Women Hair Loss Forums - Candida diagnosis

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Kristin to Deb

04.06.2007, 22:39

Candida diagnosis (Support Forum & Misc Topics)
Post reply

Hi Deb:
Thanks for your post to my questions ... I hope this is how you start a new "thread"?

I was wondering, how was your candida diagnosed? Seems like a tricky thing to know for certain. And I wondered how does one survive on a diet specific to treating candida?? Seems like you have to eliminate just about everything....??

thank you and I appreciate your help!
K

Kristin to Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES

Deb

06.06.2007, 12:58

@ Kristin to Deb
Candida diagnosis
Post reply

ť Hi Deb:
ť Thanks for your post to my questions ... I hope this is how you start a
ť new "thread"?
ť
ť I was wondering, how was your candida diagnosed? Seems like a tricky
ť thing to know for certain. And I wondered how does one survive on a diet
ť specific to treating candida?? Seems like you have to eliminate just about
ť everything....??
ť
ť thank you and I appreciate your help!
ť K

Yes, this was correct, older posts get lost below. I was diagnosed with a live blood cell analysis called a "microscopy" which was where they put a drop of blood under a super high powered dark field microscope. I could see all my red and white blood cells as well as the yeast floating around. Mainstream docs know nothing about candida and don't even buy into the fact that it happens to regular people and you don't have to have aids to get it. My doc was a DO and ran a wellness clinic. His wife developed candida in 1995 is how he even got into treating it.

Being diagnosed isn't really necessary I don't think. If you feel you have it I would just go ahead and do the things to get started treating it. Most things really you can do on your own without a doc. The diet is very limiting, I looked horrible, so skinny, would hardly leave the house, not that I really had the energy to anyway. But, for me I ended up having undiagnosed and untreated hypo/adrenal at the time and did not know it so that was another reason I was so so sick. I lasted 15 months on the diet and gave up because I couldn't tell it had affected the candida much, but as long as I was hypo I don't think I stood a chance anyway. Yeast loves a cool body temperature and I was the perfect host as I was literally freezing all the time.

I'd do diet for a good three months or so along with some antifungals and definitely bowel cleansing. I think I mentioned colonics didn't I? If you have anywhere in your area to do them I would do a series to get you started. You need to go to a "certified" colon hydrotherapist. You are positive that you aren't hypo aren't you? I'm positive that's how I ended up with it in the first place, untreated hypo.

I'm on a two week course of antibiotics right now trying to clear up an abcessed tooth and I can tell it's flaring my candida some. I'm doing coffee enemas trying to keep it down. I'm 3 hrs away from the closest colon hydrotherapist so I do coffee enemas to help with it. I know, sounds gross, but it was my candida doc that got me started doing them and I do really think they have helped in that area as well as terrific for detoxing the liver and gallbladder. Got my organic coffee brewing right now.

Just remember, there is NO quick cure to candida, it's all about getting the balance back between the good bacteria and the candida and it takes a long time to accomplish it. We are all supposed to have candida but the balance is was gets screwed up causing the problem. It's supposed to be 85% good bacteria and 15% candida and with us I think that ratio gets pretty well reversed around.

Let me know if you have any other questions, be glad to help. :-)

Deb

Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

To Deb

13.06.2007, 08:46

@ Deb
Candida diagnosis
Post reply

Thanks so much for your reply! I also tried a type of candida diet last summer (from what I have read online and through books) and I lost about 12 pounds in less than 4 weeks. And I only weighed about 116 lbs. to begin with!! I was miserable as well, had little energy and then figured that this dramatic weight loss couldn't be helping my hair either. Have you or did you experiment at all with protein shakes (which I heard have some fat in them and can at least provide some more calories)? I am thinking about trying the diet again but maybe I should just start with some antifungals. May I ask, which one did you take? Have you tried Grapefruit seed extract? I also heard that can kill off candida.

I am going to start looking around for a certified colon hydrotherapist. That has been something I have wanted to do for the past year but I don't think insurance will pay for it.
ť
I have long suspected that I could be borderline hypo but all my doctors say my thyroid is perfect. But truly, I have several of the symptoms and I am just so frustrated that maybe my endos or other doctors aren't looking at the right thing or giving me the right blood test.

Can I ask, what do the coffee enemas do? Battle the candida caused by the antibiotics? Maybe I will have to read more about those too...

