My Personal Experience With Candida
My Experience
I found out quite by accident that I had a Candida infection. My experience began with what I would call a rapid weight gain. I gained 10 pounds in a relative short period of time, (6 weeks). During that time I was also experiencing among other things, bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort. This all happened despite the fact that I am a very picky eater. Because that had never happened to me, alarm bells went off. My response, to those bells, was to go to the doctor. Having no medical insurance, my first stop was the neighborhood clinic. After they were unable to diagnose my problem, I went to the USC, (University of Southern California) hospital. This is considered one of the best hospitals in the country. To make a long story short, I spent one whole day being tested for everything from a simple ulcer to ovarian cancer. After being prodded, probed, x-rayed, and blood tested for hours, nothing, absolutely nothing was found.
Now, I knew, I wasn't paranoid, I actually had a real problem. It was then that I remembered the Internet, which I now use to tell me even how to turn on a light. So, I Googled bloating, because that was my main concern, (my abdomen resembled an ever inflating basketball). It was then that I was directed to Candida. Because there is so much information already on the Internet related to Candida, I won't go into too much detail, I'll provide links to articles that provided me with information. I'd like to insert here my Candida, (yeast), infection was intestinal. I've never experienced any of the other forms, vaginal, athlete's foot, thrush, etc, so I had no prior need to ever look into this ailment.
What is Candida
I'll simply give you an elementary definition, because there is a more complicated definition than what I'm about to give. Candida is a fungus that grows and spreads throughout the body. (As I've stated before, for further information, please use the links that I've provided). Our intestines houses different kinds of bacteria, candida being one of them, when this type of bacteria overpopulates it causes an infection. (Candida is a genus of yeast). Wastes called mycotoxins is generated, one of these toxins is converted into alcohol by the liver. As more and more alcohol is produced by the body, some of the symptoms listed below occur. Okay, I'm going to stop trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about and just say that a Candida infection is an imbalance between different types of bacteria. Of course it's more complicated than what I've given here. So do your own research.
Some symptoms
I've listed my symptoms in the first paragraph, but there are others that I didn't experience. First let me say that I found out that there is no medical test for the condition, and also that "diagnostic criteria have not been scientifically established." Just as I learned that I had chronic Candida, most learn similarly, (books, the Internet or personal experiences of others). I'll only give a partial list of some of the symptoms, I've given links with a full list.
- abdominal gas and bloating (my symptoms)
- excessive fatigue, anxiety
- diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, acid reflux, or any bowel troubles
- mood swings, depression, poor memory, or inability to think clearly or concentrate (partially applied to me)
- muscle weakness, headaches, migraines
- persistent cough, sore throat
- chronic pain
- acne, eczema
I listed the above symptoms, because they are not readily associated with Candida infection. However, after discovering that you have it you can easily identify these symptoms as part of your condition. Of course if you have a vaginal yeast infection, or athlete's foot there's no mystery as to what ails you. But when the infection is internal it's harder to diagnose.
Candida-gut
Candida-yeast
Candida causes
The reason I recognized the conditions so readily was due to one of the main causes. Overuse of antibiotics. I had been taking antibiotics regularly for persistent dental problems for years. As has been discovered, antibiotics can destroy good bacteria and cause Candida to grow and flourish in our intestines.
I can probably attach Stress, as one of the reason also. During my research I found that stress releases a chemical called cortisol. This in turn has a tendency to suppress the immune system and cause our sugar levels to increase. An increase in sugar level can allow yeast cells to multiply, and with our immune system compromised the ability to fight the yeast is severely impaired.
I also found that eating too many refined carbs and sugar, food allergies, malnutrition, bowel troubles and constipation can all cause the proliferation of yeast overgrowth.
The Cure
After an exhaustive study of the condition, I embarked upon a cure. Again I used the Internet. http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/candidadiet.html. The inserted link is one of the sites that I used to put together a diet that I could live with. My diet consisted mainly of meat, all kinds, and vegetables, only what was recommended. I learned that the cure consisted of 3 phases.
- The beginning, during this phase you must strictly adhere to the diet.
- The intermediate phase, you'll see some improvement and you'll be able to relax the process.
- The advanced stage, during this phase you've made significant improvement, and you can be less strict. You'll be able to add more to the diet in the way of complex carbohydrates and fruit, etc.
I realize that I've not given details as to what my exact cure consisted of, with good reason, it's very lengthy, and to give details would cause the hub to be too long. Again I encourage using the links that I've supplied. http://www.ehow.com/about_5637933_using-tea-candida-cure.html. http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Candida-Diet, and http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Candida-Diet-Part-II. I would like to add that I used other natural means. For instance I used food, teas, herbs and Probiotics. A few of the teas that I used are, Pau D'Arco, peppermint, green tea and many more. Because I learned that anything sweet, sugar, honey, etc, feeds and proliferates Candida, I learned to drink all of my teas without any additives. Doing this I gained a new appreciation for the taste of my favorite teas. I also used and still use occasionally an intestinal combination called Candida Clear. Garlic is one of the major components of the Candida cure. There was no limit to my research and the natural methods that I tried. I actually cured my condition. However as I've learned this is a recurring condition, and I will never be completely free, so I'm constantly on guard and when I experience the symptoms I begin my treatments all over again, which I've had to do since my first diagnosis.
