getting diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know how I can find a doctor in my area that is

familiar with candida or yeast syndrome?

,

I have a doctor who IS familiar with Candida, however I can safely say that

you don't need a doctor to tackle this problem. I have a friend who is an

herbalist, so when I stumbled across (online) what I thought pretty much

described me, I called her up and asked if she was familiar with candida. Of

course she was! She told me that she too had had this same problem, about 15

years ago, when the only information she could get her hands on was the Yeast

Connection book. She followed the diet and got on supplemtents, then about 3

months later went to see a holistic doctor. After over $1,000 in testing,

which did confirm what she already knew, the doctor basically said, " continue

doing just what you are doing! " This herbalist told me that there was only

one doctor in my area who might possibly be able to help me, a naturopath,

but she said she felt I could do this without the help of a doctor. Well, 4

months and thousands of dollars later, was she right!

In February, I stared a strict anti-candida diet, along with herbs and

vitamins. Within a month I felt like a new person. Because of my parents,

I decided to schedule an appointment with this naturopath. Because it takes

about a month to see him, by the time my appointment date arrived, I really

felt like I didn't belong in his office, as the symptoms I had suffered with,

upon initially calling his office, had disappeared. I still went, if for no

other reason, to get the tests done, which would give me some idea of how I

was progressing and what I needed to pay more attention to.

When I walked into his office, I told him that my problems were candida

related. However, he proceeded to put me on the blood type diet, despite the

wonderful progress I told him I had made on the anti-candida diet. He

ordered tests, but none that were specifi for candida. I have had two blood

tests which showed I am anemic and protein deficient, a saliva test which

showed my hormones were kinda off, and that my corisol is off the chart, plus

I've had a hair analysis that showed all my deficiencies and there were lots!

So, I decided to eat more of what was recommended and avoid what I was told

to avoid. I can tell you know that I feel like CRAP! The supplements they

gave me made my IBS flair up again, and I got sick from some of the other

supplements. After my tests came in and the supplements were prescribed, I

was feeing worse than I did when I first set foot in the door! It wasn't

until my next appointment that I got the ONE test I wanted: the great smokies

stool test! So, I have spent a LOT of money for really nothing (probably

about $3,500)! I am still waiting on those last test results, but I have

decided to take matters into my own hands once again.

The moral of this story is: you dont need a doctor to heal yourself. I feel

like I get a lot more from my herbalist than I do from my doctor. She was

right all along. But, when you first start out, I know that it is

overwhelming and you feel like you need someone to guide you, so to speak.

Don't fall into that trap, because no one is as concerned about your health

as you are, so no one can guide you better than you, yourself can. My advice

to you is READ READ READ! I have read so much online and in books, that my

confidence level has dramatically increased, that is, confidence in my

ability to know what I have to do to get better. Now, my herbalist is always

there for me, unlike my doctor...I can email or call her and there is no

charge. She has even sent me to get a colonic, in fact she insisted I get

one, and those have meant so much in my healing in that they help to rid your

body of toxins when you are on antifungals, etc. So, I suggest you hang

around here for awhile, and don't worry that there is so much information to

absorb. Eventually, after you've read it enough, it will start to sink in.

In the meantime, you might wanna go to a health food store and ask if they

can recommend an herbalist to you. Health food stores are great sources of

alternative healing information. Also, take advantage of the books in your

library before you start spending a lot at the bookstore. My favorite

candida book was from the library: Candid-Related Complex.

Good luck to you,

Annette

[Guest guest]

>>Even though your visit didn't pay off for getting the treatment you

wanted, this was well worth knowing.

In all honesty, nothing the tests revealed came as a surprise. Fortunately,

my father can afford all these tests, but for the average sufferer, they are

out of the question, especially when they ALL have to be repeated in 3

months.

