Candida - Diagnosis

LisaO

I have all the signs & symptoms of Candida & have done for many years. It was also strongly suggested by a complementary health practitioner that I attended last year. The symptoms have recently become extreme & after doing further research it would seem that I am a prime candidate for Candida. Have also undertaken some of the "self-diagnostic" tests & these give a strong positive result as well.

This week I have started a strict anti-Candida diet. So far, so good but anyone would feel better after a week on this!

My question is whether it is possible to obtain an official diagnosis of Candida & if so, where from?

I am wary of self-diagnosis or diagnosis via the internet yet am also wary of going to my GP & either getting nowhere or not having all the factors & symptoms taking into account and then being given inappropriate treatments & maybe making the condition worse?

I would love to hear from others who have Candida as to how they were diagnosed.

femur61

I don't think there is a specific test for candida and most GP's won't even sonsider there is such a thing. I used self diagnosis and feel so much better.

LisaO

femur61 wrote: »

I don't think there is a specific test for candida and most GP's won't even sonsider there is such a thing. I used self diagnosis and feel so much better.

Thanks femur61. That's what I thought. Via self-diagnosis I am sure Candida is my problem and am now a week into the cleansing programme & feel a huge amount better already.

kangaroo

I went on a quite strict anti-Candida regime soon after getting diagnosed with M.E. I thought I might be a candidate because of the long-term antibiotics I'd been on for acne as well as various other antibiotics I'd been on for sore throats and UTIs.

The symptoms sounded plausible. But then the symptom list was quite similar to a list of symptoms for M.E.

I had a stool sample taken but then I read later that pretty much everyone will show positive for it.

I took Nizoral for a while (persuaded a doctor to prescribe it) - then read that it could affect liver. So I started taking Nystatin powder (which had a vile taste) and took it for a good long period (maybe six months). I also took lots of garlic - either with my meals and also as capsules. I took other stuff - can't remember now. I had no added sugar for around a year. Can't remember all the details.

It didn't make much difference to my health.
I have some doubts about how it is diagnosed.

curehead

LisaO wrote: »

Thanks femur61. That's what I thought. Via self-diagnosis I am sure Candida is my problem and am now a week into the cleansing programme & feel a huge amount better already.

What is the cleansing programme ?
My doctor was no help basically told me there was no such thing that i was depressed and wanted me to take antidepressants'
i saw a sign in the local library that said something like are you tired all the time ' bloated , nausea etc etc then you may have Candida that was the first i ever heard of it i was so relieved that this was something that other people had and i wasn't going crazy i often didn't get out of bed for days with exhaustion since then i have bought a lot of books tried to stay on the diet etc etc at the moment am having colonics and acupuncture there is certainly a slight improvement but i'm still left with exhaustion i could sleep all day i would love to hear how you are progressing there doesn't seem to be any irish candida blogs or support.
oh yeah the lady who is doing my colonic irrigation is saying that i could have intestinal parasites too which live in conjunction with candida or something don't know really it could be all a money scam sorry for the rambling it's late and i'm tired as always .

femur61

curehead wrote: »

What is the cleansing programme ?

As far as I know it involves drinking lots of epsom salts, olive oil and being prepared to sit on the loo for a long period of time.

curehead

femur61 wrote: »

As far as I know it involves drinking lots of epsom salts, olive oil and being prepared to sit on the loo for a long period of time.

That is a liver flush i did one of them last week and the practitioner said i should have seen stones in the toilet and when i said i didn't see anything different wanted me to do it again i did a little research on it and there seems to be a lot of conflicting ideas on it saying that the stones were just calcified
epsom salts with olive oil and grapefruit all stuff that is part of the cleanse.

LisaO

hi Curehead. You are correct about the liver flush - have done these myself in the past & am undecided as to the merits of the process.

The candida cleanse that I am on is basically a very restricted diet with supplements - the theory is that this will "starve" the candida & kill it off, thus cleansing it from your system. After researching this theory I am on a diet that contains no sugar at all - so not even any fruit or vegetables with high sugar content, eg, carrots. Very restricted complex carbs - brown rice, Soba noodles, brown rice pasta, only half-portion a day, no potatoes. Nothing with yeast, so no bread, alcohol. No dairy. No processed foods. I have also cut out all meat & stuck to fish - white, oily & seafood (prawns). I also use seeds (hemp, linseed, sunflower) & nuts (almonds, pine) to increase protein levels & for essential fats. Cook with cold-pressed olive oil or coconut oil. Try to eat as much raw or lightly cooked as possible - lots of salads, green veg, etc.

