Re:Syl
#335198 - 08/24/08 11:28 AM
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GaGa
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 534
Loc: Florida
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I did not research the lab adequately. When my general practitioner suggested the test, I did actually go on line and see that this lab actually existed. My doctor tends to jump on anything new,(which in a way is good because I know so many drs. who won't run any tests for anything) so I should have known. Especially since no lab here does the testing and I had to go to one specific hospital for them to draw the blood and then FedEx it to Prometheus. I'm first, irritated at myself for not exploring/researching more - however, I get so irritated at doctors who believe everything a drug/lab rep tells them. That's the reason we have people dying from physician-prescribed drugs. I never take anything unless I have thoroughly researched it myself - even then, I don't usually take it unless it's absolutely necessary.  Thanks so much, Syl! ~ Dorothy (a/k/a 'The Skeptic')
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"I Will Survive! :-)... I shall live and not die and declare the works of The Lord..."
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Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus capable of causing serious infection in humans, especially if they are immunocompromised. There are 300 known species of fungi that are pathogenic to man; Candida, aspergillus and zygomycetes are most frequently isolated.
Overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to the development of fungal infections.
For me, my problem was fungus. I only found that out by experimenting with an antifungal diet, even after many tests and advice from my doctors indicated I would be wasting my time. To say I was amazed is an understatement. As I found out, fungus is real, and it can do much damage.
Do what works best for you. Everyone is different. No one can tell you more about your body, than you.
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Re: Kim 123
#335204 - 08/24/08 12:29 PM
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GaGa
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 534
Loc: Florida
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Kim -
Did you take any antifungal drugs like Diflucan or Nystatin or did you take probiotics/acidophilus??? Or, did you just primarily change your diet? I know it is a long process and I'm not taking anything like Candex - can't risk having Herxhimer?? reaction now that I'm back in school... I think this is still a realitvely unexplored area by the mainstream medical profession - just as they have only, within the last few years, recognized IBS as a disease. For years I was told "it's all in your head... you have to learn to control your emotions...". One ENT I saw could not speak English very well and when I mentioned my bloodwork showed candida antibodies (I understand that the same thing as it showing measles antibodies - just that I've had it at one time) he screamed at me "You no have candida! You have it in your blood, you die!!!!" I asked him to quit because he was scaring me. But, he just did not understand the correlation. My general practitioner has worked with many AIDS/HIV patients who are diagnosed with chronic candida or systemic candida and, unfortunately, it can kill them. My mind is getting fuzzy from all this thinking!
Have you started back to school yet? If not, good luck! If so, hang in there!  - Dorothy
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"I Will Survive! :-)... I shall live and not die and declare the works of The Lord..."
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Re: Kim 123
#335209 - 08/24/08 12:57 PM
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kim123
Reged: 07/18/06
Posts: 543
Loc: Florida
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Dorothy-
Yup, got one week under my belt already. I did take natural anti-fungals at the time, olive leaf extract and rotated it with caprylic acid, every month. I did have the Herheimer response, another indicator I had toxins/fungal die-off in me. I can understand you not wanting to get that as you're heading back to school. Yikes!
You are right, there is so much controversy with the whole yeast/candida thing out there. If a candida diet has worked for many people, there must be something to it, for some of us out here, anyway. Listen to your own body. Doctors don't always have all the answers. If what you have always done has not worked for you, then change something. For me, it was changing my diet. If you found something that works for you, keep on keepin' on! Best to you, too.
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Re:Syl
#335212 - 08/24/08 02:01 PM
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Syl
Reged: 03/13/05
Posts: 5499
Loc: SK, CANADA
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It is so easy to make a web site look professional. It is difficult to know how much credence to give to posted claims. You have to carefully read between the lines.
There was a note in the detailed description of the IBS diagnostic test that caught my eye. It says "Currently, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval is not required for IBS Diagnostic testing performed by Prometheus." In other words, currently there are no standards for IBS blood tests, hence there is little evidence that a collection of blood tested biomarkers can be a reliable indicator of IBS. Also, according to a footnote the "data on file" are what they use to make claims. The analytical and statistical methods and in particular, the proprietary pattern matching algorithm, is not referenced with a single peer reviewed research paper.
I would rely on a GI doc's ability to diagnosis IBS. Maybe s/he can figure out what the data from this lab means. As for giving advice on how to manage IBS there is lots of room for improvement in every profession dealing with IBS
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
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Quote:
Mayo clinic ask the expert Food and nutrition specialist.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/candida-cleanse/AN01679
Interesting, that on the same Mayo Clinic website we find conflicting advice. On one hand, the nutrition "expert" says that the treatment technique (eliminating sugar, white flour and yeast) is not supported with research. On the same website, oral thrush (I mention this for Dorothy)is described as a fungal condition of Candida albicans. Prevention is limiting sugar and yeast-containing foods, including bread. One can find articles that indicate that sugar and carbs can enhance the growth of Candida.
I think you have to be careful not to believe everything you read on the internet as "gospel", and being always right and true.
