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Posted 9/18/2018 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Ive been reading more and more of the connection with candida and UC and how candida could either be the root of it or cause many of the symptoms. 7 or 8 years back ive had a candida overgrowth that caused me to have earaches on both ears and sinus infections which made me feel like i a hsd a constant fever but did not have one. Went to 3 different drs and on 3 differnet rounds of antibiotics and nothing worked. No relief at all. Did my own research and did a candida cleanse and within a week earaches and sinus infection was gone. Anyone ever deal with candida and any thoughts on it with the connection to uc? Interested in doing the cleanse again and maybe get some relief from some of my symptoms. I know its not a cure but could be something that leads me in the right direction.
Posted 9/19/2018 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Well if there's one certainty with UC, it is that our bacterium/fungus makeup is totally weird: the makeup has little diversity, more bad guys, less good guys, etc. That not only goes with the large intestine, but at the other end of that same tube as well. So, yes, we can get candida, c diff overgrowth in the mouth, in the intestine, etc.

It's a "what came first the chicken or the egg?" sort of scenario, some believe that's why we have UC, and others (like me) believe it is yet another side effect of UC patients like diarrhea and blood. There's strong advocates for both camps. And no conclusive evidence on who is right, which is why I use the word "believe."

Another common thread, is a number of us were on antibiotics within 6-months of getting a UC diagnosis. Antibiotics are a scorched-earth approach, they kill good and bad bacterium alike. Afterwards opportunistic bad bacteria quickly reproduce to fill in the empty space with negative results. So, I would not overlook the fact you were on antibiotics just before your diagnosis.

I'm willing to bet that UC is a genetic-deficiency (an immune system that is less capable of bouncing back and defending itself: has a tendency for a thin/permeable mucosa barrier, hypersensitive to attacking self, whatever), something we're born with that is triggered later in life (by antibiotics, by periods of prolonged stress/depression, by an unknown bacterium/virus like MAP/Joanne's disease in cattle, etc.).

Interesting stuff to ponder while on the crapper, and there's lots of scientific research into various aspects thereof, described in generalized laymen's terms above. Cheers!
Posted 9/19/2018 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
iPoop have you ever tried a candida cleanse to see if it alleviates some of the symptoms? I also am not trying to be argumentive cause when written out it sounds that way, so please dont take it that way. Im not talking about taking a single herbal supplement and expecting drastic changes. Im talking about eliminating all sugars(natural or processed), alcohol, and minimize carbs along with a vitamin regimine that lasts about 28 days. I see you say candida can maybe cause diarrhea and bleeding. Im just interested to see if anyone has had any success with trying this while having uc. The vitamin regime is pretty expensive but have been effective for all the other ailments that i had in the past.
Posted 9/19/2018 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
haha no worries. No, have not tried it myself, I'm near-remission and do not want to risk messing that up. Of course others have tried it. I did a simple forum search and turned up some examples thereof. *shrug* in the end, no size fits all, results vary, etc. Try if you're so inclined and do post back the results.

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1417327

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2753026

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1388146
Posted 9/19/2018 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
I tried it and it didn't do anything. I think most of my candida issues were caused from the treatment of my UC reducing my immune system.
Posted 9/19/2018 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Probably pure coincidence but I have had several fungal infections both recently and just before my UC diagnosis. Never any in the 30+ years before that.

There is one theory that Crohn's is caused by a candida/e coli combination that creates a sticky biofilm which adheres to the intestine. Who knows. There is not a ton of research into fungi in relation to UC or within studies of the microbiome if the published studies are any indication.
Posted 9/19/2018 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
The candida cleanse that ive done in the past consists of 3 pills you take throughout the day. 1 between 8-10, 1 between 12-2, and one after 4. They are each filled with a blend of essential oils dilluted with a messenger oil. The first pill kills bacteria, the second pill kills fungus/yeast, and the 3rd killls viruses. It is pretty thorough and for a 28 day period. Ive done them in the past like i mentioned but that was like over 7 years ago. I used to be a semi heavy drinker and recently quit 5/24/17. It was easy actually when you want to feel better. So i know all them years after lowering my candida i fed it plenty of yeast with all that beer, lol. Anyways i guess this will be a good time to tell my story and how i came to this point. I will post again and go through all the ups and down. Be prepard everyone, its gonna be along story.
Posted 9/19/2018 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
This is a topic with equal enthusiasm that comes up often with many newbies to the disease. Maybe do a search and you can find more info on it regarding success. One thing it won't do is change having UC.

Ive never done any cleanse, etc.

q
Posted 9/19/2018 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah quincy i have done searches on here about it There really isnt much on it. I know i am not expecting the cure. There is no cure for this. Im in this for life, can only manage symptoms. Ive already came to terms with it. Im justvtrying to minimize the symptoms as much i can cause i know most likely its gonna take a combo of meds and vitamins to deal with this. Just want to be able to take the least meds if possible. What did you mean my by one thing it will change is having UC? Did you mean to say wont change having UC?
Posted 9/19/2018 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, sigh....that is what I meant and changed it.

