This is an AWESOME example of using a semi-elemental diet to provide intestinal rest and heal an abdominal abscess and fistula. Remember that not everyone needs to go on a full-fledged diet (or has time or can afford it!).
There are studies on the benefits of a semi-elemental diet – but I recommend that if you want to try a semi-elemental diet instead of eating “whatever you want” for the free diet portion Implement one of the following options in conjunction with Absorb Plus:
1. For the “normal” portion of a semi-element diet, here are some very well-tolerated shake recipes with gentle food ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store or farmers market.
2. If you can eat a normal diet, sticking to this list of low-residue foods tailored specifically for IBD can help keep your gut happy. Along with probiotics and possibly wild oregano oil to fight intestinal infections.
3. Here you will find some well-tolerated protein shake recipes that are better tolerated than regular foods. People use these shakes when they are ready to transition from an elemental diet before starting to eat regular food. So these shakes might be all you need.
4. Or you can use my food reintroduction chart (see “Listen to Your Gut” and “The IBD Remission Diet”) and try to stick to the foods listed in Phases 1 and 2. These foods have a long history of being well tolerated while still being nutritious. If this is too difficult, then at least follow the maintenance diet guidelines (again, found in both books) and avoid these highest allergenic foods: dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, soy, sugar, and refined carbohydrates.
The reader below implemented a half-element diet along with protocols from my book “IBD Remission Diet”:
I had a great experience with Jini’s protocols! I haven’t had a chance to read the entire book, The IBD Remission Diet, but I looked at some parts that were most relevant to me.
I have been suffering from a fairly severe case of Crohn’s disease for about four years. I took two of them with Remicade until I developed antibodies to it and couldn’t take it anymore. About six months ago I started hurting again, had terrible stomach pains, very little energy, and lost about 20 pounds (15% of my body weight). I tried many different natural remedies (diets, naltrexone, probiotics, various supplements) and nothing I tried helped put me into remission – so I had to go back to the gastrointestinal tract. He recommended I try Entyvio, so I started it and had three infusions over a few months with no change in symptoms. In the meantime, I took budesonide to manage my pain.
During this time I developed an abdominal abscess and fistula and had to go to hospital twice to have a drain placed and antibiotics. Several doctors told me that I would need surgery to remove part of my terminal ileum that was severely inflamed. I was very I was discouraged, frustrated and scared throughout this entire experience and wanted to avoid surgery at all costs.
During the second hospital stay, a nutritionist came into my room to talk about nutrition. He brought up the Listen To Your Gut protocol, so I started looking into it and decided to try adopting a partial elemental diet. I used Absorb Plus 1-2 times a day and used Jini’s Low Fiber Foods Guide the rest of the time and I got GREAT results!
I have had minimal stomach pain, have gained about 10 pounds since starting treatment, and have been able to stop all medications I was taking (steroids, Entyvio, and antibiotics).
About a week after I had the second drain removed, I felt the abscess coming back for a third time and I was sure I was going to end up in the hospital again (which I did NOT want!). I frantically searched Jini’s book and website for information about abscesses and fistulas, and although there was no specific protocol for my exact problem (enterocutaneous abscess with intra-abdominal abscess), I was able to combine some of her ideas for anal abscesses and intestinal strictures and create a topical solution using DMSO, aloe vera, and wild oregano oil. I’ve been using it twice a day for three days now, taking several drops of the oregano oil orally, and I can already see a big difference – the area has become noticeably softer and the pain has almost disappeared. I am very confident that the abscess will be completely gone in a few more weeks.
I am so grateful for the information Jini gave me to help me avoid another hospitalization and I would love to share my story and spread the word about LTYG if it can help others! I have already shared some samples of Absorb Plus with a friend who suffers from Crohn’s disease and I plan to share my story on various Crohn’s forums and Facebook pages! Thanks Jini!!
And thank you for sharing!!
If anyone else would like to share their story/feedback with me, please do! You will always remain anonymous – send me an email at service@listentoyourgut.com.
In good health!
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