Through much of my reading, I was quite aware of many of my problems. For

example, candida causes malabsorption, so when my naturopath looked into my

eyes and on my tongue and told me I had malabsorption problems, I wanted to

say well duh...how do you think I am going to absorb nutrients when my body

is riddled with candida? It didn't matter how many supplements I took, I was

unable to absorb them, and a very good confirmation of this was through the

hair analysis. It showed that I had high calcium levels in my hair which

meant even though I was taking calcium supplements, it was NOT being absorbed

into my bones. So, my body wasn't being deprived of calcium, nor was it

being overloaded with it....it didn't matter how little or how much it was

given, it was just NOT able to absorb it, so it was being released into other

areas such as my hair. One interesting note on the hair analysis was that

while it didn't test for candida, it did say that it was probable that I

suffered with candidiasis, based on the set of circumstances. However, no

where on the results did it suggest any foods to avoid in the area of

candida, that is. Also, they told me to get off of all my other supplements

and to take only those prescribed. They prescribed one antifungal, capryllic

acid, and it was only about 1/3 the strength of what I had previously been

taking. I was taking a whole slew of antifungals and I wanted this doctor to

find out which strains of candida I had so that I could narrow down my

antifungals, to using just those that targeted my strains. Anyway, it wasn't

until my next visit that I had to INSIST I be given the candida test. When I

told the nutrionist that I felt my problems were really candida related, she

said so you think candida is you secondary problem? I said NO, I think it is

my PRIMARY problem! I told her how good I had felt prior to visiting her

office, and how awful I was feeling since! We talked and she agreed to let

me have the stool test....yes I had to schedule a $75 visit to tell her what

I wanted done...that I wanted to spend another $550 on a test! lol Anway,

after we talked some more, she said well if you do have candida, I know they

say you can have some fruits, but my opinion is that all fruits should be

avoided. So, yes she is informed about candida, however I find it unusual

that all of my symptoms, and test results, didn't get her's nor the dr.'s

attention that I didn't need to be on a blood type diet, but on a candida

diet, or a modified blood-type diet. The supplements the dr. prescribed were

basically the same things I had been taking before I took these tests, so all

I really did was switch brands, and with not so positive results. The only

product he prescribed, that was different, was for my adrenals and thyroid.

But, I have had to get off that as well as it messed up my system so badly.

I will try one other thyroid product that he sells, then I'm going to do my

own thing in that area as well, if his product doesn't correct my problem.

BTW this is the list of my automimmune disorders, which are ALL candida

related: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,

Fibromyalgia, Lupus....am I forgetting something? lol I have so many I can't

keep up with them. Anyway, I know they can all be corrected once I get rid

of the candida, so that my body can start absorbing properly. All of my

meats are natural, fed a grass diet, have no hormones, steroids, nor

antibiotics, all of my veggies are organic, and I take tons of herbs,

vitamins, and minerals. So, its not from improper intake that I continue to

exhibit malabsorption.

Annette

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 07/26/01 6:21:10 PM Central Daylight Time,

Rabbitbrain@... writes:

> He just said 'Hum " That was the end of my $97.00 visit.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 07/26/01 6:21:10 PM Central Daylight Time,

Rabbitbrain@... writes:

> He just said 'Hum " That was the end of my $97.00 visit.

>

>

>

>

Lucky you got off so cheap! lol

[Guest guest]

Liz,

I DO have thrush, and I still can't get anyone to

believe me! Only one doctor saw it as thrush, but he

was at a medi-center walk in clinic sort of place I

went to before I knew I had yeast, and thought I had

some kind of mouth virus. The docs I went to after

that said, " oh, it looks whitish, but it's not yeast,

maybe you should try tounge scraping " . I am suprised

at what doctors will look at with their own eyes, and

still not believe me! What are the nodules on my

tounge and gums then? They said, " I don't see

anything " . Go figure.

***

***

--- Rabbitbrain@... wrote:

>

> God , this is my problem too. But others have

> found

>

> one now and then. I even when to a women's health

> center

>

> and asked them for information for any doctors who

> treated

>

> candida. They said, " Never heard of it. " UGH!

