Candida/infection

[Guest tamedandfoxed]

So if i still have an infection but am 99% certain it is caused by candida, even though Dr's say it is bacterial-- Am i correct in refusing to take more anti-biotics???

[wowzer]

That is what I would do. I seem to be in that vicious cycle too. My doctor did let me try taking diflocan when I had a sinus infection. I will say I get fewer of them since going gluten free. I had found an article that I took into him about candida and sinus. I seem to get it under control for awhile and then loose it again. I just need to keep eating yogurt all of the time. I seem to stop when I get rid of it. I am actually going to the doctor on Monday. I am thinking that I need to take the diflocan longer. I probably really never get rid of it. If I have to take an antiobiotic now I always ask for diflocan too. Good Luck. Let me know how it goes for you.

[AliB]

So if i still have an infection but am 99% certain it is caused by candida, even though Dr's say it is bacterial-- Am i correct in refusing to take more anti-biotics???

I posted on your other thread (I think you must have clicked on New Topic instead of Reply).

I am not a doctor, but is seems fairly obvious to me that if the anti-biotics aren't working, despite the doctors assurance that it is bacterial, then it can't be the bacteria that is causing the infection, or if it is it is not responding!

Anti-biotics, rather than help the situation are actually likely to make it worse if it is not bacterial as they will kill the good bacteria in your system making way for the fungals to have a whale of a time!

My take on this is that any 'external' manifestation of bacterial or fungal overgrowth - there are many different bacteria/fungals that exist on and in our bodies from our head to our toes, from Tinea Capitis or Candida on the scalp causing dandruff to Thrush or similar infections, to 'Jock Itch' or similar infestations in the 'sweaty' areas to Athlete's Foot, is an indication that we are riddled with bad bacteria inside and out.

It is there because we allow it to be there. We feed it, and clothe it and keep it warm! It likes to feed on what we like to feed on. The more carbohydrates and sugar we consume, the happier it is. We upset the ecological balance of our bodies then we go to the doctor who gives us drugs that upset it even further!

I am sorry to say this. There ain't no shortcut. The ONLY way to get our bodies back into a healthy state is to eat healthily. Radically cut the carbs, avoid sugar like the plague, cut dairy except for well fermented PLAIN yogurt and a little hard cheese if you can tolerate it, and enjoy feasting on fresh, unprocessed meats, fish and fowl, beautiful vegetable and fruits and sweeten with a little honey once the 'bad' bacteria is under control. You stop craving the sweet stuff surprisingly quickly once you stop eating it. The more you have the more you want - conversely, the less you have the less you want.

This is a lifetime diet. Unfortunately, if you go back to eating the way you have been, you will end up back where you have been. Look at healthy communities that do not eat sugar and carbs - they do not get bacterial and fungal infections like we do, in fact they get few if any of our Western illnesses and diseases! Why? The difference between their diet and ours is our overwhelming Carbohydrate consumption.

[Rachel--24]

Personally, I do not believe that the anti-candida diet is (nor should it be) a lifetime diet. If you have a chronic condition that is manageable while on the diet...but is quick to return as soon as there is "infraction".....this means that the immune system is not able to keep the yeast in check as it would in a healthy body.

Yeast is opportunistic....if conditions in the body are favorable for yeast overgrowth it will persist as long as those underlying issues are left untreated. The diet can manage the infection...but in most cases of chronic yeast the problem does not resolve without identifying and addressing factors that are allowing it to persist.

If underlying issues are addressed a person need not stay on a restricted diet for life.

When the immune system is not burdened by other factors it does not allow yeast to get "out of control".

Its certainly a good idea to eat healthy and avoid processed food but the anti-candida diet is not meant to be life-long. Yeast is a symptom....so when you have an ongoing problem with it....its an indication that something isn't right in the body.

[Guest tamedandfoxed]

I posted on your other thread (I think you must have clicked on New Topic instead of Reply).

I am not a doctor....

Well i don't think this will be a lifetime thing for me. I'm pretty sure the 5 rounds of antibiotics had something to do with it. but i am going to use the next three months (god i hope not that long) to try and be as dedicated as i can with it. I got my food lists from thewholeapproach.com i think tha'ts the link. i mean, i've always been steered toward carbs and sugars so this is a good thing for me to do even if i wasn't having health issues. i do hope to eventually have some of my favorites again (sans gluten of course

[AliB]

I 'hear' what you say Rachel and do believe that to a certain extent you are right. However, we have to ask ourselves why the candida has got out of hand in the first place. Why is the immune system compromised?

Ok, so those who are gluten intolerant/Celiac need to stop the gluten. So why, after they have done that do they not all get well? Apparently it seems that they may also have further intolerances, like dairy, corn, etc. Why do they have the intolerances? Because their immune systems are compromised by antagonists within the body.

We can do the Anti-Candida diet for a short period, but the body and the immune system needs time to recover. That will not happen within a few weeks. Candida and its ilk sets up so much inflammation in the body that getting rid of the Candida is only the start of the process. Actually we never get 'rid' of it. It is a normal part of the flora. It only becomes a problem when it is allowed and encouraged to proliferate by what we put in our mouths.

