Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[confusedks]

So the last few nights I have been taking Benadryl to help me sleep, but then Wed. night it stopped working. Last night my mom gave me a restoril to take because I can't stand not sleeping, and it did NOTHING! LOL! My mom can sleep FOREVER on it, but it literally did nothing...lol.

I think I need to talk to my LLMD about something for sleep. This is becoming crazy!

[dlp252]

So the last few nights I have been taking Benadryl to help me sleep, but then Wed. night it stopped working. Last night my mom gave me a restoril to take because I can't stand not sleeping, and it did NOTHING! LOL! My mom can sleep FOREVER on it, but it literally did nothing...lol.

I think I need to talk to my LLMD about something for sleep. This is becoming crazy!

Yeah, it's really hard! Things like Benadryl work exactly the opposite on me...most people are knocked out by them, but they actually make me wired. Tylenol PM does the same thing, as do most over the counter sleep aids. I was hoping the AmbienCR would be different. I didn't feel like it wired me, it just really didn't help me sleep...it seemed like it helped me get back to sleep on the first night I took it, but not on the second night. I'm going to try regular Ambien next, then I'll ask for something different, lol.

[Rachel--24]

rachel,

I woild love to hear those radio shows. Its ok u made my head spin, but i think it did me some good to hear it outloud what could be doing damage to me still. I think that is why i actually got some good sleep and today i have cleaned the whole house, i havent dont that in months, well not in one day. I try to at least clean the downstairs, but today i cleand the upstairs also. Of course im tired now but its a good tired.

'

I think everyone here can agree that having answers (as scary as some of them may seem at first) or at least having some *idea* of where to start looking can take a tremendous load off. We were all very relieved to get diagnosed finally!!

For me...theres nothing worse than "not knowing"....it was really a bad time for me. Both mentally and physically I felt much better once I started to get answers for all of this.

Its also good that you dont have to stress about finances too much....that kind of stess can be a huge burden. I'm blessed to have had some help with the cost along the way.

I found the link.

www.biohealthinfo.com/html/resources/airwaves.html

Its been a a long time since I've listened to these. I will probably go back and listen to them again to refresh my memory. I cant recall if I listened to the program on parasites but I did listen to the ones having to do with gluten intolerance and the one titled "Clearing up the Candida Confusion".

I dont remember all that was discussed in these programs but I'm sure some of it must have stuck with me.

The "HN" clinic that Donna and I mention occassionally is basically a "Biohealth clinic"....so the Dr.'s there mainly deal with the issues brought up in these programs. It was the first place I went to when I left my HMO. I now see some other Dr.'s who specialize in the areas I'm needing treatment...such as mercury detox, Lyme, etc.

I'll be going back to the HN clinic now that I'm working more on the parasite issue. I've sort of built a little mini-team of Dr.'s the past year. Even though everyone I see has knowledge in everything I'm dealing with...some are more experienced in certain areas than others...and some are more affordable than others. I just try to work it out so I can get the best treatment for each issue...plus I like to talk with the different Dr.'s and I learn alot from each of them.

[covsooze]

April and Donna,

My sister is a nurse and one of her patients told her that being zinc deficient can cause ringing in the ears. Don't know whether that's true but I'm zinc deficient and have the ear ringing too. Waiting to see if supplementing does the trick on that one.

Rachel,

Please could you post a link on the hypercoagulation? I think you probably did a while back, but I never made a note of it Thanks! I don't really know anything about it, but given my clotting problem (discovered as a result of all the tests following my m/cs), I wondered if hypercoagulation had any relevance.

Susie x

[dlp252]

Thanks Susie! I'll look into the zinc connection. Not sure if my level was tested or not (or even if it can be, lol).

[covsooze]

Bit of an update since I've been skulking off for so long... And a big thank you for everyone's good wishes

In Nov, I had loads of different drs appointments. They found a clotting issue which might account for the miscarriages and I ended up in the ED following a palpitation / hyperventitlation episode. I then had a dermatologist's appointment to look into the hives I was getting. That was the wrong speciailist (I did tell my GP it shouldn't be a dermatologist...) and they said they'd refer me to an immunologist, but I've not seen an appointment for that yet. The dermatologist did say I have excema and gave me stuff for that, telling me that it doesn't matter what I eat, as food doesn't cause excema on hands With all those appointments, I think I just got completely fed up with 'being ill'. The dr I want to see who specialises in heavy metals etc could only see me on a date I couldn't do. Then I had three colds and a migraine (hazard of having a small child who has just started school) and combined with DH working all hours on his new business, it all just got too much for me.