>

>

>

> This new GYN I am going to see may have information

> about

>

> this and treatment. However I don't break out in

> thrush or a

>

> skin rash so therefore I am not believed. But it is

> there. I

> had

>

> bowel evidence and if I have to get a copy of that

> letter from

>

> the bowel doc to show it to him I will. And IF I do

> get

> treatment

>

> I am going to ask him why the " Womens Health Center "

> knows

>

> nothing about this condition when his office is

> located right

>

> across the street!!!!!!!

>

>

>

> LIZ D (jus bitch'n)

>

>

> getting

> diagnosed

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi. . . I have been to several doctors in the past

> four years with

>

> several symptoms that sound like candida. However,

> none of the

>

>

> doctors I have seen seem to know anything about the

> disease.

>

> Whenever i mention it to them, they just tell me it

> isn't

>

> a " credible " diagnosis. At this point I have spent

> thousands of

>

>

> dollars on a variety of test for my symptoms, but

> still have no

>

> answers. Does anyone know how I can find a doctor

> in my area

> that is

>

> familiar with candida or yeast syndrome?

>

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --- rabbitbrain@...

>

> --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

God , this is my problem too. But others have found

one now and then. I even when to a women's health center

and asked them for information for any doctors who treated

candida. They said, " Never heard of it. " UGH!

This new GYN I am going to see may have information about

this and treatment. However I don't break out in thrush or a

skin rash so therefore I am not believed. But it is there. I

had

bowel evidence and if I have to get a copy of that letter from

the bowel doc to show it to him I will. And IF I do get

treatment

I am going to ask him why the " Womens Health Center " knows

nothing about this condition when his office is located right

across the street!!!!!!!

LIZ D (jus bitch'n)

getting

diagnosed

Hi. . . I have been to several doctors in the past four years with

several symptoms that sound like candida. However, none of the

doctors I have seen seem to know anything about the

disease.

Whenever i mention it to them, they just tell me it isn't

a " credible " diagnosis. At this point I have spent thousands of

dollars on a variety of test for my symptoms, but still have no

answers. Does anyone know how I can find a doctor in my area

that is

familiar with candida or yeast syndrome?

Thanks,

--- rabbitbrain@...

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

[Guest guest]

That is terrible . Finding these message boards

are what is saving my sanity. I need to thank all of you

for the support that you are giving.

Liz

RE: getting

diagnosed

Liz,

I DO have thrush, and I still can't get anyone to

believe me! Only one doctor saw it as thrush, but he

was at a medi-center walk in clinic sort of place I

went to before I knew I had yeast, and thought I had

some kind of mouth virus. The docs I went to after

that said, " oh, it looks whitish, but it's not yeast,

maybe you should try tounge scraping " . I am suprised

at what doctors will look at with their own eyes, and

still not believe me! What are the nodules on my

tounge and gums then? They said, " I don't see

anything " . Go figure.

***

***

--- rabbitbrain@...

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

[Guest guest]

,

I can't tell you if you have CMT or not, nor do I feel any of us should

attempt self-diagnosis. Although I will share my experience that

physical symptoms like what you describe and what I have need a

neurologist to confirm. Take a look at this link then make an

appointment with a neurologist. If you need help finding one in your

area, let me know and I'll be glad to help. Contact me at

liliwigg@... here's the link

http://www.cmtnews.com/Diagnosing/Dorothy%20Gosling.htm I don't know

whether it is mentioned in this site about the CMT DNA testing, but from

a simple blood test some diagnosis is confirmed; there is also the

EMG/NCV test which can confirm either CMT 1 or 2.

I really feel for you and others not being able to get a correct

diagnosis. I was diagnosed about age 9.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Niki dont worry as you can get better, it will happen. it will just take a good

while.

You need to do some reading on here in the files section to see what is what.

before you get going with thyroid treatment you want to make sure your iron and

b12 levels are ok. then you start on the adrenals by ordering a saliva test

which costs about £70. These will identify any weakness in the adrenals.

then you can tackle the thyroid and yes a TSH of 2.whatever probably does

indicate a lower functioning thyroid. the TSH is a flawed measurement and the

T4 an T3 reading are much better to go by. The NHS doesnt really test T3, but

your T4 is lower in the range of 10-24.

my TSH when i became ill was 1.5 17 yrs ago. Earlier this yr it was 3.7 with a

T4 of 15 - i was so ill.