If we start to re-introduce the carbs and sugar before the body has fully recovered and the immune system is fully operational, then we run the risk of ending up back where we started. Who knows how long that would take? All it would take is one dose of Anti-biotics and you're back at the bottom of the pile. Only if we have built our body up and kept it clean and healthy by not bombarding it with rubbish, the immune system then might actually be strong enough to be able to fight off any invader without the need for drug support.

I have a friend who NEVER catches colds. Her immune system is so strong it kicks them out before they ever get a hold. I had a strong immune system for a while after I went low-carb a few years ago, but I stupidly re-introduced the carbs and sugar and have caught virtually every cold going since! That is enough to prove it to me. My body just does not tolerate carbs per se.

Everyone seems to regard this diet as a pariah! Just because it means that they cannot have the bread and the bagels and the cake and the cookies! Will we die without them? Do the communities that don't indulge in these foods die without them? They exist quite happily and healthily without ever having the high-carb high-sugar foods. We only want them because they are there. If they weren't, we wouldn't.

For those of us for whom gluten is just a small part of the problem, this is the way we will generally have to eat for life. It is not a punishment. If it keeps us well then it is a blessing. We may well be very occasionally able to tolerate a small amount of carbohydrate and be glad for it. Some have found that they cannot even risk that. But every one of us would greatly benefit from restricting the amount of carbohydrate and sugar we consume on a daily basis because we would all be the better for it.

[moldlady]

Once the funugs/candida has gotten into the body it morphs into other stages. It can grow mycelia deep into the tissues and send "seeds" through out the body. So if one has had systemic infection for a period of time, it is very difficult to get rid of it.

I agree that a "beat up" immune system can make fungus and bad bacteria thrive. A celiac condition and also heavy metals and other toxic substances that inhibit health.

In order to overcome, one has to eat right to keep the fungus in check UNTIL the immune system can get back to normal.

[Rachel--24]

I 'hear' what you say Rachel and do believe that to a certain extent you are right. However, we have to ask ourselves why the candida has got out of hand in the first place. Why is the immune system compromised?

Exactly...and while diet plays a role...it is not necessarily the reason for a compromised immune system. If the immune system is so burdened that yeast has become a life-long battle (despite a healthy diet) there is definately more to it than eating a gluten-free bagel or one cookie.

Sure....those things DO feed yeast...and as long as yeast is a problem it will continue to thrive on these foods. As long as the body is out of balance the yeast will ALWAYS proliferate when fed. If digestion is impaired and foods are not broken down and digested as they should be....there will always be food for pathogens to thrive on.

We do need to ask ourselves why the candida has gotten out of hand....if we do not ask ourselves that question and if we do not seek the answer...its unlikely that the candida situation will ever be resolved.

In over 3 years of research and spending time on message boards I have yet to see one person resolve chronic candida with diet/antifungal treatments. It just doesnt happen. Symptoms are definately reduced while on the diet but they do return if the diet is abandoned.

The Dr.'s that I talk to do not treat yeast as a condition....they see it as a symptom and they then look for the underlying issues which are commonly assocciated with weakened immunity and chronic candida.

The ONLY people that I know of who have recovered their health and are able to eat a normal diet (without worrying about yeast flaring up) are those who have treated their underlying issues.

Ok, so those who are gluten intolerant/Celiac need to stop the gluten. So why, after they have done that do they not all get well? Apparently it seems that they may also have further intolerances, like dairy, corn, etc. Why do they have the intolerances? Because their immune systems are compromised by antagonists within the body.

Yes...and yeast is not likely to be the only antagnosit. Its never *just* yeast that is causing the problem. The immune system simply cannot get a hold on the yeast when there are other issues going on. Chronic candida = undiagnosed underlying issues.

Candida belongs in the body (in its commensal form)....however, its the things which do not belong in the body that weaken the immune system and allow for candida to become pathogenic. Once this occurs those things need to be addressed in order to regain health.

It only becomes a problem when it is allowed and encouraged to proliferate by what we put in our mouths.

Yes....and one of the biggest contributers to candida overgrowth is mercury in the body. Where does the mercury come from?? The biggest source of mercury exposure is from amalgam fillings. There is a very strong link between mercury and candida.

If we start to re-introduce the carbs and sugar before the body has fully recovered and the immune system is fully operational, then we run the risk of ending up back where we started. Who knows how long that would take? All it would take is one dose of Anti-biotics and you're back at the bottom of the pile

How long would that take? I think it would take a lifetime if the immune system remains compromised. If the immune system is healthy one dose of antibiotics should not put anyone at the bottom of the pile. It does not take the immune system long to get candida under control when no other factors are getting in the way. Chronic candida is a symptom of a weakened immune system and should never be treated as the sole cause of illness.

Only if we have built our body up and kept it clean and healthy by not bombarding it with rubbish, the immune system then might actually be strong enough to be able to fight off any invader without the need for drug support.

