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Study suggests link between fungi and ulcerative colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Canada Mark
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Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 3576
Posted 9/18/2013 7:51 AM (GMT -8)
Another route to go down. Out of curiosity has anyone ever taken anti-fungal medication for say thrush or something and had a good response in their overall UC symptoms??

Link to article:
www.news-medical.net/news/20120607/Study-suggests-link-between-fungi-and-ulcerative-colitis.aspx
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TheAnswersYouSeek
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Posted 9/18/2013 8:05 AM (GMT -8)
Currently going through this. I think my biggest UC related issues are the mycoplasma and this saphrophytic fungi. I was on an antifungal diet ( in essence what a paleo diet is) and herbal antifungals that helped. But I chose to start nystatin. That was huge. That's when I started tolerating cheese and grains again. Had some fun with that for a month then locked my diet back down so I can get to the bottom of the fungi/mold issue. Nystatin stays in the gut tho, and my fungi is a systemic issue.

Nystatin drove everything out of my gut but it was not going quietly. I started seeing more fungus in my blood then got the first ear infection of my life. Tried to fight that naturally but due to the low blood flow to the ear, it wasn't working.. Also tried drops.. Made it worse.. So now I'm on diflucan and abx concurrently. Time will tell what the ultimate result will be. My stomach seems fine tho. And since I was depressed about abx and antifungals I decided to eat my first gluten in years, lol. No problems.

The diflucan has drastically reduced the crap I was seeing in my blood.
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fightUC
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Joined : Jun 2011
Posts : 497
Posted 9/18/2013 8:12 AM (GMT -8)
I did add some nystatin powder to my sfRowasa enema a few times, it didn't hurt. I also drank the nystatin, tasted bitter but no side effects.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 8:43 AM (GMT -8)
A little more - But perhaps a breakdown in the mucus barrier would eventually lead to these types of immune reactions as well - makes sense it would apply to both bacteria and fungus.. Or something like that. Who knows.

Interactions between commensal fungi and the C-type lectin receptor Dectin-1 influence colitis
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22674328

Abstract
The intestinal microflora, typically equated with bacteria, influences diseases such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we show that the mammalian gut contains a rich fungal community that interacts with the immune system through the innate immune receptor Dectin-1. Mice lacking Dectin-1 exhibited increased susceptibility to chemically induced colitis, which was the result of altered responses to indigenous fungi. In humans, we identified a polymorphism in the gene for Dectin-1 (CLEC7A) that is strongly linked to a severe form of ulcerative colitis. Together, our findings reveal a eukaryotic fungal community in the gut (the "mycobiome") that coexists with bacteria and substantially expands the repertoire of organisms interacting with the intestinal immune system to influence health and disease.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 8:49 AM (GMT -8)
haha - now there's a few studies that refute this showing to immune response is more a product of inflammation or symptom - not so much the cause.

In any case maybe anti fungals as pathogen is trying will help alleviate some of the symptoms. Which would be awesome for many and perhaps something for others to try if they're not responding to traditional meds.

Again, just like a pure numbers game - reduce the total amount of fungus overall and this should reduce the amount of immune reactions on a daily basis - just like antibiotics or something.
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DBwithUC
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Posted 9/18/2013 8:57 AM (GMT -8)
I think "Dectin-1 Deficient Colitis" might be one of many different colitis diseases that UC eventually breaks up into. With so many gene loci associated, it is unimaginable that this is one single disease.
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twiggs
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Posted 9/18/2013 9:45 AM (GMT -8)
Antibiotics completely but temporarily removed all my symptoms. I did well also on 6 weeks of max dose of oregano oil which was a med free summr..again was only temporary. It only takes a couple months for your gut to repopulate..All the same we cant stay on antibiotics forever..


For me it is a lead but not a cure. It definatly offers some perspective to it being bug related or at least by altering the nmbers and or removing them takes away symptoms..On another note does Cipro and flagyl target a certain range of bugs? or all? or? If I can find out about that then perhaps I can put two and two together..
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 10:09 AM (GMT -8)
Not sure but I believe they are Broad Spectrum. DBwithUC will probably know.

