Yeast in GI analysis

[Ricobord]

So I just got my GI analysis from Metametrix.  I sent in the sample about a month ago, 3 months from the start of antibiotics. Some things improved, some got worse, surprisingly enough.  My measurable yeast went from 1,000,000.  They reported the first time as +1 (Positive).  This time is was +4.  Yikes.  Maybe this is why my sluggishness and bloating feels worse than I expected at this point in treatment.

I don't see my doc until May 2nd. Is there a medication to deal with this or is it an issue of diet and supplements?

[youvegottobekidding]

Ricobord,
If you have a reduced sense of taste, it's very likely you have a zinc deficiency. It's extremely common in Lyme disease. You need Zinc for an incredible number of enzyme systems, as well as the immune system.

[dolfnlvr]

GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC---  

And, I know I was posting about feminine issues before, but I cannot say enough about the probiotic (it is ORAL by the way) called femdophilus and its ability along with the garlic tablets and my normal Utimate Flora (50 billion cultures) probiotic intake to annihilate my issues with yeast--albeit not system wide.  

I eat a lot of garlic/italian foods (sans pasta) and take a garlic tablet with each and every meal.  Since finding the femdophilus I haven't had to use antifungals, but I figure it this way--if you have to use antifungals, AND you can get your normal bacterial populations up, then the yeast have even LESS of a chance of taking over--

Be Careful--and CALL YOUR DOC.  No use treating yourself when a phone call may well be all it takes to get the answers you need.

A

[mojogal]

I know what you mean, I agree, there has to be a positive where ever you can find it.

[Ricobord]

Sorry to hear about your ulcer.  I tested really high on both h.pylori and campylobacter on my first GI analysis.  I think I was well on my way to an ulcer.  (I took a Prevpac.) Stomach pain is really a bummer.  The upside is I am down 20 lbs.  Only 10 more and I will be my ideal weight.  Gotta find a positive somewhere!

[mojogal]

I know what it is like to be a slave to the clock, on top of Lyme, I have an ulcer and have to take a stomach coating medicine based on when I eat.
Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes.

[mkh9]

Good luck with it all. Keep us posted as you how you are doing.
mkh9

[Ricobord]

Thanks for all the advice. I've been on both sacchromyces boulardii and an 18 strain enteric coated Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium (Benebiotics).  I am going to double the Benebiotics because my bifidobacterium levels were very low and cut the s.boulardii in half.

I usually take them 2 hours either side of my abx, so I'm a bit enslaved to the clock to make sure I take stuff on time.

I am also starting grapefruit seed extract (for yeast) and parsley (for reduced kidney function).  

i have been treating myself to chocolate, as with my reduced sense of taste, it's one of the few foods I enjoy.  Now I have to cut out my gluten free bread and my "treats". :(  It's almost like I have to go on an Atkins diet.

Looks like I'll be doing yet another GI analysis in a couple months.

[youvegottobekidding]

Assuming you are already taking truckloads of probiotics, I would also add in Candex.

I have had a lifelong yeast problem and while on antibiotics needed anti candida medication all the time, This stuff works better than diflucan, nystatin or any other prescription med, and it is just an enzyme that dissolves the candida while doing no harm to your liver at all.
You can order it online (I got mine from Amazon) or in a vitamin store.

Whatever yeast meds you take, you have to give up sugary foods and drinks altogether, and cut down on complex carbs as much as you can bear to.

[mkh9]

BTW, taking antibiotics with a probiotic is helpful to help rid yourself ot the yeast and also reestablish your intestinal "good bacteria" depending on the bacteria you are fighting and the antibiotic and how broadly it works will depend on whether or how fast the probiotic organisms work. An adult should take a probiotic that is 10 billion organsims per colony forming unit (CFU). The probiotics work by making the pH acidic which discourages growth of Candida albicans, some of the probiotics also make their own natural antibiotic called bactericine. that discourages bad intestinal flora, and allows for "good bacteria" to reestablish themselveds, it also works even on triple antibiotic therapy for example for Helicobacter pylori treament. It does this by repopulating daily, the good bacteria and inhibits H. pylori from growing. So it works by competition, increasing your immune system and helps to reestablish good bacterial flora . So I think this is a good thing to try. I would try one with both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
mkh9

[mojogal]

yes, my fog brain forgot to say to take the probiotics as well. Many folks I know take diflucan or something similar but I also heard that it can cause problems in some down the road. I use to get painful sores on both sides of my tongue from yeast and diflucan was the only thing to help so it probably does depend on what type of yeast you have but the probiotics is a must because of the antibiotics too.

[JackieCalifornia]

You may already know this --

If you are taking bacteria-based probiotics (like acidophilus), the antibiotics will kill the (good bacteria) probiotics along with the (bad bacteria) Lyme if they are taken too close together in time.  How close is too close I don't know.

My LLMD insisted on patients taking Florastor, which is a yeast-based probiotic not affected by antibiotics.  This works well for many, but I had problems with it because I am apparently susceptible to yeast, and the probiotic colonized me, giving me a massive systemic fungal infection.

It took a lot of Diflucan to get rid of it, but your doc has to be in tune with the program, because the standard dose of Diflucan is not very strong and only for a few days.  That may well not kill off a serious systemic fungal (yeast) infection in a susceptible person.  I took it in (prescribed) high doses for weeks, maybe months, per dr's orders.  There are risks to Diflucan at that level, but also risks to a systemic fungal infection.

Most docs do not have experience with overwhelming fungal infections, and any doc who tries to fob you off with a couple days of antifungals may not be taking your situation seriously.  Not trying to scare you, but the usual treatment may not work.  As I recall, my doc tried the 'usual' and assumed it was enough.  It wasn't.

I don't know enough to understand your test results, but do find someone who will explain them thoroughly.  You might also look online for an explanation of the particular test you took to see what the interpretation should be.

I've written on this site before about what I did to kill my systemic yeast infection, and it seems over the top, but I was in quite bad shape.  Finding a doc who takes it seriously is the most important thing to do ... just like with Lyme.  Sigh.

And yes, modifying your diet is important and useful in quelling the yeast.

[Ricobord]

Hah!  I didn't make a typing error.  "The system" removed the part of both posts where I said greater than 100 on the first test and greater than 1,000,000 on the second test.  I guess I have to use words and not the symbols.

I have been taking hefty probiotics twice a day.  I am planning to up that to three times a day.  I'm also on Nystatin for the overgrowth on my tongue. It helps, but the probiotics on the tongue help even more. :)

I'm not on diflucan.  I'll have to go ahead and ask my doc about it. I did read that I shouldn't eat any sugar.  D@$!  My sweet taste is the only one that seems to be fully working. :(

[mkh9]

Your normal bacterial flora in your intestines are getting unbalanced and/or you are losing some organisms due to the antibiotics. You should start taking probiotics. This will help get your normal bacteria back. But I would ask Metametrix if it will cause any problems with their test just to be sure. Also, you can take an oral antifungal but I wouldn't recommend it because they have bad side effects.

[mojogal]

Are you on something like diflucan for yeast? I know that diet and supplements do help too.

[Ricobord]

Oops... I somehow deleted something. (I'm all thumbs on an iPad keyboard.)  

I meant to say my measurable yeast went from 1,000,000.