Posted 5/23/2015 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Just in case I made a previous typo or misspoke, let me reiterate:
Abx kill ALL of the bacteria (in your gut, if taken orally, but also throughout your body if taken via IV). Nothing survives and the absence of good bacteria is what allows yeast/fungal overgrowth to occur. With "normal flora balance" you normally have some yeast/fungus in your body, which is kept in check by the good bacteria) but out of balance it is problematic.
It's been suggested that there is a little less impact using the herbs because of the other natural components of the herb, which the manufactured abx don't include. But the herbs don't pinpoint which bacteria to kill, they kill all bacteria, too.
So in the long run, after considerable antibiotic tx (either Rx or herbs), most people will eventually tip that flora balance. From what I've read, I think the main reason is the y/f is opportunistic and figures out how to "survive" by adapting and creating resistance.
Here's another theory I have for why some people are more afflicted or vulnerable because you do seem to be keeping things in control w/ probiotics and diet:
I found out that I was born w/ low levels of good bacteria in my gut. NO WONDER I have always had GI issues. I had signs of y/f overgrowth my entire life and they weren't always consistent. Like you, I never experienced vaginal yeast issues until a couple of yrs ago yet I've other sx. And the more I read, it's clear that gut flora ecology does impact one's ability to process food/nutrients effectively. And I've been reading more and more that poor gut flora also throws off your hormone production and both imbalances impact how insanely easily I gain weight and how difficult, if not impossible it is for me to lose it. I CURSE that gene.
You, on the other hand, clearly have superior flora and it's probably why you aren't as vulnerable to imbalance, why your metabolism is better, and why your immune system is likely functioning a little more autonomously. I am struggling tremendously in treatment and it has a lot to do w/ my poor GI situation.
Many sources say the spit test is bogus. I don't really know, I think your sx say more than tests where y/f overgrowth is concerned. Some MDs like to do a Doctor's Data stool test because it also tells you which antifungals work best against whatever y/f it finds.
As I do more and more research, I am starting to connect a few dots with why some people have problems and others don't. I think you should trust sx and if you aren't experiencing any, you are on top of it. Many y/f overgrowth sx are similar to lyme & co sx so it's not always easy to tell when there is so much going on. But as long as you are supplementing w/ enough probiotics and you don't sense any y/f overgrowth issues, you are keeping your gut in balance.
Balance may change as you continue w/ treatment as it doesn't take much to tip the scales and y/f grows exponentially if not controlled so it happens fast. I'm guessing something triggers that tipping point I've never read much about it or what to look for. All I've read about are the obvious sx of y/f overgrowth, which indicates a problem has already taken hold. I'm thinking there might be an in-between stage (between balance and imbalance) but not sure what to look for.
But knowing what I now know about how difficult a y/f overgrowth issue can be to resolve, how dangerous it is to our gut health and immune function, and from what I've read, that you can never truly eliminate it, only "manage" it so you don't have sx, I wouldn't risk developing a problem. So that is why I just skip all the details and suggest to others here in tx that most of us need some anti fungal to start out with as a preventative measure (not just because of the abx/herbs but also because ticks commonly carry fugal infections as well).
And if there is any suggestion you might already have an issue, to start taking the pure Nystatin powder at low doses because it is so safe and effective.
Hope this helps…
p