Candida

Well I am feeling great these days. The only thing tired or sore is my body and thats from trying to get back in shape after all this.

I wanted to pass along my thoughts on everyone that has MS and those that don't getting tested for Candida. It may sound all to familiar to some of us but it may have a link/tie in with people that have MS. If you have time read the book "Healing MS" by Ann Boroch and pay attention to chapter 2.

Some major contributing factors are use of antibiotics, steroids (cortisone, prednisone), birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy, poor diet, chemotherapy, radiation, heavy metals, alcohol overuse, drugs, and stress.

"Immune weakness is probably the most obvious reason for the development of candidiasis. When the immune system is compromised the body is vulnerable to attack from a wide variety of pathogens – not just candida. Interestingly, candida can often start to flourish when a person uses antibiotics as antibiotics kill off the good bacteria that are instrumental in keeping candida production in check. When good bacteria is depleted the environment for candida to thrive is created."

Some of the most frequent Candida symptoms are:
abdominal gas, headaches, migraines, excessive fatigue, cravings for alcohol, anxiety, vaginitis, rectal itching, cravings for sweets, inability to think clearly or concentrate, hyperactivity, mood swings, diarrhea, constipation, hyperactivity, itching, acne, eczema, depression, sinus inflammation, pre-menstrual syndrome, dizziness, poor memory, persistent cough, earaches, low sex drive, muscle weakness, irritability, learning difficulties, sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals, cognitive impairment, thrush, athletes foot, sore throat, indigestion, acid reflux, chronic pain

"Most people are unaware that it even exists, because most main stream doctors are uneducated about its impact on our health. People suffering from this condition often go from doctor to doctor for years and are usually told they are a hypochondriac or that it is stress or a psychiatric problem, before ever discovering the real culprit."

There are several options for testing if you ask your neuro or GP.

Stool Tests
Stool tests can be very valuable for detecting bacterial and other infections of the gastrointestinal tract. They are not however reliable for detecting Candida. See the bottom of the page for Candida tests.

Hormone Panel
Multiple labs offer this.

Blood test:
Candida albicans Assay for Candida albicans and the Immuno 1 BloodprintTM for Delayed Food Allergies.

Two saliva self test at home.(additional link http://www.candida-albicans-cure.com/candida-test.html)

1.
A Simple Test You Can Do at Home
First thing in the morning, before you put ANYTHING in your mouth, get a clear glass and fill with water. Work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of water. Check the water after a moment or within 2-3 minutes, then within every 15 minutes.

If you have a candida yeast infection, you will see strings, like cloudy legs, traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, or "cloudy" saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water. If there are no strings, the water is as clear as it was before you spit in the glass and the saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you are probably candida yeast free. The more strings and cloudiness there is and the faster it develops, the greater the overgrowth.

2.
First thing in the morning, before you put ANYTHING in your mouth, get a clear glass and fill with water. Work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of water. Check the water after a moment or within 2-3 minutes, then within every 15 minutes.

If you have a candida yeast infection, you will see strings, like cloudy legs, traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, or "cloudy" saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water. If there are no strings, the water is as clear as it was before you spit in the glass and the saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you are probably candida yeast free. The more strings and cloudiness there is and the faster it develops, the greater the overgrowth.

Part X.....a rebirth?

Well it has now been 60 days on the supplements. I have to tell you I feel reborn to some extent. My fatigue and overall feelings are almost back to what I remember as normal. My head is clear, most of the "cognitive" things I had going on have dwindled away. The only catch is when I miss sleep, stay up late or wear myself out physically. Sad to say at this point the physically part is way to easy to do but I will get there soon enough.

I have been keeping up on my journal for the most part throughout my 60 days. There were a few days in February that I missed as I was really sick. I decided to start color coding my days as well as writing a recap each day. Red for bad, orange for great days and nothing for the days I will call "symptomatic" . Meaning there is something there but it is minor. So here is the recap. 2 bad days, 20 great days, 20 symptomatic days. 9 of the last 11 have been great days! As you can see that does not equal 60. The missing days are the days I was down with the "bug", 18 in total. The great news on the bug is it did not cause any flair ups with my MS. During that time I stayed away from any immune based remedies. I just went through it sticking with the diet, my supps program. and sleep. How my wife can deal with me is beyond a mystery, I would be lost without her.

