I
have been inspired to write this article/story by the medical
establishment and their apparent lack of knowledge, concern,
acceptance and treatment of Candida infections that could be killing off
millions of people in this country.
If
I had not found out, through researching on the internet, about this
dire infection, due to suffering all the symptoms myself for over 3
years, I would probably be dead by now. I do not state this lightly.
I found myself hospitalised twice in February and September of 2011, and yet I did not discover Candida until late 2012. By
that time I had undergone many exploratory procedures, allegedly, in
the hope of discovering what was making me so sick. Thousands of
pounds had been needlessly spent on various scans and medical
examinations, and I had seen at least fifteen doctors throughout the
period with not one of them even mentioning Candida infection. I
gave up smoking for four months, with no improvement to my breathing
difficulties. I was actually told by a female locum doctor, when I
complained to her about the apparent lack of improvement to my chest
and stomach problems, that little short term improvement was normal
when giving up smoking, and that I could only hope for long term
benefits to my lung function over many months/years.
I
was shocked and argued with the doctor, stating that she was surely
just mincing words, to which she replied, absolutely not. I
complained to the head of that practice, whereby the chief Doctor
agreed with me that the female doctor should never have made such a
statement to anyone, never mind someone desperately trying to give up
smoking. Needless to say, I departed company with that practice
within one year of that conversation. I also started smoking again,
and I am glad I did because the patches I was being given were
actually feeding the Candida infection and also, coughing was helping
me to remove the Candida from my airways.
I
battled on for nearly one year trying to improve my health. Walking
lots, trying to eat healthier food (although this was difficult on a
very tight budget) I had a camera put down my throat, where no
problem was found. I was constantly told that I was suffering from
'Acid Reflux' and should take Omeprazol (Proton pump inhibitors). I
was prescribed with medication to improve my motability (the ability
of my gut to digest foods) in order to help acid reflux, medication I
stopped taking after they caused massive headaches.
In
April 2012 I decided to stop using Omeprazol after a specialist consultant had asked about
my use of it with some scepticism in his voice. I am so glad I did. I had not realised at the time, or for the
several years prior, where I had been taking this medication
sporadically, that what it actually did was inhibit the guts ability
to produce acid. The medication actually throws a switch in your gut
that stops all production of highly necessary acid that we need to
digest our food. It was quickly becoming obvious to me that other
associated symptoms I was suffering from i.e. bloating, excessive
gas, pain, cramps, lack of digestion, was being caused by the Acid
Reflux medication.
Slowly
but surely, my stomach started to feel better, but it took a very
long time! Over one year before I noticed a real difference. At the
same time of stopping this medication, I had started to use
Pro-biotic yoghurt. I had realised very early on, that due to those incidence in 2011, whereby I had ended up in hospital
with major breathing difficulties, that these incidence had been
exacerbated by my previous doctor prescribing me, first a week of standard
antibiotics, and immediately after, two simultaneously taken 'other'
antibiotics for a week. It seemed to me that this overdosing of my
system with antibiotics had upset the balance of flora of the
gut...effectively, (as antibiotic’s tend to do) killing off all the
good bacteria that I needed to digest my food.
Please
remember, at this time (Mid 2012) I still had no idea about Candida.
I just knew that I had to replace the lost good bacteria, eat better
foods that were high in antioxidants, and get as much exercise as I could to
help my breathing problems. From the day of the second
relapse I had found myself having to sleep upright in a chair. I instinctively
did this because whenever I laid flat or bent forward, my lungs would
fill up with a white fluffy substance and I would experience
breathing difficulties immediately. This substance was what I was
bringing up immediately upon taking the second prescribed
antibiotics. The moment they hit my gut, I would become overwhelmed
with coughing up this horrible white, sometimes watery substance that
seemed to come directly from my gut. I believe that if it wasn't for
the fact that I practice Tai Chi and had strong lungs and coughing
reflex, that I would not have survived even the first relapse....I
coughed up buckets of this substance before it finally overwhelmed
me, some four/five days after starting to take the antibiotics. It
was a terrible experience for me and my family, and I thank my
children for their kindness and endurance during those two terrible
episodes.
Towards
the end of the summer of 2011 I was starting to feel much better,
then I suddenly relapsed again. At the time I had not been eating
very much meat at all, but due to necessity of hunger and lack of
funds, I had inadvertently eaten minced beef twice on consecutive
days. I went back to the doctor who prescribed steroid tablets for a
week. It was at this time that I started to research more thoroughly
the condition of Acid Reflux, that I was being told I was suffering
from. It was during this research that I came upon a forum on the
subject where someone had left a note stating that the person asking
questions about acid reflux symptoms may have been suffering from a
Candida infection. The symptoms are very similar and the poster
stated that NO DOCTOR would tell the enquirer about Candida. This
statement prompted me start researching Candida infection, and indeed,
the symptoms were remarkably similar to acid reflux and chest
infections. The more I looked, the more I realised that this was what
I was possibly suffering from. I immediately stopped taking the
steroids, that in any case, were contra indicative to the condition
of Acid Reflux. I started to link this third relapse with the minced
beef. Previous to these discoveries I had noted that when I ate any
sweet foods, that the fluffy substance would start to come up from my
gut almost immediately. I also noticed after a dental check up that
I was not suffering from acid erosion to the enamel on my teeth, as I
surely should have been if the substance I was spitting out of my
system was in fact acid from my stomach. I found very helpful
advice on various websites about Candida infections and how to treat
it naturally. What foods to eat, and most importantly, what foods to
avoid in order to starve the infection.
My
first course of action was to see what traditional medication was
available through my new doctor. I went to the Oxford Medical
Journal site and read research papers that outlined the effectiveness
or otherwise of various pharmaceutical treatments. I copied the
papers off and wrote down the names of the various treatments and
went well armed to see my new doctor.