Supplements I am taking are: Maximised Caprylic Acid, Milk Thistle, Aloe Vera, Grapefruit Seed Extract - the liquid form is more effective but tastes vile I try to use garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger as much as possible and am drinking Pau d'Arco tea & and couple of different brands of herbal detox teas.

Re: the parasite cleanse, I had colonic treatments last year & did parasite cleansing then. I still had some of the supplements for this left so have been taking them alongside the diet & other stuff. But I wouldn't have bothered with them otherwise, it was only that they were here so thought I might as well use them. I would probably benefit from a colonic at the moment but will have to wait until funds allow. Have found the diet has helped a lot & am now thinking about introducing other foods back in slowly.

line6

I suffered for ten years with candida, under a misdiagnosis from the doctors as having a stomach ulcer. When it got so bad that i couldn't move with the pain, i got sent to hospital with promises of effective pain relief. When i told the doctor i thought i might have candida he got very cross saying 'who told you that'. So i told him it was my alternative therapist and that was the end of the conversation - he stormed out of the room without any further comment.

I was lucky to meet Judith Kidd, a reflexologist living in the same town in wales (i don't think she's practicing now). She gave me some foot treatment, colour therapy, aroma therapy and general advice on living. She also put me on a diet of brown rice and after a week i was cured.

Since then i have had very little trouble with it and i eat pretty much what i like. On the rare occasions it returns i moderate my diet - less wheat, dairy, alcohol - and it goes away.

I am always researching candida and find it fascinating. Candida is a fungus that occurs naturally in the gut and is an essential part of the digestive process. In a healthy person it stays in the lower intestine where it finishes off any sugars that remain before excreting. The problem arises when the diet is wrong and the candida is able to travel higher up the digestive tract.

Wheat proteins, and dairy proteins are difficult to digest and form a thick layer of mucus on the lining of the gut. This means that the nutrients - including sugars - are unable to be absorbed into the system. Candida is therefore able to live comfortably in areas of the gut where it does not belong - firstly the small intestine, then the stomach and in the case of babies as far as the mouth where it appears as flecks of white fungus.

This is not a bad summary of the condition

hth

tom

LisaO

Hi Tom

Thanks for the link. It is similar to much of the information I had researched & used to make my self-diagnosis and then base my cleansing diet on. It's good to hear that your candida is so well controlled, it offers hope to us all

I find it interesting how the medical profession is so anti the whole concept of candida, which to me seems to be a disease of modern living, a reflection of how our bodies cope (or don't) with the demands of stressful lives & poor diets.

With regards to oral thrush, this can also be a very real problem for adults. As an asthma sufferer, I have had recurring bouts for many years due to the use of steroid inhalers, often leaving my mouth & throat raw and too sore to eat or drink.

Interestingly, since starting the diet my asthma symptoms have improved - a cough that has hung around for over 4 months has finally gone and my senses of taste & smell (non-existent for many years) are starting to return.

curehead

Just a couple of things , when i was and still am having colonic irrigation the lady told me there was no candida in there ? I have this for nearly ten years on and off (when i used to drink it got very very bad ) anyway i went to a herbalist who told me i had candida she was brilliant and put me on herbs and supplements and it cleared up (cue going back on the drink ) after a year or so it came back worse but when i went back to herbalist office it was closed down
to be honest i didn't know who to go to after that so i went for acupuncture
and chinese medicine then i went to alternative health clinic in limerick
am thinking of trying homeopathy , who did you see and where are they located ??? mine flares up all the time even though i've quit drinking and smoking 'eating cakes' and biscuits (have the odd one or three) cut out minerals and crisps' all yeast products , generally read labels eat fruit and veg and organic and fresh. (i do treat myself to the odd fry up or pizza on weekend) . I think it just an ongoing battle.
Sorry for the rambling it's just the way i type slow and think fast

line6

LisaO wrote: »

Hi Tom

Thanks for the link. It is similar to much of the information I had researched & used to make my self-diagnosis and then base my cleansing diet on. It's good to hear that your candida is so well controlled, it offers hope to us all

I find it interesting how the medical profession is so anti the whole concept of candida, which to me seems to be a disease of modern living, a reflection of how our bodies cope (or don't) with the demands of stressful lives & poor diets.

