My heartburn and Candida situation

Hello all....first post....but really thankful for this site.

Long story and appreciate anyone that can read and help.....

I've had heartburn for years....always attributed to trigger foods such as pizza and alcohol from high school and college years. 32 now, in good shape, workout regular, etc, but battling long-term heartburn and acid reflux.

Over last two years I've been off and on prilosec, which certainly helps and cuts back the acid reflux. I would try and take 1 if I knew i'd be eating trigger foods or having a rough night. And, then I'd occasionally take one pill every three days or so and that would be enough to keep it at bay.

about 8 months ago, I came down with the flu. Can't remember if I took medication or not....but, I do remember that post-flu I started having rough IBS...lot's of gas, diarrhea, etc. And, the heartburn rose to a new level. The IBS seemed to settle down with some probiotics and enzymes, but the heartburn never went away. Prilosec wasn't having the same relief anymore either. Saw my primary who tried other anti-acids and then eventually saw a GI who did an upper endoscopy. Found inflammation in the esophagus, but everything else looked okay. EXCEPT found overgrowth of candida in esophagus (not sure about stomach too). Recommended other tests for immune compromised illnesses, which I didn't believe was my case. Long story short, I did some research and concluded that I must have a candida overgrowth which is causing my GERD/Acid Reflux/Burping.

FYI, other symptoms that might now be attributed to this are left-side stomach pain, right below ribs, terrible long-term memory, muscle cramping at night.

Anyhow, so I went on anti-candida diet, starting taking anti-fungals, etc. I haven't had a prilosec since. From that standpoint, i've experienced drastic improvement. But, I know my symptoms aren't gone. I decided to start having some fruit (A LOT OF FRUIT - love bananas, strawberries, etc) after about 5 weeks and my symptoms slowly came back. I have such a tough time with healthy eating not being allowed. I am a healthy guy - 6'3, 190lbs, workout, etc. But, I can't have fruit??? And, I can't have a glass of wine at dinner??

So, over last 2-3 weeks, i've more or less been back on the candida-diet, but still allowing myself small amounts of fruit and a serving or two of either brown rice/quinoa at dinner/lunch after 'testing the waters' for 10 days.

My primary and GI are not of much use and can't afford a naturopath so i'm trying to figure out my best course of action. I still haven't had a prilosec, though my heartburn has not been kept at bay 100%....I feel like it's still there....like there is still inflammation in my esophagus. And, i'm still burping a TON. I also still have left-side stomach pain and other symptoms....

So much of the information out there is confusing and I really am at a loss right now as to what I should do.

Want to eat normal again (though my normal is very healthy, low-carb, high good fats, high protein) and not have heartburn.

For supplements, I'm taking - grapefruit seed extract, oil of oregano, garlic kyolic, coconut oil, on rotation (about every 4-5 days I switch). I'm also taking Primal Defense Ultra Probiotic. And just started taking Heartburn Free (D-Limonene). Vitamins - B vitamin complex, Vitamin C.

Any help is MUCH appreciated.....

You are doing a good by sticking to the candida diet.
Do not give in to the sugar craving easily, hold off until you feel much better. Then start re-introducing each fruit "slowly"

Start with fruit that hast the least amount of sugar, berries, rasperries, strawberries.

I am taking oil oregano as of now, but is encapsulated. I will say it had some success earlier on, but has not been effective lately.

grapefruit extact is good
garlic is good
low carb is good
probiotics is good
coconut oil is good too.

Since you are a healthy person in general, you should be able to adjust quicker.

I on the other hand, I am underweight now and stiil have symptoms like heartburn here n there, bloating, burping the whole day, sore throat etc....

I was well for 2 months with a product called "Paragone" It helped me out a lot, but I had lost so much weight after I stiopped using it my symptoms also came back.

I began eating cookies again, carbs, chips etc.. I messed up. Gradually, reintroduce each one, do NOT rush.

Did they suggest a cause for the candida in the oesophagus? Except for people on asthma inhalers, it's not a common finding. I wonder if you need something that can target the candida there - obviously whatever capsules you swallow are going to bypass that area. Did they not prescribe anti candida medication?

L glutamine is good for gut healing yes, though I did not personally notice any improvement on that. I was going to try GABA which should reduce relaxations of the LES (which your body can make from glutamine) but I went into flare up and had to suspend experimenting!

Good luck with your endeavours - keep us posted!

MMM

Ivs17

Welcome to Healing Well.

Unfortunately CTabb4412 hasn't posted since '12.

Please feel free to start a new thread about this subject.

Take care,
Bill