bloating getting worse - note to Harry

[smittygirl22]

I had a kidney transplant in 2000 and have been on prednisone since then. Am presently taking 5 mg. every other day, so the dose has been decreased a lot from what it originally was. I have noticed in the last year severe bloating of my stomach. I truly look like an olive with toothpicks. The rest of my body is not in proportion to the belly. I have tried to research what this might be. I asked my doctors, they examined me thoroughly and could find no problem. Just chalk it up to the prednisone. Conventional doctors do not recognize metabolic syndrome or yeast, as far as I am concerned. I started looking at yeast. One thing that stuck out for me was long term antibiotics. Three years ago, I was on 3 antibiotics for 14 mos. for some spots on my lungs that were biopsied and found to be negative for most everything. They concluded it must be an infection, thus the antibiotics. My bloating started about 6 mos. after I got off the antibiotics and got worse a year later. By now my girth is around 46. I know from my clothes it wasn't even close to that 3 years ago. I am wondering if anyone else can add anything to this. I presently am avoiding anything like bread, wheat, wine, red meat, salt, etc. and trying to eat just small amounts of chicken and fish and vegetables with some fish.
Harry - thank you for your info on the doctor in Charleston. Would he deal with this kind of problem?

Smittygirl22

[Harry]

Smitty,
I am glad you started your own thread.

As you have found out there is no simple diagnosis for yeast/candida/fungus overgrowth. It is usually done by your medical history and symptoms. The reason is we all have yeast and yeast antergens in our bodies. It is only when they are out of control that they cause us big problems by producing a lot of toxins. But, almost a sure positive sign that you have a yeast/fungal problems is that you begin to have unusual symptoms after taking antibiotics -- espeacially a long course of broard spectrum antibiotics like you have probably had--- 14 months is a long time without any prevention done by your Doctors. Eating a good brand of yogurt and drinking Kefir would have helped as well as taking probiotic supplements.

Dr. Orian Truss,MD a yeast reseacher 25 years ago found that yeast/fungus present in the GI tract that is out of control in our bodies produce many---many problems. After all this time, there is still no easy way to treat the problems or identify what yeast, candida or bacteria strain is the cause. So, a sort of shot gun approach is used. As you know not by many doctors.

You have to go on an anti-yeast/candida diet, take medication that kills the overgrowth yeast or fungus and take probiotic supplements to re-balance your friendly bacteria strains or cultures.

There are over 400 different bacteria strains that have been identified in gastro system. Only about 90 have been named. There is literally constant warfear going on for the friendly bacteria to survive. Bloating is a symptom that your good friendly bacteria are not winning right now.

All yeast, candida and fungus thrive on sugary food--- so to get the friendly bacteria back in balance -- you have to cut out all sugar from your diet, and initially that includes the sugar in most all fruit(fructose), milk sugar that is lactose and simple carbohydrates.

There are various opinions on the diet but I think a veggie and meat diet is best with some complex carbs like brown rice cake and other whole grains but not much. You will be able to tell what agrees with you.

Eat nothing that contains yeast. To get enough soluble fiber to have normal BMs -- I suggest that you take a water soluble fiber supplement -- like psyllium seed husk 2 to 3 times daily. I like and use the powder form best because it is well dispersed in water and you then know it is mixed well -- I use Wal Mart-- Equate brand -- the Orange flavored sugarfree type. But, Citrucel, Benifiber and FiberChoice is OK -- I just have never used them and they cost more. A person needs 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily for normal BMs and it needs to be a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber. When beginning to take a natrual fiber, it ferments and produces gas but as your system gets use to it --the gas will go away. So, start off slowly.

All meats, seafood and dairy products like yogurt and Kefir contain NO fiber.
I like and use Stonyfield Farm yogurt and Lifeway Kefir daily-- both are loaded with good friendly cultures.

I am allergic to Diflucan a prescription systemic antifungal medication but if you can take it -- I suggest you do. It is very good. I use Nystatin that is a powder that you mix with water 4X daily. There are others as well as OTC remidies.

The probiotics that I have used and had good results with are Culturelle, Primal Defense, Pearls(acidophilus), Lactobacillus sporogenes. PB-8, Premidophilus Bifidus and L reuteri.

I will find out if the Doctor's Center treats people with yeast problems today and let you know.

God Bless---Harry

PS--- How is the rest of your health? Why did you have to replace a Kidney? I know I don't need to know but I have started passing some micro albumin in my urine during the last 6 months.

[Harry]

Smittygirl22,
I talked with the Doctor's Office (Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine in North Charleston) this morning at 9:45am EST and they said they are taking new patients with yeast problems. Just call and ask for Cathy.

I wish you well---Harry

[smittygirl22]

Wow - what a wealth of information. I am doing some of what you suggest but not maybe well enough. On fruit, I have been eating things like blueberries, strawberries, and apples. No melons, etc. I can see the reasoning for stopping all sugar. The beast loves sugar! I do take a product called Konzyl for Psylliam. If I don't take it every day, I have problems with diarrhea. I didn't know about the over the counter things. Will look into that. Your response was so good, I put it on my refrigerator.
As for me, I am a retired RN and when I was working, I noticed my blood pressure was sneaking up. One night I felt terrible, tingly, flushed, etc. I took my BP and it was 227/169. I went to the hospital and fortunately had a cardiologist who responded. He suspected the kidneys and they did an angiogram with dye. I had renal stenosis - my kidneys were not getting enough blood, and to try and force more blood through the stenosed area, they were throwing out renin in the blood, (salt) which raised my pressure and forced blood through the tight area. I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. immediately and received a bypass to try and get good blood to my kidney. All this failed and my creatinine kept creeping up. I tried for 3 years to save the kidney with diet (low protein) lots of hydration for the kidneys, etc. The bypass failed (I developed scar tissue which kept blocking it) and finally lost the kidneys, one at a time. I was on dialysis for 3 mos. While my 4 kids fought with me about donating. I finally agreed and my oldest son donated a kidney to me. That was in 2000. Three years later, my kidney got in trouble. After many tests, biopsies, etc. they concluded the Prograf (anti rejection medication) was toxic to my kidney and had done damage to it. I lost a lot of renal function. My creatinine and albumin was all up. They took me off Prograf and put me on another drug and I have been better, but the damage is done. Things I have learned – the kidneys can go bad very fast – I drink a good amount of water – no sodas . The Prograf created fibrosis of my kidneys and thus the damage. I was in a situation two years ago where my renal function was 20 (supposed to be around 60) and we were looking at dialysis again. I started really paying attention to the amount of protein in my diet, and started taking cranberry extract. I know it is supposed to help the bladder, but I was willing to try anything and a holistic doc told me to try it. On my next visit to Mayo my renal function had gone up to 38 and it has maintained that ever since. My protein, however, is around 1100 – extremely high, but I live with it. I continue to take the cranberry capsules – they can do no harm – and I feel good except for this yeast thing. Do you have diabetes? Anything that would cause the protein in your urine? I check my creatinine every month, and do a 24 hour urine once or twice a year. The creatinine is really a good quick blood test.
Just keep a good eye on things.
Thank you so much for your wonderful response and advice.

Smitty

[smittygirl22]

Originally Posted by Harry

Smittygirl22,
I talked with the Doctor's Office (Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine in North Charleston) this morning at 9:45am EST and they said they are taking new patients with yeast problems. Just call and ask for Cathy.

I wish you well---Harry