new to this site and have MAJOR candida questions
 

Hello everyone- I have some questions about possible candidiasis. I have had diarrhea off and on for about 2 years now. Sometime there are periods of constipation as well. I have had 3 episodes of severe stomach/intestinal pain with horrible diarrhea over the past 4 years. I have been a bodybuilder for approx 5 years-which means that I have eaten a very high carbohydrate diet continuously as well as consuming tons of calories daily (in the range of 3500-5000/day). Over the past wk, I have experienced bad diarrhea and now bloating. I failed the spit test this morning (immediately had legs streaming down from the saliva). I have also had this nagging chronic cough since I had my tonsils removed in september last year. I had chronic tonsilitis for 2 years that no antibiotics resolved (candida??).
Anyway, does this sound like intestinal candida? I went to a gi doctor last fall and he diagnosed me with IBS, but never discussed candida as a possibility. Sorry for rambling, but I am at my wits end and would appreciate any insite.
Thanks
doc

btw--I scored a 193 on Crooke's test

Hi, welcome to the group! Well, it is a possibility that you have candida. It is also possible that you have a gluten intolerance. I would read up on gluten intolerance, or celiac disease. This can cause the gastro/intestinal problems you describe. Are you low carbing right now, and have you given up grain?

A milk allergy can also cause similiar symptoms. There is no easy answer, you need to try different approaches with your diet. I would eliminate ALL wheat and grains. If there is no improvement after a few weeks, eliminate dairy. That is what I would do, but I am neither a doctor nor nutritionist.

Good luck! I understand how miserable stomach problems can be, and I hope you can figure out the problem. I am sure you will!

-Denise

no further diarrhea since starting a Probiotic, Yeast Fighters (twinlab) and dietary enzyme supplement yesterday-but now, I feel a little constipated--very frustrating!!

this is what I am taking now:
-fiber capsules three times daily
-enzyme supplement three times daily before meals
-a probiotic daily
-flax seed oil
-yeast fighters (twinlab) daily

anything else that would be good ??
what is this Candistroy product?
thanks

Hi muscledoc!

I'm a bodybuilder too. I've had six months off because of this candida thing. This is just my experience but I've been doing better at curing the candida since I lessened my workouts. Its been a month and a half of intense treatment and I'm just now starting to lift again! (at pitifully low weights!) I think the down time is crucial. Your body's trying to heal, it doesn't need the stress of intense workouts.

I don't know if you're familiar with Body for Life, by Bill Phillips, that's what I do. There's a recommended eating plan that's really very similar to the candida diet. Its a balance of lean protein, non-starchy carbs and vegetables. If you're up for it you can deal with your yeast problem while continuing workouts. (BodyRX could be modified easily for you, too) check out www.leanandstrong.com its a really great fitness community. They seem to be experts on everything related to bodybuilding, but I warn you they know nothing about candida!

About the supplements, where are your antifungals? or did I miss something?

I scored over 400 on Crook's test 7 weeks ago. I now score less than 100 and I have no "spit runners"now. Here's what I take:

am: two probiotics, multivitamin/mineral, borage oil
noon: one b-complex, two kyolic garlic, two caprystatin
pm: two grapeseed extract, two caprystatin

I've also followed an anti-candida diet to the T. I designed it myself, if you're interested I'll go into more detail. I thought the diets that I'd read about would take too long! What I've been doing is certainly working for me.

Sorry if none of this helps! I found out I had candida because my bodybuilding program had just stalled. It was more than a plateau, I was actually losing strength and gaining weight! The body just doesn't work right with a yeast overgrowth!

Oh, yeah! how long have you been taking three fiber capsules? Last week I added fiber- capsules, and it was an entire week of IBS-type symptoms...diarrhea, severe, constipation, severe. It didn't improve until I ate starchy stuff with no fiber in it. sort of balanced things out again. Now I'm back on plan. I think the extra fiber may not be necessary on a candida diet, because absolutely everything I'm eating is very high in fiber. Just my two cents.

TAke care!

Just wanted to let you know about a product I take. It is by Rainbow Light and is called "Everyday Fiber System". It is a powder you mix with water and contains psyllium, bentonite clay, and a host of other ingredients, all designed to "clean you out". The bentonite clay is supposed to draw out toxins, good for candida removal. I purchased it from iherb.com.

It tastes pretty bad, but it works well. I never had any luck with the capsules. This works for me. It is important to drink alot of water, too, but I am sure you already know that! ;)

Amy Rose, your anti-candida regimen is great, congrats on getting rid of this crud! I found out I had candida after I started Atkins. The weight just wouldn't come off! I am still waiting, but I am still killing the stuff off.

Muscledoc - Candistroy is an antifungal. It works very well for me, and some other people. I haven't tried the Twinlab Yeast Fighters, but I take alot of other Twinlab products, and feel they are quite reputable. You might want to pick up another type of anti-fungal, the yeast can get immune to one, so try alternating two of them. I take Candistroy, Yeast-Cleanse by Source Naturals, and Olive Leaf extract, alternating the three. I would agree with Amy Rose about stopping the weight lifting while killing off the yeast. Your body is going through alot right now, and needs all the help it can get.

-Denise

Thanks everyone for your help! I appreciate it. I am gonig to back down on the fiber b/c now I think it is resulting in constipation--yikes! thanks again doc

Muscledoc, do you take magnesium? If you don't, taking it might help with constipation. I read that people with candida don't absorb magnesium properly, so they are deficient in it. I take it myself, and have never had a problem with constipation. Hope it helps!

-Denise

Please tell me what is the spit test...Osuzana

Hi Muscledoc,

Your doctor is most likely correct. You have IBS. Exactly which bowel disease is not so important. You probably have Candida as well. The low-carbohydrate diet is the best way to go for all bowel diseases and Candida, but you must add further restrictions beyond low-carb.

Check out my web page at:

Bowel Diseases and Candida - News You Can Use.

Ask you doctor about prescribing Asacol to assist you with the IBS. Don't discontinue the drug until many months after all symptoms are gone. The website links to other Candida resources will provide other prescription drugs and herbal products to assist with Candida. Don't even think about going back to high carbs ever because all the problem will quickly return.

Good luck,

Kent

Have you been drinking lots of water??? The problem I have experienced is that I would get dehydrated with the diarrhea, take the fiber, then end up constipated :( . I drink a couple of big bottles of Smart Water (or any mineral water) to help get hydrated WITH electrolytes.

Good luck!
Jinx