Conclusion
So, If you are experiencing an ailment that you or the doctors can't pinpoint, why not examine yourself in the light of this article and the links herein. Of course this doesn't have to be your condition, but it wouldn't hurt to at least look into this after all else fails.
Use These Links For Further Info
- Anti Candida Diet: Proven Candida Diet Tips to Get Your Yeast Overgrowth Under Control
If you are looking for anti candida diet, you should first educate yourself about why the candida overgrowth happens in the first place. Most people aren't aware of the fact that the overgrowth of candida... - The Candida Epidemic
First identified in the 1950s, it is estimated that over 85% of the American population has an overgrowth of Candida that is raging out of control. It is surprising that most people think Candida afflicts... - candida yeast infection - Home
Glossary and yeast infection news. Recipes to cure your candida yeast infection. - Yeast Infection Advisor
Tired of the constant yeast infection, does it keep reoccurring, yeast infections end here for good..... - Candida Infection- Candida Infection Causes and Treatments
The symptoms, causes, and remedies for a candida infection. - Candida Symptoms
Learn how diverse candida symptoms can be, their significance on mental and physical health and a variety of holistic treatment approaches for candida.
© 2010 Alfreta Sailor
Comments
Yikes that does not sound fun and thanks for all the great info I try to stay on track with my health as well after they couldn't diagnose my heart tumor. Great hub.
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Thanks ladyjane1 for supporting my suggestion to look into your own health problems. Thanks also for stopping, please stop again.
I agree with ladyjane1, sounds like no fun at all. I like reading and learning of health issues. I never really learned much about candida till now. With those symptoms, I can see how it would be hard to diagnose. Those all can contribute to so many different things. Thanks Freta!
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Thank you _cheryl_, Thank you for the comment, and thanks for stopping. I'm glad you got something out of this hub. I'll see you soon.
Thank you for a very interesting and onformative hub. I think I have candida and will look more into it. I have been to the doctors literally for years about my bloaded stomach. Thank you for your help.
I'm sorry that you had to go such an awful time. I never knew candida could affect your whole system like that. This hub has some very good information. Good hub.
I concur with other commentators, I found this hub quite interesting and informative and useful. Thank you.
Forever His,
This was a great read Fastfreta. It's good to document what's happening and the causes.
Nice hub fastfreta, i like you hub. It is very identifying and preventing us to stay healthy.
Really good hub...very comprehensive and well-written. Thanks for sharing all your researched information.
Thank you so much freta, I needed this hub, Thank you for sharing it. Godspeed. creativeone59
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Thank you all for your very kind comments.
Thank you creativeone, akekhouse, djarot, Micky Dee, RevLady, Pamella99, and Hello, hello for stopping.
And Hello, hello, please look at the links, because I only diagnosed my condition using those. Again thanks to all for stopping and reading.
While I was aware that an overuse of antibiotics could cause some severe problems, I had no idea that Candida was one of them. Thank you for sharing this information with us and providing links as well.
It's good to hear that you took a proactive approach to your diagnoses and solution to the problem.
This (among other things) is what prompted me to become a nutritionist 15 years ago. It is very rampant in a society that not only takes antibiotics and birth control, but relies primarily on carbohydrate for calories. Thanks for an excellent explanation of this disorder!
This was very informative. I'm so glad you thought to take control of your illness and succeeded. Thanks for the helpful links!
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Thank you Veronica, ladylux and Green Lotus. You know Veronica I'd heard about this years ago and forgot it, but thanks to the Internet I was reeducated. And ladylux I'm becoming more aware of these things slowly but surely. I'm glad I took control too, Green Lotus. Thanks to you all for stopping and taking time to read this hub.
Wow. What an awesome article. It always adds more value when someone has personal experience with the topic and finds a solution or takes the time to tell others how to overcome. Thank You fastfreta.
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Thank you so much kowality for that very encouraging comment. See you real soon.
I had a friend who had this. She found out that she had allergies to just about everything and it worsen the Candida. Thanks for sharing your story.
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Thanks Sandyspider for the comment. I hope your friend found relief, thanks for sharing that.
Candida is horrible, and is so often misdiagnosed as you found out. One great way to get rid of and keep rid of Candida is Apple Cider Vinegar. It has to be unpastuerised and preferably organic (Bragg's do a lovely one), if you find the right stuff it will more than likely have odd looking stringy bits floating around in it! Drinking this on a daily basis keeps your PH level's in balance which means Candida can't get a look in. It also works wonders on various other ailments too so it's an all round winner :-)
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Thank you, thank you, HWP, I didn't run across that during my research, I guess I didn't dig deep enough. I will definitely go out and get some right away and use as directed. Thanks again for the tip and for stopping. Please stop by again soon.