Others will post what you need to check out as i have only given you a rough

outline. You have come to the right place though, but the important thing to

take on board is that the NHS is not really geared up to bring people with

thyroid problems back to life. If you want that back you need to research

yourself and understand what you need for your body.

[Guest guest]

Hi Niki

I do have symptoms of autoimmune disease.. IBS,

joint pain, scleritis of the eyes in the past.. I have also been diagnosed with

Hashis.. but have an anti TPO of 689 and a TSH of 2.82 and free t4 of 14; so

all is apparently normal.

No, this is NOT normal. You obviously have not been tested to

see your Free T3 level, so we don't know whether the mainly inactive hormone

thyroxine is actually converting to the active hormone T3. It is T3 your body

needs to make every cell in your body and brain function - not thyroxine. your

TPO antibody level shows you have Hashimoto's disease. The antibodies see your

thyroid gland as public enemy number one and sets about its gradual

destruction, so it is unable to put out the thyroid hormones your body needs. Your

TSH is NOT normal, never mind what your GP states. It is best for your TSH to

be around 1.0 or even less. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is put out by your

pituitary gland. It puts out more TSH when your pituitary recognises that your

thyroid gland is not putting out sufficient thyroid hormones, so it increases

to tell your thyroid gland to get on with the job of producing the hormones it

should.

My morning temperature averages at 36.2

degrees. and this is the weird thing after getting up it drops 1/2 dgree to

stablise around 35.8 for the rest of the day. On a bad day when I feel ill, it

drops to 34.8.. however the immunologist simply said.. oh thats great you dont

have a fever.. therefore you dont have sjorgrens disease!!

Stupid immunologist! Isn't she aware that a sign

of hypothyroidism is low body temperature. This is because of your low

metabolism. Have you looked at a good Sjorgrens disease web site? Type it into

google and read the information there. Did she even suggest Raynauds Syndrome?

- type that also into Google and read about that too. Do you have any SIGNS of

hypothyroidism, such as :

Skin:

Dry skin

Thick, scaling skin

Coarse skin

Hair:

Fineness of hair

Dry, course, brittle hair

Sparse eyebrows, especially outer ends

Hair loss

Nails and skin:

Brittle nails

Dry ridges down nails

Cold skin

Swelling:

Swelling of face (oedema)

Swelling around the eyes (oedema)

Swelling of eyelids (oedema)

No pitting oedema of ankles

Fluid accumulation in abdomen (ascitis)

Thick tongue

Swelling of ankles

Paleness of skin

Paleness of lips

Bluish or purplish colour of skin, nail beds, lips or mucous membrane

Unexplained weight gain

Hoarseness

Low basal and activity level temperature

Protrusion of one or both eyeballs (exophthalmos)

Slow speech

Slow pulse rate

Slow thinking

Sluggish movement

Slow relaxation phase of the knee and/or ankle reflex

Listless, dull look to eyes

Wasting of tongue

Nervousness

Rapid heart rate with weak force of contraction

Slow heart rate despite low aerobic fitness

Pounding heart beat

Cardiac enlargement on X-ray

Indistinct or faint heart tones

Low QRS voltage on ECG

Long normal intervals on ECG

Fluid around heart (pericardial effusion)

Changes at the back of the eye (at fundus oculi)

I have days when usually around 4pm though

sometimes as late as 6pm this whole feeling of utter exhaustion hits me. its

physical and mental.. I just want to hole up under duvet and cry! My periods

are short and extremely heavy with golfball like blood clots.. my hair is

thin.. my iron levels not high (well 5 to start with IN may when the tests

started and now 15 at last count).. after 5 months of iron tablets.. I have

diarrhea 4/5 times every morning and still put on weight.. I am out of breath

clmbing one flight of stairs..

