I had heard of candidiasis for a couple of years, and felt badly for sufferers. I thought it sounded like a terrible affliction, but surely one that I and my family would not have to deal with. We had such great doctors and we could trust them. Anyway, it was so obscure, and how could you even tell if you really had it? The list of symptoms just goes on and on.
Then,in the Fall of 1999 my daughter, Katrina, became ill. She had a constant headache, stomach aches, back and leg pain, a stuffy nose, dark circles under her eyes, very low appetite for wholesome foods but instead craved junk foods, sweets and bread-foods: sandwiches, pizza, cookies and such. She had low energy levels in the morning but would perk up and feel better as the day went on. Of course by then it was much too late to consider going to school so she missed quite a bit. She was sick all the time with one virus or another, or strep throat which she had several times with the course of 3 or 4 months. She just could not seem to get well, no matter how much medicine (allergy medicine by prescription and over-the-counter, and LOTS of antibiotics) she took, or how many days she missed from school (over 40!). She had her tonsils out in November of 1999 and that didn't even help. I felt that it actually made things worse. She was so skinny that you could see her ribs very plainly. When that was pointed out to me, I was so afraid for her. I didn't sleep well for a while after that. I hadn't noticed because it had happened over several months.
After repeatedly taking her to the pediatric group with no improvement, her father and I were becoming increasingly dissatisfied. The doctors seemed to have decided what was wrong (nothing) and I felt that they weren't really listening to me when I would tell them all the trouble she was having. We decided to change doctors. It was a huge decision for me because I don't normally go from doctor to doctor when I disagree with them. I like to find a good one and stick with him or her. I took her to my doctor for a check. I thank God that he agreed to see her even though he normally doesn't see children under 12. Right away he suspected candida and sent us to an environmental allergist. She was diagnosed with Candida and chronic fatigue. She had to start taking Nystatin, an antifungal drug with little or no side-effects. She also had to go on a special diet which allowed no sugars, and no bread or yeast foods. Big change for us! From there she has also had numerous food sensitivities diagnosed. This is where her stomach aches were coming from. For quite some time she was on a prescribed 4-day rotation diet from ImmunoLabs who also did her food sensitivity test. She improved slowly, but surely, and it was so rewarding to see her gaining weight and getting color back in her cheeks. She was only seven years old and had been through so much in that year, She is a very brave, strong and special girl. I am very proud of her.
The candida came from taking far too many antibiotics. She spent the entire Fall of 1999 on one antibiotic or another. It was a constant thing. Every time she'd come off the antibiotics she'd get sick again, but she wasn't well when she took them, either. I'd like to state right here that I am not the kind of parent who demands that the doctor put my child on antibiotics for every little sniffle, but I did give my children every medication that the doctor prescribed, exactly as he or she prescribed it.
After what we have been through with candida, however, I now refuse antibiotics for any condition that other means, such as natural supplements or home remedies, can be used to help. (We will take them for serious infections.) The kids and I saw an acupuncturist for a time. We now go to a chiropractor who also works with homeopathic medicines and herbs.
Her headaches started easing up after she saw a chiropractor (Scoliosis runs in our family so I took Katrina to my chiropractor to have her checked.) I later learned that her headaches weren't from her diet at all, but from her neck being badly out of adjustment! No one in my immediate family ever made a practice of going to a chiropractor and so that was something I never considered. I must point out that none of her doctors ever offered that as a reason for her severe headaches. I had always linked them to her candidiasis and food sensitivities. Now, if I hear of someone having headaches one of the first questions I ask is if they have seen a chiropractor lately!
This has really been an eye-opening experience and I no longer take everything that every doctor says on faith, because frankly, I don't think that many of them understand what they are doing to people by over- prescribing antibiotics. I've seen firsthand what it can do, and it can actually kill. We were lucky that Katrina's was caught as early as it was. She still missed a lot of school, though, and had to quit her gymnastics class that fall. Other sports and activities that year were out of the question. She really suffered so much, and I would urge anyone who has "mystery" symptoms that their doctors can't seem to identify to be tested for candida and/or delayed food sensitivities. Yes, it can be frightening to think of totally changing your lifestyle and your diet but just think, if you are suffering like this then you've already had to change your lifestyle, haven't you? Talk to your doctor, and if you can't get satisfaction talk to another doctor, or even an alternative medical practitioner. NEVER GIVE UP. I have found some very informative Candida links on the Internet that have been helpful in my understanding of this condition and helping Katrina and our family cope. Through some of the links I was also been able to find recipes that she could eat on her diet! Thanks so much to all of you who post your own experiences with Candida on the Internet to help others. I would also like to say that my faith in God, although it was tested, has helped me through this. It is the hardest thing in the world to watch a loved one suffer and not be able to help them, even harder if it is your child. This has been a trial for our family, but I hope we will come through this stronger and more sympathetic people for having gone through it.
A book that has been helpful to me in planning a diet that we can really eat is "Allergy Recipes, Revised" by Dr. Sally Rockwell, a nutritionist who is herself a survivor of addictions and health problems. She favors rotation diets to eliminate foods that may be making you sick.
Candida Links:
Karen Stripp: Candida Recovery
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This page last updated: 9-06
