Well, it is Sunday and on Monday I’ll start the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I’m full of mixed emotions about this decision to go on SCD
. Honestly, I really didn’t want to get to this point where I’m no longer able to control my ulcerative colitis flares with a “traditional” diet of clean eating and a low-stress lifestyle. As an elite athlete I’m not convinced I can get adequate carbohydrates to fuel my five hour training rides and double race weekends. But I always said that if it came to taking steroids or going on SCD, I would choose SCD… So this is where I am.
I’ve been a rotten flare since May 19 (yes World IBD Day)… I thought I’d be able to get out of this flare relatively quickly but I’m not having much luck. I’m now taking Salofalk, Cipro, and Flagyl and I have a prescription for steroids waiting to be filled…
My oven is also full of milk/yogurt. That’s right, I’m in the process of making SCD yogurt. I don’t have a yogurt maker so I’m using the oven method. Crossing my fingers that everything works properly. I’ve bought the ingredients to make the chicken soup and I’ll make it this afternoon after my three hour ride. My fridge is stocked with dry curd cottage cheese, egss and apple cider. The freezer is particularly carnivorous with beef patties and salmon. I’ve read all I can and my copy of Breaking the Vicious Cycle is already well-worn.
But I still have lots of questions. How long should I stay on the introductory diet – 3 days? 5 days? I’m not convinced that my symptoms will disappear in 3 days. I’m having very bloody diarrhea up to 15 times a day right now – do I have to wait for this to stop before I can add in new foods? What will my energy levels be like on the introductory diet? I’m going to be training through-out this and my concern is for my energy levels. I’m in a phase of my training where I can’t take a break, since my race season starts in early September.
Perhaps the biggest questions are – will I like the food on the introductory diet? what does dry curd cottage cheese taste like? how hungry will I be for the first days on the introductory diet? how will two eggs be enough for breakfast?
Guess there really is no way of knowing without jumping in feet first. So on Monday I’ll start. Keeping my fingers crossed that this change is what my body needs. I need to start feeling like myself again. A big part of succeeding as an elite athlete is in believing in the strength of your body – I need to have this feeling – to know that my body can handle anything…
Alright, well I’ll post next week to let you know how I’m doing. If you have any suggestions, comments, answers to my questions – please post in the comments. I appreciate all the advice I’ve received so far – it has been a big help.
Thanks for reading.
Vicki
