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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Candidiasis?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D.
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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Candidiasis?
by Rick61, Feb 02, 2004 12:00AM
I was treated with Zithromax by my doctor last October. Ever since, I have experienced chronic watery diarrhea accompanied by constant rumbling in my large intestine and bloating. The watery diarrhea continued for 3 months. I was treated with Flagyl and took Fibercon, both with no effect. Blood tests, stool, and a colonoscopy came up negative. No parasite infection or blood found in the stool. I even had an HIV test with negative results. The doctors have pretty much given up on me and labeled me as an IBS case. I have complained that I doubt very seriously that IBS can cause watery diarrhea 100% of the time. I have had some success treating myself for candidiasis by taking Primal Defense, good bacteria, and yeast fighters- all hearbs. Additionally, I have stayed on a high protein, low carb diet. As a result, almost normal bowel movements have returned. It seems that if I slip up and eat a high carb meal, I have trouble. The bloating still returns intermittently. What still concerns me most of all is that I detect a sligh bulging under my right armpit that is always there and seems to get more prominent depending on how tired I become; nothing that you can feel with the hand or see with the eye, but I know it is there. Also, have been suffering from insomnia since this whole thing began. Can you help?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Feb 04, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 04, 2004 12:00AM
One consideration would be C Difficile colitis. This is an infection that occurs after antibiotic use. This should have been evaluated during the routine workup - but I would ensure that it was done. Flagyl typically is the medication to treat this, but there are some resistant cases.
Other causes for diarrhea would be malabsorption or pancreatitis (although watery diarrhea would be an uncommon presentation for these diseases). Tests for celiac disease or fecal fat tests to evaluate for fat malabsorption can be considered. If the symptoms abate with carbohydrate restriction, you may want to evlauate for forms of carbohydrate malabsorption (i.e. lactose deficiency).
Finally there are very rare tumors, known as VIPomas (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)) that can cause excess watery diarrhea. A VIP level can be drawn to evaluate for this.
Regarding the armpit swelling, you may want to inquire about a surgery referral to evaluate for a possible biopsy.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Other causes for diarrhea would be malabsorption or pancreatitis (although watery diarrhea would be an uncommon presentation for these diseases). Tests for celiac disease or fecal fat tests to evaluate for fat malabsorption can be considered. If the symptoms abate with carbohydrate restriction, you may want to evlauate for forms of carbohydrate malabsorption (i.e. lactose deficiency).
Finally there are very rare tumors, known as VIPomas (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)) that can cause excess watery diarrhea. A VIP level can be drawn to evaluate for this.
Regarding the armpit swelling, you may want to inquire about a surgery referral to evaluate for a possible biopsy.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section13/chapter153/153e.jsp
One very good aspect is you have found the cause of your illness very early on . Many have the condition for years before finding the cause of their mystery illness some never find the information. Trailing round a succession of doctors is a feature of yeast even with dramatic symptoms you describe doctors still turn a blind eye.
Read my article get in touch if you need more info
Mystery Illness?
This is an illness where 5.000 people in the UK have banded together to share information. Up to 3,000 people a day log onto an Internet forum looking for help. In fact this forum attracts more traffic than any other Internet health forum. This illness is a hot topic. What's the subject that has the attention of so many people? A very odd one ---intestinal yeast infection. Is it a crucial player in health? Does it really make a person this fatigued and ill? If so, why can't you just take a medication to kill the yeast and make it all go away?
More and more people are realizing intestinal yeast and bacteria can be a major contributor to many illnesses. Over 70% of the immune system is in the intestines. What lives in the intestines interacts with the immune system. Altered gut flora from what is regarded as normal can cause depression, mental confusion, anxiety and fatigue. The intestinal flora is even a major contributor to autism. Yes, autism isn't the totally genetic or emotional problem that was once believed. Many of these children are losing their diagnosis of autism as the gut and immune system are healed.
What is it like to suffer an intestinal yeast infection? Well, initially, a person may fear the worst --- cancer or a degenerative disease. The symptoms are both appalling and progressive. Chronic fatigue, cognitive problems and other symptoms develop to the point where the sufferer descends into a Zombie like state that is truly frightening. At a time when the person needs all mental faculties to fight this illness, the intestinal yeast and bacteria take away the person’s ability to even express themselves adequately. Fatigue and brain-fog make the person so very vulnerable.
Most people assume that doctors are right on top of this situation. Yet patients complain that doctors know very little about how to alter the flora of the intestines. Worse yet, patients run into doctors that are unwilling to even acknowledge the fact that intestinal flora can be a problem. With the exception of a small number of specialists and brave general practitioners, the medical profession has turned a blind eye to this condition. It is the patients who recognize the symptoms and who are demanding action.
So what's to be done? People with intestinal Candida overgrowth may have yeast and fungus throughout their body. They are contagious with yeast, and associated co-infections, bacteria, virus's etc. A few specialist doctors have treatment protocols that successfully combat these problems. They have been employing these treatment protocols for the last two decades or longer. Many GP 's would consider acknowledging and treating the condition in line with the specialists, except it is not yet considered standard practice. So they do nothing.
.
We live in a very litigious world where empirical treatment is a thing of the past. First-line doctors want the security of knowing hospitals will pick up the case if things get tricky. Everyone cautiously waits for the formal blessings of experts before proceeding. This means people are left suffering with chronic and often-unexplained illness. They are often commonly labelled as suffering with a syndrome of unknown cause. Many are regarded as hypochondriacs or malingerers.
Sometimes it is acknowledged that they are truly ill, but there is no true help afforded them. Band-aid anti-inflammatory's, and painkillers are often prescribed but they only temporary take away the pain. These remedies never address the cause, which stems from the Yeast infection with the associated toxic overload.
Its clear that until most of the experts formally recognize this illness, patients will be left without effective help from the medical establishment.
It’s evident the Candidiasis [term for chronic yeast infection] pipeline is running at full bore as such many more thousands will suffer as a direct result of senior doctors “head in the sand” stance with this illness.
Paul Jaep Jan 04
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