Candida albicans

[Songwriter]

Can anyone tell me if there is anything new on this affliction? I am male, it is mostly known as a female problem. For many years, 15-20, I have suspected I have a candida problem. Like, severe. If I take any 'symptomatology' questionaire, I score super high (bad). I have gone to docs. About ten years ago, I went to a ENT doc who was supposedly more up on it than other docs. At that time, it was still this "we are not sure about this condition." There was no test to confirm a diagnosis. Kind of a vague thing. Has anything changed?

[Benay]

Bill, did you ever get an answer to your question? I don't see any replies. I find that I have the problem as a result of an antiobiotic treatment for a URI. Apparently I have had it for over 6 weeks with no abatement of symptoms. From my Google search, it seems that the Acidophilus plus medication recommended by Atkins in his chapter on yeast infections, an alkaline environment and abstinence from all sugars (including all products made from milk) and molds such as mushrooms and vinegars is critical to controlling the infestation and restoring healthy bacterial flora in the gut.

Is there anything I am missing? I could sure use some help with this nagging problem.

[Dharmalisa]

I think I'm dealing with this problem right now, so I'm resurrecting this thread, or trying to. Apparently no one else here has had this problem. But I think it's responsible for my carb cravings.

Here are the top 10 foods to avoid with a yeast/fungus problem:
Alcoholic beverages
Corn
Wheat
Barley
Sugar
Sorghum
Peanuts
Rye
Cottonseed
Hard cheeses

My only 2 foods on that list that I eat pretty regularly are the alcohol and cheese.

I'm starting a supplement for yeast/fungus overgrowth. I took one 150 mg tablet of Diflucan that I had gotten 'in case' I got a yeast infection after taking antibiotics in July. I was expecting a vaginal infection but I think it's everywhere now and not so concentrated there. I was smelling smoke constantly before I took the Diflucan and that went away the next day. I've had sinus issues that will not resolve, which is a good sign there is fungus in my sinuses. I have had facial swelling several times. Also the digestive issues that go with yeast: gas, cramping, burning, intolerance to MANY foods. Recently when I drank two beers one afternoon I was doubled over with pain that night.

So my attempt at fixing this problem will be to limit alcohol, take the anti-fungal supplements, NO grains, NO sugar, keep cleansing my sinuses with salt water and an anti-fungal treatment (tea tree oil and some other stuff that really burns - but seems to help). Also, I've been using progesterone cream for the last year, and come to find out it is one of the worst things for yeast overgrowth. So I'm gonna try to stop it too, and hopefully the symptoms it was helping won't return.

I'd love to blame my inability to lose weight on this......at the least it can't hurt since the same foods that cause fungus cause weight gain - mainly carbs and alcohol!! Just hoping the cravings will lessen as the fungus problem gets under control.

[Gaelen]

So my attempt at fixing this problem will be to limit alcohol, take the anti-fungal supplements, NO grains, NO sugar, keep cleansing my sinuses with salt water and an anti-fungal treatment (tea tree oil and some other stuff that really burns - but seems to help). Also, I've been using progesterone cream for the last year, and come to find out it is one of the worst things for yeast overgrowth. So I'm gonna try to stop it too, and hopefully the symptoms it was helping won't return.

Dharmalisa, 'limiting' alcohol to control yeast overgrowth is like only giving a fire a 'little' oxygen...the fire will still burn and smolder, and any real taste it gets of oxygen will make it flare up fast. You need to put alcohol on your do not consume list, and you need to really stick to it. Yeah, I know--will power. But if you want to get rid of the problem, you have to be willing to fight the problem as hard as it's willing to fight in your system.

I'm not a tee-totaler, by any means, but under some conditions you simply cannot indulge. And yeast issues are trickly--if you have a persistent issue with yeast, you may have to go 'dry' permanently.

[Dharmalisa]

Thanks for the input Gaelen. Alcohol really sabotages weight loss for me also, so yea, likely it needs to be on my No-No list for awhile.

My symptoms have calmed down a lot as of yesterday. Yesterday was my first day to go without having sugar or grains - it was a very low carb day for me. I lost 2 pounds too.

I read another post yesterday on a fungus forum that said that progesterone actually HELPS yeast. Geez I wish it was a little more cut and dry on the hormone issue. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is related to estrogen somehow too. My Burning Mouth started last year after losing a bunch of weight rather quickly. Maybe the extra estrogen stored in my fat was released and caused estrogen dominance - hence the reason the progesterone cream worked since it opposes estrogen. BCP are notorious for causing yeast too, and I was on them forever (but have been off for 10 years now).

I discovered that coffee is both estrogenic AND fungus plagued, and when I stay away from coffee and caffeine my Burning Mouth problem is MUCH better.

So, I have to give up 2 of my most favorite things - coffee and wine - to see improvements. Some days I think it's worth it, some days NOT!!!

[back2me2007]

I don't know if this will help but I was on antibiotics for 3 months for lymes. I had a bad canidia proble. I used a DR NATURA cleansing program and it kicked it to the curb along with probiotics.

[Janson Jackson]

I had an extremely bad experience with Candida. Really it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it led to me PP! My problem was in the form of a rash though so my motivation to get rid of it was higher since i could see it. The rash covered my entire body from my shoulders to ankles, was most severe in my underarms (which was where it first showed up first) and itched so severely that it became painful. I took an anti yeast/fungal herb combo and adopted the purist approach with a few extra restrictions (no fungi food, seed/nuts or fruit) to rid myself of this problem in just a little over a month. I also lost 18lbs, gained a huge amount of energy, quit a bad drinking habit, and found a real solution to resolve health issues.

[Karole]

Hi, Janson, welcome to the board and thanks for the input and info on how you solved this problem. The "side" effects weren't bad either (weight loss, more energy, more healthful life) It is great to hear of the positive results other folks have.

We were almost close to your neighborhood this week end as we have a lot of family in Henderson and had planned a few days visit til we let the weatherman talk us into staying here in Mo. We'll try it again one of these days. I haven't been to Owensboro in a while, but remember going there to eat at the Moonlight BBQ place several years ago. Take care and keep on going for your health !!

[lisanurse81]

Have you tried adding caprylic acid? It is naturally found in coconut oil which you can buy at a health food stores or some grocery chains. (walmart and publix sell it here in the south) It helps to kill the excess yeast in the digetive tract and has helped me overcome my yeast syptoms better than just acidophilus and keifer alone. (don't worry, it has no coconutty taste - I use Lou Anns brand to cook everything)

[LisaS]

hey lisanurse81 - you might want to check the date on the threads before you reply - you are waking up some really old threads here

[Karole]

Hey, I'm glad to know about the coconut oil--my dh has yeast problems at times esp after antibiotics. And I will look for the coconut cooking oil as I like to use it but don't like the taste with some of the dishes.