I have a couple of questions about candida.
How could I know if I have this?
What can I do to treat it?
Can it cause fatigue and nausea?
Do the enterolab yeast tests give any clues about this?
Is there anything else I should know about this?
I have been so sick for the last week. I am having trouble knowing if it is a food intolerance coming out or if it could be caused by something else. I started to feel better after going gf but now I feel quite sick again and I know I am not eating gluten, soy or dairy.
Candida?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
NMM,
Do you think you could have a GI bug, especially since you have fatigue and nausea? Viruses are circulating now and I know you have little ones that could be bringing stuff home. I know my son and husband have both brought viruses home recently. I get D when I am stressed, tired or have my period - doesn't matter what I eat. We always think of food first, but it could be some other cause.
Mary Beth
Do you think you could have a GI bug, especially since you have fatigue and nausea? Viruses are circulating now and I know you have little ones that could be bringing stuff home. I know my son and husband have both brought viruses home recently. I get D when I am stressed, tired or have my period - doesn't matter what I eat. We always think of food first, but it could be some other cause.
Mary Beth
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no-more-muffins
- Adélie Penguin
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It's always a possibility but I think it's something else. I have been nauseated for more than just the last week. I have been feeling this way for over a month, but it seems like it has been particularly bad the last week. I kind of lean toward another food intolerance because after I went GF I did feel somewhat better for a few weeks. I am pretty sure that soy bothers me and I have had some accidental soy encounters lately. I have been completely soy free for over a week now and instead of seeing my symptoms get better they have gotten worse. Could this be the cleansing period? Really, this is just getting to be so complicated. I wish I knew what the problem was so I could take steps to fix it.
NMM
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I have never been tested for mast cells. At least I don't think I have. How is this testing done? The only GI doctors around here are complete idiots and I have no desire to go back. My regular doctor never knows anything when I go to him with my symptoms. I do have a referral for an allergy doctor so if he could order the mast cell test I guess that is a possiblity. Mostly he just does skin prick tests. I don't know a lot about mast cells. I guess I should do some reading on that. Thanks. (Right now I am actually suspecting peanuts but I really have no real clue.) I have been keeping a food and symptom diary for several months and I have been looking through that to see if I can make any conclusions.
NMM
NMM,
Nausea is not commonly listed as a symptom of candida overgrowth, but candida overgrowth can cause digestive issues, (because it can cause food "intolerances"), and nausea can be connected with that. Treatment is usually long and difficult, (it takes months), involving removing virtually all sugars, (carbs), from the diet, (since that's what the candidia feeds on), and an anti-fungal is usually prescribed, (Diflucan is commonly used, but there are others). Many mainstream doctors don't even recognize yeast overgrowth as a GI problem, (since candida is always present, to some extent), but an overgrowth can be a serious problem. Doctors specializing in alternative medicine probably do more of these treatments than mainstream docs. We have several members who have had a candida overgrowth problem in the past, and successfully treated it. Here's an article with a description, list of symptoms, treatments, etc.
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/candida/a/candida.htm
You also might be interested in reading about this theory concerning candida's potential for mimicry, as a means of inducing a reaction by the body, against wheat gluten. This might possibly explain why you react to gluten, even though you are not gluten-sensitive:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... overgrowth
Concerning the tests for yeast intolerance: I read somewhere on the net, (but I don't have the foggiest idea where, since it was several years ago), that one can only test positive for yeast intolerance, if they have a candida overgrowth. I've been pointing out that claim ever since I first discovered it, and so far, it seems to be holding true, for the members of this board. IOW, as long as we do not have a candida overgrowth, we can eat dietary yeast, without a reaction. That implies that the yeast intolerance stool test, may actually be a test for candida overgrowth, (indirectly), though I'm not aware that anyone has ever made that claim. That also means that once remission is achieved, unlike all the other food intolerances, which are generally permanent, yeast intolerance will no longer be of concern.
To check for mast cells, if you've had a colonoscopy recently, and biopsies were taken, you can ask a pathologist to stain those same slides with a special stain, that will allow mast cells to show up under a microscope, and then he or she can re-examine the slides, checking for excess numbers of mast cells. It requires a special stain that many hospitals don't even keep on hand, since this is a relatively new procedure. Skin tests probably won't provide any beneficial information, as far as GI issues are concerned. Those results are primarily of interest concerning topical, (skin), contact, rather than internal effects.
Most people who are sensitive to soy, respond to removing it from the diet very quickly, often within a day or two, (unless, of course, they're reacting to something else, also).
Tex
Nausea is not commonly listed as a symptom of candida overgrowth, but candida overgrowth can cause digestive issues, (because it can cause food "intolerances"), and nausea can be connected with that. Treatment is usually long and difficult, (it takes months), involving removing virtually all sugars, (carbs), from the diet, (since that's what the candidia feeds on), and an anti-fungal is usually prescribed, (Diflucan is commonly used, but there are others). Many mainstream doctors don't even recognize yeast overgrowth as a GI problem, (since candida is always present, to some extent), but an overgrowth can be a serious problem. Doctors specializing in alternative medicine probably do more of these treatments than mainstream docs. We have several members who have had a candida overgrowth problem in the past, and successfully treated it. Here's an article with a description, list of symptoms, treatments, etc.