Now to the rebirth of sorts that I am feeling. My body is the part that has become the next step. It appears I have everything going where I want it and my lazy, confined body now needs to catch up. WELCOME back warm weather. Getting out, exercising, doing yard work, horseback riding and even walking long distances can now be a bit frustrating. I have been so locked in (literally and figuratively) with the winter and starting my road back I am not sure what my body being out of shape vs and MS symptom feels like anymore. Are the aches, soreness and being tired from exercise or not? It's a simple answer to solve. Get out and do it and see where it leads. I never thought stacking wood could feel so good. Being OUTSIDE and getting myself going is the next step and I can't wait to see where it goes.

An Open Letter To Those Without MS

I came across this letter today. While everything does not apply to me personally. This letter is a great summation of the thoughts that run around in a person with MS's head. I could not have come up with something better.


An Open Letter To Those Without MS

Having MS means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike AIDS and Cancer, most people do not understand even a little about MS and its effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually mis-informed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand ...

... These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me...

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Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day sitting on my arse, and if you visit I probably don't seem like much fun to be with, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about stuff and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.

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Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. It doesn't mean that I'm not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things. Please, don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!". I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.

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Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed, or you can move. With this one it gets more confusing.

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Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable" and so on ... it applies to everything. That's what this kind of illness does to you.

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Please understand that MS is variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!", if you want me to do something then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please do not take it personally.

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Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. MS may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were stuck inside for ages on end!?) but it is not created by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct - don't you think that if I could possibly do it that I would?

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Please understand that if I say I have to sit down/pee/lie down/take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now - it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm out for the day (or whatever). MS does not forgive.

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If you want to suggest a cure to me, DON'T. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at one point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with MS then we'd know about it. This is not a drug-company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with MS, if something worked we would KNOW.
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If after reading that, you still want to suggest a cure, then do it, preferably in writing, but don't expect me to rush out and try it. If I haven't had it suggested before, I'll take what you said and discuss it with my doctor. He's open to new suggestions and is a great guy, and he takes what I say seriously.
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In many ways I depend on you - people who are not sick - I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out, I need you to shop for me, I need you to cook and clean for me, I need you to take me the the doctors, sometimes I need you to support me so I can walk to the bathroom without falling over.

I need you on a different level too ... you're my link to the outside world, if you don't set up my recliner in the lounge-room I can't watch TV and if you don't bring home a newspaper I can't read it. If you don't come to visit me then I won't get to see you.

... and, as much as it's possible, I need you to understand me.

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Adapted by S Hamilton 2004 - taken from an article by Ricky Buchanan. When forwarding or publishing elsewhere please use the URL of Ricky Buchanan's original version - http://notdoneliving.net/foothold/openletter/

Permission to reproduce here kindly given by Ricky Buchanan, who has also included Sue's version on Ricky's site here:http://notdoneliving.net/foothold/openletter/options.html

MS Awareness Week March 2-8, 2009!

Please do something to help in the awareness week! Next year I will have an event or something for everyone to take part in but please don't let this year go buy. Get involved someplace and "Move It".

Some of the headlines out there this week!
A Week for Millions of People Impacted By MS to Move It and Come Together In Support of the MS Movement

MS Activists are Moving It to Improve Health Care for People with MS

Corporate partners Moving It to End MS

This is a watershed year in MS research with more than a dozen new therapies moving through the MS pipeline including the first two oral disease modifying drugs and the first symptom management drug that improves walking;

Exciting new research is also underway into Vitamin D and MS which is revealing an ever stronger tie between susceptibility to MS and reduced levels of Vitamin D;
Recent discoveries of new genes that make people susceptible to MS are providing clues to stopping and preventing the disease
The six Pediatric MS Centers established across the country offer the potential for finding the cause of MS by studying children with the disease, who could still harbor clues to what caused their MS because the environmental triggers may still be present.