I don't want to say this in a self-pitying way; I know there's loads of people just on this board alone who are far more poorly than I am. I'm struggling though with how to resolve the depression. This year's obviously been tough, on top of that, I'm prone to depression, but is it 'just' a genetic thing I can't do anything about, or is there a link to underlying health issues. The problem with depression is that thinking too much (eg about health issues) just makes things worse for me. That's why I've ended up avoiding reading along here. I'm going to try again with seeing this dr coz I need help getting to the bottom of this lol!

Anyways, couple of questions:

-anyone got experience of using St John's Wort? I really don't want to go back on ADs coz of all the side effects I get on them, so was wondering about alternatives. Would it interact with thyroxine?

-I think I've got a sinus infection, as following the last cold, I haven't been able to shift the blocked up feeling and have a lot of sinus pain, but, I'm not blowing out any nasty stuff (sorry ). Could my sinuses be infected? I'm using one of those stick inhalers that just contains essential oils. Not sure what else to do, as I really don't want antibiotics.

Thanks for reading

S x

[covsooze]

Thanks Susie! I'll look into the zinc connection. Not sure if my level was tested or not (or even if it can be, lol).

Blood or hair can be tested, but they do not give a particularly accurate picture of what's going on. The best indicator is apparently white marks on the finger nails which haven't been caused by knocks. I have lots! A great link on zinc is:

Open Original Shared Link

S x

[dlp252]

Blood or hair can be tested, but they do not give a particularly accurate picture of what's going on. The best indicator is apparently white marks on the finger nails which haven't been caused by knocks. I have lots! A great link on zinc is:

Open Original Shared Link

I used to have TONS of those white marks, but now have hardly any (only two that I see today). I've been supplementing a LOT this last year, so maybe it's sort of taken care of. I also haven't had as much ringing in my ears in the last few months now that I think about it.

Re St John's wart....it's been quite a few years since I did any reasearch on it, and now can't remember what I found. I do think it interacts with some kinds of medications, but can't remember now what I read about that.

For my sinus infection last year, I had just come off of the treatment for H.Pylori, so didn't want any more antibiotics. My HN doctor told me to load up on Vitamin C. Can you tolerate Vitamin C...not sure about cross-reactions or interactions with any medications though.

[Rachel--24]

Hi Susie!!

Nice to "see" you.

I have some links on hypercoagulation.

I'm pretty sure miscarriages can be a result of hypercoagulation...it might mention it in one or more of these pages.

Hypercoagulation generally is a result of underlying issues...mostly the kinds of things we talk about here...there might be other causes listed on these sites.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Hypercoagulation, Enzymes and Autoimmune Conditions

Dr. Cheney says that Immune System Activation of Coagulation, called hypercoagulation, needs to be dealt with early on or other treatments may not be effective. In hypercoagulation, pathogens and/or toxins activate the immune system to lay down fibrin in blood vessels. The fibrin coats the walls, blocking oxygen and nutrients from getting to nearby tissues. Researchers found that 80% of patients with an autoimmune illness had this coagulation. So this condition undoubtedly is common in chronic fatigue.

Pathogens that activate this include viruses, bacteria (mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc.) and fungi (such as candida). These pathogens are anaerobes, they live in an oxygen deprived environment. Fibrination helps them survive because it causes decreased oxygen. The less oxygen the better for them. Unfortunately, this can cause a great deal of damage. Everything from decreased energy to a buildup of toxins and lactic acid in cells.

Hypercoagulation is not an accurate name for this condition as it is not that the blood is too thick. It is that the capillaries become coated with fibrin and the blood cannot flow freely. Fortunately, fibrin can be cleaned off artery walls. Using, of all things, digestive enzymes.