So in regards to your hair loss, is it TE then caused by the candida, hypothyroid and adrenals? Or are you now experiencing some AGA? In regards to the hair loss, are you doing anything for that (Rogaine, Propecia, etc?)?

thanks Deb. You are such a wealth of information. I wish you good health and a good day!
Kristin

To Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES

ann

13.06.2007, 09:16

@ To Deb
Candida diagnosis
Post reply

What kind of dr do you visit to determine if i have a candida problem?

ann is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES

Deb

15.06.2007, 07:35

@ To Deb
Candida diagnosis
Post reply

ť Thanks so much for your reply! I also tried a type of candida diet last
ť summer (from what I have read online and through books) and I lost about
ť 12 pounds in less than 4 weeks. And I only weighed about 116 lbs. to
ť begin with!! I was miserable as well, had little energy and then figured
ť that this dramatic weight loss couldn't be helping my hair either. Have
ť you or did you experiment at all with protein shakes (which I heard have
ť some fat in them and can at least provide some more calories)? I am
ť thinking about trying the diet again but maybe I should just start with
ť some antifungals. May I ask, which one did you take? Have you tried
ť Grapefruit seed extract? I also heard that can kill off candida.
ť
ť I am going to start looking around for a certified colon hydrotherapist.
ť That has been something I have wanted to do for the past year but I don't
ť think insurance will pay for it.
ť ť
ť I have long suspected that I could be borderline hypo but all my doctors
ť say my thyroid is perfect. But truly, I have several of the symptoms and
ť I am just so frustrated that maybe my endos or other doctors aren't
ť looking at the right thing or giving me the right blood test.
ť
ť Can I ask, what do the coffee enemas do? Battle the candida caused by the
ť antibiotics? Maybe I will have to read more about those too...
ť
ť So in regards to your hair loss, is it TE then caused by the candida,
ť hypothyroid and adrenals? Or are you now experiencing some AGA? In
ť regards to the hair loss, are you doing anything for that (Rogaine,
ť Propecia, etc?)?
ť
ť thanks Deb. You are such a wealth of information. I wish you good health
ť and a good day!
ť Kristin

Hi,

Yes, I did the protein shakes for awhile, couldn't tell they helped much with the weight loss. I've tried every natural anti-fungal made I think, they all work for a couple of weeks and then the yeast gets smart, reforms and becomes resistant so it no longer works. It used to really creep me out how smart the yeast was, sort of like it was thinking and reasoning, trying to stay a step ahead of me. I've also done prescription ones, difulucan, nystatin and sporonax, none worked long term.

If you have your thyroid labs and you have symptoms I would post them on www.stopthethyroidmadness.com and get the mods opinion on how they look. If you don't have copies, get them, they are yours. The correct tests are tsh, Free T3, Free T4, Anti-TPO and TgAb. If you didn't have these, you were not correctly tested. Most docs just run the regular T3 and T4 and they are useless, it had to be the Free's. I was tested wrong as well, and left very hypo for three long miserable years.

The coffee enemas work as a colon cleanse but also as a great liver and gallbladder detoxifier. I credit them to helping me get a handle on the candida.

My hair loss was originally from the untreated hypo which in turn caused the adrenal fatigue and candida. My derm has never said the dreaded AGA to me so I'm guessing not. The texture is really crappy now, fine and wispy, but that is listed as a adrenal symptom, fine and wispy hair, so I'm hoping as I heal them that part will improve. I'm using rogaine foam and it has stopped the shedding. Decided back last fall that all the stress from the shedding was doing harm to my adrenals so decided I had to get it stopped.

Hope this helps you and good luck and I'm here if I can help any further.

Deb

Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

Deb

15.06.2007, 07:37

@ ann
Candida diagnosis
Post reply

ť What kind of dr do you visit to determine if i have a candida problem?

Regular docs do not admit it happens probably because then they would have to admit to the dangers of antibiotics. Sometimes you will find a DO or a naturopath or a doc that runs a wellness clinic that recognizes it.

You can google and find candida questionares with symptom lists and see if any match.

Deb

Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

marsnyc

15.06.2007, 08:28

@ Deb
Sorry to intrude......Deb? Adrenals?
Post reply

Deb.

I was diagnosed with subclinical hypo and have learned from STTM that I also suffer from adrenal fatigue. Have been on Armour T for 5-6 weeks (with increasing hair loss) and just started Isocort yesterday (massive hair loss this am) for adrenal fatigue.

My doc (who I thought was VERY good) was not even concerned about my adrenals given my ASI test results yet everyone at STTM thinks I'm about a stage 4 or 5 AF. Morning cortisol is 13 on a scale of 13-24 and 11 am cortisol is depressed.

My hair loss is terrible and getting worse by the day. It's really freaking me out and I'm scared to death that I'm not on the right path! I feel like quitting Armour AND Isocort and just doing nothing at all.

Can you share what treatments have worked well for you? My scalp aches like crazy - did you suffer this? and I don't know what this means.

Appreciate any advice Deb. Thank you........

marsnyc is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES

To Deb from Kathie B.

21.06.2007, 18:52

@ marsnyc
Sorry to intrude......Deb? Adrenals?
Post reply

Hi Deb:
I think you should start your own forum. I have been reading your posts and have also been diagnosed with candida and adrenal exhaustion. I just found out today about the adrenal exhaustion from a nurse from my doctor's office and don't meet with him until next Friday. I am freaking out.... how do they treat adrenal exhaustion? I am reading from the post above about Isocort... are you taking that? I thought I read somewhere that you did cortisone (or was it cortisol)?

Can you rebuild your adrenals? I just don't know what to think about all this. And now my nurse thinks that my thyroid has been impacted as well (she should have never called me with the results because now I will worry until next Friday). How are you treating your thyroid?

Thanks to you for all your posts and information. I wish you (and all of us) a speedy recovery from all of this!! Kathie

ť
ť I was diagnosed with subclinical hypo and have learned from STTM that I
ť also suffer from adrenal fatigue. Have been on Armour T for 5-6 weeks
ť (with increasing hair loss) and just started Isocort yesterday (massive
ť hair loss this am) for adrenal fatigue.
ť
ť My doc (who I thought was VERY good) was not even concerned about my
ť adrenals given my ASI test results yet everyone at STTM thinks I'm about a
ť stage 4 or 5 AF. Morning cortisol is 13 on a scale of 13-24 and 11 am
ť cortisol is depressed.
ť
ť My hair loss is terrible and getting worse by the day. It's really
ť freaking me out and I'm scared to death that I'm not on the right path! I
ť feel like quitting Armour AND Isocort and just doing nothing at all.
ť
ť Can you share what treatments have worked well for you? My scalp aches
ť like crazy - did you suffer this? and I don't know what this means.
ť
ť Appreciate any advice Deb. Thank you........

