[Gymngatagaica]

I've struggled with posting my story here, as this forum is a huge venue for support and good vibes, and I don't want to discourage anyone from this protocol. However, I do want to share my experience with hCG, so others can learn from my mistakes - and I admit that I made them.

I started hCG by taking subcutaneous injections. There's a local clinician who prescribed me the hCG and another local pharmacy mixed it for me. Both the clinician AND the pharmacist advised me to inject 25 mL twice a day. I questioned both of them, based on my reading of Pounds and Inches, and those with experience from this forum, but they assured me that I was to take it twice a day, so I did.

I loaded, as I was supposed to. And, in starting P2, I was okay. My clinician used the same foods as P&I, but did not allow the Grissini/Melba Toast. Days 1-7 of the VLCD were okay. I think I was still very motivated and excited about the potential of huge losses, so I didn't miss the food, and besides, I had dropped 12 pounds in the first week. I'm classified as "morbidly obese", so I was okay with that level of loss. Days 8-12 were the worst. I started to crave my old favorites. I wasn't hungry, but I was frustrated at how much I craved things. My only deviation from the P&I was that I would substitute 3 whites/1 egg for a protein, and in the very occasional meal, would substitute Fat Free Greek Yogurt (I can't eat red meat, due to complications with my lapband, so I needed alternative sources of protein). I continued to lose weight and at Day 18 of the VLCD, I was down 30 pounds.

Now, where I screwed up was at about that Day 18 mark. So, let me back up a bit...

During that Day 8-12 period, I was really discouraged about me being able to complete hCG. The cravings were too overwhelming...I resigned to quitting. A friend of mine who does hCG frequently (using homeopathic drops) encouraged me to wait it out until Day 23, so that I'd at least be successful. I knew that those who did the 23 day round weren't as successful, but knew that I was too close to quitting and could not see me completing the 30 day course. I'd already dropped $300 on this diet and knew that if I had to be count to day 23, I could do it. 30 Days was too far out of sight.

So, back to Day 18...

I was pleased during my course of hCG that I was never hungry. I was surprised that a 300 lb woman could not feel hunger, but assuredly, that stuff is amazing, and true to it's claim that there's no hunger. I was very bored with my restrictive food choices around Day 18, so I quit eating my 500 calories. I did a search on this forum and found that reportedly, if people didn't eat their entire 500 calories, it was okay. So, for Days 18, 19, 20 and 21, I ate about half a cucumber and 3-4 strawberries per day. That's it. No protein. I was weak. Couldn't take the stairs at work. Had zero energy. But, I wasn't hungry, and was counting down the days until I could go to Phase 3. I merely existed during those days, so that I could eat something enjoyable and with flavor. During those four days, I lost about .3 lbs. Total Bummer for as little as I was eating.

Phase 3 - Day 1

Went to a salad bar and enjoyed a multi-vegetable salad with a little low-calorie salad dressing. Not five minutes into my bite of salad, my stomach cramped and I rushed to the bathroom. Horrible diarrhea and cramping...I checked here and saw that if you add too many variances of food too quickly, you are likely to have diarrhea. So, I backed off, limited my "new" foods, and went to bed somewhat disappointed that I didn't get to enjoy P3 as much as I wanted. Day 2, no matter what I ate, I was rushing to the bathroom. It was like my body forgot how to digest food. It went in, it came out. Horrible horrible pain. It would happen even when I wasn't eating. Middle of the night, I'd wake up and be in the bathroom. It felt like someone was punching me in the stomach.

During Days 1-5 of phase 3, I gained 10 pounds back. I couldn't do a steak day (can't do red meat), so I really limited my intake. I assure you, I didn't eat 10 pounds of food during those five days. Somehow my body was angry at me and very non-forgiving for something.

So, I took myself to my real doctor...