Here

[Rachel--24]

When I started supplementing high doses of calcium citrate last month I got white spots all over my fingernails. I stopped taking it and the spots are no longer there....I only have one left now.

[ShadowSwallow]

Suzie,

Both my mother and I have been on St. John's Wort for several years, and have seen drastic improvement with it. Only, in both of our cases, we've needed to take higher than average doses.

I hope your depression eases up on you.

Interestingly enough, depression "runs" in our family. Mom, sister, and I all have varying levels of it, and my Grandmother had some very bi-polar behavior until after she had a hysterectomy.

[covsooze]

Thanks Rachel Reading those articles proved to be a real OMG I might be onto something moment I am protein s deficient (although not majorly so) which is one of the thrombophilias mentioned. The plan is to take lose dose aspirin whilst trying to conceive then have injections of a heparin style drug once pregnant. This is all very well, but I've never had aspirin as my dad is badly allergic to it (got to do an aspirin challenge one day soon!) and whilst I don't mind having the injections (especially if they help my symptoms as well as sustaining a pregnancy) I think it's got to be better to get to the root of what's causing the hypercoagulation first. This really encourages me that I should start the New Year by getting back on the wagon with the diet, supplements, seeing the right dr etc Thank you

BTW, what do you think of the suggestion of taking digestive enzymes? Do you?

Birdy, thanks for the encouragement about St Johns Wart. I need to ask the pharmacist about taking it with thyroxine.

S x

[CarlaB]

April, I'm sorry ... I don't really know what to suggest for your friend. I'm sure all the natural detox stuff we all do would be a help.

and then seeing the LLMD Feb 14. I really feel like we're just spinning our wheels here. Compared to a month ago I'm at the exact same place, except now I have to get rid of all corn.

You'll pick up the pace when you're seeing the right doctor and receiving the right treatment.

He also rubbed me the wrong way when he said something about getting older and these things happen. Can't remember the exact phrase he used but it was something like shooting oneself when getting past the age of 30 or somesuch BS.

If he's not a good fit, start treatment with him while you wait for an appt. with someone else ... that's all you can really do. If you are willing to travel, I can tell you that you will get better being treated by my LLMD.

-anyone got experience of using St John's Wort? I really don't want to go back on ADs coz of all the side effects I get on them, so was wondering about alternatives. Would it interact with thyroxine?

-I think I've got a sinus infection, as following the last cold, I haven't been able to shift the blocked up feeling and have a lot of sinus pain, but, I'm not blowing out any nasty stuff (sorry ). Could my sinuses be infected? I'm using one of those stick inhalers that just contains essential oils. Not sure what else to do, as I really don't want antibiotics.

Thanks for reading

S x

I loved St. John's Wort ... I don't need it anymore, but I took it for a few years. I don't know about interactions, but I'm sure your pharmacist will as St. John's Wort is pretty common these days.

Sinus infection -- have you tried irrigating with salt water? Benadryl usually helps me with that stopped up feeling. I've also taken colloidal silver for misc. infections and it has helped.

[Rachel--24]

BTW, what do you think of the suggestion of taking digestive enzymes? Do you?

The way to address the hypercoagulation is with specific enzymes that break down the fibrin which cause the blood to flow less freely. So yes...I think its very necessary...personally I think all people who are chronically ill should help themselves by treating the hypercoagulation.

When you remove the fibrin it makes it easier to treat the infections which may be hiding. It allows the immune system and any treatments...whether they're prescription or natural...to get to the bugs which may otherwise be hidden beneath layers and layers of fibrin.

The same is true in fighting cancer...cancerous tumors are often hidden beneath layers of fibrin....making it difficult for the immune system to recognize it.

Everything works much better when the blood is not hypercoagulated. Nutrients get to where they need to go and bugs have a more difficult time surviving and thriving when the blood is healthy and flowing as it should.

Heres a list of enzymes used for treating hypercoagulation...I copied these from my posts on another board.

Here is a list of Proteolytic enzymes used to break down fibrin:

Bromelain

Lumbrokinase

Carnivora

Mega Serrazyme

PR-390

Nattokinase

Boluoke

Rechts Regulat

Wobenzym N

Vitalzym X.