And I forgot which one it is but I thought one of the Deb's had a statistical background - so the reductions in overall numbers may make sense to them versus any specific strain or family of bacteria. 10 Trillion bacterial reduced by say even 10% would result in a significant reduction in reactions I would think. Again, I think it strongly appears from what OM has dug up lately that the bacterial imbalance is a result of chronic inflammatory conditions. Same probably applies to fungus. But as always, who the heck knows.

My guess again is that anything that reduces/dampens an immune response - be it Pred/Biologics etc, change in diet, organic lifestyle, FT and on and on - they all have one this one thing in common - reduction in immune response via one way or another. But it's all from the outside in... Or the luminal side.

So perhaps OM is right in saying that in order to get at the heart of the problem we need to deal with the mucus barrier problem that would even cause these reactions in the first place. A spontaneous change in the permeability or loss of this barrier. So fix it from the inside out...

NCOT is probably right in the adamacy of autoimmune disorder.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 10:14 AM (GMT -8)
I'm not sure if adamacy is an real word!

Also I tend to agree with Deb other comment.


All such confusing stuff. get's to ya after a while... I just want to be normal again (and everyone else with this disease). I'm so jealous of people walking down the street and eating at cafes and such, and people beings able to wake up in the morning at 5am and go for a jog it's crazy... It's really, really, really, really, really, really starting to get to me.
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momto2boys
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Posted 9/18/2013 10:20 AM (GMT -8)
Normal again, I was just thinking about that today on mu way to teach when I saw all the college kids walking to classes with their bagels and coffee.
I do think fungi are bad for our systems and thanks for posting these, CM.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 11:47 AM (GMT -8)
Hahaha... That's exactly what got to me today! There's a college and a cafe down the road from me and I was watching them all walk with coffee's and bagels and whatever and just being happy and able to enjoy the sunshine and go for a walk while I was hunched over a little with discomfort trying to drive just to run an errand.. Ugggggg

I remembered how happy I used to be with my morning bagel (handmade and fresh out of the oven) with home made butter and coffee from the cafe... It was like the ultimate! And never caused me issue whatsoever until one day...

I feel soooo bad being/feeling jealous.... But I am. Terribly jealous.
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momto2boys
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Posted 9/18/2013 12:39 PM (GMT -8)
Drooling now...
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London Lurker
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Posted 9/18/2013 12:50 PM (GMT -8)
Have posted before about my completely non-evidenced based theory that it is the anti-fungal properties of mesalazine that cause it to help IBD. I learnt about salycilic acid being used to preserve bodies in the Sicilian catacombs last year and decided that it is preserving my colon
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UCandMe
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Posted 9/18/2013 1:21 PM (GMT -8)
How do you find out if you have and issue with fungi either in your GI tract or systemic?
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London Lurker
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Posted 9/18/2013 1:48 PM (GMT -8)
Not sure you can find out without the sort of technology that the research team had? Candida, for instance, the one we seem to know most about, seems easy enough to pick up in oral, vaginal and anal swabs but not in stool tests or colon biopsies. Hence there is always a lot of controversy about whether candida overgrowth in the bowel exists or not.

From the study:

[quote]It's long been recognized that fungi must also exist in the gut, but we're among the first to investigate what types, how many, and whether they're important in disease," said David Underhill, PhD, associate professor and director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science and Translational Medicine, who led the study. "We were truly stunned to see just how common fungi are, identifying more than 100 different types" and seeing linkages to digestive disorders

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momto2boys
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Posted 9/18/2013 2:53 PM (GMT -8)
Just got am email that my UBiome kit is shipping soon, I assume they will check all microbes including fungi. Never have I been so excited to see what is in my poop!
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aguywithuc
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Posted 9/18/2013 3:08 PM (GMT -8)

Twiggs said...
. I did well also on 6 weeks of max dose of oregano oil which was a med free summr.