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/candida/a/candida.htm
You also might be interested in reading about this theory concerning candida's potential for mimicry, as a means of inducing a reaction by the body, against wheat gluten. This might possibly explain why you react to gluten, even though you are not gluten-sensitive:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... overgrowth
Concerning the tests for yeast intolerance: I read somewhere on the net, (but I don't have the foggiest idea where, since it was several years ago), that one can only test positive for yeast intolerance, if they have a candida overgrowth. I've been pointing out that claim ever since I first discovered it, and so far, it seems to be holding true, for the members of this board. IOW, as long as we do not have a candida overgrowth, we can eat dietary yeast, without a reaction. That implies that the yeast intolerance stool test, may actually be a test for candida overgrowth, (indirectly), though I'm not aware that anyone has ever made that claim. That also means that once remission is achieved, unlike all the other food intolerances, which are generally permanent, yeast intolerance will no longer be of concern.
To check for mast cells, if you've had a colonoscopy recently, and biopsies were taken, you can ask a pathologist to stain those same slides with a special stain, that will allow mast cells to show up under a microscope, and then he or she can re-examine the slides, checking for excess numbers of mast cells. It requires a special stain that many hospitals don't even keep on hand, since this is a relatively new procedure. Skin tests probably won't provide any beneficial information, as far as GI issues are concerned. Those results are primarily of interest concerning topical, (skin), contact, rather than internal effects.
Most people who are sensitive to soy, respond to removing it from the diet very quickly, often within a day or two, (unless, of course, they're reacting to something else, also).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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no-more-muffins
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[
Most people who are sensitive to soy, respond to removing it from the diet very quickly, often within a day or two, (unless, of course, they're reacting to something else, also).
Tex[/quote]
I am assuming this would be true of all legumes then?
Also, what does the presence of mast cells indicate? Would that information help me unravel my food issues?
Most people who are sensitive to soy, respond to removing it from the diet very quickly, often within a day or two, (unless, of course, they're reacting to something else, also).
Tex[/quote]
I am assuming this would be true of all legumes then?
Also, what does the presence of mast cells indicate? Would that information help me unravel my food issues?
NMM
I'm not sure that follows, but it might be a fair assumption. Do you have thrush, (a white coating on the tongue)? If you avoid all sugar for a day or so, do you crave it intensely, (more than you should). Candida has the ability to alter the thinking process, and the eating habits of it's host, in order to provide for it's, (the candida's), own needs. IOW, if you try to starve it, it will make you crave sugar, because it has to have sugar, in order to thrive.no-more-muffins wrote:Tex, so would the reverse be true that if you tested negative for yeast you could assume that you did not have candida? My yeast result was 6 from enterolab.
That, I don't know. I was just reporting the experiences of most members here who have narrowed their food intolerances down to soy. When soy is the last intolerance to be removed from the diet, most people will see a big improvement within a day or two. If not, then they probably still have one or more undiscovered intolerances remaining.no-more-muffins wrote:I am assuming this would be true of all legumes then?
If you have more mast cells present than the normal amount, (in the epithelia of the intestines), then you could be having histamine-based reactions, (in the gut). IOW, mast cells release histamine, so if enough of it is generated in the digestive system, then it can cause problems. Taking an appropriate oral antihistamine, may be sufficient to control the problem, or at least minimize it.no-more-muffins wrote:Also, what does the presence of mast cells indicate? Would that information help me unravel my food issues?
http://ezinearticles.com/?Mastocytic-En ... &id=967681
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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I have an appointment next week to see a Naturopath. In the mean time I am going to start the candida diet just to see if it helps.
If anyone out there has experience with this I'd love to hear your success stories.
If my problem isn't candida I guess I'll just be back to square 1. Who would have ever thought someone could so desperately be wishing for candida overgrowth? I don't care if I have to maintain a strict diet for months. I don't care if the road back is difficult. I just want to know what is wrong with me so at least I can feel like I am on the right road. I know many of you can relate. I am just so burned out by feeling this way for so long. Sometimes I just don't think I can do this anymore.
If anyone out there has experience with this I'd love to hear your success stories.
If my problem isn't candida I guess I'll just be back to square 1. Who would have ever thought someone could so desperately be wishing for candida overgrowth? I don't care if I have to maintain a strict diet for months. I don't care if the road back is difficult. I just want to know what is wrong with me so at least I can feel like I am on the right road. I know many of you can relate. I am just so burned out by feeling this way for so long. Sometimes I just don't think I can do this anymore.
NMM
Don't let it get you down. I once felt the same way, before I found the solution. As Joan said, "You can do it!" For many of us, conquering these issues is probably the hardest thing that we have ever done, but once we are successful, the feeling of accomplishment, and self-sufficiency, is awesome. It's like fighting a war, against an invisible, and superior army. It's depressing, and at times it seems hopeless, but perseverance pays off, and losing the battle is not an acceptable option.no-more-muffins wrote:I am just so burned out by feeling this way for so long. Sometimes I just don't think I can do this anymore.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I can't add much to what has already been said, but just keep exploring and trying things, and at some point you'll figure it out. Even though you don't feel like you are making progress, you are accumulating a lot of information that eventually will fall into place. And we all hope that happens sooner rather than later! 
Rosie
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison