I just got back from my gastroenterologist and got the results from my endoscopy and colonoscopy. He told me that there was no sign of candida overgrowth and that it's actually all b.s. If he didn't find it through these procedures does that mean I definitely don't have it? Should I stop the diet and stop taking the antifungals or can it be in other parts of my body? I just have so many of the symptoms that I don't know what to do.

I thought I was probably full of candida and recently had a blood test - no sign of it. What type of symptoms are you having? Digestive? Do you think you might have food allergies? I have quite a few.

Gee, lizzy. Where do I start? I have zero sex drive/trouble getting and maintaining erections, prostatitis, red face, white coating on tongue, fatigue, vitamin D deficiency, stomach problems, stuffy ear, sensory neuropathy, carpel tunnel, esophageal ulcers, etc. These are just some symptoms that come to mind and I've had most of them for years. I'm only 30 years old.

It's tricky trying to diagnose someone over the net, but I will admit that a lot of the symptoms you have mentioned I have had too. Sensory neuropathy, carpel tunnel, white coating on tongue, fatigue, stomach problems, loss of appetite in my case too, and a whole host of deficiencies as a result do sound like candida to me.

I also had a loss of libido, but that can be a result of a few things with candida---loss of good mineral absorption (e.g. zinc, iron etc), effects of candida on thyroid specifically (which can also kill libido etc) and candida effects on endocrine/reproductive systems specifically (it can live in organs etc).

Food allergies are also really common, like Lizzie said, and I have a lot of them too.

Having said all that, alternative practitioners do the diagnosis on the basis of other questions. For example, although a lot of us (me included) had gut-related symptoms of candida (e.g. I have a parasite and that usually preceeds candida development), it is possible to get it through other ways as well (e.g. sex---if there is a cut, candida can be transmitted directly into your blood stream at that point).

You might want to look into an alternative practitioner who is experienced with candida specifically and also at whether your questionnaire responses on some of the typical candida questionnaires indicate a likelihood of it. Otherwise, it is also possible you may have a different or unrelated condition (thyroid, endocrine, etc).

I know you're feeling really discouraged right now and I think a lot of us probaby have gone through similar issues. I saw about 10 doctors or possibly more before finally I was able to get some help from someone who really knew about it and what all the symptoms meant. I wish there were more I could do to help you.

This site might be of some use. I can't say for sure, but at least there is a questionnaire guide/candida test link to whether or not you may have candida. Also a "contact us" link in the left frame. They may be able to help. http://www.healthyinformation.com/

The specific questionnaire guide they use is here and it is done on a point system. In other words, there is a likelihood that above a certain score, you may very likely have candida. At least it might help to give you some idea of how likely it is that candida is underlying these issues.

http://www.healthyinformation.com/CandidaTest1.pdf

Sorry I can't help more than this though. I know it is VERY frustrating to feel so absolutely exhausted and sick and have no doctor who is taking it seriously or who are all saying that there is nothing wrong. One doctor said I was a hypochondriac and my hair was actually falling out in clumps at that point!!!

Hang in there.

Thanks again Annajen. I forgot to mention that I recently found out that I have food allergies too. I've had my thyroid tested quite a few times and I've been to an endocrinologist. Every doctor sends me to somebody else. Maybe I'll just stay on the diet for another month or two and see how it goes. I've had many of my symptoms for years so I'm sure that, if it is candida, it'll take more than two months to feel any difference. I just feel so desperate.

Hey there,

Could you possibly have Lyme Disease?

I once thought that too so I got tested for it and it came up negative. I've had so many tests done it's not even funny.

Unfortunately, a lot of these things have "cascade effects" meaning it can be a small thing or just one organ or microorganism or something, but it can have widespread effects throughout the body.

While I think that you should defininitely continue to pursue other tests and options (e.g. the lyme disease one was a sensible one since symptoms are also widespread throughout the body and it's a similarly infectious organism to candida), see how you do on that candida test questionnaire to see what your likelihood is. If you do score in the high range, then it might be sensible to continue on the diet and antifungals while searching for a proper specialist.

If you come out as having a low score/probability on that questionnaire, then it might not be necessary to treat it as candida or continue the restrictive diet (although a detox diet might suit you all the same if your body is struggling with something).

If you do score on the high side and it looks as though it might be candida (or fungal in general), you may have to resort to the internet to get some good advice as to clinics in your area which deal with it. The main thing is, if it is candida, it is essential that you find a specialist since otherwise the diet can suppress symptoms but it won't be able to clear it up without additional medication and treatment.

If it is not candida, then you may need to consider other possibilities (ME ("yuppie flu", fatigue syndrome?, adrenal/endocrine issues etc.)

What would also be a good idea would be to try to get a general picture of your vitamin and mineral levels. If any are particularly low, that might indicate a problem with a particular set of organ systems, but at least it would be more information to show to doctors and to go on.

See how you do, but don't worry. I mean, although your gastro tests came up clear, obviously something is making you feel this way, but they just have not identified it yet. A lot of things are treatable, but I think it would be best if you could start investigating alternative practitioners with access to proper labs for testing (never have blood tests or samples "sent away" through the post for testings since this never really works for identifying what is wrong, the lab must be near the doctor for this to work properly).

All the best!

I guess the question is in your pursuit to determine the issue how do you feel on the diet? Is it helping at all? If so then I'd say keep it up until you are able to determine the underlying cause. How long have you been following the candida diet?

Hey Tom. Maybe you should go see an Internal Medicine M.D. That's where I'm going Monday. I talked to them on the phone and they said the doctor there specializes in Candida.

