Hi,

I'm new here, and desperate for advice from people who are familiar with Candidiasis. I've posted this on the FM/CFS board too. This is long and I appologise, but I don't know where else to turn. If anyone can take the time to read this I would really appreciate it. I'm desperate.

I suffer from CFS/ME and, 18 months ago I embarked on a nutritional trial which was aiming to establish whether Candida is THE reason for CFS. I went on the strictest version of an anti-candida diet (that is dairy and gluten-free as well as sugar, yeast etc. Everything organic and fresh, no frozen or preserved, nothing refined etc), and a personalised supplementation programme.

I didn't experience any 'die-off' reaction at all, in fact, there was no real change in my symptoms. I plugged on nonetheless.

A year down the line there was still no change, I felt exactly as I had before embarking on the programme. A few months later I suddenly crashed, to a completely bed-ridden state. I had given up smoking 48 hours before, and my doctors think this was such a shock to my already weakened system and that this was the cause.

My nutritionist said this is finally die-off, and that in a month or two I would start turning the corner.

Seven months later, I am still barely able to lift my head from the pillow, despite doing everything my nutritionist advises and to the letter. My nutritionist keeps coming up with reasons, ie my liver is struggling to detoxify, so I went on more supplements to correct this. No change. Now she is saying give it another 9 months.

I am now starting to doubt if Candida is my problem at all, that maybe my CFS is down to something else. I wonder if my nutritionist is maybe more concerned with proving her theory is correct, rather than my best interests. The supplements alone are costing in excess of £150/month, and it seems a lot to pay for no gain. I'm also not sure how much strength I have left to continue living like this. I cannot even get to the toilet on my own.

I really hope that someone here, who has experience of anti-candida programmes, would be able to tell me; if Candida is my problem, would I have seen some results by now?

Thankyou so much to anyone who can comment.

Cascade