Share Your Candida Story
If you're suffering from Candida overgrowth, don't worry - you're not alone! We get lots of emails from readers detailing their experiences (good and bad) with Candida. We've created this page to share them with you.
If you'd like to provide a little support to other sufferers, go to Share your experiences, and I'll add your story to this page right away.
Candida Diet
Have been feeling bloated, lethargic, depressed, no sex drive, thinning hair, dry skin,
exercise like a maniac but haven't lost weight. After seeing Doctor after Doctor after Doctor,
who all told me to increase my antidepressant medication for Post Natal Depression,
I finally found someone who said "Yes, I will try to help".
After lots of blood tests and a saliva test, it was discovered amongst adrenal fatigue,
liver stress and hormone imbalance, my Candida level throughout my body was far too high.
The Candida is causing most of my problems. So I commenced the diet, though there
are conflicting stories on what you can and cannot have!
I have commenced medication plus Naturopathic medication. The first three days were awful.
I wanted to sleep and had dreadful nightmares, I had chronic headaches, I smelt mouldy,
I had brain fog so bad that I got lost driving and I locked myself and 6 month old out of the house.
Day five, I finally feel some of the brain fog is lifting and my bloating has certainly decreased.
My cravings for sugar are incredible, but I am doing my best to resist. Its hard though.
Good to read other's experiences, nice to know you are not the only one trying to kill this dreadful thing.
Felt Like I Was Dying.....
Well, I've read all the stories and here is what I have to say.... Candida took my life and threw it away, literally! One day I woke up and felt like I was dying. I seriously thought I did not have long to live. I cut everything out of my diet except for chicken, fish, and dark green vegetables. I basically ate just those few things and it changed my life FOREVER. I would have never dreamed after feeling SO horrible all that time, that I could simply change my diet and that it would change and turn everything around. I lost 55 lbs. and never felt better in my entire life. I even breathe better. I don't drink diet colas anymore either. It was hard to break the cravings, but when I looked at it as though I was feeding the bug that was killing me, in no time at all, I became serious and I feel like I am on a natural high all the time, my energy is back better than before actually. I can not remember the last time I felt this good. Be faithful to the diet and make it a life long way of eating and change and you will never be too tired and you will live twice as long. I got my life back and now I have the life I always wanted. I can even stay up later and get up earlier than the teenagers in the home.
I've never felt better!
I was finally diagnosed with a Candida overgrowth after suffering for 4 1/2 years with symptoms ranging from chronic fatigue, skin rashes, ear infections, bloating, vaginal itching and chronic constipation. After seeing 7 different doctors, I finally stumbled across the right one. I've been on the "diet" for one year now and feel amazing. I'm symptom free and really, have never felt better and I also dropped 53 lbs. I will still have flare ups on occasions after thinking I can try a new food or an old food I used to enjoy but it's not often. It's been a tough time trying to adjust to a new way of eating but it's worth it!
Candida and Food Intolerance
I have been on an anti-candida diet for 6 weeks now. I suffer from a skin condition called Keritosis Pilaris (chicken skin) and it is reduced by 75%. This is the first time its been this lite in over 6 years! I went to a chiropractor for NAET allergy testing and have tested allergic to several things so I removed them from my diet as well. I've had excessive intestinal bloating for 3 years and chiropractor suggested I have adrenal fatigue. Apparently AF, food intolerances/allergies and candida often come together. Healing is slow going with all these conditions to treat (mostly with herbal supplements) I still have a lot of bloating, but expect that to lessen as I bring my adrenals back into balance. I highly recommend others look into these conditions as well. Two fantastic books that both make the AF, food intolerance and candida link are: Adrenal Fatigue-The 21st century stress syndrome, James L. Wilson ND; Allergy Free, Konrad Kail, ND. Good luck to everyone and stay strong!
Despondency
Hi! I went to see my naturopath today and he prescribed three supplements and I took them after I arrived home. I see the benefits already, as my head is clear, and I feel alert. The caprylic acid is one of the ingredients in one supplement. It is amazing the rapidity the supplements are working. I have a gluten intolerance and yeast problem. He mentioned the celiac affects the celli in the small intestine. He said to avoid white flour and breads. I think he said to avoid sugar too. He said white flour turns to sugar. That gave me encouragement and a hope.
Enjoying life again!!!!
"It all started when I took way too many antibiotics for recurring sinus infections after the birth of my daughter in 1995. In 2003 mild migraines and stomach pains were calling my name. Little by little things started getting worse. I noticed I was extremely hypersensitive to perfumes and tons of environmental causes such as car fumes and smoke. My joints began aching in the mornings especially my knees and ankles and I would tire easily. Migraines turned into horrible vomitting attacks that would land me in the hospital at least once a month. I lost all interest in sex and was depressed and wanted to sleep all the time. I was constipated and bloated and gained 10 lbs. In 2006 I completed my Masters and began working at a school and would come home in pain and exhausted. My emotions were running low and I felt like I was angry and moody all the time. So many doctors including a rheumatologist wanted me to take plaquenil but I refused. I was coming to a point of accepting that at age 41 feeling bad all over was due to getting older. I made an appointment with an M.D. who believes in Preventative Medicine and he tested me for Candidiasis. He placed me on a sugar free (including no fruit)/yeast free diet along with supplements and Nystatin 4x daily. I have been committed for about a month now and I am absolutely amazed at the amount of energy and how awesome I feel. I can stay awake during movie now and I have my life with my family again!!!!"
