CHAT WITH A LYME-LITERATE PHYSICIAN - Chronic Candidiasis

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CHAT WITH A LYME-LITERATE PHYSICIAN

Chronic Candidiasis

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We continue our chat with our physician, now moving into the topic of chronic

Candidiasis.

 

Q. Doctor, I'd like to start our discussion about chronic Candidiasis by asking

how you began treating your patients for this problem?

 

A. I started treating chronic yeast problems years before I had anything to do

with Lyme disease. Then I began to realize that people were coming in with

symptoms that were very similar to yeast infections, but they were not improving

on the treatment for yeast. I discovered later that a large majority of these

people actually had Lyme disease. Yeast and Lyme disease have very similar

symptoms.

 

Q. I have read that chronic yeast can give rise to chronic disorders variably

infecting almost all body parts, organs, tissues and cells. How do we become

infected with yeast?

 

A. Yeast growth is always present in and on our bodies - skin, gastrointestinal

tract, vaginal area in women, etc. They usually cause no problem..........unless

they are encouraged to grow. They usually tend to be kept in order by the body's

own natural bacterial flora. However, when one treats for Lyme disease with high

dose of antibiotics over extended periods of time, we are not only killing off

the Lyme spirochete, but also all the beneficial bacterial flora that keeps the

yeast growth under control. These bacteria are necessary to be able to absorb

B12 and other vitamins. As the bacteria die, the yeast spreads.

 

Q. What are some of the symptoms you might experience if you develop

Candidiasis?

 

A. Women will often experience yeast vaginitis, while men and women may

experience oral thrush, digestion disorders, diarrhea, constipation, bloating,

to name just a few of the symptoms. They may also begin to crave sweets, foods

made with yeast, and/or refined carbohydrates. The little benign yeast now

develops hypha or feelers that become invasive when they are encouraged to grow.

They can cause all sorts of inflammation and systemic effects, such as brain

fog, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, asthma or joint aches, to name a few. Does

this sound familiar? This is one of the reasons that you are encouraged to take

Acidophilus and yogurt while you are on antibiotics - to replace the normal

gastrointestinal bacteria or flora.

 

Q. So many of the symptoms of chronic yeast infection sound like symptoms of

Lyme disease. How can a physician tell the difference?

 

A. I suspect that some of the chronic Lyme disease that we see is actually

chronic yeast infection. The problem comes when one treats long-term with

antibiotics without taking into account the yeast. What happens is that over

time the person on the antibiotic often goes from experiencing symptoms of Lyme

disease to experiencing very similar symptoms with Candidiasis. The doctor may

assume that the person is still having significant problem with Lyme disease,

when actually they've just encouraged a new disease, Candidiasis, which needs to

be treated. Since we have no idea when the last Lyme spirochete has left our

system, it is important to get rid of all other invaders in order to allow our

body to heal itself.

 

Q. How is chronic yeast infection, or Candidiasis, treated?

 

A. In the past, I would have people go on Nystatin, which is a non-absorbed

anti-yeast medication. It really has no systemic side effects because it's not

actually absorbed. Therefore, it's very safe - but it's also very slow. A few

years ago a medication came out called Diflucan. Diflucan is a systemic

anti-fungal medication with which I have been very impressed. It is absorbed

very rapidly from the stomach, and covers yeast throughout the whole system. In

fact, just one tablet can clear yeast vaginitis. It is so well absorbed that

quite often, if I feel a person is extremely yeasty, I also have them take the

Nystatin along with the Diflucan. This is because the repository area of the

gastrointestinal tract sometimes is not covered well enough with the Diflucan.

 

Q. When do you decide to treat a Lyme patient for Candidiasis?

 

A. When I see a Lyme patient for the first time, especially if they have a

history of frequent antibiotic use for other reasons, I will have them take one

Diflucan tablet a week while they're on the antibiotics for Lyme disease to

prevent yeast occurrence. I find that the Diflucan works much more quickly than

the Nystatin. If a person has developed significant Candidiasis, it is not

unusual to have that person take a Diflucan once a day, sometimes for months. It

is also important for a person who has yeast problems to avoid simple sugar

foods, such as desserts, honey, maple syrup, etc., as well as refined

carbohydrates and yeast-containing foods.

 

Q. Could you suggest where someone might find more information on Candidiasis?

 

A. There is an excellent book for anyone interested in yeast disorder - it's

called The Yeast Connection and the Woman by Dr. William Crook. This can be

obtained at libraries, bookstores, or health food stores. There are also two or

three chapters that are excellent for children and men.

 

We appreciate the information you have given us about chronic yeast disorder,

Doctor. It is one more complication of Lyme disease we need to be aware of in

order to increase our chances of successfully restoring our bodies to good

health.

PARTIAL LIST OF POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC CANDIDIASIS:

Agitation; allergies; anxiety; asthma; body aches; bronchitis; chemical

sensitivities; chronic heartburn; chronic infections; colitis; constipation;

cramping in the belly; depression; diarrhea; disturbed senses (taste, smell,

vision, hearing); dizziness; earaches; gastritis; headaches; hives;

hyperactivity (mostly in children); hyperirritability; impotence; infections

(bacterial, viral, fungal); insomnia (both chronic and sudden sporadic

episodes); lethargy; loss of concentration; loss of libido; loss of memory;

menstrual irregularities; premenstrual anxiety/tension; premenstrual

depression/moodiness; Sensitivity to odors, chemicals, fragrances, and smoke;

stomach distention/bloating; swelling/fluid retention or loading; vaginal yeast

infection; weight changes (gain or loss).