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Gluten?Yeast?Or Something else?

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Celiac Disease
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Posted 5/31/2013 11:27 AM (GMT -6)
Hi all
First post here for me and would greatly appreciate anyone taking the time to read and respond.I will try my best to keep the post as short as I can.

I have been having ongoing symptoms for a year and a half now.I have been to gp practices about ten times,two visits to hospital for blood tests(one of which apparently included a gluten sensitivity test which came back negative but I know these tests are unreliable),stool test and urine samples,sti clinics three times and am now currently working with a homeopath who is awaiting to receive the results of another stool test.All test have come back negative and clean,all docs have been able to say is I don’t know whats wrong with you(one even point blank insisted that my diet could not be causing this in any way,shape or form,ridiculous).

The homeopath has made a few suggestions however and a I am about to start a cleanse diet,followed by elimination diet.

Just some background health info.I have had skin rashes due to eczema all my life.I am now 30,this got progressively worse until I was 24,it then started to get infected and after a few bouts of infection I really applied willpower to stop the darn scratching and it has been improved for the last few years.Also I have always had a tendency to have bloodshot,weepy,irritated eyes.

Symptoms-
-Muscle loss and fat gain
-bloodshot eyes,eye mucus,red irritated skin around eyes
-eczema flare ups
-mucus in stool,red irritated skin down below after bouts of this
-excess smegma mucus type buildup between penis gland and foreskin,red irritated skin around foreskin after this
-lack of energy,lethargy,tiredness
-brainfog,forgetfulness,irritability,depression

Triggers
-caffeine
-non caffeinated hot drinks
-alcohol
-Junk food in excess(Mcdonalds,cakes etc.)
-Milk(possible trigger,not certain about this as I have stopped drinking it now)

Also the symptoms are simultaneous.For example I don’t think about the physical symptoms then get depressed,its automatically there along with them.Sometimes I only get a few symptoms,sometimes more.I have begun to clean up my diet as a result of this eating more fresh veg,raw garlic,supps but still must kick caffeine and alcohol into touch.

I am especially interested in hearing from any guys who had the same symptoms as me down below as these are the ones I am most concerned about.

Can gluten cause these symptoms?Any and all advice appreciated
Thanks
Posted 5/31/2013 3:39 PM (GMT -6)
Eczema is linked to fungus/yeast. Your symptoms sound like you have a yeast problem to me. Personal question- are you married, or have "relationships" with anyone currently? Yeast can be transferred back and forth. Since wheat is commonly contaminated with fungus (as well as corn), you may consider trying to go GF and see if you don't feel better. You will also have to give up all grains and sugars for a time if you want to rid yourself of yeast. Yeast thrives on sugars/grains. I would also look into a reputable probiotic, and maybe take natural antifungals if a doc won't give you a prescription.

I went on an antifungal diet/program 7 years ago and got rid of all my UC symptoms that had plagued me for years. I am now also GF, and feel so much better. Wheat has become a "poison" in our eating world. Not like it used to be, especially being contaminated with mycotoxins.
Posted 5/31/2013 5:12 PM (GMT -6)
Hey Kim I am not married.Im single and not having "relations" with anyone at the moment.
Im certain this is not something which has been passed to me by someone else.On each of my 3 visits to sti clinics there was no yeasts detected after testing.
Which is why I suspect this to be gluten related myself-isnt eczema also a sign of wheat/gluten intolerance?
How long did you stay on your antifungal program before ridding yourself of the problem?Has it returned at all since?
Posted 6/1/2013 11:36 AM (GMT -6)
I experimented with the phase one of the diet(eliminating all grains yeast foods, and sugars except what was found naturally in veggies I was permitted to eat and limited fruits like berries/green apples) for 2 weeks, and because I felt significantly better after the 2nd week (which was a total surprise and shock to me), I figured fungus must have been playing a role in my symptoms. I continued on with phase 2 ( a little less restrictive) for a few more months. By then, my symptoms totally disappeared. I have not had any issues since then (7 years ago), but continue to be careful with what I eat just the same. I cannot tolerate yeast well anyway, so I pretty well avoid all processed foods that contain yeast, or a disguised version thereof. I have had thyroid issues over the past year, so I decided to go GF, which has helped me feel even better.

I don't think my success would have been as dramatic if I had not been taking olive leaf extract at the same time (6 capsules/day to start), but I initially suffered a very bad Herxheimer's reaction (fungal die-off)...very bad aches, pains, upset stomach, fatigue, etc. Which, by the way, helped confirm for me that my issue was indeed fungus based. I still take probiotics daily along with a reputable beta glucan (immune system booster).
Posted 6/1/2013 2:16 PM (GMT -6)
To me it sounds like it could be food sensitivities, yeast, or both (they often go hand in hand). You can have a yeast problem without it showing up in a swab of your genitals. Like my genital swab didn't show any yeast but my stool test did. Unfortunately the standard tests are not very specific. I think that it would be very wise for you to try an elimination diet. My dad gets very bad eczema from gluten. I would consider seeing a good nutritionist or naturopath to develop a healthy diet plan for you. It can make a HUGE difference. It's insanity that some in the medical profession still don't recognize how much what we eat affects every aspect of our health.
Posted 6/2/2013 10:57 AM (GMT -6)
Yes Pelagicdancer insanity is indeed a good word to describe some doctors lack of nutritional knowledge.
One of the docs I spoke to was utterly immovable from his stance that diet could not be causing these symptoms at all.He was instantly and totally insistent on this and said the best thing I could do was have a circumcision(can someone really be this lacking in common sense??).
When I said that does nothing about the cause of this and only merely addresses one symptom and that I would still have all the other sypmtoms going on elsewhere he then actually said as I didnt have an sti that my other symptoms were all coincidental(ridiculous)-even though they come on simultaneously and most involve a mucus of some sort.
HOW DARE someone like him call himself a doctor?HOW DARE he take responsibility for anyones health?
I dont care what letters he has after his name,statements like those which he made show him to be totally inept and incapable of rational thought.Its shocking that people like him are in positions which deal with peoples health.
Posted 6/2/2013 10:58 AM (GMT -6)
I have to give the elimination diet a blast and take it from there-trying to avoid gluten when eating out is going to be a royal pain.
Posted 6/4/2013 1:34 PM (GMT -6)
Good luck to you. I know it's very hard to do the elimination diet, especially the gluten, but it does get easier with time, especially if you start seeing some improvement. I do really think it would be worthwhile to find a good health practitioner to help you, make other recommendations, perhaps consider things your other doctor didn't or order some more tests, etc - if you can afford it.
Posted 7/4/2013 1:05 AM (GMT -6)
Hi,

I do feel for you.

I'm no doctor but reading your symptoms, I would suggest reading up on Candida (yeast infection) and IBS.

Diary products, caffeine, alcohol and high fat foods would be bad news for both.

Good luck.

Andy   

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