I'm scared - could this be?

[Lajet]

I had a recurrent yeast infection over a year ago, went on an anti-candidas diet, and got good results. I never went back to the old way of eating and have eliminated sugar & wheat/flours from my diet. But I'm still tired and have wondered if I still have some systemic yeast.

Recently I got dematitis from wearing jewelry with nickel. then, because I was stupid and stepped on a pencil, I got a tetanus shot & prophylactic antibiotics. Then the very mild dermatitis patch on my face turned into a fungal infection. (or maybe it was always fungal, but I doubt it. I had three patches of dermatitus and the other two haven't turned into a fungal infection.) Went to dermatologist and got some RX which is helping. Doc said would probably take a monthy. Now it appears that while the initial fungal infection on my face is doing better, I'm finding more red blotches on my face that I fear are the beginning of new sites of fungal infection.

Now, I don't know if the antibiotics had anything to do with the fungal infection. The dermatologist isn't so sure. It just seems to make sense to me and the timing fits.

My concern is what to do. I pretty eat low cab - mostly meats, egss, cheese, and some low-carb veggies, fish. I also like cream (tea w/ cream and stevia-non alcohol variety).

If I follow general guidelines and take out eggs, cheese (mostly soft - Meunster -, which are better than the hard in avoiding fungal infections and cream, that leaves me with meat (organic) & veggies. and if I follow some books and take out the meat, there's nothing left for me to eat.

That sounds like a lousy way to live! PLus, I hate to give up protein & dairy - cure the yeast but feed the osteopenia.

How in the world does one get a fungal infection on one's cheeks!

:help: :mad:

[2bthinner!]

Is it possible it's eczema? Primrose oil or borage oil is supposed to be good for that. If it's fungal, tea tree oil is good too. It's so aromatic though, it's difficult to use on your face.

[JLx]

You don't say anything about taking probiotics, which is always a good idea following a bout of antibiotics. Probiotics are also supposed to be good for the immune system in general, which should benefit you as it sounds like your's is less than optimal. So is Vitamin D good for immunity. Are you taking any of that, or do you live in a sunny clime?

[jschwab]

My husband and I got good results with low-carb for yeast (by the way, the antibiotics are very related!) for a long time. Now for both of it is back really without warning and with a vengeance. He follow an intense anti-candida diet (no vinegar, that sort of thing) so the whole thing is frustrating. Maybe it's also time of year.

[Lajet]

You don't say anything about taking probiotics, which is always a good idea following a bout of antibiotics. Probiotics are also supposed to be good for the immune system in general, which should benefit you as it sounds like your's is less than optimal. So is Vitamin D good for immunity. Are you taking any of that, or do you live in a sunny clime?

Thanks for the idea.
Yes I take probiotics - Ultra Flora. twice a day.
I started that when I did the anti-candidas diet over a year ago and kept up with it since (but lower dosage now.) Forgot to mention that. sory. I also take Vitamin D3. - But I lose on the usnny clime bit - I live above the frost line.

[Lajet]

Is it possible it's eczema? Primrose oil or borage oil is supposed to be good for that. If it's fungal, tea tree oil is good too. It's so aromatic though, it's difficult to use on your face.

Thanks for responding. I suppose it could be eczema. I've had that as an allergic reaction too. Would new patches of eczema show up in response to taking antibiotics at the same time, and generally same location, as a splotch of dermatatis goes fungal? I guess the timing made me thing they would both be yeast.

[Lajet]

My husband and I got good results with low-carb for yeast (by the way, the antibiotics are very related!) for a long time. Now for both of it is back really without warning and with a vengeance. He follow an intense anti-candida diet (no vinegar, that sort of thing) so the whole thing is frustrating. Maybe it's also time of year.

Yikes! That sounds lousy! Yea, I don't have vinegar either. But I do eat some nuts (not peanuts or cashews), mostly almonds, macadamia & walnuts - and mostly almonds.

[Lajet]

I'm thinking of asking the doc for some Rx anti-fungal stuff for an extended period
anyone know what to ask for and how long to ask for it?