When I had my endoscopy done 6 months ago the doctor didn't say anything to me about yeast when my results came back. I really don't think they test for it. Or if they do it's already dead because once it leaves your body it dies (at least that's what I read somewhere

Yeast comes in many different forms. The gastroenterlogist could have said, well, if he has candida, I will see it, when actually you can't always see it. Most doctors do not believe in it. Then some say if you do have candida, it doesn't cause inflammation, well, cleary that's not the case, look at KT's before and after pics. Did you see how red his esophagus was before and how much better it looked after?

Maybe you just have to find what works for you just like I have to find what works for me. I know diet helps me but, I still think I need to get on a prescription strength antifungal. Most of the posts that I've read say either diflucan finally cleared it up for me, nystatin helped me, or I've even read good stuff about threlac. I think it's all about finding the right stuff to kill the certain type of yeast that it is.

I was reading this blog on http://www.doctoroz.com/ and found some really interesting stuff. Check this guy out http://www.doctoroz.com/expert/jacob-teitelbaum-md. He's been on the show and he talks about treating hidden infections to solve problems like chronic fatigue, spastic colon, athritis, and under active thyroid. Even he says you can't test for yeast because everybody has it anyway. He seems like he really knows his stuff. I mean, if he's been on the Dr OZ show he must know something.

HI Justin!

What a great post!!!

That is EXACTLY what one doctor I had said. He was an immunobiologist and a microbiologist and he was very good at most of what he did. When I raised the topic of candida with him (given that he had failed to really deal with the underlying issues and didn't really cure me) he said "You can't test for yeast because everybody has it anyway, so there's no point in testing for it."

Having said that, because of that very fact, he didn't believe candida syndromes existed in anyone except the terminally ill.

My current doctor agreed there is no point directly testing for it but he DOES believe it exists and is a syndrome issue. I will also check out your links since it sounds like they are pretty accurate! There are indirect yeast tests too which can be somewhat useful in working out whether someone has it or not (the most significant in my case were the skin prick tests to determine whether I was allergic to yeast, and what came back was strong allergies to it, plus soy, and other fermented foods, which seems to be a trademark of people with candida---food intolerances and allergies to fermented foods and foods similar in structure to yeast (e.g. mushrooms).

That can provide a guide as to whether someone might have a systemic candida issue, but I think the idea of seeing the specialists you mentioned (the Internal Medicine centre) sounds a really good one too. My doctor says that the diet alone won't cure it, but you really do need prescription-strength antifungals or, better, an individual programme of antifungals and diet to suit your personal needs.

Nice to meet you, btw.

Hey, justin, thanks for the info. I actually have an appointment at my primary doctor today. I made the appointment with a doctor's assistant who I feel really understands me and cares. I'm going to ask him if he can prescribe me diflucan. I just have one question. Do you know if it is safe to take if I don't have candida? As I stated earlier, I don't know if I definitely have it. Thanks again.

Hey Tom,

As far as diflucan goes I believe it is somewhat safe. I read it can be hard on the liver, but I've also read that it's no worse than tylenol wich I believe, is true. So I guess, if you have a bad liver I probably wouldn't take it, or tylenol, lol. I believe it would be better than to take an antibiotic because the antibitoic will kill the beneficial bacteria when the antifungal won't. So my guess is that it wouldn't make you any worse than you are now.


If you get on a prescription strength antifungal and your symptoms worsen it might actually be the die-off. They say you feel worse for about a week, flu like, kinda sore all over. and you might have some night sweats. I guess that would be your body fighting it off. Just don't confuse die-off with having a bad reaction to the drug. If you're worried about adverse reactions to any drug, go to this site, http://www.askapatient.com/, and just type in the name of the drug and check out some of the posts from other people and their reactions to the drug. It's probably one of my favorite sites.


I'll go see the Doctor Monday and keep everyone posted. Oh yeah, I just found out both of my Grandparents were Diabetic. My Moms' dad and my Dads' dad. So, I guess I might be Diabetic since it usually skips a generation. If I am, it probably contributed to the Candida. But also, I know if I am, it's not the reason I feel like I do now, pins and needles, constipation, pain in the colon, spastic colon, fatigue, headaches, stomach pain, and bad breath. I mean, the bad breath just showed up out of nowhere. I woke up one morning and I was like geez, my breath stinks, I went and brushed my teeth and I could still smell it. I've read it could be related to Candida and digestive issues. Well, I guess I can thank the prev pac for that. I never had a digestive issue in my life untill those antibiotoic.

Hey Tom, did the Doc say you didn't have hpylori in your stomach? I've read over half the worlds' population has it. That's what I was treated for and I would trade it for what I have now any day of the week. Oh, it's nice to meet you too Annajen . We have to stick together so maybe we can help one another since doctors don't always solve the problem. Maybe I'll get some presciption strength antifungals Monday and see how that goes. I've already been on the diet for a month and a half, although it has greatly helped, it hasn't fully solved my problem.

Hey there, Justin!

Well, this is interesting. Both my parents are diabetic and I was diagnosed as "hypoglycaemic" for years. Although it's not quite the same as diabetic, it meant a lot of years of hyper low blood sugar, insulin resistance and blood sugar imbalances with liver-release quick sugars, all of which I think contributed to the candida thing.

Check out KT12's thread too---his main symptom of candida was bad breath and his endoscopy proved that was the cause. I didn't have that one, since mine tended to be at the lower end of the digestive system (constipation/ diarrhoea etc) but I'm glad you're getting good help for your situation.

You're right, though---it helps to have a few friends when you're trying to get better, especially since it's hard to explain all this to people in real life sometimes. Most people are like, "WHAT???" and even if they get it, they don't necessarily understand how awful you can feel when you have it, because you look ok on the outside.

Anyway, nice to read your posts!