My Dr. has started me on Carnivora for the fibrin....I didnt test well for alot of the others.

As far as treating Hypercoagulation there is one drug available....Heparin.

As far as the enzymes some are much better than others.

The most effective are... Rechts Regulat, Nattokinase, Lumbrokinase and Wobenzym.

Bromelain is the least effective of the ones I listed previously. Most people use one of the 4 I just listed.

Aspirin does not work for this condition.

I'm glad you found the links to be helpful.

[tabasco32]

Hi all

Hi Carla,Jin,Donna,Rachel,Andrea, everyone else. Everyone new.

How is everyone?

Read some post a little brainfoggy today. Wonder if it's the 2 pints of ice cream I ate last night.

I wonder if we will ever learn. Call my mom to pick me up some more too. I really need to stop the ice cream. Dr. says he want's me to cut down. My gut and brain are really messed up. Lots of pain in the cecum area. Lower right. Must be where the parasites hang out.

Went for a second sulfa detox laser treatment last week. Had lots of sulfa in my system. Wonder if it could be because of eating non organic ice cream with cows being treatets with antibiotics which probably contain sulfa.

Seem okay sometimes. I have more eye floaters and flashing lights though. I think my body is having a hard time detoxing or something. I wonder if my amalgams are bring in more toxin than my body can get rid of. you think?? I stopped the non organic ice cream. I should stop it aall.

I was givin apricots to help me go to the bathroom. But I can't digest those darn hard leather things. I told Dee that and she said sure you can. BUT I CAN"T! they make me go though. normal to. they look all moldy and stuff but, no, I don't get moldy symptoms.

Still am learning more on my body. GOt to go forgot left stove on with my butternut squash been to library for 2 hours.

Rachel I can't believe you ate that banana nut bread!! With no gluten! Just kidding. Glad to hear you are eating more and in such a short time.

LISA

[confused]

'\ www.biohealthinfo.com/html/resources/airwaves.html

i cant get this to open for me, i ccp it and nothing, i type it in myself and nothing, can someone send it to me where i can just click on it, you can pm it to me if you want.

paula

[AndreaB]

GOt to go forgot left stove on with my butternut squash been to library for 2 hours.

I hope everything is ok at home. That's a scary thought!

[aprilh]

Bit of an update since I've been skulking off for so long... And a big thank you for everyone's good wishes

In Nov, I had loads of different drs appointments. They found a clotting issue which might account for the miscarriages and I ended up in the ED following a palpitation / hyperventitlation episode. I then had a dermatologist's appointment to look into the hives I was getting. That was the wrong speciailist (I did tell my GP it shouldn't be a dermatologist...) and they said they'd refer me to an immunologist, but I've not seen an appointment for that yet. The dermatologist did say I have excema and gave me stuff for that, telling me that it doesn't matter what I eat, as food doesn't cause excema on hands With all those appointments, I think I just got completely fed up with 'being ill'. The dr I want to see who specialises in heavy metals etc could only see me on a date I couldn't do. Then I had three colds and a migraine (hazard of having a small child who has just started school) and combined with DH working all hours on his new business, it all just got too much for me.

I don't want to say this in a self-pitying way; I know there's loads of people just on this board alone who are far more poorly than I am. I'm struggling though with how to resolve the depression. This year's obviously been tough, on top of that, I'm prone to depression, but is it 'just' a genetic thing I can't do anything about, or is there a link to underlying health issues. The problem with depression is that thinking too much (eg about health issues) just makes things worse for me. That's why I've ended up avoiding reading along here. I'm going to try again with seeing this dr coz I need help getting to the bottom of this lol!

Anyways, couple of questions:

-anyone got experience of using St John's Wort? I really don't want to go back on ADs coz of all the side effects I get on them, so was wondering about alternatives. Would it interact with thyroxine?

-I think I've got a sinus infection, as following the last cold, I haven't been able to shift the blocked up feeling and have a lot of sinus pain, but, I'm not blowing out any nasty stuff (sorry ). Could my sinuses be infected? I'm using one of those stick inhalers that just contains essential oils. Not sure what else to do, as I really don't want antibiotics.

