Who knows what the overall cause was… IBS, too much alcohol/poor diet, birth control, poor immune system or stress? It was probably a combination of all of the above!
The weekend of my 26th birthday was the weekend I remember my stomach changed for the worse. For ten years, I had always experienced IBS but all of a sudden, my stomach symptoms changed. My stomach was so bloated that I looked 7 months pregnant and couldn’t even wear my belts or pants. The next symptom was probably the worst… I had ridiculous heartburn everyday for months. I would take up to 6-prescription strength Prevacids a day with no results. I started a food log and began a gluten free diet after noticing that wheat was definitely NOT helping! During this entire debacle… I was going to different doctors who were not helpful! Finally, after losing almost all hope – my mom inspired me to go to a health food store and talk to someone there. I was able to learn a little about candida from the staff at the health food store. I told them about my heartburn and they recommended I take a digestive enzyme with Betaine HCL. The hydrochloric acid was a lifesaver – I felt better within 30 minutes of taking two pills. I also started taking a probiotic, which was recommended by the staff at the health food store. I’ve found that the key to probiotics is that they need to be at least 50 billion CFUs, multi-strain, and rotated. By rotate, I mean… My body would get accustomed/adjusted to the probiotic within about 1 or 2 weeks and in order to get the same benefits; I have to rotate to a different probiotic. Please see my supplement section. I was finally officially diagnosed with candida approximately a year and a half (and soooo many doctor appts) after my initial symptoms began (a very long time).
Also… I was referred to Dr. William Crook’s book “The Yeast Connection”
No comments:
Post a Comment