I agree....but once the damage has been done it often takes more than an anti-candida diet to restore health. You do need to clean up the body in order to unburden the immune system. If mercury and other toxins are stored in the body the immune system will remain compromised. Unfortuately thats the reality of it. Until you do something to address it the immune system remains compromised and the body is a playground for yeast, bacteria, parasites, etc.

Everyone seems to regard this diet as a pariah! Just because it means that they cannot have the bread and the bagels and the cake and the cookies! Will we die without them?

I dont think this is always the case. There are a great deal of people who are committed to their health and who will do ANYTHING to recover....including spending months (or years) on very restrictive diets. I've done it myself and I continue to this day.

I dont see it as a "cure"....I follow whatever diet is necessary to keep symptoms at bay while also treating the underlying issues.

I have a friend who NEVER catches colds. Her immune system is so strong it kicks them out before they ever get a hold.

For some reason I also never catch a cold. My immune system takes care of viruses...they dont stand a chance. It doesnt matter what my diet is like....whether or not I'm eating sugar....I still dont catch a cold. We're all different. Regardless, I do have plenty of other issues that I'm dealing with.

For anyone who's interested there are a couple very imformative interviews with Dr.'s who treat the underlying issues contributing to yeast overgrowth....with a correct diagnosis and with the right treatment this situation can be resolved.

I think Autism is a great example of this. The majority of these kids (about 85%) have gut issues...alot of them are dealing with yeast....raging yeast. Many of them recover when they are treated for all the things contributing to their condition. Its not the same for every kid (autism is multifactorial) but when the right treatments are used they CAN recover.

Just because they HAD raging yeast does not mean that they require a lifelong diet to maintain their restored health. Many are able to resume a normal diet once they've had treatments to correct imbalances in the body as well as treatments to help detoxification, treatments to treat infections (bacteria, virus, parasites, yeast, etc.), etc. etc.

Its all about taking the burdens off of the immune system....once you do that....yeast should not be an issue...even if you do decide to indulge in a huge plate of pasta....with a slice of cake for desert.

Heres the links to the interviews.

Open Original Shared Link

#18..."Clearing Up the Candida Confusion"

Open Original Shared Link

Scroll to bottom of the page. Info. about the connection between chronic infections (particularly candida) and mercury.

[Guest tamedandfoxed]

Yes....and one of the biggest contributers to candida overgrowth is mercury in the body. Where does the mercury come from?? The biggest source of mercury exposure is from amalgam fillings. There is a very strong link between mercury and candida.

how much does it cost to have fillings replaced?? I know they wear out in about 5 years. I have 12 fillings though. I've thought about this for awhile now--i certainly don't have tons of cash to fling around--quite the opposite actually. Does insurance cover such a thing??

[Rachel--24]

how much does it cost to have fillings replaced?? I know they wear out in about 5 years. I have 12 fillings though. I've thought about this for awhile now--i certainly don't have tons of cash to fling around--quite the opposite actually. Does insurance cover such a thing??

Getting the fillings removed can be costly. I cant recall if insurance covered anything when mine were taken out. I only had 4....the removal of the first two is actually what cost me my health. I was uninformed....I didnt know anything about mercury at the time.

Those two were most likely covered by insurance....my dentist drilled them out and replaced them because they were deteriorating (one was broken). I'd had them since childhood. There were no safety precautions....no mention of detox/chelation after the fillings were removed...no mention of mercury at all. It was after they were drilled out that I started having neurological symptoms, thyroid problems, increased sensitivities to food and chemicals, etc. Prior to that I was healthy (as far as I knew) and symptom-free.

I was on diasability about 8 weeks after the fillings were removed. During that time Dr.'s had no clue what was going on and I was prescribed antibiotics. The gut problems worsened significantly after each round of antibiotics.

I started to educate myself and had the two remaining amalgams taken out by a biological dentist who used every saftey precaution so as to limit my exposure to mercury.

If a person is already sick removing the fillings can make the situation much worse if not done safely.

Theres alot to learn about how to protect yourself during the removal process. With 12 fillings it would take some time to get them out...they shouldnt be taken out all at once and there should be enough time in between removals to allow the body to detox (with help from supplements) and for the immune system to recover.

No matter how careful the dentist is there will inevitably be some exposure....but too much in a short time can overwhelm the immune system to the point that it becomes difficult to recover without alot of intervention.

If at some point you decide to have them removed I would recommend doing as much research as you can on the subject before you jump into it. If you're informed and have a good plan for detoxing mercury following each removal you will be much better off. I would not recommend having it done by a dentist who does not acknowledge the dangers of these fillings. I would recommend a mercury-free biological dentist.

Mercury is extremely toxic and a huge burden on the immune system. Sometimes if that burden is not lifted a person is unable to recover from chronic illness. The immune system is just not able to ever keep any infection in check, the gut remains unhealthy, there may be many imbalances in the body....all of this compromises the immune system and prevents the body from healing.

You can have tests done to try to determine whether or not mercury is an issue (this is not done by conventional Dr.s) If it is a problem...having the fillings removed can be the best investment you ever make.