Candidiasis, Is that what I have???????

[Gab2000]

Hi!!!
Because of my allergies and sinus infections (3 this year), and chronic congestion, I got the book sinus survival. I'm doing everything the author suggests and eventhough I have had some relief with the daily nasal irrigations, using a humidyfier, an air purifier, and taking a bunch a vitamins, I'm still miserable. I read last night the chapter related to Candidiasis... OMG I THINK THIS IS WHAT I HAVE... I'M SOOOOO SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have taken more than 20 courses of antibitics for the past 5 years for UTI's. This year alone I've taken 3 courses of two weels for sinus infections along with 2 couses of oral cortisols (medrol). I feel really bad an depressed. I think I have candidiasis because of all of my symptoms and the abuse of antibiotics. These are my symptoms:

- Bad allergies, dark circles under my eyes
- 3 sinus infections this year
- Chronic congested nose
- Sensitivities to ALL chemicals, including perfumes
- Headaches, and sinus headaches
- Fatigue, and I'm always sleepy
- IBS - constipation, soft stools, mucus in my stools, increased gas
- sometimes itchy skin and vaginal itch (without discharge)
- Anxiety, depression and obssesive thoughts (Always though since my teens)
- Irritability and mood swings
- Acnee
- Stuffed ears
- PMS

These are all symptoms of candida overgrow. I read there isn't a test to detect it though, so you have to go by the symptoms. I started the candida diet that this book recommends.... what else can I do???? do you think all my health issues are candida related????????? I'm so scared, please help me!!!!!

[Harry]

It certainly sounds like a yeast/ candida infection. In addition to the anti candida diet that basically drastically reduces all sweets and refined carbs because the yeast thrive on all sugary foods. Also, it is best to take an anti yeast killer and eat yogurt and take a probiotic supplement twice daily to re-balance the friendly bacteria in your GI system.

I have found that the candida/yeast mutates very readily and just one remedy will not work--- you have to rotate the anti yeast drugs or remedies. The perscription drugs that are available are Nystatin, Diflucan, Sporanox and several others.

I have found that you can buy a variety of anti-yeast remedies OTC at health food stores or online. Kolorex from New Zealand is good, Caprylic acid by several companies, Garlic, Pau d'arco, wild oregano oil and there are several others.

There was a study done at the Mayo Clinic of about 200 people in 1997 with chronic sinusitis and they found that 96% of them were caused by various fungus infections and not bacterial infection that are treated w/antibiotics. Also, each had about 3 different fungii and there were 41 different types of fungii. I have a local doctor that makes up a Nystatin/grapefruit seed extract nose spray that really works.

I wish you well---Harry

[Kime]

Sounds probable to me, too. I think that avoiding sugar is the most important dietary change. The remedies can help you to get it under control, but if you keep feeding it sugar, it will just regrow again. We would all be better off not eating sugar anyway. Try to avoid the antibiotics; vitamin C can help you avoid antibiotic, look up bowel tolerance of vitamin C for more information about that if you are interested. If you have to take antibiotics there is a product called Floristor that is a good yeast that you can take along with antibiotics that helps to keep the candida down. You can look it up on the internet for more information. You can also take a good multivitamin that has extra B vitamins to help with the stress and lower the anxiety. (B6 also helps with PMS.) Look for one in a health food store where they can advise you on what to take.

Don't be frightened about it. It will take some effort, but you can overcome this problem.

[Gab2000]

Thank you guys! The author of the book recomends Aqua Flora, have you heard of it???
one more question, do you guys suffer from candidiasis, or you just know about it?????

[hoffta]

Before you go crazy with this self-diagnosis, put the darn book away and call the doctor. Are you near a teaching hospital? Call the ENT of one and go see an ENT doctor. I have had many sinus infections over the last year and a half. Every other month I was on high doses of prednisone and levaquin. If your sinuses are infected and you need surgery the infections will reoccur.

Where are you located? Are you near a large city in your state? I can help you find a teaching hospital. I drive two hours to a large city teaching institution for my sinsuses. One of the best hospitals in the US. I am also driving 4 hours in the other direction for spinal surgery.

The sypmtoms you have listed are those for a sinus infection also. You could have many things, but you must remember that sinus infections left alone can make you really, really sick. The first sinus surgery I had three years ago was because I developed a staff infection in my head. I kept going back to my pcp for a sinus infection over a three month period. The medicine was not working. He kept telling me he could handle it, and would not give me a referral to the ENT. When I was finally sent to the ENT, it was an emergency surgery. I was operated on within a week.
Gloria