You know, what I would do Niki is to write a long letter to your

GP and list ALL your symptoms (look in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk and look at the

'Symptoms' list. Check your symptoms against those there and list these in your

letter. Also, list what 'signs' you have from the above list. List your

basal temperature for 4/5 mornings before you get out of bed. List any members

of your family with a thyroid or autoimmune disease. Ask for the following

blood tests to be done to see whether any of them are low in the reference

range and get the results to post here: Ferritin, B12, vitamin D3, magnesium

zinc, copper and folate. Any of these being low will stop your thyroid hormone

from being utilized in the cells. Also, if you have not been tested to see

whether you have antibodies to your thyroid, ask that this test be done now. If

you do have antibodies to your thyroid, this means they see your thyroid gland

as public enemy number one and set about its gradual destruction so that you

will no longer be able to make the thyroid hormones your body requires. Ask

for a referral to a thyroid specialist (NOT an endocrinologist who specialises

in diabetes). Ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your medical

notes and send a copy to the Head of Practice.

Help! am I going mad?.. I want to get back to

my active life.. all of these things can be hypo symptoms but everyone tells me

they are not as I have TSH of 2.82 so therefore do not need treatment.. and

yes, finally I have managed to grab an appt next week with Dr Peatfield.. is

this, in anyone's experience what he can help with .. sorry to go on.. long

morning at the docs this morning.. Niki

NO, you are NOT going mad - we all feel like that at times when

we are stuck with a doctor who has no idea what they are talking about and will

ONLY give a diagnosis if your results are outside of the reference range. Your

TSH of rising to 3.0 shows you have a thyroid problem. Many sufferers have

symptoms of hypothyroidism for YEARS before their thyroid function tests go

outside the range. If you lived in Germany, you would now have been diagnosed

because their reference range for TSH is 0.3 to 2.5 - with a recommendation the

top of the range be cut to 1.5. In the US, the ref. range for TSH is 0.3

to 3.0 - so it is likely you would have already been diagnosed as hypothyroid

over there too. TPA-UK is NOT EVERYONE who would tell you that a TSH of

2.98 is normal. Again, it is NOT.

Fight your corner Niki - do your homework to enable you to do

this and be prepared to be assertive. Read what you can about hypothyroidism

and the associated conditions that go alongside it in our web site and in the

files section of this forum. We will help where we can.

Excellent that you are seeing Dr Peatfield next week - you will

find him a complete treasure.

Luv - Sheila

No virus

found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.91/2542 - Release Date: 12/03/09

07:32:00

[Guest guest]

Hi

Niki

Dr

Peatfield doesn't run any tests. You need to get the tests done privately if

your doctors refuse to do them. You should have a full thyroid function test

which includes Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free T3, Free T3.  If you

have been suffering symptoms for a long time, then it would also be a good idea

to get tested to see whether you are suffering with low adrenal reserve (read

about this in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk  - click on

'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu and then click on 'Associated Conditions' and read

everything there about the thyroid/adrenal connection and about the other

associated conditions that go along with being hypothyroid). You need to bring

the tests (if time permits) with you when you see Dr Peatfield along with the

questionnaire you have completed with your medical details. If you have not

been sent this, again, go to our web site and click on .Dr Peatfield's Clinic

Updates' in the right hand column under TPA-UK News, and near to the top of the

page that opens, click on Dr Peatfield's Questionnaire and print that off.

If

you send to Genova Diagnostics to get the tests mentioned above, these do not

require a blood draw as the thyroid function test is a 24 hour urine test and

the test to check your adrenals is a 24 hour salivary test.

Genova Diagnostics have been kind enough to arrange a

discount for members of Thyroid Patient Advocacy- UK for the following Thyroid

and Adrenal Tests:

In order to receive your discount, please DO NOT order

direct from their web site. Instead, contact christina@...

and let her know which test(s) you wish to order. She will then forward

details to you of how to place your order. 

