28 July 2008 No Comment

If you’ve found this site, you’re probably suffering from symptoms related to Candida, a disease caused by a yeast overgrowth. You may have yeast infections, digestive problems, anxiety, irritability, feel tired all of the time, depression, PMS, allergies, sugar and simple carb cravings, or any number of other symptoms. Because of the wide range of things that don’t feel right with you, your doctor may think that it’s “all in your head,” especially when you notice the symptoms getting worse under stressful situations or in situations where your body’s reactions seem completely irrational.

I have been there. In fact, I’m working toward healing, and I feel much better after years of suffering. I changed some things about my life, I’m following a strict Candida diet, and I’m taking herbs to manage the yeast in my body. I hope that my experiences can help you since I had trouble figuring out what was wrong with me. I don’t want to be held back by my health any longer, and I want to start a new life full of positive experiences and rich relationships. I don’t want my embarrassment about the things my body does to keep me from moving forward. If my experiences can help you feel better, too, please let me know.

My symptoms started in 1997, a few months after getting married. I got a new job, unrelated to my music degree, making slightly more than minimum wage. I knew I was better than that, but I didn’t have the confidence to do something else. I also thought that I had no “skills” after getting a B.A. and going to grad school for two years (still All But Thesis). The uncertainty of being in the real world and the humiliation I felt from under-achieving added more stress to my type A personality.

My stomach was upset all of the time, especially in social situations. It would be worse when I knew I would be in a quiet room inside, like during meetings. My physical reaction was completely irrational since I was often friends with the people I had meetings with or I wouldn’t be called upon to give any input. There was no logical reason for the gurgling in my stomach.

I went to the doctor, who told me without running any tests that I had IBS. She prescribed Prilosec, which didn’t help at all and was expensive. I began taking Immodium before meetings and drinking lots of green tea. The Immodium didn’t really help, but the green tea was calming. I started taking nutritional supplements, which I only recently realized upset my stomach. I went to a homeopath, which was expensive and didn’t help. I went to a hypnotherapist, which was a huge waste of money. I saw a therapist, which helped quite a bit because she gave me the courage to make changes in my life. I left my husband of 10 years, and my stomach got better for a little while but then got worse again as the stresses added up (a fifth layoff, facing being a single mom with a toddler, trying to agree on a settlement). I finally saw Pat Adams, a nutritionist I had seen in 2005. I hadn’t followed her advice strictly back then, but I was now ready to make a change. I was tired of letting my health hold me back. I needed to be 100% to start my new life.

I’ve been following Pat’s recommendations and saw great improvement quickly. It took about 3 weeks until I realized that I didn’t need those 4:00 afternoon naps while my son watched “Curious George.” I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t exhausted in the afternoon. I also lost 11 lbs. in less than a month. I loved not feeling bloated and being able to fit into my pants again. My stomach wasn’t upset as often on my new diet, and I liked it. The diet is restrictive, but the more I experimented with food, the more I believed that I could do it. Anything is worth not being a slave to a growling tummy.

I’m still on the path to wellness. I know that the changes I’ve made in my nutritional regimen, my lifestyle and my personal life have all contributed to my well-being. I’m going to continue on this journey and hope that I can feel the way I used to feel before I became an adult with responsibilities. I want to become more relaxed, more confident and healthier.