I may have finally nailed down my root problem

[Kimberly99]

For years I have suffered from stomach issues, getting worse and worse as I get older. A few weeks ago, I was getting so bloated after eating that the pain was unbearable and all consuming. This lasted two weeks before I found a plan to try to stop it. Prior to that I always had chronic constipation, constant gas, bubbling guts, heartburn, etc.. Stopping gluten a few years ago helped for a bit but it came back this time with a vengence.

I started digging online and found information about candida overgrowth. The symptoms I had matched candida overgrowth to a T. However, so did SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). As I learned, most IBS patients actually have one of the two, candida overgrowth or SIBO. There was a test I could do to determine if I had the candida overgrowth so I did it. It involves taking a clear glass of water first thing in the morning, rinsing your mouth out with some of the water and spitting that out, then collecting some saliva in your mouth and spit in the cup. If your saliva floats on top and doesn't sink, you don't have candida. If your saliva gets strings that kind of sink down, and then they become more of a ribbon that sinks, and finally end up on the bottom of the cup, you have candida. The faster it happens, the worse the infestation. Mine was instant.

To treat for candida at home, it required me to cut all sugar, alcohol, starch, and yeast. I also started on homeopathic antifungals because candida is a fungus. There are blends you can buy online. I got CanDefense, and I've also been taking psyllium husk fiber to help me go since my constipation has gotten worse due to my diet change. I can eat any meat as long as it's not breaded, and mostly green vegetables. It isn't easy, and getting rid of the candida isn't easy either and could take 1-3 months approximately, but I'm determined.

After 2 days I was feeling better. There is a such thing as die off, as the candida dies you feel really yucky. I did. I fought through it. I'm feeling so much better. I'm on day 13 of the diet and I feel better than I have in years. I've still got a road ahead of me, but I'm now noticing many things that were telling me I had candida, such as getting a "blocked" ear every night. Itchy armpits. Itchy belly button, etc. Each person will have different symptoms but you can do some research. There's tons of info on Youtube and some great doctors who have good information.

I hope this can help some of you suffering. Maybe you have one of these conditions. Doctor's tests are about 50 percent accurate so testing is an option but you are as likely to get wrong results as you are correct results. I'd say try the diet and see if it helps. Some easy to get antifungals are coconut oil, oregano oil, and clove oil. Take a good probiotic also, and get a binder such as charcoal to bind to the toxins as the candida die off. The CanDefense and the other blends you can get online have all of that in it so it's very convenient.

[Iesgobdafydd]

I have to doubt that most patients with IBS have either candida growth or SIBO, but how wonderful that you've found something that's helping you so much! I hope you have indeed found the root cause and things will just get better and better for you.

[Letsfixit1]

Thanks Kimberly, there's a ton of useful information there! I have to admire your determination at sticking to this routine, it doesn't sound easy at all. I definitely think sugar is a big issue, and I am trying to cut down on it as much as possible. I hope it works for you.