Just an fyi that salicylates are effective in dealing with candida considering you believe that is what you have....or didnyiu have a stool sample to confirm it?

q
Posted 9/19/2018 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
It's really easy to convince ourselves what is needed, cherry-pick studies that support said ideas, but results are all that matters and that's always hit-or-miss (and takes time). I understand your excitement and hope. Just know this isn't no golden-goose, and nothing is. Try to remain pragmatic about it all, measure for results, and have a backup plan.
Posted 9/19/2018 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Haha, sigh. No stool sample specifically for that. Ive taken 3 stool samples from the dr to test for parasites. All 3 contradicted themselves. For example when testing for giardia it shown that i have no known active parasite. it also said routine ova and parasite exams may not detect some parasites that occasionally cause diarrheal illness. It also siad a pass detection of infection may have been present. It also said one negative sample does not rule out the presence of parasitic infection. So man, do i, or do i not have parasites? These run of the mill tests the drs give aint really worth a crap. Dr ended up telling me that i ciuld have a parasite but the tests as of right now are showing negative. Meanwhile i go to a naturpathic dr and they say i have a parasite of the protozoa kind. I took a parasite cleanse and in a week or so im finally having solid stools. So your guess is as good as mine as who to listen too. You grow up trusting the medical dr but now a days yiu feel like a car on the assembly. Here, you got this, take this, shut up, see you in 6 weeks. Man sometimes this disease is a nightmare i swear.
Posted 9/19/2018 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
From the Mayo Clinic:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/candida-cleanse/faq-20058174
Posted 9/20/2018 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
One thing I will say, is that if it were as simple as a candida cleanse to improve symptoms, everyone would be doing it and no one would graduate to rx medication. Of course when I was new to UC, I thought my case was anything but a chronic illness. I would try anything. I had a list, probably 50 items long, of supplements I'd tried. I also tried diets, and fasting... None of it did anything for me. Hopefully it works for you.

