Blaah... I Think I Have Candida

[aikiducky]

I put this in "coping..." because I really just need some encouragement.

I have a yeast infection that won't go away, white coating on my tongue, and anything with sugar will give me horrible stomach rumbles, gas and bloating. Yippee!

Anyway, I don't really need advice, just a little sympathy would be nice.

I've been completely sugar free (even fruit) for two days now, taking a strong probiotic and vit. C, and drinking loads of water, and I feel, well, my mouth doesn't tingle anymore and my stomach is quiet, but I feel in general just a bit unwell. I think it might be the die off. Yuck. Able to function though which is important because I'm self-employed and my boss doesn't like it when I call in sick...

And my in-laws are coming to visit and they were going to bring my favorite chocolate muffins, and now I won't be able to eat them. And I just found a new gluten free candy, didn't get to try that one yet either. And who knows how long it'll take before I can, I hear it can take months to get this bugger under control. I hope I can add fruit back soon at least, I'm already sick of broccoli, lol.

Bah, time to go teach. Enough with the pity party.

Pauliina

[CarlaB]

I feel for you! I started out thinking all this was a candida problem because I had just been on antibiotics, and it probably was ... on top of the gluten problem. I stayed off the sugar and simple carbs for six months! Hang in there, the die off can be bad. Now I don't particularly even like sweets, but had to get rid of that addiction first. You said you don't need candida advice, so I won't give you any, but here's some coping advice, find something else you love that doesn't have sugar. For me, it's coffee at Starbucks. When anyone gets on me for drinking it every day, I just tell them to lay off, I'm not giving it up, too!! It's my new "sweets". When I was really into cutting out the sugar, I'd get lattes made with half-and-half because it has less lactose (sugar) than milk. Now that was indulgent!

[aikiducky]

Six months? Yikes.

Thanks for the encouragement though. I don't really eat a lot of sweets really, but I love raisins and dates and fruit in general. Hopefully that is something I can add back in after a while.

Munching on some celery

Pauliina

[CarlaB]

The symptoms for me were joint pain and fatigue. I have had stomach issues all my life, but thought that was normal since it was normal for me. After the antibiotics for three weeks, the joint pain and fatigue set in, so I assumed it was candida. Guess what, after taking out the carbs, I felt better and gained almost 10 pounds! That was strange to me since everyone else loses weight on a low-carb diet. Then I realized I could add back sugar, but not wheat. Ended up being a gluten intolerance, which explains the weight gain, but I avoided the carbs for six months thinking it was candida. Every time I'd "test" to see if it was okay, it was by eating a brownie and the joint pain and fatigue woud come back. Eventually I also got the other classic celiac symptoms. There could have also been a candida issue, but I don't know ... I could hardly bend my knee the joint pain was so bad, and candida can go into your joints.

Anyway, after I hadn't eaten sweets in so long, now I hardly eat them at all and this all happened three years ago. Hmmm, sounds like candida may have played a part too.

[Susan123]

Well I am the opposite I am coping pretty well but need some advice. I was on antibiotics for about a month. Prior to that I was on antibiotics for 2 weeks a month before. The Yeast infection never quite went away... creams would help but then a couple of days later I would be back to itchiness. I was on diflucan for a month and a half and it never really seemed to do anything. Now I am back on Diflucan for long term. My doctor says that if a patient doesn't respond they need to go on longer like 3 months. After all that he said if it doesn't work he wants to do a biopsy of my vulva to see if something else might be going on. I was reluctant of doing this because he said he stills sees yeast under the microscope. My question is this normal to have a yeast infection for 5 months on and off. Also, any suggestions as to what to do>

[CarlaB]

I'd take a probiotic supplement. I do not know which ones are gluten-free, maybe someone else can answer. I'd take one that is a combination of different bacterias, not just a single bacteria. If you can tolerate dairy, eat yogurt and kifir. The yeast need an enemy, and the bacteria is their enemy. They also need to starve, and simple carbs feed them.

I read the Yeast Connection years ago and found it to be a big help.

Carla

[Susan123]

Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately I took a probiotic for a month and have been eating yogurt everyday for the last year. That is why I am not sure what to do next??

[CarlaB]

Try taking a probiotic again; more of the bacteria will get to where it needs to go than with the yogurt. Also really watch that you're not feeding the yeast.

[StrongerToday]

My dr. put me on two weeks of Diflucan. He warned me the die off would make it worse before it got better - and he was right!!

