**Edit, post-infection: I’m a sucker for “natural health products”. It didn’t work. Damn. Too bad. Went to get a dose of Diflucan. Next time i’m going to try tea tree oil.**
I’m just trying to fight my yeast infection naturally, this time. Without the Diflucan (fluconazole), without the Canesten, without the Monistat, because it scares me that last time I had a yeast infection, the Canesten just didn’t work, and I had to get a prescription anti-fungal. Here’s my story and how I’ve decided to try something different. I don’t know if it’ll work yet, but it’s worth trying.So, it leaves me wondering if there are more “nautral” treatments without using drugs, along with changes I need to make in my diet etc, because I suspect that a lot of my mood disorder and other symptoms in general point to systemic Candidiasis. Yuck. Anyone who has had a yeast infection (or multiple, like me) can tell you how gross it makes one physically feel in general in addition to the vulvo-vaginal stinging/itching/burning/discharge etc.Background: I just finished a course of antibiotics for a gum infection induced by part of my orthodontic treatment. At my monthly dental appointment, my dentist said that it was because my rearmost molar was getting pushed back into the gum while the tooth in front of it was getting pushed forward (as he wanted) because of this spring mechanism he was using. I don’t suspect diabetes, although I haven’t gone to a doctor to get tested. But I mean, logically this time it’s probably the antibiotics.SO! During the antibiotic treatment, my sugar/carb cravings started to get out of control. After the antibiotics, the yeast realized the parents were gone and held a major house party. And I, the host, developed some major addictions in the process. The sugar craving that had taken control of my mind (couldn’t think about anything else, really) got so bad that yesterday I felt like a junkie walking into my neighbourhood Safeway grocery store’s bakery department to buy one of those chocolate fudge cakes (half of a 8 inch round cake) which I consequently devoured within 24 hours. That much chocolate cake will make anyone sick, and is obviously not healthy.So today, I scoured London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, and finally, CAPERS for a natural yeast treatment. Nothing at LD or SDM. Finally, at Capers, there was a selection and with the help of one of the employees there that worked in the supplements department, settled on “YEAST DEFENSE”, which contains Caprylic Acid (antifungal), Pau D’Arco (may be beneficial or toxic, jury’s out on this one), Garlic (that’s just plain good for you), Grapefruit Extract (can’t hurt), Chlorophyll (can’t hurt), and some probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. bulgaricus, and L. casei…definitely good.). 2 capsules, twice a day. the bottle contains 60 capsules, with a warning that if symptoms do not clear up within 7 days, go see a doctor blah blah because you might have something other than a yeast infection etc.In addition to these Yeast Defense capsules, I am taking “VegeGreens” (has probiotic cultures… mix with water), and I have decided to go on a low-carb diet for a while (no refined starches, no juice, lots of veggies, no specific brand name plan) and am considering going organic to avoid any other antibiotics that may be in the assorted meat/poultry/eggs. Yeast loves sugar (as any hobby beer brewer can tell you, even though they don’t brew beer with Candida albicans, haha i think they use Sacchromyces something something why I know that I don’t know), and I am on a mission to cut out as much available sugar as I can. Thus, goodbye eggo waffles, goodbye Ocean Spray fruit juice, goodbye Marmite on toast!I’m hoping it works. I know this yeast infection could probably be easily cured by a single tablet of Diflucan (90% success rate in patients), but I think it may be time for a lifestyle change on my part to reduce my symptoms of Candidiasis in general (even before antibiotics) – the constant sweet tooth, the bloating, migraines, irritability, constant fatigue, etc (i match 90% of symptoms described on any given checklist of Candidiasis, generally, before the antibiotic treatment) .Do bugs need drugs? Sometimes. Maybe not Candida this time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