Syl's fixed link (thank you Syl) references the NEJM as finding that in "one" study there was "one" anti-fungal drug that had no effect on women with the "supposed" yeast syndrome. So, what does that prove? Well, what was the drug, how many women were in the study, what other factors could have been responsible for the outcome... See what I mean? In the same journal by the way, the NEJM 2006 states there is "...increasing evidence for yeasts being able to cause IBS symptoms in sensitized patients via Candida products, antigens and cross antigens."
The same link references that there is no science to back up the claims that yeast overgrowth leads to scores of health problems and diseases. Be careful what you read and believe. There are myriads of studies on the PubMed website that prove otherwise.
I guess I just mean to say that be sure you do your own research when it comes to your health. Don't just accept what anyone, (including myself!), tells you.
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This Mayo Clinic article is talking about intestinal candidiasis and diet. This Mayo Clinic article is talking about Candida albican in oral thrust. These are two different conditions. The first condition is not official recognized and diet has no effect. In the second instance the condition is well recognized and diet makes a difference.
I believe the article you quoted "...increasing evidence for yeasts being able to cause IBS symptoms in sensitized patients via Candida products" comes from a 2005 article in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. The complete quote is "Even if the involvement of yeasts in the aetiology of IBS still remains unclear, there is increasing evidence for yeasts being able to cause IBS-symptoms in sensitized patients via Candida products, antigens and cross-antigens. But more research is needed before antifungal treatment can be recommended as a first line treatment for IBS." Furthermore the article acknowledges that "There are no satisfactory studies addressing intestinal colonization of Candida in IBS patients that support, or refute a causative effect." The rest of article reviews previous research findings based on the unproven assumption that a causal relationship might exist.
Careful attention has to paid to the wording of research articles in order to tease out the limitations of a study and the claims its authors are making
Reference
Santelmann, H. and J. M. Howard: Yeast metabolic products, yeast antigens and yeasts as possible triggers for irritable bowel syndrome. [Review]. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology January 2005;17(1):21-26.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
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The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I think there comes a time when we have to agree to disagree! On one hand we agree with alternative/blended medicine when it comes to IBS and its treatment - i.e probiotics, fennel tea, peppermint capsules and digestive enzymes (I do not think there are many medical practitioners out there prescribing these things - yet, practically everyone talks about taking some or all). Are there documented, scientific studies by CDC, JAMA or other medical groups to support their efficacy?
Then, the Candida issue, I recently read a document published by the well known Cleveland Clinic that purports the evidence of esophogitis and even gastritis as being caused by candida albicans - just because the CDC, or other studies do not recognize it, I think we need to keep an open mind. I, personally, believe in "blended medicine" and am middle of the road as far as treatments. I'm not going to have hydrocolonic therapy or I.V. chelation therapy, but I'm not going to take every new FDA-approved drug that comes out. Remember, it was not that many years ago that IBS was considered a psychosomatic illness.
I have a friend in his 40s who was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and later Lyme's Disease - talk about a double whammy! Modern science offered him no hope. Alternative medicine gave him hope, but the "cure" (we hope) is almost worse than the disease. Fortunately he lives in Atlanta and has access to a clinic that practices blended medicine: general practitioners on staff, as well as naturopaths, accupuncturists, nutritionsts... I'm sure he would love to hear "take these meds x times a day". Instead, his treatment protocol is rigid and intense... no wheat, no dairy, no sugar, no red meat, everything from household cleaning products to every bite of food organic, reverse osmosis water treatment, $2,000+ a month, vitamin/herbal supplements, (including those to kill parasites) hyperbaric chamber treatments, BUT - he has been diligent and the disease has not progressed as the neurologists, etc. expected.
Conclusion: I love reading everyone's opinions. I have an open mind and you help me grow when you share your research, your exeriences. At my "advanced" age (58), I can truly appreciate how far the medical field - and nutritional field have come. What a wonderful time to be alive! ~ Dorothy
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"I Will Survive! :-)... I shall live and not die and declare the works of The Lord..."
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Dorothy - FYI - there are scientific studies that support the use of probiotics (e.g. see this message ), peppermint (see references below), fennel and digestive enzymes (e.g. lactase) for IBS.
It is indeed a great time to be alive. At my advanced age (64) I hope to see a major break through in the treatment of IBS before I leave the planet
References
Grigoleit, H.-G. and P. Grigoleit, 2005: Peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome. Phytomedicine, 12, 601-606.
Kligler, B. and S. Chaudhary, 2007: Peppermint oil. American Family Physician, 75, 1027-1030.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Re: Syl
#335229 - 08/25/08 02:43 AM
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GaGa
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 534
Loc: Florida
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Well, it's wonderful to meet someone close to my age!
Thanks for the references. You are an outstanding, informed, intelligent lady and we're lucky to have you around here! Honestly, I'm glad God did not give me a scientific mind - I'm one of those "gray" people, instead of black and white...I'm wishy/washy (good Southern expression). So, like you, I pray for a cure, but more importantly, I pray for a miracle. Thank you again - Dorothy
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"I Will Survive! :-)... I shall live and not die and declare the works of The Lord..."
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