Beating my Candida
"After eight years of very ill health I am on my way up. Little did I know about Candida, but now I understand all about it. I have worked on this, followed the right diet, and my health is getting back to normal. What a blessing to feel well again! Eight years ago I was a hopeless mess crying every day because I did not understand the problem. Believe me, it is well worth all the effort to feel well and normal again."
Not missing sugar
"I have just had my first sugar-free Christmas and I can scarcely believe it! I thought it would be impossible for my craving and love of sweet things - especially chocolate - to go, but it certainly has. And my Candida has gone with it. I had no trouble watching others eat chocolate, mince pies, pudding and Yule log while I indulged in Greek yoghurt. I don't mind one bit because I feel and look so much better. Now I look forward to my first sugar-free Easter!"
Still working on it
Hey all, I have had chronic Candida overgrowth for probably 5 years already. As of yet, any medication that I have tried only worked for a week or so and then my symptoms came back. When I tried natural remedies, and I did it for over a year, they helped me at the moment but as soon as I stopped my symptoms came back. I cannot eat pretty much anything but lettuce and cucumbers and garlic. Those are the three things that will not cause me to be in severe pain. Basically, it’s as if I am allergic to all foods that cause Candida to grow. My symptoms started out with a severe yeast infection and went to cystitis then to severe weight gain.
To date, I am still struggling with chronic Candida overgrowth and after tons of research and trials of herbal medications I have yet to find an actual cure, not just a cover up for the problem. I’m going to try the diet on your website, starting today – wish me luck!
Getting my energy back
"For three years I have been following a strict diet which is both gluten-free and anti-candida. I would never have imagined that I would be able to turn my back so easily on sugar, yeast, most flour, coffee and tea (except for herbal tea), cow's milk, even fruit. Yet, with the help of special recipes and vitamin supplements I have managed it. It has not been an altogether smooth ride - a year ago we realised that all our indoor house plants had to go and immediately I felt the benefit of that. But little by little I have gained weight and energy and I am still able to maintain a busy Christian ministry in inner city Hackney. I look forward to further progress, even to returning one day to eating fruit.
Amazing it has worked so fast!
"I have suffered from candida since i was a child. I dont know what triggered it. But i also had eczema and they have bothered me a lot. When i went to the doctor, before he even diagnosed me he simply said candida means either HIV or Diabetes infection. I was so mad at that doctor for scaring me. I wonder where they got him from. Anyways, i have basically been on all treatments of candida. I have got Urine Infections, Cystitis. It reached a point where the doctor said they are not sure whats wrong and they need to scan me. They checked my kidneys, bladder, ovaries...all was okay. I have done everything. And no doctor has ever said try the candida diet. I just searched on internet and found it and tried it. Today is my 3rd day on it. Its pretty harsh but amazingly my discharge has cleared. I dont know if it works this fast. Everybody laughs at me making my separate food... but i think it is worth it. After suffering eczema and all that, I better make the sacrifice. I take a garlic before bed, when i get hungry i take yogurt or make vegetable soup. I have omelete with lots of salad mixed in yoghurt. I drink green tea. In the mornings when i wake i take lemon in hot water. I eat meat, chicken and fish in salad."
It is good to feel good!
"I have three months feeling very weak and with drowsiness. A natural doctor told me that it can be due to Candida overgrowth. Candida? Well, I started reading about it and I realised that stress has reduced my immune system function, allowing candida to overgrowth and parasites as well. I am doing this special diet and I can see a big difference. Garlic, avocados, celery, fennel, are my new friends. I have relapses every week, but good thing is not every day. It takes time, but its worth the effort."
Do I really have Candida?
"I have been feeling ill and exhausted for months now and previous to that was really stressed. I went on the candida diet, dropped a lot of weight but feel abit better in certain ways through being on the diet. I have nearly all the symptoms and it all makes sense to me. My life has been turned upside down because of this and it has caused me to feel depressed and even more worse when I keep going back to the doctors and explaining over and over but they look at me like I'm daft. Some days I do feel quite energetic and I grasp my chance to do things but most days I feel drained and exhausted and just can't concentrate and even if I have good sleep I never feel refreshed. Today I gave in and ate chocolate! I'm sick of not eating my old foods but now I'm scared of what tomorrow might bring! I'm getting these supplements soon shipped from the u.s, I'm looking forward to trying them, they are called candida yeast support and very popular!"