Thanks for reading

S x

Susie,

I am prone to sinus infections. It has since gotten better since being on anti-candida diet. But here is what else works for me. A nettie pot. Do this 2 x per day all the time and more if you have a cold or sinus issues. I put a tiny bit of sea salt and I do not use any water with chlorine in it. Its cleanses your whole sinus cavity. It works Great!! Another product I have found to be Great is XLEAR. It is a nasal spray made for the nose and the active ingredient is xylitol - which is antifungal. So, anytime me or my kids seem to be getting a cold, I do the spray at least 2 x per day. The website says its safe to use all the time to Prevent colds. I have not had a sinus infection for over 2 years now due to these practices. Its great!

I also keep on hand P73 Oregano oil. I start the drops as soon as I feel like I am getting sick. This helps fight viruses and it is antifungal as well.

I don't know much about St. John's Wort. But back when I was fighting anxiety and I wanted to come off of paxil, my ND slowly weaned me off Paxil and weaned me on 5HTP. This helped get me off the paxil and then following the anti-candida program got rid of my anxiety issues all together. I used to be like you....I would think WAY too much about all the health issues I was having and that just fed the anxiety.

Its hard being sick with kids! I understand that completely!!!

Hope you feel better soon!

[aprilh]

Blood or hair can be tested, but they do not give a particularly accurate picture of what's going on. The best indicator is apparently white marks on the finger nails which haven't been caused by knocks. I have lots! A great link on zinc is:

Open Original Shared Link

S x

My ND is wanting to do a "zinc talley". Some kind of test that determines if you need zinc or not. I am doing this next week so I'll let you guys know about it.

[Flor]

Hi you all,

I haven't checked in here for awhile -- been doing the low oxalate diet stuff. BUT I think candida is now the main issue. All these food intolerances (starting with gluten two years ago) come back to leaky gut from antibiotic and viral damage and stress. Anyway, questions I have about this below.

First though -- as someone who spent a year on various SSRIs for anxiety and depression, I wanted to throw in my two cents on that topic. I got ALL the side effects -- turns out I'm a slow metabolizer (related to the gut problems too) and so I don't clear the drugs through my liver as quickly as most and they build up to toxic levels. I do think Lexapro helped pull me out of a hole, but when I got beyond basic survival, the SSRIs were simply too much for me.

I haven't taken St. John's Wort -- you might check any liver toxicity issues on it (I think there are some). I took 5HTP and SAM-e and think they both helped. Fish oil helped as much as either of those two. And yoga. After awhile the 5HTP and SAM-e can have the same sexual side effects as the SSRIs, but it is gentler. I found a book called THE MOOD CURE to be very helpful overall in how to address anxiety/depression through supplements and diet.

On sinus stuff: my doc says that if the snot runs clear it's no infection but more likely allergies. I have friends who manifest all their candida issues in the sinuses and have had good results with Threelac. My candida is everywhere else besides my sinuses. But if the congestion doesn't go away and it's clear, then it's probably an airborne or food allergy.

Okay, HERE'S my question(s):

I've had multiple food intolerances, leaky gut, inflammed joints, chronic diarrhea, etc etc for two years. Every time I've eliminated a food group, I've had a few weeks of HUGE improvements (dairy, gluten, soy, corn, nightshade vegetables, high oxalate foods, beef and pork) followed by backsliding to square one.

The low oxalate diet (see thread in this section) seemed to have the most success for me, but again I've relapsed. (as an aside: my mental health has NOT relapsed except when eating gluten, so the anxiety/depression are under control -- the gut and joints are not).

I actually have NEW symptoms since going on the low oxalate diet (vulvar pain (!), burning shins, and increased candida symptoms). It seemed like my candida stuff was getting worse on the low oxalate diet. THEN, I read this stuff (which you don't have to read but can skip along to what I'm asking below):

Open Original Shared Link

This guy lays out some interesting theories about what predisposes someone to systemic candida -- and I fit the bill in many ways, including slow metabolizer and high calcium. There's interesting stuff there too about copper, zinc, and other issues we all talk about here.

The low oxalate diet calls for a huge increase in supplemented calcium because it apparently closes the tight junctions in a leaky gut so the bad molecules (like oxalates) don't get through. BUT, for someone with already high systemic calcium due to a slow metabolism, it was maybe making me more alkaline and creating an even better environment for the yeast.