I
think he was a little shocked by this woman that entered his surgery
with all this research, demanding that he listen and take notice of
my history and health problems. To my surprise, instead of rolling
his eyes as other doctors had done, after listening to the history,
he agreed with me that I could indeed be suffering from a form of
Candida infection, and he agreed to treat me with a prescribed anti
fungal medication for two weeks. However, the dosage he gave me was
very low, so I went back and although the first doctor was on
holiday, I saw another and he again agreed with my own diagnosis and
increased the dosage and duration taken to one month.
After
further research and the symptoms diminishing, but not going
completely, I went back again, and this time saw the first doctor,
who again increased the dosage and prescribed anti fungal treatment
for a further month. At the end of that month, I caught a cold/virus
for two days and suddenly started to cough up, not white fluffy
substance, but green thick gunk, on the third day of feeling unwell.
I took a sample to the doctor and it was sent for testing. In the
meantime, after an in-depth discussion with the doctor,
together we decided that antibiotics were a good idea and I was
prescribed them for one week. At that time I had not had any for
nearly two years.
I
believe that all that green gunk was from a cyst that had accumulated
due to the anti fungal medication, just under my chest cavity, that had suddenly burst. The doctor seemed to confirm this. I state this
because my chest was a little sore for a day or two and then
suddenly I could breath quite easily. For the first time in nearly
two years, I could sleep flat again. I felt amazing. I slept for
11/12 hours at a time. However, after a couple of weeks, possibly due in part
to me re-introducing foods that I had previously cut out, I started
to feel that all infection was not gone, so I went back to the doctor
I had first seen at the new surgery. I wanted more anti fungal
treatment, but he decided more antibiotics would be better for me. I
took them but didn't really feel there was much improvement. Do not misunderstand me! I did feel much better, but not completely better.
The doctor had made me an appointment to see a chest specialist and a few weeks later, I went along. I told him my story, he listened to my chest, and I asked him what he thought. He stated that he did not know what to think. He did state that my chest sounded clear, shook my hand and wished me luck, with a caveat that my appointment would remain open for 6 months at the hospital if I needed to see him again without having to go back to my doctor.
The doctor had made me an appointment to see a chest specialist and a few weeks later, I went along. I told him my story, he listened to my chest, and I asked him what he thought. He stated that he did not know what to think. He did state that my chest sounded clear, shook my hand and wished me luck, with a caveat that my appointment would remain open for 6 months at the hospital if I needed to see him again without having to go back to my doctor.
At
the time I was elated that he had given me a clean bill of health,
but later I was a little concerned that he had not discussed Candida
with me whatsoever, nor given any opinion of the treatment I had been
using to treat the Candida infection. I was, and still am, taking
natural garlic, daily.
After
that appointment I became too complacent and started to eat normally
again. I even drank a little, which was a novelty that I had not
indulged in for many months. Then one night, a week or so ago, I
had a craving for sugar. I had gone to visit my younger brother and
was hungry when I arrived. He, being a bachelor, had very little
food in the house, and could only offer me! Wait for it!!! chocolate
fudge cake slices! I foolishly ate two large slices....he also gave
me two slices to take back to my son's! They were out for the weekend
and the next day I ate those slices, too.
Within
a day my chest problems started to re-emerge! I could feel the
Candida inside me growing stronger. I have had to revert to my
strict diet regime, but this time I hope that with the knowledge I
have gained over this past year, through the research of what to, and
not to eat, and the natural medications that kill Candida, I won't
have to go back for more pharmaceuticals from my doctor.
This
infection kills if not treated. It can cause all sorts of terrible
health problems including depression/bipolar/asthma/fatigue and ultimately, is cancer causing if left untreated. So folks, if you
recognise anything of what I have described here, go to your doctor
and insist they treat your concerns seriously. I intend to win this
battle with Candida and regain my full health, I hope you do the
same.
*Please Note* I wish to say a BIG THANK YOU to those Doctors out there who did believe in me and helped me get this horrible illness under control. I understand perfectly the difficulties the good doctors have in the face of the not so good, establishments views.
*Please Note* I wish to say a BIG THANK YOU to those Doctors out there who did believe in me and helped me get this horrible illness under control. I understand perfectly the difficulties the good doctors have in the face of the not so good, establishments views.
References
and helpful research/resources
http://www.gilbertssyndrome.com/candida.php
Note* Since this was written, I have discovered November 2014 that I have intolerance to Gluten, something that is prevalent in my extended family, and also am possible Lactose intolerant. The combination of the candida infection, the fact that I may have always been intolerant to Gluten, and/or Lactose, points much more clearly to why I became so sick in 2011. Since 2014 my health is improving steadily, no thanks to the medical profession in general, whom I think should have at least tested my for Gluten/Lactose intolerance back in 2011. In my opinion, far too many people are being left un-diagnosed for all three of these conditions, and it is about time these issues are addressed, to save a lot of people, a great deal of misery and despair, that being left untreated, causes.
Note* Since this was written, I have discovered November 2014 that I have intolerance to Gluten, something that is prevalent in my extended family, and also am possible Lactose intolerant. The combination of the candida infection, the fact that I may have always been intolerant to Gluten, and/or Lactose, points much more clearly to why I became so sick in 2011. Since 2014 my health is improving steadily, no thanks to the medical profession in general, whom I think should have at least tested my for Gluten/Lactose intolerance back in 2011. In my opinion, far too many people are being left un-diagnosed for all three of these conditions, and it is about time these issues are addressed, to save a lot of people, a great deal of misery and despair, that being left untreated, causes.
