Yeast infection...me? But I'm a guy!!!

As you know, I've been struggling with strange health issues for some time now. I've tried all sorts of traditional and herbal remedies. Of these, some worked at making me feel better and others just made me feel worse (see my other blog entries for details).

During this time, my body was trying to tell me something else needed to be addressed but I wasn't aware of the signals. You see, I started having the worst nasal congestion and occasional sinus infections about the same time as my other health problems surfaced. I also began feeling fatigued, and my TSH levels started rising yet my T4 (thyroid hormones) were normal. I began having dizziness, and foggy head so bad I couldn't concentrate at work anymore, and cravings like you wouldn't believe. I'm talking about craving foods I never used to crave. Like jambalaya platters at Boston Pizza, Garlic Bread Sticks, pasta, pasta, pasta, chocolate, and fruit juices. I'd wake up in the middle of the night, my stomach rumbling so bad I'd be light headed from it. I'd have to eat over 800 calories of carbs and protein before feeling satisfied. I was gaining weight at a rate of 7lbs a month during this time. I knew something was off with me, I was afraid, I was trying everything possible to control myself and my cravings. Mind over matter right? Well I discovered it wasn't that easy. I would try and meditate through it or give myself Reiki treatments. Still, nothing made it go away. The headaches and blood sugar drops were too intense to ignore.

When I'd go to my doctor and my endocrinologist, they would blame these cravings on imbalances caused by all my vitamin and supplement experiments. I was told my hormone levels were low but no cause for concern. Even though my period suddenly stopped for 8 months and I felt like crap.

Then one day I woke up so itchy. I was itchy everywhere, mainly my groin area, my lower back, my under arms, and my chest. I was always itchy and burning before, especially after going to the bathroom, but this time is was intolerable. So I went to the walk-in clinic. This is when I remembered something similar happening to me just 2 months earlier. I had gone to the same clinic complaining of intense burning during urination. I was tested for a UTI, and examined. They found no trace of infection but lots of swelling and discharge. I was given anti-fungal creams and 3 tablets of Diflucan. I felt much better after. So when this doctor examined my skin, found nothing and was going to prescribe me Claritin. I mentioned what had happened to me before. He gave me Diflucan again. This time I felt better again. I was finally on to something here...

So I went to ye ol' Google and I looked up "Candida". Page after page after page, the lists of symptoms:

• pasty white coating on back of the tongue
  
• vaginal yeast infection or vaginal discharge
• burning during urination yet no bladder infections
  
• skin problems - dry itchy skin/skin rashes/eczema
• joint pain/arthritis /extreme upper back, shoulder and neck pain or tightness (need to "pop" your upper back to breathe better)
• constant stomach problems (abdominal bloating, chronic diarrhea, constipation, acid refulx, GERD, and heartburn)
• phlegmy throat in the mornings
  
• blisters in the mouth, throat and on the tongue
• red spots on the tongue, blotches on the tongue
• unrefreshing sleep/insomnia/nightmares
• brain fog/foggy head/poor concentration/forgetfulness
  
• restless legs, jumpy legs
• chronic sinus congestion/infections/dryness
• migraines/headaches/sinus headaches
• bleeding gums and lots of metal/mercury fillings in teeth
• burning eyes/eyes blur when reading/light sensitive
• depression/ irritability/ anxiety/ panic attacks/ personality changes/mood swings
• body chills during the day/excessive sweating during sleep
• dizziness and balance problems
• digestion is worse when eating beans/raw foods/gluten/casein (cheese protein)/wheat
• tingling and/or burning sensations in the face or extremities, including feet, hands and ears
• recurring ear infections
• hypothyroidism (under active thyroid)
• low testosterone/androstenedione/progesterone/DHEA-S levels (hormonal imbalances)
• jock itch (diaper rash) and rectal itching (may be confused for hemorrhoids)
• chronic athlete's foot

By this point I had every symptom on the list!

I told my brother about my recent discovery and to my surprise he started telling me about all of his health complaints (which he ignores most of the time). He had the same problems I did...worse even! His jock itch gets so bad his skin cracks and bleeds! He even told me he gets smelly discharge where his thighs meet his groin and has to keep going to the bathroom during work to clean himself up.

When I told him this could mean a yeast infection, he of course said: " But I'm a guy!"
This is when I decided to see what could get rid of my candida for good. When I read about what Diflucan does to your liver (it's no wonder they only give it to you for 3 days max) I swore I wouldn't take it again, besides it only gave me temporary relief. I read up on "the Candida" diet and my gosh, no way! I'm hypoglycemic, I need my 40% carbs. There had to be a way to get rid of my yeast overgrowth or "Candidiasis".

BTW "Candidiasis" happens when the ratio of good bacteria (i.e: L. Acidophilus, L.Bifidus, etc...) to bad bacteria "Candida Albians, etc..) is off. Normal digestion requires 85% good bacteria, 15% bad bacteria. But things like anti-acid medication (Nexxium, Prilosec, Pariet), high wheat, yeast based breads, and laxatives. Can create an environment where the bad bacteria can thrive to eventually outgrow the good. Sometimes even breaking bast the intestinal wall and getting into your blood. Causing your histamines to respond (this is where the itchiness comes in), and wrecking havoc on your immune system. This makes sense because your immune system is always so busy attacking these "foreign intruders" that when a virus (like the common cold) comes in, your immune system is already to exhausted, the cold wins and you get a cold.

So what's the best thing out there for a good "Candidiasis: cleanse? Well you'll find tons of stuff acidophilus tablets, garlic oil, coconut oil, oregano oil, etc... and millet or gluten free breads. I tried them all and the only product that gave me immediate results was THREELAC. If you're in Canada the best place to order it from is http://www.1stcandidacure.com/. If you're in the US, you can order it directly from http://www.globalhealthtrax.com/ or visit http://www.candidasupport.org/.

You will most likely suffer from "yeast die-off" that's when the yeast molecules explode in your system as they're being attacked by the good bacteria in THREELAC and your symptoms intensify for a short period of time. Try and take it slow with just 1 packet a day to see how much "die-off" you get. Then increase the dose to 2 packs a day. In 1 month you'll feel much better. I lost 2" on my waist in a matter of days and my nasal congestion was gone overnight!