And I've been reading how candida actually perforates the intestine and causes leaky gut. Which leads me to think that all this time I've been eliminating foods to give my gut a chance to heal, that now the candida is keeping the gut leaky and that no amount of food elimination is going to heal my gut until I kill the candida.

But here's the thing: my liver's weak and I don't think I can take the prescription anti-fungals.

So I've gone on a strict anti-candida diet, I've started taking Threelac, and a bunch of other supplements (caprylic acid, garlic, GSE, echinaceae).

I'd really appreciate hearing from other folks who have tackled or are tackling candida. The Threelac people actually recommend you NOT take all the other anti-yeast supplements because they may kill the good bacteria as well.

The other thing is I've clearly all my life had a predisposition to candida overgrowth -- it just took repeated antibiotics, the exhaustion of pregnancy and post-partum, and some bad viral and bacterial infections to kick me past a functional level. HOW, I wonder, does one address the underlying predisposition? Is there a way to make one's liver more efficient? Or to increase one's metabolism? Or to increase one's systemic acidity? Is there a way beyond a life-long battle against candida?

Would LOVE to hear any of your thoughts!

[aprilh]

Hi you all,

I haven't checked in here for awhile -- been doing the low oxalate diet stuff. BUT I think candida is now the main issue. All these food intolerances (starting with gluten two years ago) come back to leaky gut from antibiotic and viral damage and stress. Anyway, questions I have about this below.

First though -- as someone who spent a year on various SSRIs for anxiety and depression, I wanted to throw in my two cents on that topic. I got ALL the side effects -- turns out I'm a slow metabolizer (related to the gut problems too) and so I don't clear the drugs through my liver as quickly as most and they build up to toxic levels. I do think Lexapro helped pull me out of a hole, but when I got beyond basic survival, the SSRIs were simply too much for me.

I haven't taken St. John's Wort -- you might check any liver toxicity issues on it (I think there are some). I took 5HTP and SAM-e and think they both helped. Fish oil helped as much as either of those two. And yoga. After awhile the 5HTP and SAM-e can have the same sexual side effects as the SSRIs, but it is gentler. I found a book called THE MOOD CURE to be very helpful overall in how to address anxiety/depression through supplements and diet.

On sinus stuff: my doc says that if the snot runs clear it's no infection but more likely allergies. I have friends who manifest all their candida issues in the sinuses and have had good results with Threelac. My candida is everywhere else besides my sinuses. But if the congestion doesn't go away and it's clear, then it's probably an airborne or food allergy.

Okay, HERE'S my question(s):

I've had multiple food intolerances, leaky gut, inflammed joints, chronic diarrhea, etc etc for two years. Every time I've eliminated a food group, I've had a few weeks of HUGE improvements (dairy, gluten, soy, corn, nightshade vegetables, high oxalate foods, beef and pork) followed by backsliding to square one.

The low oxalate diet (see thread in this section) seemed to have the most success for me, but again I've relapsed. (as an aside: my mental health has NOT relapsed except when eating gluten, so the anxiety/depression are under control -- the gut and joints are not).

I actually have NEW symptoms since going on the low oxalate diet (vulvar pain (!), burning shins, and increased candida symptoms). It seemed like my candida stuff was getting worse on the low oxalate diet. THEN, I read this stuff (which you don't have to read but can skip along to what I'm asking below):

Open Original Shared Link

This guy lays out some interesting theories about what predisposes someone to systemic candida -- and I fit the bill in many ways, including slow metabolizer and high calcium. There's interesting stuff there too about copper, zinc, and other issues we all talk about here.

The low oxalate diet calls for a huge increase in supplemented calcium because it apparently closes the tight junctions in a leaky gut so the bad molecules (like oxalates) don't get through. BUT, for someone with already high systemic calcium due to a slow metabolism, it was maybe making me more alkaline and creating an even better environment for the yeast.

And I've been reading how candida actually perforates the intestine and causes leaky gut. Which leads me to think that all this time I've been eliminating foods to give my gut a chance to heal, that now the candida is keeping the gut leaky and that no amount of food elimination is going to heal my gut until I kill the candida.