[amandawood]

Now, I don't know if the antibiotics had anything to do with the fungal infection. The dermatologist isn't so sure. It just seems to make sense to me and the timing fits.



Get "The Coconut Oil Miracle" by Bruce Fife or check out his website "coconut research.org" (or something like that). He recommends cutting sugar from your diet and using a caprylic acid supplement. Some quotes:

"But when the immune system is compromised or when friendly bacteria in our gut are killed by taking antibiotics, a candida infection can quickly flare up. A single course of antibiotics can lead to a raging candida infection. (...) But you can have candidiasis without an active vaginal yeast infection. Anyone who has taken antibiotics, birth control pills, or immunosuppressive drugs is at high risk of having a systemic yeast infection, even if no noticeable symptoms are evident. Typical symptoms also include fatigue, depression, allergy symptoms, and recurring fungal skin infections (athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, etc.)"

What he says above seems to fit perfectly with what you wrote. I think you have ended up with a systemic yeast infection due to taking antibiotics.

In the book there are 3 pages about using virgin coconut oil to combat fungal infections. You can try eating it (I eat it off the spoon and it seems to have almost killed a herpes simplex virus I had in my system), 3 tsp a day off the spoon. You can also treat the infection on your face topically, by just using the VCO as a face cream (it needs to be spread very thinly so you don't end up looking like a basted turkey).

Or you can check out caprylic acid which is recommended to fight systemic candida infections. He mentions the following products which contain caprylic acid (which is a natural ingredient of VCO):

- Caprinex (Nature's Way)
- Capricin (Professional Specialities)
- Mycostat (P&D Nutrition)
- Caprystatin (Ecological Formulas)

Good luck and I hope the VCO and/or caprylic acid supplements do the trick! And tell your dermatologist about antibiotics leading to yeast infections!!!

amanda

[amandawood]

Is it possible it's eczema? Primrose oil or borage oil is supposed to be good for that. If it's fungal, tea tree oil is good too. It's so aromatic though, it's difficult to use on your face.

Tea tree oil smells like toilet cleaner to me. I would never put it on my face!

And I really don't think it's eczema. It sounds exactly like a fungal infection caused by a systemic yeast infection. All the symptoms fit to what Bruce Fife writes about them.

amanda

[Lajet]

Thanks everyone. I'll check out the Coconut connection. You're right - it was a fungal infection - The dermatologist has confirmed fungal infection (which I assume means yeast) and gave me Rx. Talked to my holistic (& western trained) doctor about suspicions of systemic yeast, and she gave me some garlic & CandiBactin-BR supplements. I thnik I'll check out the coconut oil thing too.
I cut out sugar, gluten, processed foods, vinegar from my diet over a year ago (prompted by a nasty, recalcitrant, tenacious yeast infection that wasn't responding to treatment. That got resolved - although I have suspected systemic yeast for a while, even before the face flare up after antibiotics - but I discovered I loved the new diet and haven't gone back). I do eat soft cheese (mostly Muenster) and eggs and heavy cream. I might have to consider giving them up - although the doc didn't suggest that.
I did cut out almost all carbs in response to the most recent face problem - but it messed up my gut. <Sigh.>

Thanks again everyone.

[amandawood]

Thanks everyone.


You're most welcome! Have fun researching the coconut connection! Or get one of those supplements mentioned by Bruce Fife. It can't do you any harm, and may well clear up the whole thing for good.

amanda

[Nancy LC]

There are all kinds of fungal infections one can get, they're not all yeast.

[k_dud74]

Hi there

I'm also a candida sufferer. If you are not already taking anti-fungals you might want to consider that. Coconut Oil and raw garlic are the best. There is a very good website you might want to look at www.healingnaturallybybee.com which is by a lady who cured her candida after years of suffering chronic illness which was caused by the candida. You could try putting the coconut oil on your face as well as taking it orally.