He immediately ordered me off of the protocol. Put me on the B.R.A.T diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) to ease my stomach. He told me that some people's bodies can reject a low-carb diet and have opposite of the desired effects. I argued with him. Told him that I only had two weeks of low-carb to go. Please let me finish. This is where I reset my hypothalamus. He said in a somber voice, "This is not about your diet anymore. This is about your health." I accepted his wishes. He ordered a bunch of bloodwork. Put me on some medicines that are often prescribed for ulcers. Cried on the way home. Was mad at myself for...well...everything.

I've had the same pain and cramping for 10 days now. Although the meds and adding bland and starchy foods to my diet have helped some, the pain and abdominal cramping are still extensive. There are days that I can't work (and I have a very sedentary desk job).

Yesterday I had to have a CT Scan of my abdomen. I'm still waiting for the results.

I don't know whether hCG had anything to do with what I'm going through. I probably won't know until I get the results of the CT Scan. However, I just want people to take a few things from this...

1) Make sure you're taking the right dosage of hCG
2) Don't deprive yourself of protein
3) Don't stop eating. Your body needs what's been prescribed in P&I


Anyway...good luck to those of you who are currently doing this. This board is a great source of support, and I wish you the best in your weightloss endeavors!

[Quigoxito]

Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Glad you were able to share your experience with others who may be tinkering with the idea of not eating since the HCG keeps you from feeling hunger.

[sestomosi]

Sorry you're going through that. Could you share what you're trying to eat? It might have been the soy in the dressing on that first meal. Soy is terrible for you. you might also try taking some digestive enzymes. I think there is something else going on here far above what you did or didn't do on your hcg diet.

[Rinkeliacasse]

Sorry you are going through this. It sounds like me when I eat foods that I am sensitive to... major cramps caused by omelettes, for example, or diarrhea by yogurt and mozzarella.

We are about the same start weight, and I know for myself chances are that I have a leaky gut... which means for now, I am really watching my sensitivities. Switching to paleo was my personal godsend, and just with that paleo/ primal lifestyle in the back of my head, just the idea of toast, bananas, rice, or apple sauce give me mental cramps. I know for a fact with my leaky gut, there is no way that would ease my problems - especially not after HCG, where your gut and hypothalamus are so nicely rested (and obviously way more sensitive to certain foods.)

[Fdmnrnba]

I'm sorry you're in such pain and having so many problems with your health. I hope you find the solution very soon.

[teentodiefows]

Sorry you're going through that. Could you share what you're trying to eat? It might have been the soy in the dressing on that first meal. Soy is terrible for you. you might also try taking some digestive enzymes. I think there is something else going on here far above what you did or didn't do on your hcg diet.

Interesting about the Soy, but I don't think that's it. Mainly because I used Braggs Liquid Aminos to flavor dishes during P2 and had no problems. I've always had "slight" issues with milk products, making me think that I may be lactose intolerant, so I NEVER drink milk, but do have the occasional slice of cheese . I've never had that confirmed by a doctor, but noticeably, when I would eat anything dairy, I was worse. All products high in fiber were my main sources of pain and diarrhea, which is why the doc pulled me off. Specifically, I was eating lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salad dressing (low-fat Ranch), coffee (which I drank during p2)...drawing a blank with everything else.

I've had Crohn's previously, Colleen, and have been in remission from it for nearly 10 years. I asked the doc if this could be a flair up, but based on bloodwork, he didn't think so (sed rate was fine). We'll have it confirmed with the CT Scan results. It very likely could be something completely unrelated, but the timing of it is awfully unusual. I guess we'll see.

[OpVJokl8]

It might have been the cheese that set you off then. Here's the thing. When we are on the hcg diet, we aren't eating many of the things that were a problem for us but they were underground. Then when we try to add them back, there is a more violent reaction because the body hadn't had to cope with those things. If you've had Crohn's you should really consider a paleo diet--no grains or dairy.

[Mowselelew]

It might have been the cheese that set you off then. Here's the thing. When we are on the hcg diet, we aren't eating many of the things that were a problem for us but they were underground. Then when we try to add them back, there is a more violent reaction because the body hadn't had to cope with those things. If you've had Crohn's you should really consider a paleo diet--no grains or dairy.