But here's the thing: my liver's weak and I don't think I can take the prescription anti-fungals.

So I've gone on a strict anti-candida diet, I've started taking Threelac, and a bunch of other supplements (caprylic acid, garlic, GSE, echinaceae).

I'd really appreciate hearing from other folks who have tackled or are tackling candida. The Threelac people actually recommend you NOT take all the other anti-yeast supplements because they may kill the good bacteria as well.

The other thing is I've clearly all my life had a predisposition to candida overgrowth -- it just took repeated antibiotics, the exhaustion of pregnancy and post-partum, and some bad viral and bacterial infections to kick me past a functional level. HOW, I wonder, does one address the underlying predisposition? Is there a way to make one's liver more efficient? Or to increase one's metabolism? Or to increase one's systemic acidity? Is there a way beyond a life-long battle against candida?

Would LOVE to hear any of your thoughts!

Catesfolly,

I have been dealing with candida for over 1 1/2 years now - probably longer - but actively speaking.

I took Threelac but later after researching decided not to order it again because it has some soil based organisms in it which in some people can actually feed bad bacteria. Now, I am only taking a human strain probiotic called HMF by Genestra. Natren is a good brand also.

I have been doing antifungals - all the natural ones. I have never taken prescription and I have the liver issues as well. I actually became so sensitive to meds and even herbs that I had a test done through the ND. It was called a Liver Detoxification Profile through Genova Diagnostics. It revealed that my Phase II detox pathways were very sluggish therefore whatever I took built up in my body and did not get eliminated properly.

I take specific supplements for this which are mostly b vitamins. B12 shots, activated B6, L-Glutamine, molybdenum, NAC, folic acid- I think thats it. this has been working really well for me.

I would highly recommend checking out www.liverdoctor.com. I have 2 of her books and they are very helpful in dealing with liver issues and how to eat that actually heals the liver. This has also been helpful for me. A very good bi-product of eating right for the liver is an increase or balance in metabolism. When the liver is off - lots of issues can occur in the body!

Have you ever taken anything to heal leaky gut in the intestines? If you don't heal leaky gut then all the issues that go along with that don't ever get better. I took L-glutamine for this, but there are even better supplements that incorporate an anti-inflammatory action that I have heard some Rave about - that helped their joint pain also. I can find out the name if you want?.....

Candida puts off so many toxins that is why our livers become so burdened. Then once our livers become sluggish toxins start building up in the body ...and so on....Sometimes we can have a predisposition for sluggish liver genetically speaking, but who knows which come first. I think the important thing is to heal it and get it working the best it can.

Another thing that has helped me is to sweat. Either via detox baths or saunas. This takes the stress off the liver and kidneys and helps get things moving out.

Do you have metal fillings? Have you ever been tested for heavy metals?

April

[Rachel--24]

i cant get this to open for me, i ccp it and nothing, i type it in myself and nothing, can someone send it to me where i can just click on it, you can pm it to me if you want.

paula

For some reason the page isnt accessible right now.

Most of the Biohealth pages arent opening for me now. They were working fine earlier today...I listened to the Candida program earlier today....but its not opening right now. I'll try again tomorrow.

[confused]

Rachel,

I knew i should of listened earlier today but i wanted to wait til i got the kids in bed. Maybe they will be working when i get up before the kids tommorow lol.

paula

[Rachel--24]

And I've been reading how candida actually perforates the intestine and causes leaky gut. Which leads me to think that all this time I've been eliminating foods to give my gut a chance to heal, that now the candida is keeping the gut leaky and that no amount of food elimination is going to heal my gut until I kill the candida.

I spent a great deal of time researching candida a few years ago....and I still continue to learn more and more.

I know that this is not what you want to hear but "killing" the candida is not necessarily the answer. If you had no underlying issues your immune system would deal with candida on its own.

Candida is a part of our normal ecology....it has a purpose. When it gets out of control (usually after antibiotics) there are almost always things going on which ALLOW for that to happen. If candida is able to invade the intestines...something isnt right. The immune system doesnt normally allow for that to happen.

