Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and The Yeast Connection

[Guest guest]

I believe that the symptoms of fibro, chronic fatigue or similar are

caused by toxins in the body, whether the toxins are produced as the

byproducts by bad bacteria, bad yeasts or they come from the bad toxic

effects of chemicals in our environment the symptoms are almost the same.

 

For those who wish to take a probiotic, I suggest that you try

homemade Kefir. It is 20 times better as a probiotic than yogurt or

any probiotic supplement that I have ever tried. Go to our links page

and follow the links for Kefir. F.

 

 

http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/230904/CTM%20-%20fibromyalgia.htm

 

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and The Yeast Connection: Is Yeast the

Missing Link?

by Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. Health advisor, yeastconnection.com

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia are similar

conditions, with long lists of symptoms for which there are few real

remedies. While they are called different disorders, CFS and

fibromyalgia are close cousins, sharing many of the same symptoms.

They are often spoken of in the same breath.

 

In fact, they may be connected. Certainly their similarities,

beginning with a shared feeling of profound fatigue make it easy to

find a connection between the two. Only recognized by the CDC since

1988, CFS, now called Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome

(CFIDS), is characterized by the following factors:

 

Extreme fatigue Muscle and joint aches and pains Muscle weakness

Chronic headaches Swollen glands Periodic fevers and chills Sore

throat Numbness and tingling of the extremities Inability to cope with

any stress Cognitive dysfunction Insomnia

 

Not until 1990 did the American College of Rheumatology establish

diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia that included incapacitating

fatigue, muscle and joint pain, neuralgia, sleep disorders, anxiety,

depression, cognitive confusion and digestive problems.

 

It appears that CFIDS and fibromyalgia may also be connected to yeast

overgrowth for the simple reason that a significant number of

sufferers from these two syndromes find relief when they follow an

anti-candida diet and other protocols to address Candida albicans

yeast overgrowth, including prescription antifungal medications when

necessary. The decided lack of interest by the scientific

establishment in studying candidiasis alone or as it affects people

with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia leaves a distinct gap in our

ability to treat these conditions.

 

However, Carol Jessup, M.D., who treated 1,000 CFIDS patients with

anti-fungal medication, found that up to 75 percent of patients with

CFS also had candidiasis. She is convinced that if candida is treated,

the majority of CFIDS patients will recover.

 

Disputed studies

 

A study by Dismukes in 1990 on only 42 patients given a double-blind

trial of therapy with the prescription antifungal medication,

Nystatin, claimed to " prove " that chronic candidiasis did not exist

because neither Nystatin or placebo benefited the patients. Dismukes

also declared that since chronic candidiasis was not reproducible in

an animal model, it was not verifiable.

 

However, the country's foremost authority on yeast infections, the

late Dr. William Crook, said that Dismukes got it all wrong. Dr. Crook

said Dismukes' study was, in fact, successful. It was successful in

proving that Nystatin alone is not the treatment for chronic

candidiasis. Dr. Crook's approach to candidiasis involved a

combination of diet, probiotics and antifungal supplements and

antifungal medication when necessary.

 

In spite of Dr. Crook's decades of dedicated work on the yeast

connection, conventional medicine has not given chronic candidiasis

sufferers any support. Perhaps, it's because conventional medicine

only seems to investigate drug treatments and only uses one drug at a

time in research. By continuing this one-sided approach, they may

never catch up with Dr. Crook and the benefits he gave many thousands

of people affected with candida. Patients, however, for the most part,

are left struggling to find answers themselves.

 

The complaint of being " tired, so tired " and " sick all over " is a

common link between sufferers of CFIDS, fibromyalgia and yeast

overgrowth. So is the litany of multiple visits to numerous physicians

without relief, and the laundry list of symptoms in common.

 

Even though they are so similar, CFIDS and fibromyalgia have some

defining differences.

 

CFIDS

 

The CFIDS Association estimates that 800,000 Americans suffer from

this condition, but no more than 16 percent have been diagnosed. In

addition to muscle pain, multi-joint pain without swelling or redness,

and lack of refreshing sleep, CFIDS sufferers complain of:

 

· Deep fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after exercise

· Impairment of short-term memory or concentration

· Sore throat

· Tender lymph nodes

· Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity

· The association adds, " CFIDS brings with it a constellation of

debilitating symptoms... It is characterized by incapacitating fatigue

experienced as a profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina. "

Although many doctors tell patients suffering from these symptoms that

" it's all in your head, " it is not a psychological disorder.

 

Unfortunately, there are no specific diagnostic tests for CFIDS, and

no cure has been found. There are a number of treatments that can be

helpful, along with yeast-related treatments. Many people with CFIDS

are highly sensitive to drug therapy and find much more relief taking

natural nutrients and non-invasive therapies.

 

Some of these include:

 

Supplements for digestive problems and nausea that often accompany

CFIDS, including probiotics, digestive enzymes and ginger

 

Suplements for depression and anxiety, including St. John's wort,

tryptophan, and 5-HTP

 

Supplements for muscle and joint pain, including magnesium malate,

glucosamine sulphate

 

Counseling, to help develop coping skills necessary to live with a

debilitating chronic disease (not overdoing it is the most difficult

skill to acquire)

 

Gentle exercise (yoga is great!)

Sleep and rest management (St. John's wort, tryptophan, and 5-HTP are

also very useful for sleep)

 

Carolyn Dean, MD., ND., is health advisor to Woman's Health Connection

at www.yeastconnection.com and is featured on the website's " Ask A

Pro " page. Her latest books are The Miracle of Magnesium and Natural

Prescriptions for Common Ailments.

Per www.mercola.com

(Free newsletter is available)

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: The author of this article, Dr. Dean, is a key

health advisor to www.yeastconnection.com, a Web site I highly

recommend to women based on the pioneering work of Dr. William Crook.

 

Dr. Crook, one of my first mentors and a friend who passed away last

year, was the author of the classic book, The Yeast Connection, and

many other bestsellers that helped millions of women. He was

instrumental in helping me recognize that there was a wide network of

physicians who understood the importance of nutrition. He indirectly

helped connect me to this network and I will be ever grateful for his

guidance in this area as that was really the beginning of my journey

into high-level natural health.

 

His great legacy is being carried on at www.yeastconnection.com, where

you will find out all the latest insights on how Candida yeast causes

problems in your body, and how to alleviate them.

 

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Predisposition to CFS or ME may derive from a

weakened immune system from a young age. Lack of breast-feeding and/or

multiple vaccinations can damage a child, especially up until age

three during which time the immune system is being formed. After that,

poor diet, a toxic environment, yeast overgrowths and chronic

dehydration all have a role in immune system irregularities. In my

book, The ABC's of Disease, we examine the regimen that is being used

by many physicians today to help the patient conquer these most

debilitating of conditions. While Dr Crook's work may be marginalised

by the mainstream medical establishment because of lack of drug

involvement, thankfully science is not dependent on credibility or the

lack of it. Those with CFS or ME would do well to consider Dr Dean's

multifactorial approach, which we highlight in the companion article

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, in this EClub edition.