How do people know that their bodies will react more violently? I never read about this, and I researched a LOT, including that people who have had Crohns usually have very favorable results. I'm starting to feel like a dope...are these "duh" things that I just didn't know or is this written somewhere? I appreciate your knowledge.

[djmassk]

Yup, this is an undisclosed side-effect that is somehow never mentioned... Personally, I wouldn't call it bad, though. When starting, I had constant pain in my joints and was back on crutches occasionally. I was sure it was the weight gain after my accident, just like all the other aches and problems - plus, I was depressive.

When through resting my hypothalamus my inflammation level went down... miracles happened. For the first time in 2 years, I was completely pain-free. I haven't had a depressive episode in 3 months. And I generally feel great. But it means that suddenly, my "stomach of steel" is no more. I violently notice when I eat something that I am sensitive to - stuff that I never had trouble with before. Well, obviously I had trouble, but I couldn't hear my body anymore. HCG (and in my case paleo) really enables you to listen to your body again... but sometimes, you really would prefer not hearing. Like with me and eggs, or larger amounts of yogurt/ mozzarella... I loved those. No more.

[suidinguilelf]

How do people know that their bodies will react more violently? I never read about this, and I researched a LOT, including that people who have had Crohns usually have very favorable results. I'm starting to feel like a dope...are these "duh" things that I just didn't know or is this written somewhere? I appreciate your knowledge.

This is really a difficult part of this protocol and one that does not get talked about enough until you get in P3 and have unexplained weight gains. That said, those foods that are not good for you will make you gain and when they make you gain more than 2# over LDW/LIW, you do a steak day. If a food keeps making you gain, in order to avoid steak days, you need to avoid the food. You can't keep doing steak days after all and at some point the weight gain will surpass the amount of weight someone can loose on a steak day. So, it is a logical deduction of sorts, and one that finds its explanation in food sensitivities but certainly needs much more highlighting so that people can know and understand what can happen before it happens. Most people don't know that gluten, eggs and dairy are high allergen foods so they are then in for a surprise

I suspect that with a gastric bypass, your digestion is already compromised and that your body will violently reject some foods that are not good for it: soy, grains, eggs and dairy. Unfortunately, meat is then also hard to digest but with enzymes and supplements to optimize stomach health, it may be that you can digest meats better at some point.

All the best to you! You can figure this all out and will be healthier for it!

[werkeeque]

I just wish I'd known all of this. Now that I'm completely off the diet due to my doctors orders, I'd hate to think that I "blew it" because I didn't know that I was to expect this side effect. Kinda makes me wonder now if the CT Scan was unwarranted, too.

I guess we'll see the outcome of that tomorrow, though.

Thanks, sweetiepie and Mrs.

[Baromaro]

I've been on this forum for 3 1/2 years so I've just seen all this. It's not mentioned in Pounds and Inches, maybe because they didn't have the compromised gut issues that we have now. You can still fix this, ruhereyet. Get some probiotics to start healing your gut and some digestive enzymes to help you with your food. I would immediately get off that BRAT diet. That's about the worst thing for you, especially the toast and rice.

[orillaVar]

I've been off of protocol for more than a week now....eating plenty of starches and carbs. I don't think there's any way of fixing this...except to learn from it and start over once I figure out what's wrong with my stomach.

[T5qYkHWQ]

by fix it, I mean not regain any more than you already have.

[fiettariaps]

by fix it, I mean not regain any more than you already have.

I think that's reasonable...and hopefully, fixable.

Thanks for all of your help.

[wheettebott]

I hope you're feeling better, ruhereyet. Have you gotten the results from the CT scan? Please keep us posted.

[Pynctyncroast]

I hope you're feeling better, ruhereyet. Have you gotten the results from the CT scan? Please keep us posted.

Thank you. CT Scan showed Ulcerative Colitis.

[Xxedxevh]

Bummer. On a bright note, if you were to go paleo/ primal, this is something that can be easily fixed and handled... I am guessing the starch and carbs really did you in.

[JosephEL]

Ulcerative colitis is based in gluten. Don't ever eat it again, period. Hope you feel better soon!