With regards to oral thrush, this can also be a very real problem for adults. As an asthma sufferer, I have had recurring bouts for many years due to the use of steroid inhalers, often leaving my mouth & throat raw and too sore to eat or drink.

Interestingly, since starting the diet my asthma symptoms have improved - a cough that has hung around for over 4 months has finally gone and my senses of taste & smell (non-existent for many years) are starting to return.

i think one of the reasons the medical profession are so against the idea of candida is that they cant make any money out of the only cure, which is cutting out wheat and dairy - the things that cause it

interesting that your diet has cleared up your asthma too - kind of confirms my hunch that allergies are a symptom of candida too

i'm hoping a good debate emerges from this, with contributions from people who have respect for the medical establishment - ok if i got a broken leg i might go to them but generally i wouldn't trust them as far as i could throw them

curehead

I seem to have got rid of a lot of the stomach problems(bloating, constipation , etc the skin problems the rashes , the itching, etc and a few more what i seem to be left with is chronic fatigue i am just so tired all the time i'm so frustrated i keep going back to all the books i have to see what else i could do. i'm definitely no saint when it comes to the diet, surely there is something that removes yeast fast has anyone tried three lac there is a lot about it on the net for candida ?
i take a multivitamin , acidophulos , and barley grass along with pau'darco tea
anthing else you would recommend.

LisaO

curehead wrote: »

I seem to have got rid of a lot of the stomach problems(bloating, constipation , etc the skin problems the rashes , the itching, etc and a few more what i seem to be left with is chronic fatigue i am just so tired all the time i'm so frustrated i keep going back to all the books i have to see what else i could do. i'm definitely no saint when it comes to the diet, surely there is something that removes yeast fast has anyone tried three lac there is a lot about it on the net for candida ?
i take a multivitamin , acidophulos , and barley grass along with pau'darco tea
anthing else you would recommend.

Hi curehead

I haven't tried Threelac - mostly because of the cost & am still undecided if it helps - have a look at this:

http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/threelacreview.html

I am taking Maximised Caprylic Acid (take Milk Thistle as well) and Citricidal (Grapefruit Seed Extract). These seem to be working as long as I am careful with the diet - had a couple of wobbly days this week & am paying for it now! I use the liquid Citricidal as health shop said it is more effective but it is pretty revolting to take. Also take Max Strength Aloe Vera juice.

Just wondering if the chronic fatigue you are experiencing is related to the candida or could it be something else?

curehead

Just wondering if the chronic fatigue you are experiencing is related to the candida or could it be something else?[/QUOTE]


It is quite possible..... Am trying acupuncture
and a herbal drink for it at the moment hopefully that will help
basically i will try anything just to feel "normal"

kangaroo

line6 wrote: »

i think one of the reasons the medical profession are so against the idea of candida is that they cant make any money out of the only cure, which is cutting out wheat and dairy - the things that cause it

I'm not convinced of that. Doctors are equally against it in the UK and they really don't have to worry about attracting customers there - GPs, etc are generally paid a salary not per customer. (Slightly simplifying things of course).

curehead

kangaroo wrote: »

I'm not convinced of that. Doctors are equally against it in the UK and they really don't have to worry about attracting customers there - GPs, etc are generally paid a salary not per customer. (Slightly simplifying things of course).

Maybe it's just in their training where they are taught to treat each persons symptoms individually whereby alternative treats the roots as it were and herbally of course not chemically

mollypd

I was wondering if anyone had tried wormwood to treat candida. Was reading up on it and it has some nasty side effects if used incorrectly but seems to be effective. Also says u will be ill for a few days while candida is dying off

ciaranoco

I have a test booked here(see link) for this Saturday - shall let you know how i get on. This seems to be the only Irish site that references Candida and a positive customer testomonial too!

http://www.allergytestingdublin.com/

curehead

I have done the wormwood it was for intestinal parisites which may live in conjunction with candida cost about 300 quid for three month supply

ciaranoco

V expensive, did it work and kill off Candida excess too?

curehead

In reality i really don't know is the answer but i was so bad i would pay anything and try anything to feel normal i was doing it in conjunction with colonic irrigation and the whole sugar free yeast free no additives preservatives diet thingy also taking probiotics' vitamins, grape seed extract , etc etc there is definitely improvements in certain areas but i think it's an ongoing battle
just coping with it .

LisaO

My own process of dealing with Candida is pretty much identical to Cureheads. I also have improved symptoms but again difficult to say exactly what has contributed to the improvement. I have now relaxed a bit on the diet & still feel OK, so hope this continues.

Regards the wormwood - I also used this on advice of alternative practitioner to clear parasites, on more than 1 occasion, but am still not sure if it "does what it says on the tin"!

Ciaranoco - would be interested to hear your feedback on the electrodermal testing, think there has been some controversy about it's use in allergy testing, seem to remember a BBC programme a year or so ago that invetigated it in the UK?

ciaranoco

Ugh I had hoped there was more success with wormwood etc. Have any of you heard of the Biamonte method see www.health-truths.com. Its a bit expensive but the 4 step programme seems to be the way to go... I think! Would be intersted to hear if dieting has helped anyones brain-fog. I have a bad case of it.

Lisao i had to postpone my test till mid week \next week as had a problem with appointments. Let you know then.

LisaO

Personally I did find the diet helped me to think more clearly & feel more able to tackle tasks that I would normally have avoided - maybe due to increased energy?

rosco p coltrane

Hi there,

I've read all contributions and i want to give my twopence worth.

Everybody has canida. Its just when it gets out of control it becomes a problem.

I did a master cleanse about 3 years ago, basically living on a drink based on water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. I did it for 11 days, no food - just this drink.

After the cleanse, they say to take acidiophilus to reintroduce the "good" bacteria in to the gut. I obviously did this arse ways, and i have had candida since. On legs, back, feet, liathroidi etc...

I have swung out of the internet for remedies, grape seed extract, pau darco, garlic, avoiding fermented foods, dairy, etc..., the problem was that i could not keep to a strict diet, i'd go off the rails every now and then, or else get rid of it - go on a bender - and voila !! back again.

I have found a solution and yes it works. And you don't have to be as strict re: sugars, alcohol (although try to keep them to a minimum) nor do you have to pay anything to any one.

First, things first. Organic Coconut Oil. Replace your veg oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, whatever you are using in salads or for frying with Organic Coconut Oil. Make sure its Organic, I use Biona Organic Coconut Virgin Oil. Leave it on the window, as when you buy it, its solid, leave it in the sun and it melts or just use it in its solid form for frying, it melts with heat. It doesn't lose its properties when heated.

Next, is a drink. This is what you need:

Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar (Health Food Shop) (i use Aspall's)
Bread Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) (Dunnes, Tesco, Superquinn)
Lemons (preferably Organic, regular lemons will do)
Glass of Water (Filtered preferably)


You drink this twice a day, once in the morning - once in the evening. This is the rule, drink it an hour before you eat or two hours after you have eaten. Personally, i would consume this two hours after breakfast. (make it - stick it in a bottle, bring it to work.) And by the way its only a glass full, not a pint or a litre, just a glass, an 8 fluid ounce glass. Have the second glass before you go to bed. Keep this regime for 8 weeks.

What you need:
The measurements are as follows:

2 tablespoons (dessert spoon) Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar
2 tablespoons (dessert spoon) Lemon Juice (which equates to half a lemon)
1/2 a tea spoon of Bread Soda
water (filtered preferably)

Milk Thistle (Health food shop)

Making the drink
When the Bread Soda interacts with the water it fizzes up, i make my drink in a pint glass, put in the Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar then the lemon juice and gradually add the bread soda while "tapping" in the bread soda from the teaspoon. You only need to half fill the glass (if its a pint glass). Let the fizz stop. And drink. Hey, if you feel that its disgusting, you'll get used to it. Your about to kill off the candida.

Buy Milk Thistle (health food store) 10 drops in a glass of filtered water. Drink this during the day, this aids your liver as the liver has to process the killing off of the candida.

One thing i can guarantee you, after about two days, you will see dead cells where your candida was. It is such a good feeling to see it dying off.

Thats it.