To Deb from Kathie B. is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES

Kristin to Deb 04.06.2007, 22:39	Candida diagnosis (Support Forum & Misc Topics) Post reply
	Hi Deb: Thanks for your post to my questions ... I hope this is how you start a new "thread"? I was wondering, how was your candida diagnosed? Seems like a tricky thing to know for certain. And I wondered how does one survive on a diet specific to treating candida?? Seems like you have to eliminate just about everything....?? thank you and I appreciate your help! K Kristin to Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES
Deb 06.06.2007, 12:58 @ Kristin to Deb	Candida diagnosis Post reply
	ť Hi Deb: ť Thanks for your post to my questions ... I hope this is how you start a ť new "thread"? ť ť I was wondering, how was your candida diagnosed? Seems like a tricky ť thing to know for certain. And I wondered how does one survive on a diet ť specific to treating candida?? Seems like you have to eliminate just about ť everything....?? ť ť thank you and I appreciate your help! ť K Yes, this was correct, older posts get lost below. I was diagnosed with a live blood cell analysis called a "microscopy" which was where they put a drop of blood under a super high powered dark field microscope. I could see all my red and white blood cells as well as the yeast floating around. Mainstream docs know nothing about candida and don't even buy into the fact that it happens to regular people and you don't have to have aids to get it. My doc was a DO and ran a wellness clinic. His wife developed candida in 1995 is how he even got into treating it. Being diagnosed isn't really necessary I don't think. If you feel you have it I would just go ahead and do the things to get started treating it. Most things really you can do on your own without a doc. The diet is very limiting, I looked horrible, so skinny, would hardly leave the house, not that I really had the energy to anyway. But, for me I ended up having undiagnosed and untreated hypo/adrenal at the time and did not know it so that was another reason I was so so sick. I lasted 15 months on the diet and gave up because I couldn't tell it had affected the candida much, but as long as I was hypo I don't think I stood a chance anyway. Yeast loves a cool body temperature and I was the perfect host as I was literally freezing all the time. I'd do diet for a good three months or so along with some antifungals and definitely bowel cleansing. I think I mentioned colonics didn't I? If you have anywhere in your area to do them I would do a series to get you started. You need to go to a "certified" colon hydrotherapist. You are positive that you aren't hypo aren't you? I'm positive that's how I ended up with it in the first place, untreated hypo. I'm on a two week course of antibiotics right now trying to clear up an abcessed tooth and I can tell it's flaring my candida some. I'm doing coffee enemas trying to keep it down. I'm 3 hrs away from the closest colon hydrotherapist so I do coffee enemas to help with it. I know, sounds gross, but it was my candida doc that got me started doing them and I do really think they have helped in that area as well as terrific for detoxing the liver and gallbladder. Got my organic coffee brewing right now. Just remember, there is NO quick cure to candida, it's all about getting the balance back between the good bacteria and the candida and it takes a long time to accomplish it. We are all supposed to have candida but the balance is was gets screwed up causing the problem. It's supposed to be 85% good bacteria and 15% candida and with us I think that ratio gets pretty well reversed around. Let me know if you have any other questions, be glad to help. Deb Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
To Deb 13.06.2007, 08:46 @ Deb	Candida diagnosis Post reply
	Thanks so much for your reply! I also tried a type of candida diet last summer (from what I have read online and through books) and I lost about 12 pounds in less than 4 weeks. And I only weighed about 116 lbs. to begin with!! I was miserable as well, had little energy and then figured that this dramatic weight loss couldn't be helping my hair either. Have you or did you experiment at all with protein shakes (which I heard have some fat in them and can at least provide some more calories)? I am thinking about trying the diet again but maybe I should just start with some antifungals. May I ask, which one did you take? Have you tried Grapefruit seed extract? I also heard that can kill off candida. I am going to start looking around for a certified colon hydrotherapist. That has been something I have wanted to do for the past year but I don't think insurance will pay for it. ť I have long suspected that I could be borderline hypo but all my doctors say my thyroid is perfect. But truly, I have several of the symptoms and I am just so frustrated that maybe my endos or other doctors aren't looking at the right thing or giving me the right blood test. Can I ask, what do the coffee enemas do? Battle the candida caused by the antibiotics? Maybe I will have to read more about those too... So in regards to your hair loss, is it TE then caused by the candida, hypothyroid and adrenals? Or are you now experiencing some AGA? In regards to the hair loss, are you doing anything for that (Rogaine, Propecia, etc?)? thanks Deb. You are such a wealth of information. I wish you good health and a good day! Kristin To Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES
ann 13.06.2007, 09:16 @ To Deb	Candida diagnosis Post reply
	What kind of dr do you visit to determine if i have a candida problem? ann is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES
Deb 15.06.2007, 07:35 @ To Deb	Candida diagnosis Post reply
	ť Thanks so much for your reply! I also tried a type of candida diet last ť summer (from what I have read online and through books) and I lost about ť 12 pounds in less than 4 weeks. And I only weighed about 116 lbs. to ť begin with!! I was miserable as well, had little energy and then figured ť that this dramatic weight loss couldn't be helping my hair either. Have ť you or did you experiment at all with protein shakes (which I heard have ť some fat in them and can at least provide some more calories)? I am ť thinking about trying the diet again but maybe I should just start with ť some antifungals. May I ask, which one did you take? Have you tried ť Grapefruit seed extract? I also heard that can kill off candida. ť ť I am going to start looking around for a certified colon hydrotherapist. ť That has been something I have wanted to do for the past year but I don't ť think insurance will pay for it. ť ť ť I have long suspected that I could be borderline hypo but all my doctors ť say my thyroid is perfect. But truly, I have several of the symptoms and ť I am just so frustrated that maybe my endos or other doctors aren't ť looking at the right thing or giving me the right blood test. ť ť Can I ask, what do the coffee enemas do? Battle the candida caused by the ť antibiotics? Maybe I will have to read more about those too... ť ť So in regards to your hair loss, is it TE then caused by the candida, ť hypothyroid and adrenals? Or are you now experiencing some AGA? In ť regards to the hair loss, are you doing anything for that (Rogaine, ť Propecia, etc?)? ť ť thanks Deb. You are such a wealth of information. I wish you good health ť and a good day! ť Kristin Hi, Yes, I did the protein shakes for awhile, couldn't tell they helped much with the weight loss. I've tried every natural anti-fungal made I think, they all work for a couple of weeks and then the yeast gets smart, reforms and becomes resistant so it no longer works. It used to really creep me out how smart the yeast was, sort of like it was thinking and reasoning, trying to stay a step ahead of me. I've also done prescription ones, difulucan, nystatin and sporonax, none worked long term. If you have your thyroid labs and you have symptoms I would post them on www.stopthethyroidmadness.com and get the mods opinion on how they look. If you don't have copies, get them, they are yours. The correct tests are tsh, Free T3, Free T4, Anti-TPO and TgAb. If you didn't have these, you were not correctly tested. Most docs just run the regular T3 and T4 and they are useless, it had to be the Free's. I was tested wrong as well, and left very hypo for three long miserable years. The coffee enemas work as a colon cleanse but also as a great liver and gallbladder detoxifier. I credit them to helping me get a handle on the candida. My hair loss was originally from the untreated hypo which in turn caused the adrenal fatigue and candida. My derm has never said the dreaded AGA to me so I'm guessing not. The texture is really crappy now, fine and wispy, but that is listed as a adrenal symptom, fine and wispy hair, so I'm hoping as I heal them that part will improve. I'm using rogaine foam and it has stopped the shedding. Decided back last fall that all the stress from the shedding was doing harm to my adrenals so decided I had to get it stopped. Hope this helps you and good luck and I'm here if I can help any further. Deb Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
Deb 15.06.2007, 07:37 @ ann	Candida diagnosis Post reply
	ť What kind of dr do you visit to determine if i have a candida problem? Regular docs do not admit it happens probably because then they would have to admit to the dangers of antibiotics. Sometimes you will find a DO or a naturopath or a doc that runs a wellness clinic that recognizes it. You can google and find candida questionares with symptom lists and see if any match. Deb Deb is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
marsnyc 15.06.2007, 08:28 @ Deb	Sorry to intrude......Deb? Adrenals? Post reply
	Deb. I was diagnosed with subclinical hypo and have learned from STTM that I also suffer from adrenal fatigue. Have been on Armour T for 5-6 weeks (with increasing hair loss) and just started Isocort yesterday (massive hair loss this am) for adrenal fatigue. My doc (who I thought was VERY good) was not even concerned about my adrenals given my ASI test results yet everyone at STTM thinks I'm about a stage 4 or 5 AF. Morning cortisol is 13 on a scale of 13-24 and 11 am cortisol is depressed. My hair loss is terrible and getting worse by the day. It's really freaking me out and I'm scared to death that I'm not on the right path! I feel like quitting Armour AND Isocort and just doing nothing at all. Can you share what treatments have worked well for you? My scalp aches like crazy - did you suffer this? and I don't know what this means. Appreciate any advice Deb. Thank you........ marsnyc is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES
To Deb from Kathie B. 21.06.2007, 18:52 @ marsnyc	Sorry to intrude......Deb? Adrenals? Post reply
	Hi Deb: I think you should start your own forum. I have been reading your posts and have also been diagnosed with candida and adrenal exhaustion. I just found out today about the adrenal exhaustion from a nurse from my doctor's office and don't meet with him until next Friday. I am freaking out.... how do they treat adrenal exhaustion? I am reading from the post above about Isocort... are you taking that? I thought I read somewhere that you did cortisone (or was it cortisol)? Can you rebuild your adrenals? I just don't know what to think about all this. And now my nurse thinks that my thyroid has been impacted as well (she should have never called me with the results because now I will worry until next Friday). How are you treating your thyroid? Thanks to you for all your posts and information. I wish you (and all of us) a speedy recovery from all of this!! Kathie ť ť I was diagnosed with subclinical hypo and have learned from STTM that I ť also suffer from adrenal fatigue. Have been on Armour T for 5-6 weeks ť (with increasing hair loss) and just started Isocort yesterday (massive ť hair loss this am) for adrenal fatigue. ť ť My doc (who I thought was VERY good) was not even concerned about my ť adrenals given my ASI test results yet everyone at STTM thinks I'm about a ť stage 4 or 5 AF. Morning cortisol is 13 on a scale of 13-24 and 11 am ť cortisol is depressed. ť ť My hair loss is terrible and getting worse by the day. It's really ť freaking me out and I'm scared to death that I'm not on the right path! I ť feel like quitting Armour AND Isocort and just doing nothing at all. ť ť Can you share what treatments have worked well for you? My scalp aches ť like crazy - did you suffer this? and I don't know what this means. ť ť Appreciate any advice Deb. Thank you........ To Deb from Kathie B. is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: YES