When you complete your order, please remember to quote

‘Thyroid Patient Advocacy UK as ‘PRACTITIONER’, or

you will not be given the discount.

Test

                                                                 RRP      

          Members Price

Thyroid

Hormones - T3 & T4  (Urine)     £100.00

                    £85.00

Adrenal

Stress Profile (Saliva)                 £70.00

                       £60.00

Before responding to this or other messages, please will

you delete other messages that have already been read and leave just a portion

of what you are responding to, because those who have opted to read direct from

the forum web site or who opted to receive a Daily Digest get very frustrated

having to scroll through loads to get to the next message.  Many thanks ;o)

Luv - Sheila

HI . thanks to everyone who wrote. Another

problem is I am not in the Uk and cannot speak enough french and the docs here

dont understand enough english to get by so each visit is almost a nightmare..

can someone tell me whether dr peatfield can run all these tests next week when

I go to see him in London.. I have no idea how to get blood tests done here.. I

dont think I can pull my own blood but could have a go.. and no-one in this

country would authorise it.. if Dr Peatfield has a nurse I could potentially

get blood drawn then.? please do peple know the answer to this.

niki

---

[Guest guest]

Again Niki - if you decide to get the tests done by Genova,

remember TPA-UK members are entitled to a discount so when they ask who your

practitioner is, tell them 'Thyroid Patient Advocacy-UK', otherwise, you won't

get a discount. Write to and she will give you the details of how to

order the tests. If you order from their website, you will not get the discount

either.

Luv - Sheila

I'm afraid Dr. Peatfield does not do those blood tests, but

you if you happen to be in London, you could go to Genova direct - they

have a blood letting service and you do not need a doctor for getting the tests

done. The lab is in New Malden, Surrey, which is not a Million miles from

Crawley, where I assume, you will see Dr. Peatfield.... but you'd need some

transport.....

http://www.iwdl.net/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=69 & Itemid=108

Best wishes,

No virus

found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.91/2542 - Release Date: 12/03/09

07:32:00

[Guest guest]

Hi niki, If you can affort is I would see a private doc ( Sheila has a list) your symptoms are classic hypo, especially aas you have high antibodies. Before I found this site I had a hysterectomy as my periods got so bad, so sooner rather than later is better. You temperature is so low is is hypothermic so the doc who said that is was good is an idiot! > thyroid treatment > From: nikihynes@...> Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:07:21 +0000> Subject: Getting diagnosed> > HI. I am sure everyone on this list has seen all these things before but having sat for 2 hours descirbing my symptoms to an Immunologist and beggging for an adrenal test this morning, I am wondering whether its all worth it. > > I do have symptoms of autoimmune disease.. IBS, joint pain, scleritis of the eyes in the past.. I have also been diagnosed with Hashis.. but have an anti TPO of 689 and a TSH of 2.82 and free t4 of 14; so all is apparently normal. My morning temperature averages at 36.2 degrees. and this is the weird thing after getting up it drops 1/2 dgree to stablise around 35.8 for the rest of the day. On a bad day when I feel ill, it drops to 34.8.. however the immunologist simply said.. oh thats great you dont have a fever.. therefore you dont have sjorgrens disease!!> > I have days when usually around 4pm though sometimes as late as 6pm this whole feeling of utter exhaustion hits me. its physical and mental.. I just want to hole up under duvet and cry! My periods are short and extremely heavy with golfball like blood clots.. my hair is thin.. my iron levels not high (well 5 to start with IN may when the tests started and now 15 at last count).. after 5 months of iron tablets.. I have diarrhea 4/5 times every morning and still put on weight.. I am out of breath clmbing one flight of stairs.. > > Help! am I going mad?.. I want to get back to my active life.. all of these things can be hypo symptoms but everyone tells me they are not as I have TSH of 2.82 so therefore do not need treatment.. and yes, finally I have managed to grab an appt next weeek with Dr Peatfield.. is this, in anyone's experience what he can help with .. sorry to go on.. long morning at the docs this morning.. Niki> > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >