*Please help* - candida-like begins as child - chronic, more and more for 20 yrs

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I was first given antibiotics as a toddler, and pretty much grew up

on them -- mostly amoxil (sp?) for lots of strep throats and sinus

infections. The last time I took them was in high school,

tetracycline for acne. I'm now 25, and have been struggling for

about 20 years with many symptoms that I've recently found listed as

symptoms of chronic systemic candida.

I stumbled on the site for " ThreeLac " while doing a search on chronic

vaginal discharge, and that's how I found out about candida. For me

that symptom began as a very pre-pubescent elementary school age

child. Since then more an more symptoms have added to the list --

chronic postnasal drip, genital pain and discomfort, bouts with acute

*extreme* abdominal pains, blackheads, oily skin, gas, not being able

to run because of shortness of breath and tiredness (test for asthma

was negative), acne, lips that constantly peel and have whitish

spiney bumps on them, enlarged adenoids, chronic congested sinuses,

various types and degrees of head and neck pain, chronic mental and

physical fatigue, lots of weird, persistent, stubborn, some acute

some chronic neuro/psych things, psychiatric diagnosis of chronic

clinical depression and adult ADD, whitish coated tongue, slimey spit

that while brushing my teeth doesn't leave my mouth and then the sink

easily.... and the latest addition, been happening off & on for past

year and a half, is unexplainable itching, stinging and crawling

sensation on skin which happens anywhere from scalp to toes.

 

I've seen many kinds of mainstream doctors over the years, and at

best was able to get them to prescribe me treatments that helped a

little -- that was the case with going to a psychiatrist and taking a

combination of zoloft and wellbutrin over the past 6 years. That

combination helped me somewhat for a while, then it " pooped out " --

lots its effectiveness, though it had never been effective enough.

Saw a gynecologist in high school and was treated for a yeast

infection, which did nothing but get me a yeast infection-free

diagnosis on the follow up. Also saw dermatologist in high school,

was prescribed tetracycline and retin-A. Retin-A caused redness and

peeling so I stopped it soon after starting. Tetracycline did help

with the red acne that was never my biggest problem regarding my

skin -- the biggest problem is the blackheads and oiliness.

(Apparently accutane has helped some people with that, but I'm

reluctant to try that as many of my current problems are listed as

side effects!)

I also saw an endocrinologist in high school, he did some tests and I

learned I had a low cortisol level. If I had told him about the

female problems maybe he would have done other tests, but there are

some things that are very hard to talk about in person, even to a

doctor -- in many cases especially to a doctor, because the ones I've

seen haven't been kind or caring. As I'm sure a lot of you know,

it's very hard to find a mainstream doctor that's smart and caring.

There are no alternative types around here.

 

I took the spit test a week or so back and going by that and the

symptoms I've listed, it seems to me I'm a textbook case of chronic

severe candida. Now how do I begin treating it? Should I try the

ThreeLac? What about diet? The only condition is that whatever the

treatment is, it cannot contain any animal products. (I began eating

and using only vegan stuff about 5 years ago, for reasons not having

to do with health and I've never exactly had a " clean " diet -- I've

always craved doughy and potato things.)

 

*Please help* -- for almost 20 years this has kept me from leading a

fulfilling productive life and it can't go on any longer.

 

Thank you,

Ann

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you also have leaky gut syndrome. There is another forum

for Leaky Gut where you will find all kinds of suggestions for

treating candida & ridding the toxins from your system. Candida

thrives on sugar so you need to eliminate fruits & grains, anything

your body turns to sugar. I have read that most illness/disease

starts in the gut. You definitely sound like you have immune system

problems created by long term antibiotic use. I use the probiotic

Primal Defense by Garden of Life. They have a good website where you

can learn about probiotics used to get the good bacteria back into

your system. I would avoid prescription antidepressants. Your

problems didn't start in your head. They started in your gut! Heal

your gut & hopefully you will eliminate those symptoms.