Hey gang, I wanted to post a whole heap of IBS, Candida & Digestion information I learnt recently from my doctor. I decided to make it a journal, in the sense that I will come back & post results here as the treatment continues.

What I learnt could explain dozens of different symptoms, but here is a list of the symptoms that have led me to this point (I’m 26):

Symptom (Duration in years): Description

Sinusitis (14y): Nothing huge, but it’s always there.

Skin Infections (6y): Things like pimples would often become infected, requiring treatment as they swell out of control.

High Protein Levels (4y): Protein levels in my blood (Gamma Globulin) have been consistently raised (as if they are fighting off an infection). They never got out of control, but we could not locate the infection. In hindsight, it was probably a yeast infection (Candida) they were fighting.

IBS (4y): Bloated Stomach, Altered Bowel Movements & Debilitating Pain Attacks (worst triggers are Avocado & Banana).

Candida (4y): Yeast infection in the stomach that causes your stomach to bloat after eating for extended periods, hives, dry lips/mouth, bad taste in your mouth each morning, mood swings & IBS type symptoms (read up on this if you’re curious).

Hives (1y): Skin rashes that used to come infrequently, built up to the point where they are present daily and consume most of my body. Most annoying is they will blow out my lips or eye region, meaning I can’t talk or see properly, and stopping me from going to work.

Like most of us, I’ve spent years trying to isolate the causes of my symptoms. I’ve given up on the tests my local doctor and hospital could think up, accepted I had the mysterious ‘IBS’ and learnt to avoid it as best I could. I got by, but my body is sending me more and more messages, and I can’t ignore the hives anymore.

I only recently discovered Candida, and realised it described my symptoms to a tee. I went in search of a cure for Candida (which you can pop with a tablet), only to realise that Candida (just like IBS), is just another symptom of your internal digestion problems.

I don’t think I knew what this really meant until yesterday. I booked in to see a doctor I had heard was good for IBS/Candida, expecting a GP. Well when I arrived and sat down, I realised that this doctor was actually an elderly Chinese Naturopath/Acupuncturist. I didn’t know whether to stay or run out; thinking he would not understand my symptoms, or advise me to drink more herbal tea (while jabbing me with a pin). Ok I’m exaggerating, but I thought I was wasting my time & money… boy was I wrong.

What I got was the most insightful 45minute medical lesson, on my symptoms and digestion and how they inter-relate (It was like being back at uni). It was brilliant; I finally feel that I understand the illness I’ve been battling for years. And I’m ready to beat it now. Now if you’ve read this far, please read on as I describe what he taught me!

Before I start, remember that while we are all ‘digestively-challenged’, we experience different symptoms and different triggers. Removing dairy from 1 persons diet might be a wonder-cure, but to another it’s a complete waste of time.

The Skin-Gut Relationship:
The doctor showed me how the human egg forms before birth, interestingly he shows me how the outer layer of the egg (the human skin), forms the gut itself. This is why the skin is actually the outer-extension of our digestion system. Which explains how the IBS, Sinus & Skin Hive problems, I experience are all inter-related.

He went on to explain that the Hives, IBS, Candida and so on are just symptoms the body uses to indicate that it is not coping well.

The Analogy:
He said just like a Jumbo Jet, one faulty engine or electrical system cannot bring the plane down, but if you let these go, you will eventually run into trouble. He feels that by making the changes to reverse the early warning signs; you not only prevent the annoying symptoms, but avoid the more serious conditions (such as Crohn’s or Cancer).

General Digestion:
Bad digestion is the cause of the symptoms we are familiar with (such as IBS). Normally the digestive juices in our stomach will digest our food and there’s no problem. However as we get older these juices get weaker and it’s harder to properly digest our food.

Some foods are harder to digest than others (especially for those who are lactose intolerance etc…). These are the tips he gave me for improving digestion:

Stress suppresses the digestion process, avoid it!
Foods to Avoid: Wheat, Sugar, Yeast, Red Meat, Milk/Dairy.
Eat small meals, more often (large meals do not allow for complete digestion)
Avoid drinking 1-hour before or after meals, as this dilutes the stomach and effectiveness of digestion juices. Drink freely between meals however.
Use Soy Milk instead of regular, and stick to white meats (fish & chicken).
Rice, Bailey & Corn as substitutes for Yeast.

Getting over Candida:
To get over the Candida infection that has built up for many years, this is the plan of attack:
Antibiotics (Nilfast) to accelerate the removal of Candida yeasts.
Acidophilus each morning (To replace the good bacteria that the Antibiotics will kill in the process).
(Should be a liquid capsule and contain bifidum, bulgaricus & lactobacillus)
Garlic Capsules each night (called ‘Russian Penicillin’ – fights bacteria).

Optional Extras:
Food Sensitivity Test ($155AUS from Australian Biologics), to diagnose which foods your body specifically can’t deal with, and in what quantities. (I see this as a good long-term solution)
Enzyme Tablets (These assist in the digestion process, but an extra cost I’m going to avoid at this point. The change in diet should be enough).

See this thread for some interesting reading on enzymes:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=150987

Synopsis:
These changes are a big deal for me, because I have never taken my diet very seriously. I eat lots of bread (yeast) with EVERY meal, and plenty of Coke (loaded with sugar).

My plan is to continue being very strict over the next few weeks until my body is in better shape. Then I will look to introduce a few things back into my diet, to find a compromise that I (& my body!) can live with.

Ill let every know how it goes, hope some of the information was useful :wave: