Candida obergrowth/stomach ulcer

[KB08]

Hi. Hope your all OK. This is a strange one but I'm literally losing the will to live and hoping someone has been through similar. So I'm still waiting for a laparoscopy (7 months so far) They think I have symptoms of endometriosis. Alot of pelvic, back and leg pain. Alot of digestive issues including pain around ribs, sternum.

But recently iv had what they think was a bleeding stomach ulcer (black diarrhoea which they said means there's blood present) Iv never felt so ill in my life! Had 2 rounds of H.Pylori treatment which didn't really do much. Waiting for an endoscopy. So my question is Does anyone know If endometriosis can cause an ulcer or bleeding in your digestive tract?

And does anyone suffer/ has suffered with candida overgrowth?

Constantly feel like I have mild thrush and also have it in my mouth. My skin itches all over my body and I'm suffering with sinuses and dry/ inflamed eyelids and itchy ears.

Sorry I know thats Alot 🙈 I'm just getting so down about it all because it's been 2 years without an answer.

[Moon_maiden]

Hi

Not sure if the cause was Endo but they did find a small stomach ulcer which healed.

Are you taking NSAIDS like ibuprofen or Naproxen? They can cause ulcers and normally taken with something like omeprazole.

Has GP done a stool test as well?

Have you had a look with a mirror at your vulva? There are other conditions that mimic thrush, I was diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis

My sinuses have always been bad and itchy skin etc, could be to do with hormones, one day they might do more research 🙄 antihistamines do help sometimes. It can go with fair skin type features, prone to eczema.

Have you mentioned all this to GP, especially the pain? Upper pain could be Endo but don’t rule out other things as well. I had gallbladder removed after Endo.

[KB08 in reply to Moon_maiden]

Thanks for your reply. No I don't take ibuprofen because I was told not too. I'm already on a PPI so doesn't even make sense that I had an ulcer. They check my bloods and they were stable. I'm waiting for an endoscopy and if nothing obvious shows on that then I'm having a barium swallow test. I also already take prescription strength fexofenadine. It's so frustrating. Iv had every blood test going and all came back fine. I also struggle with joint pain but I have no inflammation. Ye ill have a look and see if I can see anything. I get itchy around my bum too 😩 and also get really itchy spots on my face and back.

[Moon_maiden in reply to KB08]

Hi sorry I didn’t respond sooner the email telling you there’s a response didn’t turn up.

How are you feeling?

It does get so frustrating with tests as mainly they comeback with nothing. Have you a date through for the endoscopy?

Have they done autoimmune tests to rule out that category of disease?

I’ve had itching in those areas, it did get better after hysterectomy but has come on again and one reason I’ve gone back to Gynae. I’m also investigating a different condition as the symptoms I’m still left with are pretty much the same as when I started the journey in 2019 and got Endo as a diagnosis

[KB08 in reply to Moon_maiden]

Hey. I had swabs at the doctors on Friday so I'm just waiting for results of those. Hopefully before I go on holiday on Monday 🤞 Do you get really anxious about feeling unwell when your going somewhere? I hate feeling like it and don't want to ruin my family holiday 😩

No date for endoscopy yet. Been 4 weeks since I saw the consultant and heard nothing.

After my holiday I'm going to come off my pill and see what happens with my periods. So many of my symptoms would come under 'hormonal'.

I questioned perimenopause to my Gynae and he just laughed in my face. But I get night sweats, burning sensations in my feet, random palpitations. Iv had no answer in 2 years. Really hoping next year is the year I find out what's going on. Feel like I'm losing my mind some days 😩

How are you? X

[Moon_maiden in reply to KB08]

Hi

🤞 you get some answers to swab, not that we want things but we want answers when they are. Drs never seem to take this onboard 🙄

To be honest I haven’t been anywhere in a long time, the furthest I drive to a destination is about twenty minutes to avoid pain etc. I don’t thinks it’s anxiety for us more anticipation of what we know might happen, that’s really natural, try not to think of it as anxiety (I think it’s a horrible word drs use far too much) try to enjoy your holiday and aim not to overdo things so you can enjoy it 🙂 you deserve the break, we just have limitations unfortunately 🤦‍♀️ It’s good you’ll be there for the family, you won’t ruin it.

