4 shakes a day at 109 lb and 5 foot 8. Michelle

I am severely allergic to dairy products! The shakes-are the dairy by products by chance?! Michelle

Hi, Michelle.

Yes, you're right, the shakes are dairy-based. The protein source is whey isolate, which for most people is easily digestable (more than 99% of the lactose and all of the casein is removed) and highly absorbable, but if you have a severe allergy to dairy, then yes, that could very well be your culprit.

From what you've described, it sounds like you have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, as opposed to IBS. I'm glad to hear you're starting to feel better with the meds!

Now, there is another route you can take if you still feel that you will benefit from an elemental diet. You can make your own elemental shakes with rice or hemp protein. A recipe and instructions are included on pages 39-40 of The IBD Remission Diet. Hopefully you have a support network, as that obviously involves more work than working with a single product, like Absorb Plus, both in terms of ordering and mixing each shake...

Once things are calmed down, you might also consider Jini's Wild Oregano Protocol. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Sympathetically,
Nicole

SOrry, I can't believe I forgot to mention that I have Crohns DIsease, and sever allergies to dairy, wheat, and eggs, penicillin, and gravol. And yes, I would be very interested in the Weild Oregano Protocol, I am taking it for a cold right now, 5 drops under the tongue twice a day. Also, I just ordered the IBD diet book about elemental diet and it is waiting for me to pick up at the post office! So a rice protein might be a better way to go for me, but will it be as palatable? You shoud know that my 5 year old son also has crohns, and is very picky-he is also anaphalactic to dairy, soy (including lecithin) oranges, and coconut. My husband has mild IBS and lactose intolerance. My 3 year old has seasonal allergies and takes singulair, he is the most healthy of us 4, I am afraid! My 5 year old was on a organic chicken based formula until he turned 1, as he was severley allergic to all formulas even the hypoallergenic ones, and my breastmilk. But back to me, the prednisone is helping, but I want to get off it ASAP and start back on some kind of elemental diet, I have lost way too much weight to be healthy. I could try the shakes again and see if it was the whey protein, I have not tolerated many products when I have been TPN fed, Central Line fed, and NJ and NG tube fed. Solid food Isn't what I can handle right now either... Thanks for the reply, Michelle

Hi, Michelle.

I honestly can't tell you what the taste would be like with the rice or hemp protein...I've never tried it, I'm afraid. But yes, with a severe allergy to dairy and your electrolytes, etc. all out of kilter after a few days on a whey-based product, I think it would be an elemental product that would be more agreeable for your system.

On another note, have you (or your son with the Crohn's) been able to tolerate probiotics?

I've only ever taken it once for a really bad case of poison ivy, but from everything people tell me, yes, high-dosage or long-term prednisone sounds awful, so I can understand your wanting to get off it asap.

I'll look for your reply.

Take care,
Nicole

The dairy free probiotics are going well-I assume. Wild Oregano is going well, I assume. I am trying the shakes again-one last hurrah, before I switch to rice proten altogether. I just really like what I hear about Absorb PLus and want to be able to stick with it! Is there anyone else out there who just cant control their BMs on this whole diet? Even without it it is much worse. Heading to the GI guy again...I don't even know when it is happeneing-it is quite embarressing.

Hi, Michelle.

Yes, that's the pits...leaves you pretty much totally home-bound, afraid to go out.

I had a couple of accidents when I was suffering from a flare, too; it's probably happened to almost everyone with IBD at some point.

Ultimately, on the physical front I think what's going to help is the elemental diet (whatever form you tolerate best) combined with Jini's Wild Oregano Protocol (which includes probiotics). Don't forget to explore healing on the mind/emotional front as well. As Jini mentions several times in LTYG, mind/body/spirit are one - what affects one affects the rest.

Also see the section on Controlling Your Bowels on pages 368-372 for another helpful technique you can learn.

Take care,
Nicole