Candida

Amen, Ingegerd Enscoe! I worked for so many years with a plethara of doctors trying to find answers. Not until I went to Mayo, on the verge of a real breakdown due to the lack of interest by the medical field, the wrong diagnoses, no diagnoses, etc. The Mayo system is designed for this kind of challenge. I think I make all my doctors happy with all the challenges I throw their way!!!! Seriously, I strongly agree this is the type of person with real challenges that cross over within the body that Mayo is designed to help. They are certainly helping me. Blessings in your journey.....hope you find this helpful. Elizabeth

@jgalello - I was treated at Mayo- Jacksonville. I never required IV treatment.
It sounds as if you are doing everything right on your end.
Personally, I would aim for Mayo Clinic and avoid the integrative practice. I know that at Mayo they use evidence based medicine and have access to the best current research.

@astaingegerdm I have been treated with oral Diflucan before but it was 3 doses max. It just wasn't enough. Have you gone through the anti fungal IV treatment? I feel as though it sounds more powerful and effective?

I have been gluten free since 2016 when i was diagnosed with celiac disease via bloodwork. I have also been dairy free since 2018 when i was told i have a severe casein allergy. So I eat a pretty clean diet, although my love for wine doesn't help the candida issue.

What type of doctor did you go to for treatment of your autoimmune illnesses and candida?

@amandaburnett if you could explain how I can find a team of specialists that would be amazing. I am looking into an integrative practice in Washington DC right now that utilizes IV therapy for autoimmune and candida treatments. They just aren't covered by insurance and it will be very hard to make it work. Any help would be appreciated. I feel like I'm functioning at 30% and its awful.

@jgalello @amandaburnett
I’m so sorry to hear about what you have been through!
You seem to have autoimmune diseases- meaning that your immune system is not working normally. This may be the reason for your chronic fungal infections.
Nystatin has limited effect on such chronic widespread infection. There are other medications that are more potent in that area, one being Diflucan ( Fluconazole). It is often given orally, but can be given IV.
Are you following a gluten free diet?
Celiac disease often go together with autoimmune hypothyroidism. You should definitely have your thyroid evaluated again- you may need supplements.
Your chronic fatigue comes from your autoimmune illnesses and the chronic infection.
I have had autoimmune illness and Candida esophagitis. Horrible. I was treated with Diflucan.
I’m not quite sure what type of doctor you should see, but it seems to me that a team of specialists- like what is done at Mayo Clinic- would be perfect.
@amandaburnett - could explain how that works.
There is hope!

@amandaburnett I haven't thought about seeing a rheumatologist. Thank you for the link for doctors.

I haven't asked any of my physicians about IV therapy and not sure that they have any knowledge on it. My doctor right now is just treating the symptoms. I am on nystatin and terconazole cream. It's been one week and I haven't had any relief. In 2016 I took Nystatin for 6 months and it seemed to help it go away but it keeps coming back. I'm worried the yeast is resistant to the Nystatin now. I was looking into Mitchell Medical group in NYC. They have the IV therapy and immunology therapy. I've wasted thousands of dollars on integrative physicians and supplements over the years and it helped at times but there has to be a reason why it keeps coming back. And I can't find a doctor who has enough knowledge about it to be able to get to the bottom of the reason why.

@jgalello, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am terribly sorry to hear about your constant struggle with these infections. The underlying cause could be the autoimmune issues you are having like celiac disease, adrenal fatigue, and borderline thyroid issues. Have you considered seeing a rheumatologist to review everything?

I did find a list of physicians that treat candida in Maryland. You might have to dig a little to make sure that is one of their specialties. https://www.medicinenet.com/yeast_infection_in_women_and_men/columbia-md_city.htm

@jgalello, Have you asked your physician about the IV therapy? Are your doctors simply treating the symptoms each time it happens?

I have been struggling with candida for over 8 years now. At first I thought it was just chronic yeast infections but after going to multiple gyn's and getting no relief i started going to functional doctors. I've been to 4 functional doctors where I have found out I have celiac disease, allergy to casein, adrenal fatigue, and borderline thyroid issues. I've taken nystatin, and tried the candida diet for 3 weeks with antifungal herbs but it just keeps coming back. I am constantly itchy all over by body (vaginal, eyes, ears, scalp, all over). I get red dots on my skin when it flares up usually on my stomach and armpits. I've also been struggling with chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety, I used to work in a sick building where I was exposed to mold and other toxins that showed up on tests. I'm not sure if I have been able to clear the mold and toxins from my body yet and if that is also fueling the candida. I am so discouraged and upset that its so hard to find a doctor who cares to get to the bottom of this. I feel like I'm at the end of the line and don't know where else to go and what type of doctor can help me next. I am starting to wonder if IV therapy for candida is effective and if i should look into that. Does anyone know of any doctors around Baltimore Maryland who specialize in candida? At this point i am willing to travel any where if it means I can find relief from this.

My question to the medical community is can someone with intestinal candida get IV treatment? My infection is so bad and no one is helping me except for my functional medicine doctor.

@richardbuckner I am having the same issue. It took me almost a year to find a doctor who believed me and treated me for intestinal candida. I got it after a round of antibiotics in October of 2017.

I was told only immunocompromised people get it which isn't true. I know other 'healthy' people who have gotten it.

I was put on Nystatin 2x a day. I took it for 4 months, but it wasn't effective and now the infection has returned. I don't know what else to do? Candida is a terrible thing to get and no one seems to know what to do which is scary. It is very hard to live my life. I'm constantly drained, insomnia, headaches, chemical sensitivity, I can't eat most things.

I too fear this is going to be a life time battle. I want to try voriconozole 1x a week for 6 months. I had a friend who received similar treatment. I can pulse with that medicine because if I take it every day longer term I get bad side effects.

I had treatment in 2004 after waiting 5 years; doctors did not believe in it. Finally I got treatment with lamisil after candida antigen panel showed positive. It depends on where the candida is. It was in my gut and big toenails, eyes and left middle ear. I used the pulse method: 250 mg twice a day for a week, skip 3 weeks and repeat two more times. No liver damage occurred.
An intestinal permeability test showed that it was eating through the colon; I had to do it and pay for it myself. Great Smokies Lab, now owned by a larger company, did the test.'
I could see it in my eyes using a grain focus in photographic printing. It burst my eardrum.
It reoccurred and I have had 1/3 the lamisil treatments but it hides in the small intestine. I expect to battle it the rest of my life.
Most doctors that treat it use antifungals but the organism can mutate if not killed; lamisil is fungicidal that means it kills it. The die off symptoms are severs..
Get on modified atkins diet until it subsides. Antifungals and hygiene are effective for male groin infections most of the time. I do not know how endomitriosis and vaginal infections are treated. Email me if you need more info. Rick
P.s. I have a question myself: why do doctors refuse information and treatment? It is very hard not to be believed.