Here's a question from a reader:

"I had my first episode with colitis about 4 years ago. Since then, I had another episode where I ended up in the hospital. About a month ago, I was taking an antibiotic for a sinus infection. I took it for 10 days, It wasn't gone , so the Dr. gave another round. By the end of 20 days my colon was berserk. I was reading about the elemental diet. I had called my gastroenterologist and he told me to increase my meds. I was eating almost nothing and going to the bathroom about 10 times per day. I had blood in my stool periodically. I ordered the diet, which took another week to get. I did not want to end up in the hospital, so I ate little and became very weak.
Today was the first day on the diet. I drank chocolate first and added 1 tsp. of flax seed oil, [not Udo's[. It tasted so bad that I kept gagging. I only drank about 1/4. The next time I made Berry and used no flax seed oil. I drank half and threw it all up. Do you think I cannot drink it or what should I do toclean up my colon. Almost everything I eat gives me a gagging reflex. Please let me know what you think?"


First thing to check is the side effects for all the drugs you're on: Which of them list nausea/vomiting as a side effect? If they do, then that's a good indication of what's causing your problem, and you'll just have to follow the steps below and gradually reduce your meds until you get some relief.

Secondly, you no doubt by now have a mental problem going on regarding ingesting food - fear, anxiety, despair, etc. To address this component, you should do some EFT. To download the Free manual, go to:

http://www.emofree.com

Next, I suggest you start on the Wild Oregano Oil, as this can often increase tolerance for food. Since you may be prone to throwing this up too, start with just 2-5 drops. If you can't follow it with water (makes you throw up), then just put it under your tongue and you're going to have to sweat out the "spicy" feeling - lasts about 2.5 minutes, then disappears. Or, purchase the capsules and start with one or two capsules per day.

Lastly, you may be allergic to some ingredient in Absorb Plus, but I'm thinking this is less likely than you having a psychological problem and your body being highly sensitized and reactive from being so ill with so little nutrient intake. It's like when people have been shipwrecked, or lost in the desert - they cannot consume hardly any water or food at first or they will be violently sick (vomiting). So, what I recommend is that you start by making only 1 scoop of shake, with 1/4 tsp. flax oil. I would mix the berry and chocolate for a better taste (1/2 scoop of each) and easier tolerance (chocolate is often hard for people with IBD), If it feels too thick in your mouth/throat, then add more water. Make sure you're mixing it exactly according to directions - in a blender and poured over lots of ice. Then, put it in a thermos (to keep it cold and protect ingredients from deterioration) and drink one sip through a straw every five minutes. Use a clock and time yourself. Read a good book or watch tv at the same time to take your mind off nutritient ingestion.

If you haven't been consuming extra water and electrolytes, I suspect you're also severely dehydrated by now - something else that causes vomiting. The thing I like best to use is Emergen-C (vitamin C and electrolytes) in water - please don't even attempt something toxic like Gatorade. Emergen-C is available in most health stores. Again, if you have problems drinking it, take one sip every five minutes. You must consume at LEAST 8 big glasses of liquids per day.

Alternatively, if you're too dehydrated to respond to any of these liquids - if sipping only once every 5 minutes makes you still vomit. Then you need to go to hospital and receive an IV to rehydrate yourself first. Do not let them put any meds in (unless you want them) - just tell them you're dehydrated and need saline and electrolytes. Then, once you're properly hydrated (should take about 24 hours), go home and start with the shakes and Emergen-C as outlined above, if you can drink it quicker without adverse effects, by all means do so.

Hope that helps and let us know how it goes.

all the best,
Jini