UC: SCD, Bacteria, Fungal, Moving forward...

Hi everyone,

I've been following this forum since 2016 at which point I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I live in Canada and I'm 33 years old

I was a relatively thin individual in 2014. I weighed about 135-140 pounds. I was an average eater (had my carbs and protein) and was an avid french fries and chips junkie. I was also a smoker. I started working out in 2014 lifting heavy weights and with the help of a weight gainer, protein shake and obsessing over calories I managed to add about 15-17 pounds in one year.

In 2016 a few months after noticing some red formed bowl movements, which I thought were just tomatoes or something I ate, I was taken in for a colonoscopy and diagnosed with UC. I lost my 17 pounds in about a month.

I was put on Prednisone (40mg) and Mezavant. I was successful on them for 3 months with a few bumps in the road. I went gluten free during this time. 1 month after coming off prednisone and mezavant (i felt invincible so I dropped mezavant as well), I flared. During that one month I also took up smoking occasionally. I was put another round of Prednisone (20mg) and at the same time I put myself on the SCD diet.

For about 8 months now, I have been medication free while on the SCD. I haven't gained much weight.

One month ago, I ate out and ate something bad and I got loose stools (once a day) My wife also got some diarrhea. I went to my safe food zone and have continued with a bland diet (no SCD muffins or honey). I continue to have loose stools once or at max twice a day. I don't have diarrhea, but they're lose and no longer formed like they were before.

This makes me think: (1) Diet doesn't seem to be helping? (2) There could be some bacterial imbalance or fungal imbalance? (3) Parasite?

Also: I also wanted to ask everyone here....has anyone switched over from the SCD Diet (which is working at 90%) and gone completely vegan? I just don't feel so comfortable with this way of eating if I'm not gaining any weight. Currently I'm eating all the squashes, fruits and honey dipped goodies. Maybe mixing meat protein and carbs is not a good idea??

Because Mezavant is for inflammation right?

I don't think I have inflammation.

Ditto Beave's advice. Please get back on your Mezavant and continue SCD.

There's a general thought that everyone with UC also has dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance in their large intestine). Whether this is caused by UC or is a side effect of UC is a big question. The theory behind SCD is it is supposed to help with the dysbiosis. Many people with UC in remission still have loose stools and over time SCD should help with that. I'd agree with everyone on here who suggests you get on a maintenance medication but also stick with SCD. In my experience in the first two years of SCD, random things I eat can still mess up my stools, but it happens less and less frequently the longer I am on the diet.