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Using Diflucan to test for Candida overgrowth?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/1/2011 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
I recently read that an overgrowth of Candida yeast in the gut may have a hand in causing Ulcerative Colitis flare-ups. I am currently in a UC flare despite recent, prolonged success on the SCD diet (discussed here: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2124021) and decided to find out if Candida may be the cause. I saw a doctor today who while not being "holistic", is open-minded about alternative types of healing. (My regular gastroenterologist likely would not have entertained the Candida idea... he says I'm to the point where I should start discussing surgical options.)

I asked the doctor if he could order a Candida test for me, but instead he suggested that I use the anti-fungal Diflucan for the next 5 days to see if it produces favorable results. He said that if I see no benefit from the drug within 5 days, that I likely do not have a Candida problem. If I do see improvement in my condition, then I likely do have a problem with Candida and would benefit from a more thorough and lengthy Candida cleansing regimen.

This approach is enticing to me because it should let me know in relatively short order if Candida is part of my problem... but since I have no experience with Candida, I don't know if this approach actually makes sense. Does it have the potential to work as the doctor describes? Does anybody experienced with Candida have advice to share?

Thanks much,
Jonathan
Posted 6/2/2011 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I feel as if I struggle with Candida and I have tried diflucan, never 5 days of it but I have done 2 days and I have never noticed a positive impact on my UC. I am not sure if it can be harmful to take Diflucan unnecessarily, I would imagine that it may be harder to treat yeast in the future if you overuse Diflucan but since you haven't taken it a lot in your life, you probably don't have to worry. I personally would give it a try. If my doctor gave me a 2 week course of diflucan today, I would start it. That's just how I am, always hoping for a miracle. I hope it is yours.

Speaking of miracles, there is a HW user, therearemiracles, who has done a lot of candida cleansing. She hs done longer courses of Diflucan if I remember correctly, perhaps she will respond.

Posted 6/2/2011 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Difulcan will kill any Candida growth in your gut and will do it in about 24 hours. To use it for 5 days this once would not be a problem. What you do not want to do is use it on and off numerous times.....you are then setting yourself up for the yeast to develop resistance.
Posted 6/3/2011 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have looked in the doing a yeast and sugar free diet to counteract Candida overgrowth, but haven't taken diflucan. There is a lot of literature about it in general, but the books I found didn't have a lot to say about UC, except that that Candida overgrowth 'probably' has a hand in UC flareups. If you are on SCD diet, you aren't eating a lot of sugar or yeast producing foods anyway, and what I have read is that you have to eliminate yeast producing foods AND take something like Diflucan or some other supplements to make a dent in a Candida overgrowth. From what I have read, I don't know how quickly you would see results though. I easily found some books on this topic at my local library, and I am sure you can too to get more information. Good luck and I hope you feel better.
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