I have had mild/mod colitis for 3 years and struggled to keep it under control with meds. Asacol stopped working well, was going on and off prednisone. I could not have aza because it affected my liver and I was not considered unwell enough for the more potent drugs. Anyway I found this fab book by David Klein and after going on 90% raw vegan diet (including fresh juices from a juicer) for 5 weeks now I am doing great. If you are willing to change your lifestyle this is worth ago. There are food combinations to avoid and it is a diet for life, get hold of the book if you can or check out his websites.

Nice to hear you are on the right track

Its such a maddening disease, some things work for you and others dont. I too cant take aza due to liver inflammation

I saw his website and there are lots of positive testimonials. It seems such a big step though. Good on you for giving it a go. I am currently trialling SCD and that seems a big enough step - but at least I can still have bread and cakes if I cook with almond flour and honey. And I can still have meat and fish. Way to go, I really admire you. Have you had an energy boost? Have you lost weight? I am losing weight on the SCD. It's quite nice because I need to but I hope it stops round about a good weight for me!
Thanks, JJ

hi,
I lost 10 kg on this raw diet (1kg a week) and reintroduced bread and a bit of cheese and chocolate, and my weight stabilized. I still eat a lot of fruit and salad raw. Energy levels are fantastic, no pain at all, skin great and now just take 2 asacol tabs at night. Not quite game enough yet to drop the drugs completely. I truly believe that a really healthy diet can do wonders for this disease but you must give it time.

Hi my name is Rachel, I have also purchased the David Klein book and was wondering, did you have to purchase Organic foods, do you need a specialised Nutritionist and do you need routine bloods taken for health management?? Really pleased this has worked for you. I have had minor/medium Colitis for 17 years...enough is enough!! Kind regards

No I didn't do organic only, but do like organic when I can. Just get my normal blood s done every 3 months or so for the disease , nothing special. I went hard out with this plan for about 3 months, went through a wicked detox and body adjustments. Can be a bit rough. But have come out the other side much better for it. There is no way I could have eaten all raw long term as the book suggests, but by adding bread I am able to. I really recommend doing a lot of juicing too. I also eat lots of avocados as a meat texture replacement, with the added bonus of being high calorie if you find you are losing too much weight. I will post on here if I relapse, as it has only been 6 months, but aI really feel I wont, especially if I kept the stress down. good luck.

Quick update. I am now nearly 3 months meds free and no relapse. I feel like I have healed, but I know it is way to soon to say that really. Bloods all normal. Feeling really good, and no more thinking about toilet locations!!!

cat33, that is great. I have heard fantastic things about raw foods diets from various people for various conditions. We might have to try it in our house (I'm stormnz's wife ). The weight loss would be a bonus for me Hope this continues working for you, it really is an awful condition.

Hi Cat....any chance of another update. New to this forum and also starting on raw veg/fruit...feelin great so far. Thanks

Hi Cooky. Still med free and no flare ups at all. Bloods all normal still. I am 5 months pregnant and have had to take on on board a bit more protein, cheese and raw cashew nuts mostly. Still eating a lot of raw fruit and veges, but it is hard diet to stick to I must admit. Wish you all the best.
I told a friend of mine who has Lupus about the diet and she dismissed it straight away 'as what would she order when she went out for dinner'! You would think to be free of chronic illness and pain it would be worth a try at least.

Hi Cat

4 years ago I started on raw foods and these past four years have been a big improvement on when I relied on medication to get me through. I tried 100% raw but found that I am best at high raw.

It is great to see someone else who is trying this way of eating!

How are you getting on now?

Hi,

I'm glad this thread has been resurrected. Well done Cat for your diet changes and success and congratulations on your pregnancy.

Ladybuglorne, you say 'when I relied on medication to get me through'. Are you off medication now?

I see from my earlier reply to this thread I have now been following SCD for a year. Way to go. I must admit a few months ago I went overseas and broke my diet. However no major flare or anything, I tolerated things well, but it does bring in the cravings again!

Although I have seen some improvement on SCD I still don't feel well and I still don't have the confidence to stop my meds.

I have been on Azathioprine for more than four years now and I am concerned about the possibility of a severe side effect increasing with such long term use.

I have managed to reduce my Aza by 50mg while on the SCD with no adverse effect. That has been great as I had tried this before and flared. But my doctor, while he has supported/tolerated my reduction to 100mg/day says that if I go down to 50mg I may as well stop as it will not do anything. He is also adamant that if I do stop I will flare within a year. I must admit I am scared of a major flare. I have enjoyed the calm of more-or-less remission for the last four years but I also want to reach a better state of wellbeing and I feel the Aza suppresses that.

I really want to pluck up courage to stop the drug and try and maintain my remission by diet alone and perhaps natural supplements. I would love to hear from anyone who has managed to do this. Cat are you still on the Asacol?

Has anyone had a drug break?

I am contemplating doing a sort of combination of the raw food and the SCD. Perhaps doing raw food until dinner time and then having some cooked food.

Would love to hear any advice/experiences. Sorry to harp on.

With blessings for healing to everyone, JJ

Hi all. I have had my baby 4 weeks ago. Have had no flare ups since the diet started about a year and a half ago. Have been off all meds for a year now.
For the first time in 5 years or so I am a bit blocked up!!
It is worth looking at some of the raw food forums on the web to see others rave about their health and for support.
JJwrites: did asacol really cause pancreatitis for you? I never knew that could happen??

Hi cat33 and well done on your great success and a BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your ? ?

Anyhooo, would be interested to know if the other members of your family have also joined you in your "diet" or are there two different meals prepared every day ?

Just wondered as I don't think I would have the discipline to do that at this stage....

Thank for your info and keep up the great work

Hi Cat33
Just wondering if you are still having succcess with raw diet
Am considering it and am a bit daunted about the whole idea
Did you get advice from anybody on how to start on it

Thank you

Hi bev,
Just read the book by David Klein. Had no suppourt from my gp or specialist, just did it with my hubby's suppourt as it was very hard initially. I have found I have had to adapt my diet again as I was getting so hungry breastfeeding my baby boy. I Had unfortunately started eating a lot more processed foods As I was too busy with the baby and got mild symptoms again. Then I did my fresh juice diet again for about 5 days. Drank probably 1.5 liters a day mostly a mix of apples, pears , oranges and carrots. Now I am back to a totally vegetarian diet , mostly raw, with some cooked whole foods such as potatoes, mushrooms and spinach. I can eat bread no problem and a little cheese and chocolate. I have to have two large glasses of fresh juice, i have an Oscar juicer, a day to remain symptom free. Altering your diet is hard but it was worth it for me. Dont go cold turkey, I stayed on the drugs for many months while I changed my diet until I was absolutely confident I was healed. I really recommend the book.