Personally, i am now about to embark on a liver cleanse. Not the 4 days of drinking apple juice and then drinking a half cup of olive oil to get the stones out etc, i'm going to do the Dr. Sandra Cabot's liver cleanse program. I just bought the book on amazon.co.uk, second hand for €0.01c. I've googled her, look at her youtube videos. All looks legit.

I would love to hear back from anyone who tries this and please forward this on to anyone

Looking forward to hearing from you guys/gals.

Be good and keep her lit !!

Rosco P. Coltrane

curehead

ciaranoco wrote: »

I have a test booked here(see link) for this Saturday - shall let you know how i get on. This seems to be the only Irish site that references Candida and a positive customer testomonial too!

http://www.allergytestingdublin.com/

Well this thread seems to have died but how did you get on ?

breaghy2014

rosco p coltrane wrote: »

Hi there,

I've read all contributions and i want to give my twopence worth.

Everybody has canida. Its just when it gets out of control it becomes a problem.

I did a master cleanse about 3 years ago, basically living on a drink based on water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. I did it for 11 days, no food - just this drink.

After the cleanse, they say to take acidiophilus to reintroduce the "good" bacteria in to the gut. I obviously did this arse ways, and i have had candida since. On legs, back, feet, liathroidi etc...

I have swung out of the internet for remedies, grape seed extract, pau darco, garlic, avoiding fermented foods, dairy, etc..., the problem was that i could not keep to a strict diet, i'd go off the rails every now and then, or else get rid of it - go on a bender - and voila !! back again.

I have found a solution and yes it works. And you don't have to be as strict re: sugars, alcohol (although try to keep them to a minimum) nor do you have to pay anything to any one.

First, things first. Organic Coconut Oil. Replace your veg oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, whatever you are using in salads or for frying with Organic Coconut Oil. Make sure its Organic, I use Biona Organic Coconut Virgin Oil. Leave it on the window, as when you buy it, its solid, leave it in the sun and it melts or just use it in its solid form for frying, it melts with heat. It doesn't lose its properties when heated.

Next, is a drink. This is what you need:

Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar (Health Food Shop) (i use Aspall's)
Bread Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) (Dunnes, Tesco, Superquinn)
Lemons (preferably Organic, regular lemons will do)
Glass of Water (Filtered preferably)


You drink this twice a day, once in the morning - once in the evening. This is the rule, drink it an hour before you eat or two hours after you have eaten. Personally, i would consume this two hours after breakfast. (make it - stick it in a bottle, bring it to work.) And by the way its only a glass full, not a pint or a litre, just a glass, an 8 fluid ounce glass. Have the second glass before you go to bed. Keep this regime for 8 weeks.

What you need:
The measurements are as follows:

2 tablespoons (dessert spoon) Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar
2 tablespoons (dessert spoon) Lemon Juice (which equates to half a lemon)
1/2 a tea spoon of Bread Soda
water (filtered preferably)

Milk Thistle (Health food shop)

Making the drink
When the Bread Soda interacts with the water it fizzes up, i make my drink in a pint glass, put in the Organic Apple Cyder Vinegar then the lemon juice and gradually add the bread soda while "tapping" in the bread soda from the teaspoon. You only need to half fill the glass (if its a pint glass). Let the fizz stop. And drink. Hey, if you feel that its disgusting, you'll get used to it. Your about to kill off the candida.

Buy Milk Thistle (health food store) 10 drops in a glass of filtered water. Drink this during the day, this aids your liver as the liver has to process the killing off of the candida.

One thing i can guarantee you, after about two days, you will see dead cells where your candida was. It is such a good feeling to see it dying off.

Thats it.

Personally, i am now about to embark on a liver cleanse. Not the 4 days of drinking apple juice and then drinking a half cup of olive oil to get the stones out etc, i'm going to do the Dr. Sandra Cabot's liver cleanse program. I just bought the book on amazon.co.uk, second hand for €0.01c. I've googled her, look at her youtube videos. All looks legit.

I would love to hear back from anyone who tries this and please forward this on to anyone

Looking forward to hearing from you guys/gals.

Be good and keep her lit !!

Rosco P. Coltrane

Hi rosco.. Did you get any feedback from anyone else if this worked for them?
Am new to the candida mission and will try anything!
Thanks