Be careful with the naturopaths, that protozoa may be the type that drains your pocket.
Posted 9/20/2018 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Alright well heres my story. Ive always been the type to eat something and 15 to 30 minutes later was using the bathroom since 16 or so. I always thought that was normal but at the same time i started drinking at at the young age of 14. Yeah i know young but those were differrent times. I was also a smoker not heavily without drinking but really smoked when i drank. Anyways by the time iwas 19 i was a pretty heavy drinker and along with that came upset stomachs almost constant flatulence but i just thought it was the norm. Around 24 i had a near nervous breakdown and had a constant severe anxiety attack that lasted a year and a half straight. At this time i stayed sober for that year and a half and all digestion was better and normal. Of course the idiot that i am i started drinking again but not nearly as bad. Once maybe ttwice a week but the the amount was always 18 to 24 beers a sitting. So ofcourse the digestion problems came back along with body aches and joint pain. Still wouldnt learn. It was around this time that i started getting sinus infections and earaches. They would happen about 3 times a year. So around 30 the joint pain was constant and so was the upset stomachs. I would quit driking for like 2 weeks and stomach would get better then i would revert tk my old habits. Forgot to mention i quit smoking after the severe anxiety attack and would only smoke when i drank. A cigarette and a beer go great together, what can i say. In between all this still would suffer from panic attacks here and there but they would only last like a day or 2 and mainly when i went on a heavy drinking binge. So around 32 or 33 i started getting more frequent earaches. They were once a month, then 1 once a week, then the sinus infections started. It got to the point where this time i was suffering with pounding earaches in both ears and sinus infections everyday 24/7 for 2 to 3 months straight. At this time i quit drinking and smoking again. So i went to 3 different doctors and all prescribed antibiotics. Nothing helped. When i had my severe anxiety attack when i was younger i went to the hospital 4 times cause i thought i was dying, lol. They all prescribed anti-anxiety meds and nothing helped. At this time my mom knew of a naturpathic, so i thought what the hell do i have to lose. Well call it a miracle or whatever but she helped me. I sufferered for 15 momths she cured me in 3 months. Now i know im a slow learner cause i know the alcohol and partying lifestyle was causing all my problems but i couldnt give it up. So i suffere here and there with anxiety, quit for little while, saw my naturpathic dr, heal, and repeat cycle. This went on for years. Well back to the earaches. So finally fed up with the antibiotics nkt working i went to see my naturpathic dr again and she said i had candida. Put me on a candida cleanse and my earaches and sinuses went away in 5 days. Along with that my joint pain, stomach issues, and cravings for alcohol ceased. I quit drinking for like 8 months. But the idiot that i am i talked myself into drinking again. Along with the driking came back all the ailments, upset stomach, jojnt pain, gas, and anxiety. about a year later did another cleanse and felt great. Ofourse started drinking again. This went o for years again. Fast forward to 39. I was coming off the wagkn again this time it was 4 months. Drank and i noticed the next day my stomach was really upset, more than usual.
Posted 9/20/2018 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
So a few weeks pass and it was my brothers birthday and we drank of course. The next day had the usual upset stomach and hangover. Thjs was on a friday. That sunday took my son to the city swimming pool and swam for abiut 2 hrs. Well i normally shower right after i get out but for some reason i didnt sbower for maybe 5 or 6 hrs after getting out. Later on that night i started to feel a little under the weather. The next morning it felt a little worse and like i was coming down with soemthing. Tuesday comes around and i was sick. Wednesday i went home from work for half a day cause it felt like strep. I got strep alot when i was kid and every once and a while as an adult. So i had my share of anitbiotics as a kid. So i did something stupid and rather than go to the dr cause i knkw what they were gonna give me i took some of my wifes leftover antibiotics. Took them for 3 days. One the morning and one in tbe afternoon. They were 500mg but i cut them in half so i was actually taking 250 cause in the lasttime i took 500mg it gave me the runs. Well after 3 days i felt fine so sunday i quit taking them. That following monday went out to eat to a all you can eat buffett of fresh daily caught shrimp from the gulf. We had a little famlily competition going to see who could beat their old record of the amount of shrimp they could eat. Ofcourse i beat my record. Well as soon as i finished my meal i didnt even get to leave thd restaurant, i went straight to the restroom with diarreah. Foul smelling, a smell thats never come out of my body before. Well okay im cool so i thought. The diarreah just wouldnt stop. After the 3rd day it turned yellow after the 5th dsy it was clear and thats when i noticed blood on the toilet paper. Freaked me the hell out. Went straight to the emergency room. Did a ct scan and tested my stool. Didnt find nithing wrong so they sent me on my way.
Posted 9/20/2018 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Went to my naturpatic dr at this point cause that was always my go to when nkthing else worked, but nothing she was prescribing was working. At this point in her career shes started to get mainstream and not really as helpful as she used to be. So i started to get worried and went to a medical dr and they did the bloodwork and stool sample. All came back negative and i was in great shape apparently. He prescribed me 3 meds and guess what? All of them had the first side affect as diarreah. Man thats what im complaining about. I did t take them. Around this time when all this started i was 225 and any height is 5'6" maybe 7 lol. I had now lost like 20 lbs after about a month and a half. But i also quit drinking drasticly changes my diet cause i did t know what i had and wanted to eat healthy. might as well make the best out of a negative situation right.
Posted 9/20/2018 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ended up going to another medical dr and same outcome, stool and bloodwork came back fine. Started seeing a different naturpathic dr and he was convinced it was parasites. Took some parasite supplements and that first night ihad my first solid bowel movemnet in 3 months. So i was convinced it had to have been parasites. This went on for like 5 months. Solid stool but always yellow, gaszy, and bloated. i attributed it to the food i was eating cause jn the beginning all i was esting was chicken, sweet patotoe, avocados, and oatmeal. Well halway through the five months i started to eat bad again. Half the week i would stay on the diet and the other going out to eat. This was around february 2018. Around that time i had my septic system back up and since i live in the counrty you mainly do your own maintenance. I ended up pumpibg out the sewer water and fixing myvseptic system. Well ofcourse there was no way of avoiding having contact with the water. So 2 days after this i started to experimce some of the symptoms again. A week later all my symptoms were back.
Posted 9/20/2018 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
So since messing with that dirty water i was convinced it must have been parasites again,right? Went back and took another round of parasite supplents but they didnt work as well this time. Took a diffeeent rkund of parasite supplents and they did the trick. This went on to about may and symptoms started to come back By this time i had had enough of not knowing what the hell was goijg on with me. So i went back to different medical dr and demanded this time to get referred to a specialist and then demanded specialist to get a colonoscopy done. So after over a years journey finally got the diagnosis and it was ulcerative coltiis. I got diagnosed in august of 2018. Yeah i was pretty pissed cause i was suffering this whole time and the nkt knowing really put a strain on me and my anxiety. I started at 225 in may of 217 and i am now 148. Look like awhole new person.
Posted 9/20/2018 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with mild to moderate proctosigmoiditis. I was prescribed rowasa(emema), and pentasa (oral) from the dr. I was willing to give it a try and sure enough the rowasa was not covered by my insurance. So the doctor sent in another enema prescription. This time a steroid called colifoam i think. I didnt know if i wantdd to try a steroid so quick but that was on back order. He sent in 2 other prescriptions and all were on back order till late october. So thats where im at now. Trying to change over to my wifes insurance cause hers is a lot better and see where i can go from there.
Posted 9/20/2018 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Now the reason for the whole novel and whole back ground since i was a toddler, lol, is cause i wanted to explain how i have been suffering with candida issues/ symptoms for a while and my drinking in the past always contributed to them. And when i started taking care of my self symtoms would go away and would feel better till i screwed up and reverted to my bad habits. Other symptoms that i would have is brain fog, forgetfulness, tracers in vision, and always tired just to name a few. its obvious i took plenty of antibiotcs as a kid and an adult and right after i took antibio5ics this last litme is when my permanent diarreah started. So i know my gut flora is way out of balance. Isnt candida the the precursor to leaky gut and isnt leaky gut the precursor to other digestive ailments? So i am convinced that this candiida is playing a role in some of my issues that im having. Like i mentioned i know this is not the cure or ah hah moment but it might just as well be some of the cause and help eliminate some of my symptoms. Please excuse all the typing errors. Im typing this from my phone. And now my novel is complete. Hope you all enjoy, lol.
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