Undiagnosed circle of hell.

cltt97

I would hope so, but you know what it is like going to specialists, you want to have an educated opinion yourself going in there! I only almost finished reading the book and there are a lot of things in there - such as what type of tests to do to confirm some of the conditions and what type of causes there might be to begin with, so it might be worth having a read prior to going to see the specialist. I have learnt the hard way and I'm now driving my own treatment - I get the tests I want and the medication I want and I get an informed say in how I'm being treated! And whilst I haven't suceeded yet, at least I still have a few options open that yet need to be tested and I've established a real good relationship with my endo who is willing to go along with most of what I want to do. But I didn't know half of my options before I started reading and researching and exchanging views with fellow sufferers on forums like this one...

dlofnep

What's the name of this book? I'll buy it tonight if it's online.

cltt97

Hard to stomach by Dr Mc Kenna (he has a clinic in Kildare)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Stomach-Solutions-Digestive-Problems/dp/0717133699

dlofnep

Thank you, your order has been placed.

Done

cltt97

Cool, I hope you'll get something out of it!

dlofnep

I'm more than happy to read anything that might assist me

dlofnep

Sending off final test tomorrow (adrenal profile), and then some blood work during the week and hopefully I'll be back up to drummartin by the end of the month.

Feeling relatively good today. Don't feel too bad, brain fog is only mild. If I felt like this everyday it would be tolerable! Although, at any given second I can go back to feeling terrible, so I'll cherish this while it lasts.

Got the book in the door friday btw. Had a read through it - good so far. I have a feeling candida plays a role for sure, given my reaction to gluten & yeast. The diet looks really tough however. I think it's best that I pop up to Dr. McKenna if I don't get anything back from Drummartin, but fingers crossed as I'm still waiting on stool sample results there - and also, a camera check with the local gastrologist.

cltt97

Yes, I agree, the diet looks scary... haven't attempted it myself yet either. Well keep us posted on how everything goes!

trishasaffron

Hi

I've been meaning to post to this thread for a while. I've spent years trying to get to the bottom of various unspecific mental fog, aches and pains, exhaustion type problems. Its a lot better now - but I have had to curtail what was a perhaps over active lifestyle.

Candida has always rung a bell for me. Not in the sense of thrush - so don't rule it out if you don't have much or any thrush. I feel it as an internal candida - and think I'm highly sensitive to moulds (e.g. foods such as mushrooms), sugars and yeast. I have found Brendan Fitzpatrick http://www.slievemore-clinic.com/department.php?page=127 pretty good. At least because he's a conventional doc as well as holistic it can shut up some of the people who are sceptical.

Good luck to all sufferers out there.

TrollHammaren

Hep OP,

I said I'd speak to my girlfriend's mother for you about the support groups. I spoke to her and she recommends contacting the HSE and asking for a list of support groups. If there's none that fit your needs, you can ask them to recommend someone to help set one up. Apparently some of the health services in Germany have people dedicated to this internally, but most of them outsource this to people like my girlfriend's mother. I doubt it's the same in Ireland, but it's worth checking out.

dlofnep

Cheers

Had a good day today. First in about 2 weeks. Fingers crossed for 2 in a row!

dlofnep

3 days in a row and feeling good. Although, I do feel a little worse today - probably because of the milk I had with my cereal (which according to the candida diet is bad). I'll rest tonight, and see how I feel tomorrow. I'm just testing a yeast/gluten free diet for a week to see if it helps.

I've been eating scrambled eggs for a snack. It's tasty and filling. I bought some hazelnuts aswell to snack on when I get an urge to eat carbs. Bowel movements still poor - taking regucol to try fix that. I think I'm having problems digesting red meat. Gunna stick to chicken instead as I pass it easier.

Been reading the book by Dr. McKenna - brings up some interesting points. I'm also decent for a diet plan, as The Yeast Connection book plans it all out for me.

Fingers crossed! I hope for a good day tomorrow.

cltt97

Have you tried making that bread yet? I find with all the seeds I'm putting into it, it's better than any digestive aid I've ever tried (bar acidophilus, I take that, too, but that's in regucol anyway). Also, what's the cereal you eating?
I also just remembered once reading a candida book and I think it actually gets quite worse before it get's better (I think it was called the die off reaction or something), so maybe a week might not be long enough, or might make you feel worse? I think these type things have to be done for a couple of months (at least) rather than a couple of weeks....? But I'm no candida expert, just something to keep in mind...

dlofnep

I'm going to stay clear of all breads for the moment. And yes, I heard about the die-off period too - although I didn't read too much into it. The Cereal is a buckwheat & rice cereal. Very tasty: http://www.evergreen.ie/doves-farm-glutenfree-cereal-flakes/777858pd.aspx

dlofnep

Also - have you tried threelac? What's your opinion on it? It seems to be highly reccomended.