[Lajet]

Hi there

I'm also a candida sufferer. If you are not already taking anti-fungals you might want to consider that. Coconut Oil and raw garlic are the best. There is a very good website you might want to look at www.healingnaturallybybee.com which is by a lady who cured her candida after years of suffering chronic illness which was caused by the candida. You could try putting the coconut oil on your face as well as taking it orally.

Thanks.
If I remember correctly, I cheked the healikngnaturallybybee and my eyes glazed over - it looked SOOOOOO hard.
I have some coconut oil. CAn't remember why I stopped using it, so maybe time to go back to it.
I'm taking several things that are anti-fungals. Garlic tablets, Ultra-flora, Candigbactin. Know anything about those?

[k_dud74]

Hi again

I know what you mean about that website, there is a lot of reading and it takes a while for it all to sink in. Definitely information overload.

I don't know much about those specific things, however I do know that taking raw garlic crushed mixed up in your food right before eating it is supposed to be the best antifungal rather than the tablets but that is not always convenient since you end up with horrible breath etc.

I do know that on a few websites they recommend a 4 step approach to getting candida overgrowth under control and that diet alone is not enough.

1. Diet super low carb like atkins (but not eating dairy, mushrooms etc)
2. Taking supplements, vitamin B complex, vitamin C 1000mg, vitamin E to
build up the immune system to help fight the candida. And because
candida takes over the gut and inhibits absorbtion of vitamins and
minerals from food in general.
3. Taking antifungals, cocount oil building up to about 3 tablespoons a day,
as wells as raw garlic and other anti-fungals such as olive leaf extract
can work well, paul d'arco tea,
4. Pro-biotics. (my naturopath prescribed Saccharomyces boulardii)

From what I've read you need to stick to all four steps consistently for a month for every year that you've had the candida in your system BUT some people have it in their intestines out of control for years before getting any external fungal symptoms so overall they say about a year!!!!!!!

To be honest I am stuggling with all of it too and after 3 months of sticking to my plan to the letter I have fallen off the wagon. It's not easy, hence why I have joined this forum for a bit of support and to get some tips. :)

Good Luck, I hope I've helped a little.

[Lajet]

Hi again
................1. Diet super low carb like atkins (but not eating dairy, mushrooms etc)
2. Taking supplements, vitamin B complex, vitamin C 1000mg, vitamin E to
build up the immune system to help fight the candida. And because
candida takes over the gut and inhibits absorbtion of vitamins and
minerals from food in general.
3. Taking antifungals, cocount oil building up to about 3 tablespoons a day,
as wells as raw garlic and other anti-fungals such as olive leaf extract
can work well, paul d'arco tea,
4. Pro-biotics. (my naturopath prescribed Saccharomyces boulardii)..................
Good Luck, I hope I've helped a little.

Thanks. That was very helpful. I have gone low carb, and still don't eat mushrooms, vinegar (which means condiments & dressings) - BUT I do have heavy whipping cream. I've heard that is okay. I also have cheese but I could probably give that up. Giving up my cream would be much harder.

I take B&E, but not C. I think I'll start adding that. <sigh>

I've bought Coconut something (looks like the consistency of Crisco) and will try to start using that.

I just started garlic supplements. I've never been a big fan of garlic so not sure natural garlic will go far. I may try. As of my last visit a couple week ago I'm now taking garlic supplements.

How do you eat olive leaf extract?
Also, I'm curious about the tea. My reading is that tea has fungus so I'm supposed to stay away from teas <sigh>

I've got the pro-biotics. A couple of different ones. Ultra-Flora DF, and Candibactin (or something like that.)

Thanks for distilling it down for me! I really appreciate it.

[k_dud74]

No sorry don't know anything about those particularly. But if you start the coconut oil start taking a little bit at a time and build up slowly to about 3 tablespoons per day. I'm sure if you are sticking to your diet plan and taking the garlic and the coconut oil you as well as the flora you will see improvement after a few months.

[k_dud74]

Hi
Olive leaf extract comes in a liquid form. I get it from my local pharmacy here in Australia but it's fairly common from what I gather. Mine is peppermint flavoured and not bad to take orally.
You just take it like medicine.

