Has your MD or Rheumy ever mentioned the possibility of YEAST in your body?

Hi everyone,

First of all this poll doesn't just pertain to lupus but any autoimmune disease.  I had to pick a topic and it only allowed me one.  I have been going to 'traditional doctors" for the last year and a half with a diagnosis of SLE.  I have read two books on yeast ( Candida ) and have read about what it can do to your body and diets to cleanse the yeast from your system.  Not one "regular doctor" has ever mentioned the possiblity of yeast to me much less tested me for it.  I recently went to a Wellness Doctor and she was awesome.  She spoke about improving my immune sysytem and making it stronger with vitamins and suppliments and also discussed the probability of yeast in my body especially since I have been on steroids for so long.  My question is I would like to know if anyone has had a "traditional doctor" mention the whole yeast thing to you Yes or No and then in your post if you could tell me you experience with a cleansing diet and if it included suppliments and pills to kill off the yeast.  I have everything to start the diet (which is very restricting by the way) but I was told I would possibly have flu type symptoms for a few days while the yeast died off and left my body.  I don't know if I can handle that right now with everything else going on.  So..... Yes or No has your doctor mentioned yeast could be at the root of your illness?
Thank you for participating.
Joni

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11%

 (1) 

YES

88%

 (8) 

NO

9 Members voted

[catdvm]

Yeast (typically Candida) is normally found in humans - ie usually on our skin, etc.  Use of antibiotics and steroids can cause it to overpopulate.  Your doctor can test for it with cultures and I would bring it up with them before trying anything over the counter.  I am just afraid that some of the items in over the counter, supplements, etc could make things worse not better.  Remember in lupus immune systems are already not acting the way they were designed to work so I think we should be pretty cautious about what we use.  It may be fine in a normal person with worst case it just not working.  However combined with lupus the results could be disasterous.  Sorry really not trying to rain on your parade - just wanting the best for you.

[Joni686]

I appreciate your input and I am trying to be very careful about doing any kind of cleanse.  I am going to talk to my Internest before doing it.  I even thought about doing the diet (couldn't hurt) but not the pills that go with the cleanse.  But in doing that, I read, it would only keep more yeast from growing and not kill off the yeast I have in me now.  I know we have good yeast and bad yeast but the Wellness Doctor I went to who is also an MD explains this yeast could be causing my immune system to malfuntion if I am overloaded with it.  I am confused between what different doctors are telling me and wondering if anyone has any experience with the whole yeast thing.  This wellness doc is not some goofball as far as I know.  I have a friend that has had a positive ANA and many symptoms of lupus for 10 years.  She has been wokring with this doctor for the last four years and is now ANA negative.  I appreciate you response.  I want to hear all opinions, concerns and experiences.  That's why I haven't started it yet and don't knwo when or if I will.  I want to at least be stable with what's going on with me lately before I add anything.
Thanks Cat

[shelsta81]

I just wish someone would do more research on this stuff so we have a clue what to do, lol. My docs said not to take, or do anything to make my immune system stronger, because my immune system is essentially fighting off my body as a foreign substance.

Anyways, I tried a cleanse & ended up in the hospital. I was throwing up & also out of the other end. And was there for 4 days and left with esophogitis, gastritis, & IBS. So please be careful :-)

Michele

[Joni686]

Sorry to hear what happened to you.  What kind of cleanse did you do?  Was it something you bought at the store or pharmacy or a what?  Just wondering.  Geez I am so sorry all that happened to you.  Are you ok now?  I agree.  I wish we could get good safe information but it seems everybody is guessing and I get different information from different doctors.  There is just not enough known about lupus and other autoimmune diseases and it is so frustrating.
God Bless and take care of yourself.
Joni

[Joni686]

Just wondering, does your doctor not want you to take Vitamin C and things like that to make your immune system stronger.  We need to have healthy immune systems.  I know their point is to suppress our immune systems from the autoimmunity but I know one doctor that says we must develope a healthy immune system by taking fish oils, vit. C, B complex etc.  Just wondering what your doc told you about vitamins.
Thanks
Joni

[shelsta81]

Hi,


My rheumy didn't say anything about supplements except not to take tham because of the immune system, no vit C. Thats why we are taking immunosuppressants..... found an article that might help though. I am so confused, lol.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_magazineback.aspx?articleid=1734&zoneid=67

I am also looking into acupunture. Although no one really knows if it will help, I think it is worth a try. i hope this helps

http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm

[PlateletGal]

I agree with Joni. We need to boost our immune system, because people with autoimmune diseases have infections.

http://www.immed.org

[fibrotj]

Hi Joni.  I had a previous ENT to suggest that I had Candida Albicans (overpopulated yeast), and I too tried the diet, but didn't feel any better.  So, since the diet deviated so much from my family's, I finally gave it up.  I'm becoming convinced again, however, that I have too much yeast in my body, as I'm ALWAYS fighting off vaginal yeast infections now.  I take those "yeast prevention pills" that AZO came out with.  You can get them at pharmacies, Walmart, or just about anywhere that sells the AZO products.  I seem to have alot of bladder problems too.  :(   ~tj

[LZFreedom]

Those with lupus are our best experts, as diverse as lupus is!
I've studied in depth lupus nutrition & cleansing recently ~ so I need some support with the very same things! All of my studies on nutrition must always have the 'lupus overlay' applied. I only add or delete one supplement at a time ~ it's so hard to determine what motivates a flare in retrospect. For me, anything that stimulates my immune system may put me in to a flare; definitely Zinc and Echinnacea. There's a lot of information out there about Candida (yeast), almost as much variety as the lupus info.
It's been my experience that Acidophillus (live culture) is sufficient to create or maintain the natural balance of yeast in our bodies. For women who battle yeast infections, anti-biotics may be required which will kill the yeast infection but also all good forms of yeast in the body also ~ so whenever I must take antibiotics, I take acidophillus also.

