CHAT WITH A LYME-LITERATE PHYSICIAN - Chronic Candidiasis

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CHAT WITH A LYME-LITERATE PHYSICIAN

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Chronic Candidiasis

We continue our chat with our physician, now moving into the topic of

chronic Candidiasis.

Q. Doctor, I'd like to start our discussion about chronic Candidiasis by

asking how you began treating your patients for this problem?

A. I started treating chronic yeast problems years before I had anything

to do with Lyme disease. Then I began to realize that people were coming in

with symptoms that were very similar to yeast infections, but they were not

improving on the treatment for yeast. I discovered later that a large

majority of these people actually had Lyme disease. Yeast and Lyme disease have

very similar symptoms.

Q. I have read that chronic yeast can give rise to chronic disorders

variably infecting almost all body parts, organs, tissues and cells. How do we

become infected with yeast?

A. Yeast growth is always present in and on our bodies - skin,

gastrointestinal tract, vaginal area in women, etc. They usually cause no

problem..........unless they are encouraged to grow. They usually tend to be

kept in

order by the body's own natural bacterial flora. However, when one treats for

Lyme disease with high dose of antibiotics over extended periods of time,

we are not only killing off the Lyme spirochete, but also all the

beneficial bacterial flora that keeps the yeast growth under control. These

bacteria

are necessary to be able to absorb B12 and other vitamins. As the bacteria

die, the yeast spreads.

Q. What are some of the symptoms you might experience if you develop

Candidiasis?

A. Women will often experience yeast vaginitis, while men and women may

experience oral thrush, digestion disorders, diarrhea, constipation,

bloating, to name just a few of the symptoms. They may also begin to crave

sweets,

foods made with yeast, and/or refined carbohydrates. The little benign

yeast now develops hypha or feelers that become invasive when they are

encouraged to grow. They can cause all sorts of inflammation and systemic

effects,

such as brain fog, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, asthma or joint aches, to

name a few. Does this sound familiar? This is one of the reasons that you

are encouraged to take Acidophilus and yogurt while you are on antibiotics

- to replace the normal gastrointestinal bacteria or flora.

Q. So many of the symptoms of chronic yeast infection sound like symptoms

of Lyme disease. How can a physician tell the difference?

A. I suspect that some of the chronic Lyme disease that we see is actually

chronic yeast infection. The problem comes when one treats long-term with

antibiotics without taking into account the yeast. What happens is that

over time the person on the antibiotic often goes from experiencing symptoms

of Lyme disease to experiencing very similar symptoms with Candidiasis. The

doctor may assume that the person is still having significant problem with

Lyme disease, when actually they've just encouraged a new disease,

Candidiasis, which needs to be treated. Since we have no idea when the last

Lyme

spirochete has left our system, it is important to get rid of all other

invaders in order to allow our body to heal itself.

Q. How is chronic yeast infection, or Candidiasis, treated?

A. In the past, I would have people go on Nystatin, which is a

non-absorbed anti-yeast medication. It really has no systemic side effects

because

it's not actually absorbed. Therefore, it's very safe - but it's also very

slow. A few years ago a medication came out called Diflucan. Diflucan is a

systemic anti-fungal medication with which I have been very impressed. It is

absorbed very rapidly from the stomach, and covers yeast throughout the

whole system. In fact, just one tablet can clear yeast vaginitis. It is so well

absorbed that quite often, if I feel a person is extremely yeasty, I also

have them take the Nystatin along with the Diflucan. This is because the

repository area of the gastrointestinal tract sometimes is not covered well

enough with the Diflucan.

Q. When do you decide to treat a Lyme patient for Candidiasis?

A. When I see a Lyme patient for the first time, especially if they have a

history of frequent antibiotic use for other reasons, I will have them

take one Diflucan tablet a week while they're on the antibiotics for Lyme

disease to prevent yeast occurrence. I find that the Diflucan works much more

quickly than the Nystatin. If a person has developed significant

Candidiasis, it is not unusual to have that person take a Diflucan once a day,

sometimes for months. It is also important for a person who has yeast problems

to

avoid simple sugar foods, such as desserts, honey, maple syrup, etc., as

well as refined carbohydrates and yeast-containing foods.

Q. Could you suggest where someone might find more information on

Candidiasis?

A. There is an excellent book for anyone interested in yeast disorder -

it's called The Yeast Connection and the Woman by Dr. William Crook. This can

be obtained at libraries, bookstores, or health food stores. There are

also two or three chapters that are excellent for children and men.

We appreciate the information you have given us about chronic yeast

disorder, Doctor. It is one more complication of Lyme disease we need to be

aware

of in order to increase our chances of successfully restoring our bodies

to good health.

PARTIAL LIST OF POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC CANDIDIASIS:

Agitation; allergies; anxiety; asthma; body aches; bronchitis; chemical

sensitivities; chronic heartburn; chronic infections; colitis; constipation;

cramping in the belly; depression; diarrhea; disturbed senses (taste,

smell, vision, hearing); dizziness; earaches; gastritis; headaches; hives;

hyperactivity (mostly in children); hyperirritability; impotence; infections

(bacterial, viral, fungal); insomnia (both chronic and sudden sporadic

episodes); lethargy; loss of concentration; loss of libido; loss of memory;

menstrual irregularities; premenstrual anxiety/tension; premenstrual

depression/moodiness; Sensitivity to odors, chemicals, fragrances, and smoke;

stomach

distention/bloating; swelling/fluid retention or loading; vaginal yeast

infection; weight changes (gain or loss).