Light at the End of the Tunnel...

[KarenBC]

Hi,

I feel that I need to write this message for so many of you that are starting out on your journey back to health and for those already on it but struggling to 'get back to normal'. My story is the same as for many of you - ill for many years without an answer and finally diagnosed as Coeliac in Dec 2010. It was the beginning of a new life for me and not always an easy one. I naively thought that going gluten free was going to be the answer to all my health problems and was very optimistic. There was an enormous improvement and my ME went into remission. However after a few months gut problems were still there and diary intolerance was identified. Then throughout the months after - corn, soya, potatoes, nightshades... And then other stuff that I never could identify. It seemed never ending. But I refused to be beaten. And I refused to accept anything but full health, even if I had energy to enjoy life again. Being scientific, I started to research and analysising things methodically.

What I discovered was that gluten also creates a hyperpermeable intestin. That means that tight junctions in the wall of your gut, that keep out undigested food etc are opened up and let through a whole group of things leading to multiple food intolerances and allergies and other reactions. Add to that the good bacteria in the gut that help to keep the junctions closed and digest certain parts of food and protect against infections have pretty much been destroyed (antibiotics and steroids don't help). This allows a yeast that most women have experienced through thrush - Candida Albicans - to run rampage through the digestive system and create a whole load of symptoms, particularly when certain foods are eaten. Then due to all of that as if it wasn't enough, our body can no longer cope with the acid so we end up with acidose. Most of that your doctors never mention because they aren't even aware of it!!

So armed with all this information, I decided to fight all of that. I set out on a strict diet and after 18 months have finally rid myself of Candidose and Acidose. I have finally started to reintroduce foods that I couldn't tolerate, I digest better and have a more healthy gut in general. Its taken time and effort but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I couldn't do green tea either, nor a multitude of other things including, chick peas, rice, quinoa, lentils, chocolate, fruit.... - so basically it was meat and veg - but things are so much better.

So my message is, don't ever lose hope and don't ever give up. While I believe that gluten and cow dairy products aren't good for any human being, I do believe that the rest we can eat (obviously in its natural form without the chemicals etc).

Good luck

[HiveMind]

Hi KarenBC,

Great, positive, blog. Interesting about the Candida Albicans. Is this something that can be tested for?

I have an autoimmune condition (amongst other things) and it's not easy to stay positive when you are so ill. I went GF 1 year ago, not "officially" diagnosed but I feel SO much better for it.

Wish you well for your continued success!

Stay well.

[Henbur in reply to HiveMind]

I was a sufferer of CA for years, gp not interested just kept prescribing canesten. I. The end I used this book amazon.co.uk/Candida-Albica... and it rid me and it's never returned since (touch wood). I think there maybe a clinical test for CA??? However the book has a self diagnosis which includes a simple questionnaire and saliva test - you could also try googling as I recall there were quite a few sites that had a self diagnosis type questionnaire. Be warned if you do have it and do the elimination diet to rid yourself you get terrible die off symptoms for a few weeks but it is worth it!

[GMAN in reply to Henbur]

Hi Henbur

I have been having some very strange reactions to GF foods mainly anything that contains Fructose or Lactose can men have CA ?

Can you give me an idea of the symptoms you had ?

I did mention CA to my Gastro at my last visit but he told me it was a womans problem ie Thrush

Thanks

[Henbur in reply to GMAN]

I can't understand why an internal yeast infection is exclusive to women. Equally whilst thrush is more common in women men do get it. Your gastroenterologist response is a bit dismissive but most gps seem to think yeast infections are confined to thrush I remember mine dismissing ca as I had no thrush symptoms and internal yeast over growths were rare and not medically treatable (shocking). I think in the US they are much more knowledgable about ca than in the uk. I'd say it's worth a go, I'm pretty sure it is a guy who wrote it from his own experiences but that may be incorrect??

[pretender]

I had some thing that caused me lots of thought and confusion, when I was six I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease so as this was before gluten was discovered the diet was wheat avoidance. Between six and thirteen I thrived so was tested with the latest, the capsule biopsy and in those days I was declared as a non-Coeliac and back to normal living, yes stomach upsets with any stress that comes along, no symptoms no investigation until several incidents brought about a fresh coeliac diagnosis some 45 years later. Prior to diagnosis I considered Candida but from the Professional medical point of view it does not exist, thrush should be considered. However I followed the Gluten-Free diet and symptoms persisted until the cause was found which led to yet another diagnosis, which is far harder to control than the coeliac diet. I now thrive on a very restricted diet devoid of anything from a gluten source as well as free from foods containing Hydroxypropylmethycellulose. It has taken time to find the underlying health issue which is now far more restricting than being a coeliac. So for anyone starting out or with continued ill health stick with trying to find the cause, it may be something in the diet itself, do not give up.

[becky139]

Thanks for this post about candida. I was diagnosed with it 4 months ago by a stool sample. Things have improved a lot since starting the herbs and and diet but I'm still not fully recovered, and have been feeling a bit hopeless. Good to know that it is possible to get rid of this horrible condition! Out of interest, how long does it take on average to do this?

[KarenBC in reply to becky139]

Hi Becky139, it took nearly two years to be rid of Candida but I'd probably had it for many years. Some people can get rid of it in 6 months but it depends on how much it has taken hold of your system and since when. It isn't easy sticking to the diet but it really is worth it. Hang in there.

[KarenBC]

Intestinal hyperpermeability is something that definately needs to be resolved because just dealing with one of the issues - Gluten damage, Candida, Acidose - won't solve the problem long term and they could come back back. Good quality pure vegetable oils (olive, walnut, colza, linseed etc) all help the cells in the gut wall to heal and knit back together. L-Glutamine also helps. Magnesium, Calcium and Zinc supplements also help the cells and the junctions to tighten back up but they need to be in natural forms so that the body can recognise, absorb and use them.

Recent research is starting to indicate that intestinal hyperpermeability may have an important role in a wide range of illness from bipolar to cancer, and more obviously digestive disorders, food allergies and asthma. Patience, perseverance and knowledge can bring so many back to health and it is time that this information was available to everyone.

[Penel]

This is a long article on gut permeability for anyone interested in the research. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Mikeila]

Hi guys,in the book "Improve your digestion" by Patrick Holford you will find al the information you need .

[GMAN]

Hi Karen

I have been having some very strange reactions to GF foods mainly anything that contains Fructose or Lactose can men have CA ?

Can you give me an idea of the symptoms you had ?

I did mention CA to my Gastro at my last visit but he told me it was a womans problem ie Thrush

Thanks