I've studied the Master Cleanse by Stanley Burroughs (the oldest and most widely utilized healing cleanse). I found the Master Cleanse book online in pdf format ~ email me at woshi at ymail ******* if you'd like a copy (it was very hard to find a free complete download of this specific cleanse) but it's good to have the book on hand if you want to do this. Here's 'some' information though on the Master Cleanse: http://calorielab.com/news/2008/07/17/master-cleanse-in-detail/#comment-234505

I have tremendous faith in this cleanse after all of my studies. I can buy everything I need with little expense and when I get past Mr. Burrough's religious affiliation the information is very 'pure'. You can 'test it' for yourself. Our bodies can heal themselves a great deal with some encouragement. It's suggested that we psych ourselves up before beginning the Master Cleanse b/c it's a 10-day cleanse for maximum benefit. I'm trying to get myself ready... my lupus has been in a flare for over 6 months and I'm willing to go to any length for healing and relief. The Cleanse is definitely an intense choice but may have the greatest benefits!! I used to fast for my health a couple of 24-hours each month before lupus.

The intended benefit of the Master Cleanse is to rid our bodies of toxins that have accumulated throughout our bodies and in our intestines all our lives. Once we rid our bodies of toxins we can make the best use of the body we've been given to facilitate healing. Many people choose a vegan diet strictly for purity... it leaves a lot up in the air for me but millions of people change their diets for health purposes with phenomenal results.

I also found great information at Ray Samelian http://www.raysahelian.com/sam-e.html while researching depression and lupus. Ray's site has very little marketing stuff on it and Very Very Good Information for lupus and nutrition. Fortunately I'm barely up 'off of the bottom' with my depression so I am no longer considering the Sam-E as a treatment.

Most of our ailments can be traced to some type of initial imbalance in our system, in addition to chemical or illness exposures. The Master Cleanse is supposed to put our bodies back in balance, giving us a fighting chance to heal ourselves. I think if this got posted as "Master Cleanse & Lupus" we might find people that have done the Cleanse. I'd sure like to hear more myself!
Michele I was told the exact same thing about lupus causing our bodies to not recognize our own tissues. Did you use the Master Cleanse (lemonade)? I've never heard of any pills being taken during the cleanse.
Cat, I can't imagine an internist (or most md's) supporting any form of alternative medicine but I believe that any form of stress reduction (yoga, biofeedback, walking, etc.) will be of benefit as far as we can perform the actions.
Joni, I've also read that Omega-3's and fish oil are very beneficial for lupus.
The only other supplement I've read of in regard to lupus is to NOT take L-tryptophan which is found in some regular amino acid supplements so it pays to look closely at the labels carefully.
Something put me in to a flare last July & am still in one... the sweats & fatigue are severe even after reducing my stress levels & changing my diet. Not being able to sleep may be the single greatest factor against me.
Thanks for letting me join in y'all ~ Great Thread!!!
Oh, I almost forgot... the other info. that's been consistent for people with lupus is to AVOID NightShade plants, ie. potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant.
I've found this to be very true, aggravating the aching joints!!!

[shelsta81]

Hi, ya i've heard that about the vegetalbles too. I am so sad about the tomatos, lol. My aunt (RN) read a study about pomagranite's & cranberries helping lupus patients. I also have some heart involvement and am trying to do reasearch on acupuncture to alleviate some symptoms. But as everything else it is controversal. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!! And God Bless

Michele

[Joni686]

you mentioned you have some heart involvement.  i was just wondering how it has affected your heart.  mine has been vasculitis.
joni

[MyTau]

My Dr didn't, but when I went in for my Pap I had horrible pain when she tried to insert the specula, and ended up using the smallest, it still hurt but she was able to get the job done and it turned out I had not only a yeast infection, but I also had a bacteria one too. I had no symptoms until I had my pap. I took the yeast treatment and a week of antibiotics but we didn't talk about how to cleanse my body of it. Being on an immune suppressant I know my body won't be able to fight off infections very well so I am trying to learn how too keep my body healthier and avoid people with infections.

[PlateletGal]

I didn't participate in this poll because I have CFS. But I did want to mention that many, many chronically ill patients have problems with yeast and parasite infections. The majority of physicians fail to mention this to their patients.

The products I use and that work for me for these infections (and other infections) is Dr. David A. Jernigan's formulas. You can find his website by googling, "The Hansa Center" --- his formulas are quite effective (at least for me and some other MedHelp members) and available without prescriptions.

[calamfred]

I have a lot of problems with yeast...I take a probiotic (acidophilus), especially when I have to be on an antibiotic...I have so many skin sensitivities, and with the chronic Interstitial Cystitis (bladder disease) and the vulvar vestibulitis, it is tough when I have to use meds topically for yeast...I usually will have to use a smaller amount of the med for a longer period of time...Now that I have the SLE with secondary Sjogrens diagnoses, that may explain alot of the skin issues...