cltt97

It does look nice, I once bought a rice based muesli, that was really nice, too. It's actually amazing how much nice gluten free stuff there is out there, once you get over missing wheat, etc, it's actually quite easy. Apart from beer, I do miss that - although gluten free Estrella is quite drinkable - mind you, if you're yeast free that means no booze and all for you!

cltt97

Would you believe I have this treelac in my cupboard but have yet to try it.... been meaning to for ages, I've read lots of good things about it, too!

dlofnep

cltt97 wrote: »

It does look nice, I once bought a rice based muesli, that was really nice, too. It's actually amazing how much nice gluten free stuff there is out there, once you get over missing wheat, etc, it's actually quite easy. Apart from beer, I do miss that - although gluten free Estrella is quite drinkable - mind you, if you're yeast free that means no booze and all for you!

Aye, I'm cutting out the booze altogether. It's not a biggie, cos I don't drink much anyway - and can't really afford to drink, so it's all the one. My little brother's 21st is on in 2 weeks, so I might have a sip at that. But that would be cheating!

cltt97

well if you do, drink something like gin and tonic. or whatever spirit mixed with whatever you like, that'll do the least damage.

dlofnep

Can I drink gin & tonic?

That threelac stuff is fair expensive btw! Like 60 euro for a box!

cltt97

I think gin and vodka are ok (yeast wise) as they're highly distilled, but don't just rely on my word, so best to check it out. Can't remember how much i paid for the treelac, i ordered it on the internet quite some time ago.
Anyways, fatigued people like ourselves, should be in bed by 10 really to give those adrenal glands a break, so I think I might just do that now. Keep us posted!

dlofnep

No probs! Rest well. Gin seems to be ok according to the interwebs, so I might just sip on that for the night at the party.

opinion guy

Anything distilled will have no yeast - vodka is fine, whiskey is fine, gin should be fine, etc. Anyhow yeast can't survive in 40% ETOH so far as I know althou distilling it would mean its also free of dead yeasts

dlofnep

Feeling good so far free of yeast. Pain in my head today, but I think it's from the sun. Was feeling bad this morning, sneezing and the lot - but that's cos I didn't have good bowel movements yesterday I think.

shinywhiny

Hi
just found your post, I've been doing an anti Candida diet for a while now. Recently though I have started to slip, really because i was feeling better, but of course old issues start to resurface when you do lots of cheating.

I find when i drink alcohol i tend to crave the bad foods again. When I drink alcohol I drink Gin and soda water with lots of limes, i use soda water instead of tonic as there is sugar in tonic. Alcohol is not good on the diet but if your gonna be bad I think its better to be moderately good at the same time! Also, its a good idea to have hangover food at the ready for the next morning so you don't cheat.

Have you seen the whole approach website. I tend to follow their rules cos they are pretty strict. they have a good food list showing what you can eat on the different stages. They have a good forum too.

I have a blog too. I think the blogs are great for support and food ideas from those that are going through the same thing or even from those that have gone threw it. My blog is http://cantdocandida.blogspot.com/ There is not much activity on it at the moment as I stop blogging when i start cheating! Going back into it full blast at the weekend so should start putting up recipes again.

Oh have you tried haloumi, its made from goat and sheep milk so you can have it on the diet but doesn't have the real strong taste of goats cheese. I tried this recipe, http://www.carascravings.com/2010/03/passover-prep-series-sizzling-haloumi.html and now love both haloumi and asparagus!

Good luck with your healing and stay strong, it aint easy but its definitely worth it

dlofnep

Thanks I'll bookmark your blog now.

dlofnep

Got my urine results back today.

Mercury, Lead, Copper were high.

Chromium & Selenium were low.

Not sure what all this means, I guess I'll have to wait for some analysis.

cltt97

dlofnep wrote: »

Got my urine results back today.

Mercury, Lead, Copper were high.

Chromium & Selenium were low.

Not sure what all this means, I guess I'll have to wait for some analysis.

How high? And how low? Were there reference values with the results?

dlofnep

They have an acceptable range value.

Chromium: (Acceptable: 0.10 - 3.50) - Level: 0.069
Copper: (Acceptable: 1.45 - 60.00) - Level: 66.233
Selenium: (Acceptable: 12.00 - 90.00) - Level: 10.439
Lead: (Acceptable: Less than 5.00) - Level: 9.579
Mercury: (Acceptable: Less than 1.00) - Level: 2.298

So my mercury levels were more than double the acceptable levels, and lead was almost double the acceptable levels.

cltt97

Are these reference values based on excretion after chelation? (and is there a time period given for this?) I remember you took a urine sample and then another one 4 hours later after takin a chelating agent?
So don't get too worried straight away, the reference values might be based on normal unchallenged values and may also only apply to urine collected over a longer period of time (usually 24h).
did they test your original pre-chelation sample also?