Kills off the good bacteria too. I could eat a full can of navy beans with no gas until I took the oregano oil which destabalized everything so I stopped after just 2-3 days.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/18/2013 3:53 PM (GMT -8)
I'd be VERY cautious with Oregano Oil as well - I had a terrible reaction and think it's what tipped the scales in this recent flare up.

I started to have the return of Crohn's like symptoms such as a tight stomach/abs, gut wrenching feeling all the time, nausea, cramping (abdominal). It's powerful stuff. Please use caution.

Much like Aguywithus I did well with RS - and seemed to see improvement - throw in the Oregano Oil and wow... not good.
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Conquer UC
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Joined : Jan 2012
Posts : 1210
Posted 9/19/2013 5:23 AM (GMT -8)
Very interesting stuff....i too like pathogenkiller am dealing with issues with my sinuses and even got an ear infection for the first time in my life.
Antibiotics helped a little but not enough to eradicate the issue.
Im considering fluconazole therapy as per the protocol of dr Teitelbaum (endfatigue.com) who is an MD dealing with cfs, chronic sinus issues an bowel issues.
He basically says what PathogenKiller said; that the fungal issues make the sinuses narrower and decrease ability of sinuses to drain, so the bacteria multiply and you get a bacterial infection. So you need antibiotics but the problem will recur until the fungus is treated.

Tomorrow i have an apptmnt with the ENT: and yes i will press for fluconazole.
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notsosicklygirl
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Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17869
Posted 9/19/2013 6:18 AM (GMT -8)
Ive taken diflucan but never for a period of time long enough to see whether it gave benefit to my UC symptoms. I've been in remission so it would be hard to tell regardless. I've always wondered if yeast was somehow related. It can't help.
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TheAnswersYouSeek
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Posts : 2543
Posted 9/20/2013 1:38 PM (GMT -8)
Well, I can say that gluten no longer triggers problems for me since taking the abx and diflucan. I used to react very very clearly. Now no reactions to dairy or wheat. Odd. I have decided what to make of it yet. I'm planning to stay away from gluten, but I gotta admit the temptation to push the issue is strong. I was celebrating with friend, said "God, I'm done. I'm done not celebrating, missing meals with friends, always being the one to host.. I'm done with my girls having issues with food. IM DONE. " Asked a friend to pray with me.. And we prayed over an apple pie ;) and one of my daughters had her first piece of pie, ever.. The other in years. I had nothing but joy at being able to share pie with friends.. No repercussions. My daughters had no stomach aches or constipation ( their previous symptoms). My friend sent a piece of that prayed over pie home with me and I enjoyed every bite. Through the abx, diflucan and now gluten my UC is fine. I actually have more energy then I've had in years and no stomach upset whatsoever.
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kim123
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Posted 9/20/2013 5:45 PM (GMT -8)
Canada Mark- Been singing this song for 7 years now on here. Experimented with an antifungal diet (similar to Paleo) and took natural antifungals after researching and learning fungus to be responsible for many of our diseases. Symptoms disappeared within months. Off all drugs and symptom-free since. There have been other studies linking fungus to UC.
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Canada Mark
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Posted 9/20/2013 5:53 PM (GMT -8)
@kim

Thanks, it;s inspiring - maybe I'll try something along these lines as well. I mean really, is there anything to loose in just trying?? Ya never know what might click!
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kim123
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Posted 9/21/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Canada Mark - or think of it this way...If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten. Go for it!
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Opteezy
New Member
Joined : Feb 2016
Posts : 9
Posted 2/16/2016 12:47 AM (GMT -8)
This is a very interesting read. Please read it all. I know I have some of these issues and can be associated with Lyme, which I have, cfs, etc.


http://www.life-sources.com/pages/Mycoplasmas-%26-Cell-Wall-Deficient-Forms.html
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