[BoulderEm]

ok since we're talking about yeast infections, i hope no one gets grossed out if i go into some details...last week i thought i had a yeast infection..so i got monistat and have been eating yogurt every day....the only thing is, the monistat (its the insertable with applicator kind) seems to really irritate the whole area for about an hour...is this a sign of the infection "dying off"??

also, the past few days i have had really really odd discharge - it doesn't smell but has a greenish tinge...any thoughts?

again, sorry to get graphic...i really dont' want to go to a doctor again....

thanks

Emily

[jerseyangel]

ok since we're talking about yeast infections, i hope no one gets grossed out if i go into some details...last week i thought i had a yeast infection..so i got monistat and have been eating yogurt every day....the only thing is, the monistat (its the insertable with applicator kind) seems to really irritate the whole area for about an hour...is this a sign of the infection "dying off"??

also, the past few days i have had really really odd discharge - it doesn't smell but has a greenish tinge...any thoughts?

again, sorry to get graphic...i really dont' want to go to a doctor again....

thanks

Emily

I use Monistat for the occasional yeast infection--it does irritate the area initally--I'm not sure why. As for your discharge, it does not sound like yeast to me. I would give the doctor a call--I know you don't want to, but if it is another type of infection, you should find out and begin treating it as soon as possible

[CarlaB]

I agree, it sounds like another type of infection. Call your doc!

Also, you all may want to watch what soap you use, I know anything with any kind of fragrance will cause me problems.

[aikiducky]

Thought I'd post an update... I feel much much better today! I had a couple days of feeling really toxic, I felt like a slimy slug really, a hard to describe feeling. Even my poo smelled mouldy... But yesterday towards the evening it started getting better and today I feel pretty much like myself again!

I know it's going to take a long time to really get it under control, so I'm sticking to my sugarfree mostly carb free diet, but I did eat a banana this morning with my probiotics (I thought the little buggers would also like to eat the banana) and it didn't give me any bloating or gas. Yay!

I bought some almonds and seeds to nibble on, since I can't have any sweets. Thanks for the idea to think of a different kind of treat!

Pauliina

[Guinevere]

ok since we're talking about yeast infections, i hope no one gets grossed out if i go into some details...last week i thought i had a yeast infection..so i got monistat and have been eating yogurt every day....the only thing is, the monistat (its the insertable with applicator kind) seems to really irritate the whole area for about an hour...is this a sign of the infection "dying off"??

also, the past few days i have had really really odd discharge - it doesn't smell but has a greenish tinge...any thoughts?

again, sorry to get graphic...i really dont' want to go to a doctor again....

thanks

Emily

================================================

two things:

one - stop the monistat - you're having what seems like an allergic reaction to it (been there, done that)

second - you probably do not have a yeast infection, it sounds bacterial and MUST be diagnosed by your OB. (sorry, i know that's a bummer).

i've had years of female stuff, especially ph imbalance and bacterial imbalance (i'm sure due to gluten/liver/hormone/i could go on and on). its a real drag.

i take three kinds of probiotics, i believe they're all guten free. they're all enteric coated and i have had really good results so far.

i know its hard being sugar free after having to maintain such a rigorous diet with the gluten-free stuff, but i think its common for celiac people to have some candidas, especially if they've been on any antibiotics for any length of time.

[aikiducky]

The strange thing is I don't even remember when I would have been on antibiotics the last time. When I was really little. So I wonder what made it break out like that just now, unless it was just that the weather turned very warm very suddenly.

The banana was maybe not such a good idea after all. I think it just slowed down the die off and that's why I was feeling better. Oh well. I'm ok really, this is peanuts compared to how sick some people are.

Pauliina

[key]

Lowered immune system, too much sugar, even fruits and juices. I have struggled with yeast for years on and off. I have gone a year without any infections. I had one last month and just used Monistat. It worked. I think though, that I have it in my GI tract and maybe that is why I have this rumbly feeling in my lower stomach. It is strange to say the least. WHen I go to bed at night, my belly just doesn't seem calm, ever at night. It is much worse at night. I don't understand it. I need to follow a stricter diet I am sure, but it is very hard with so many restrictions all ready. I find real soda or eating tons of sweets triggers it for me.

MOnica

[aikiducky]

It's true that i've been eating quite a lot of fruit lately, I love fruit and it's become my new treat really. And i recently discovered a department store here in town carries gluten free candy, so I've had more of that than in a long time...duh.

What got me to go sugar free last weekend was I started to have a really rumbly stomach, too, among other things. I already had a yeast infection before that, but I had got that under control, then with the rumbly stomach it came back. So I figured it was all through my GI tract and not just down there, and decided to really try and kill the yeast this time. I got to say, as far as the rumbly stomach goes it's working, it's been nice and quiet again.

I just had celery-broccoli-spinach soup for dinner, with some chicken on the side. I used a mixer to make it really smooth and velvety, and mixed in some goats cheese as well, the kind that has been made soft by some kind of salt, you know? that you can spread on bread? Anyway, the soup was really good! The celery gave it a bit of a spicy taste, and the cheese rounded it nicely. My husband thinks it looks scary though because it's so green...

Pauliina