When you do come off the pill, give your body a chance to settle and get blood test done if hormones via GP, you’ll get an idea if your oestrogen is too high or low etc.

Stupid Gynae, there are plenty of stories of early menopause symptoms but Endo can give those symptoms as well. Another reason for testing levels as well.

It can be a case of making a plan of what you want and then getting the right help with referrals. I’ve pushed a lot over the last few years and had to go into don’t care what drs think of me mode 😂 they are there to do a job, we’ve paid for healthcare via ni contributions it’s not free at all.

Where are you going on holiday?

[KB08 in reply to Moon_maiden]

We're going to Antalya in Turkey in an all inclusive huge hotel. So no stress about food or drink and has everything for the kids. Aww bless you. I'm the same when I go anywhere. And your right it's not anxiety as the doctors have also said to me. It's having to live in pain and discomfort every day. It's just awful.

Ye ill do that thankyou. I honestly think iv felt worse since being on the progesterone only pill. I have so many weird symptoms. And all the doctors do is try and push the coil on me.

😂 yes iv started to get like that with the doctors too out of pure frustration! X

[Moon_maiden in reply to KB08]

That sounds great 🙂 really hope you can enjoy it.

Don’t let anyone say it’s all anxiety, it’s the disease.

Think drs go to these days is the coil or the menopause injections, sometimes they work for women, the injection didn’t for me. It’s worth checking about the progesterone, I tried it once, didn’t do much, but only on it a short time.

🤣 we laugh but it’s not really funny, it’s horrible we have to push and drs avoid doing stuff. A GP years ago told me I had to push them when dealing with stuff for someone else, really should be careful what they say 😂

[LME5]

I'm so sorry to read about your suffering. It's horrible walking around with severe health issues and yet no answers. Has you had a colonoscopy at all?

I've suffered with candida overgrowth, I think due to being on the pill. I did a candida diet and it helped my symptoms.

I've also tried low fodmap diet for SIBO. That also helped.

I'm now eating low histamine because of histamine intolerance symptoms.

I would try changing your diet and see if that helps with your symptoms.

Also, your digestive, rib and sternum symptoms could be related to thoracic endo. I would ask to be referred to a thoracic endo specialist

[KB08 in reply to LME5]

Hi. Thankyou for your reply. I have a feeling I have candida overgrowth too and possibly from being on the pill or being on lansoprazole for too long. My stomach is never right and iv recently had what they think is a stomach ulcer that bled. That was just awful and I'm so paranoid about it coming back.

Thankyou I'll have a look in to that diet. I'll do anything to try and help.

Interesting you say about thoracic endo iv looked at the symptoms for that and i have them all! When my rib and sternum hurts so does my back and pelvis. I keep telling them it's linked but they don't seem to listen.

Yes iv had a colonoscopy with biopsies and all came back OK. Everytime I have something done it comes back normal which I know is good but I find it so frustrating because I just want an answer 🙈 x

[LME5 in reply to KB08]

Normal results are mainly frustrating because that's the point when investigation of symptoms seems to stop! It's so negligent.

I hope dieting gives you some relief. Elimination diets can take a while to do & to see results from. With my candida dieting I did it for 6 weeks and only noticed a difference in symptoms a month after.

I hope you manage to get your thoracic/ upper abdominal symptoms properly investigated. You have to go into doctor appointments and make a case for specialist care when it should be the norm. A GP is a general practitioner only and a gynaecologist can't speak to thoracic endo.

Keep a journal of your symptoms, research specialists local to you and go to your doctor with a plan of action. Also inform them that you're part of endometriosis communities who have validated your condition with similar experiences & diagnoses of their own.

If you are refused referral, you can ask that the doctor put it on your record - that you asked for specialist care and were refused. That may push them into action.

Best of luck x