The pau d'arco - can't elaborate as it was recommended on the healingnaturallybybee website and a few other sites and have found reference to it on some threads on this site too but I haven't honestly started taking it yet. It gets a bit out of control buying all this stuff as you probably know!!!!

[k_dud74]

Sorry I forgot to add that it's also recommended that you take fish oil every day too (I take 4000 mg) per day. In winter you're supposed to switch to taking cod liver oil because of it's vitamin D properties. You should also try and get a good 10 minute dose of sunlight every day, getting the sun on your skin when you can.

[slimjane11]

it sounds like the antibiotics most definitely triggered your candidiasis...that's usually the cause.
coconut and grapeseed oils will really kick some ass for you...definitely been working for me, i can tell because i feel lousy after i eat it. lol. die off reaction of course...also, caprylic acid, probiotics, and garlic work wonders...good luck! you're not alone...

[Lajet]

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the information and support!
My face is clearing up. Not totally gone in location that was most severe, but not that noticeable. Doc said it would take about a month!!

I was going to write this on a different board, but thought maybe the yeast had a role so I'd try here too. I went on an anti-candidas diet to get rid of a nasty yeast infection that wasn't responding to traditional treatments. ONe of the best things to happen to me. While on the diet I watched my blood pressure go down, my blood work improve significantly, my dental appts improve, and my sugar cravings go away. I think there were a couple of other good things too. I also started losing weight! I eventually got down to about 124, which I was happy with. Still don't have a flat stomach. Never will. <sigh> But was very happy at 124. I never thought I'd get that low. Haven't been there since passing it on the way up after puberty (several decades ago). WHen it was over, I decided to stay on the low-carb diet way of life.

Then had some teeth trouble, and started eating nut butters especially peanut butter & sunflower butter. I thought I was still staying within my base line carb count (about 30 g), but I wasn't keeping track, and I think I miscounted the sunflower butter carbs. IN any case, I gained 5 pounds.

I cut back on carbs to lose those 5 pounds again, and I CAN'T. They just don't come off. i've started keeping track of my food again to see what happen, but thought I'd see if anyone has any ideas.

other things that may (or may not) pertinent:
As best I can remember, I was aided in reaching 124 by a gall bladder attack (I didn't know that's what it was at the time) when I quit eating. That was about 7 months ago. So the stopping eating helped get me to 124, but I was able to maintain that by staying about 30g carbs/day.

Any other ideas? suggestions?

[capmikee]

My experience is that dairy, especially cheese, is a major candida trigger. If you don't want to give dairy up completely try getting some casein-free ghee.

Nuts also give us problems.

Yes, plenty of books will tell you to give up meat, but can you follow all the books? You have to eat something... If you want to see what works for you, try 2 weeks with no nuts or dairy, 2 weeks with no meat or dairy, and 2 weeks with no meat or nuts. You might want to limit your meat to fresh cuts. Amines and hydrolysed proteins (found in cured meats, wine, vinegar and cheese) can put a load on your system and interact with candida.

[Hadassah7]

Wanted to comment on the issue of all the candida books out there.... <sigh>

My personality is one that likes to find someone else's program and try to follow it. (of course I always have to have some recommendation or piece of advice I disagree with and don't follow.) After trying various candida diets...the latest being one that allowed complex carbs such as potatoes, potato chips (!!)(only if the oil used was safflower or canola and no food additives), brown rice etc. After catching up on all the potatoes I had missed in the last years, I found my psoriasis was worse. I finally got broken of this need to follow someone else's plan and decided I have to do what works for me. So...I gave up all potatoes and ran straight back to LC-ing minus the vinegar, cheese, occasional alcohol etc etc.

I am just to the point where I am ready for these yeasty-beasties to be under control!!! So far so good. I am taking nystatin and eating meats, healthy fats, lc veggies and eggs. Occasionally I will have some lemon juice on something. EVCO is also important but the flavor is pretty strong, so I have to be careful how I use it.

All the best to those who struggle against the Y beasts.