If a person has no underlying issues (heavy metals, bacteria infections, parasites, etc) candida is usually easily treated and does not require years of dietary restrictions to get it under control.

I think the majority of posters here have initially been diagnosed with candida...either by an ND or self-diagnosed...but found that they could not "conquer" it. You can keep it at bay....you can really relieve alot of symptoms by addressing the overgrowth....but in most cases you would need to get to the root cause in order to truelly get your body back in balance so that the yeast is no longer an issue.

The overgrowth is a symptom...when it overgrows your body is telling you that something isnt quite right. You cant ever really kill off the candida since its not foreign to the body...it actually belongs there...just not in such large amounts. You can get it under control but if the problem which has allowed for it to overgrow in the first place is left unattended...the yeast will always come right back when you go off the diet or stop treatment.

I have not seen anything to convince me otherwise in over 3 years of researching this stuff and from listenening to what the Dr.'s have learned in their experience dealing with candida.

While I do believe that treating the candida is an important step...I dont think it will solve all of your problems with leaky gut.

I wish the link were working for the program in which a Dr. discusses candida (and its causes) in great detail. Hopefully it will be working later on because it really does explain it all very well.

I have gotten my own candida under control at different times when I've actively treated it and "starved" it....but it did not change what isnt right in my body. It did not cure my leaky gut and it did not change the fact that I still couldnt eat all of the foods which I'd become intolerant to. I DID feel better...but never did I regain what I'd lost...which was my health.

Until now....the candida has always come back with a vengeance if I dared go off the diet. I think its finally improving...but its not to the point where its become a non-issue. Today I had my 5th chelation treatment which I believe has made the biggest difference to date. Next step is parasites...which I start treatment for in 3 weeks (next full moon). I was diagnosed with having a tapeworm....no doubt there are lots of other parasites...they are very difficult to test for.

If you just look at the candida...you will overlook the other factors which are preventing your immune system from keeping the yeast in check. When your gut is overrun by pathogens its not usually just yeast your dealing with....but bacteria, parasites, etc.

I wish I could tell you its as easy as treating the candida....but I just havent seen that yet. You would basically be treating a symptom...and not the root cause. For some people this is good enough and they are content to stay on the diet for life....it just depends on what road you want to go down.

HOW, I wonder, does one address the underlying predisposition? Is there a way to make one's liver more efficient? Or to increase one's metabolism? Or to increase one's systemic acidity? Is there a way beyond a life-long battle against candida?

The answer to all of the above is YES. You can certainly improve your overall health....candida doesnt have to be...nor should it be a life-long battle. If you work with the right Dr.'s and if you can get the proper testing done....you can pinpoint what has caused so much stress to your system and deal with it. Thats really the way to bring down the candida...once its back to its commensal state and your immune system is strong enough to keep it there...it wont come back.

Personally, I dont look at candida as the enemy anymore....its actually the things which DONT belong in my body that have caused this problem to develop. Those are the things that need to be addressed. I'm trying to clean up my body so that my elimination organs can do their job more efficiently, so that my immune system is less burdened and so these pathogenic organisms dont continue to get a foothold in an environment which has allowed for them to thrive.

All of these things are very treatable. Most of us have found ourselves in a situation where the pathogens have gotten the upperhand but it doesnt have to stay that way. We can turn things around on them....many of us are already having alot of success in this area.

[Rachel--24]

April had some good suggestions for detoxing and helping the liver.

I take a suuplement for the liver....2 Dr.'s have both said it tests great for me so I continue to take it.

I'm taking Ketotifen to help heal leaky gut.

I do FIR saunas, chelation, detox baths, occassional enemas and I may be looking into colonics when I start my parasite treatment.

Its about the only thing I've been hesitant to do but my Dr. recommended it since there will be alot of die-off with this treatment. I've read enough to realize that I may suffer alot if I dont help myself remove those toxins.

In addition to those things I take a few different supplements to give my body support where its needed.

I'll be starting probiotics after my first round of the parasite treatment.

Theres not alot of focus on taking supplements or other things to heal my gut at this point. Right now the focus is on clearing out the infections and adding in the good bacteria. Once we've accomplished that I think we will focus more on the healing.