It's a bit of a strange one because people associate vinegar with being acidic which is not what you want with Candida, but it isn't. Have a quick google and you will find there are pages and pages of uses for it :-) I wouldn't be without a bottle in the house now! Hope it work's for you
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Thanks again HWP, I don't doubt you, I am going to buy it, ASAP.
Hi,
Great data on the subject! I'm the master at knowing the effects from first hand experience-yikes-15 years of it and continue to search online to read what others have experienced. I'm not the only one in the family that has this dreadful sickness my husband does also. Thank goodness to my constantly reading and talking with others online I found a very simple way to rid yourself with just a 3oz daily "concoction" given to me by a friend that lives clear across the states from where we live. I've only been taking it for 3 days so will keep you all posted and I believe the "proof is in the pudding before telling! :) I have tried all the supplements out there and for me they never worked-for some they might have as they may not have yeast as badly as I do. Time will tell..I want to give it 2 weeks.
Candida Girl
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Thank you Candida Girl for stopping, if you stop again please share your concoction with us. Hope to see you again soon.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I had problem with this recently, and had to take prescription meds. Sometimes I would like to avoid taking drugs for everything and find more natural remedies for ailments. Thanks again!
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Thanks msannec for sharing this with us. I hope you found some alternatives in the links that I inserted. Thanks for stopping, see you soon.
Thanks for the info.
Thank you for such an excellent article! You provided so much detail in a very concise manner. This is a problem many people aren't even aware of. I'll be following your links and your writing. Thumbs up!
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Thank you very much ladydijay for stopping.
Thank you Lamme for stopping and for you very kind words. I agree this is a very under reported condition. I was happy to share my experience, and I hope it was beneficial. I'll see you soon.
What an excellent article! You are a gifted writer. Thank you for your informative hub.
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Thank you C.M. for your encouragement. Thanks also for stopping and I look to hear from you again soon.
Thank you FastFreta for sharing your experiences. I guess it's not easy to talk about your own Candida experiences in the public but it does help a lot of people.
More people need to know about this!
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Thank you symptoms of candida for this comment, I just found it after looking through my hubs. Sorry I didn't see it when you left it. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Thanks for the courage to write about this. It is not always easy talking about these kinds of things but knowing that you very well may help just one person must have given you peace.
thank you
i also discovered that garlic works well for curing candida infection.you just need to pill the back and insert inside the private part for a female and for a male you can take a lot of garlic by swallowing.
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thank you both very much for your comment. I'm trying to respond on my mobile device, so please forgive my brief response to your comments, they are very much appreciated. So thanks lori and chris.
A friend likes coconut oil to treat candida. A spoon or two a day seems to help.
Very nice hub. Thanks for sharing
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That's my kind of treatment, no fuss, no bother. I think I'll try that one myself. Thanks SnapHappy
Great article. Worth to read and easy to understand.
I was having problems with an external candida infection, and decided to give Lady Soma a try. They have the "Lady Soma Candida Advance Cleanse". They did seem to help clear the infection up faster. It's important to attack both the candida inside and outside when you're trying to get rid of an infection.
Surprisingly, most people have candida in their systems, but don't notice any symptoms. Even if you don't end up with itching, flaking, redness, or other external systems, candida can be causing your body problems on the inside and contributing to variety of symptoms many people never guess could be from bad intestinal flora (digestive issues, skin problems, trouble concentrating, constant tiredness, anxiety, mood swings, OCD, irritability, headaches, cravings for sweets, difficulty losing weight, etc.). The Lady Soma Candida Pills are an easy way to help your body win the fight against candida and get a healthy balance of good intestinal flora back in its place. Also, for any of you trying to fight it on the outside as well as the inside, I recommend this.
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Thank you ST, you actually listed some of my symptoms, for internal candida. I've never heard of the product you named before. However I am going to look it up, and give it a try, because, as you no doubt know, candida can, and does, reoccur. Again thank you for the added information.
Also "yeast infection remedies," thank you for your comment, I'm so sorry I just came across it today.
Every month before my period I would get a yeast infection. Then I started having to wear panty liners all the time. I could've opened a bread factory I was producing so much yeast. My sex life was gone because I was so worried. I was prescribed all types of antibiotics. At one point the doc thought it was from my bc pills (femcon). Then I was OK for a while. Then I got sick and prescribed antibiotics which caused a yeast infection which meant more antibiotics. I've tried to eat more yogurt. That doesn't work. So I did some research and came across the Lady Soma Candida Cleanse. I'm about to order my 2nd bottle and I take as directed. Things are getting better needless to say. :-)
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Dear Migi, I've heard this before must give it a try. Thanks for the advice.
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Thank you Johnd49 for visiting my article, please come again.
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