One Year Later
"A year ago December 2008 I realized something was wrong. Very wrong. I have been on thyroid medicine for 20 years so I assumed that was the problem. At the doctors office my test results came back that I am allergic to beef, molds, cats and dogs. They also said my thyroid levels tested high so they lowered my dose of synthroid. Two weeks after giving up beef I feel a little better the bloating and brain fog improved but still having pain through my body and the fatigue was so awful I went back to the doctor she then tells me I have fibromyalgia. Not buying this. I then made an appointment for an endocrinologist he recommended I go off thyroid medication. Six weeks after going off the medication my pain and fatigue improved. I can now sleep through the night which I had not done in 10 years. I am now left with symptoms of Candida which come and go. Some of my symptoms are joint pain, rash, bladder pain, fatigue, and brain fog. My last attack was when I went out and drank too much. Since then I have gone on the candida diet. I am feeling a little better and am hoping that I can stick to it through the holidays. Good luck everyone this sucks feeling this way!"
Allergies and Candida
"I knew I had problems when I was continually getting excess mucus, sinus issues, weekly diarrhoea and other embarrasing symptoms which I always tried to hide. My visit to the naturopath last year made me aware I had food allergies and now I am going through the NAET program (Natural Allergy Elimination Treatment). All my allergies had depleted my immune system and it caused hypaglacaemia (sorry about the spelling) earlier on in my life and later on as I read more about it, realised I had developed candida which was confirmed in my health check up. I am now following the recommended candida diet and feeling glad (ironically) that I am experiencing candida die off and the unfortunate symptoms. As I have allergies, I am using food I have been treated for. I found out that I had and still have to be treated for nearly every food allergy under the sun, which I was not aware of, things like vitamin C, nightshade vegetables etc. I recommend anyone to ensure that they have either cleared allergies for recommended candida diet or avoid use to not cause any ill effect as untreated and overexposure of allergic foods, lead into more health problems and every medical condition known, like candida. I love the prospect that I am facing a life of food freedom and that my soon to be strengthened immune system will prevent any further illness. If you have candida, be rest assured that it goes away and it takes a great deal of discipline, but please read the fineprint of what may cause an allergic reaction and get them cleared! It forms part of the candida treatment. Yeah to the couragous who don't want to face this abnormality ever again!"
Candida and Grapefruit Seed Extract
"For the last year I have been suffering intermittently from brain fog, lack of appetite, terrible digestive problems, constipation and general lack of vitality. I went to the Naturopath last week and she diagnosed Candida. I have been avoiding flour, sugar, coffee and eating vegatables and soups for the last four days. I feel so much better. She recommended grape fruit seed extract which I have been taking too. I really think candida is a genuine condition which effects you terribly. I would advise anyone who expects they have it to get a test and treat it with the right diet. I feel so much better now."
Day 6 (1st Week)
"Well - I'm 30 years old, and have been suffering from the following in the last 6 years: bloatedness (especially on a monday), energy levels dropping by 3.30pm in the afternoon, bad breath, always hungy, gyming every day with no results, couldnt get to sleep, bad insomnia, and waking up felling tired in the mornings. Also had a problem with bags under my eyes. I met a lady who told me about the candida diet. I started doing alot of internet reseach on it, and decided to try it. I'm now on day 6. For the first 3 days, headaches are really bad. But energy levels in increase from day 1. From day 3 your start getting a runny tummy - I believe this is your body detoxing. I'm on day six, and my tummy is still running, but its different. It feels like my body is naturally flushing out all the toxins. My skin has improved and the bags under my eyes are starting to disappear. Also, I can see my stomach is flattening already. No weight lost yet, only day 6, but I can feel my tummy is reducing in size already. Also, I had a drink (bad bad) with my friends the other night. I had a Vodka and Soda. It made me feel really funny, and queezy. so I really wouldnt reccommend it for the first 2 weeks at least everyone."
Feeling Better
"I have been taking most of the products recommended by you and two weeks later, I am feeling an amazing difference in my energy level. Bentonite, very difficult to swallow, Psyllium, works better than anything I've ever tried, also a product called Mastic Gum which came highly recommended. The diet is almost impossible to follow so I broke down a little everyday for the first seven days. Nothing major, tea, coffee, sweatener, crackers, one whiskey, a potato etc. No sugars. My third week and I am ready to be more strict and increase the benefits I am already experiencing. One step at a time but at least I've started in the right direction."
Hanging on...just!
"I have been suffering from candidiasis for about a year and have experienced some horrendous symptoms, including tremmors, liver problems, dizziness, hypoglycemia, brain fog, urine infections, thrush, bloatedness, headaches, fatigue and general feelings of impending doom, these are to name but a few. Its been a nightmare and my life has been consumed by this wretched disease. I have been back and forth to the doctors who have not helped at all. First blaming my diet and then stress for my symptoms. I knew this was not right. I turned to the internet to do my own research and discovered candidiasis myself and started the diet. I had a horrendous die off reaction and again thought i was going to die. I have now found a nutritionist who has been brilliant, its so refreshing to be taken seriously for once. With her help i am feeling better, not killing the candida so quickly but at a rate my body can cope with. Still dont feel great but not on deaths door. I realise this wiil take a long time to put right and my eating habits will have to change forever. I am also awaiting the results of my test that will also look if i am allergic to anything. I whole heartedly sympathise with anyone who has this condition. It takes over your life and shreds it into a million pieces. But there is now hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. I will beat it.....i will. "
Share your experiences
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