New and just checking in

[Guest guest]

Hi Bee,

I just wanted to check in, say hello and tell my story. I've known

for years that I have candida, although I've never been diagnosed.

The medical community doesn't want to see candida as a problem and

have never been 'willing' (I guess is the right term) to doing

anything about it until now. I've taken probiotics in the past and

stopped eating sugar, but could never go much further than that.

But now, my symptoms are harder to ignore and are making it hard for

me function some days, so I've decided to take the plunge. My main

complains are brain fog, fatigue, overall weakness, joint pain,

unexplained stomach pain, bladder irritation and rectal itching

*blush*.

I'm sure I got candida after I was on antibiotics for nearly a year

for recurrent throat infections in my teens. Then I was on the pill

for 3 years in my early 20s. Also during that time I became

vegetarian and have been for 16 years - I know, I know...

My problem is that the reason I became vegetarian is because the

thought of meat grosses me out. My dad brought me to a

slaughterhouse when I was 12 and ever since then it just turned my

stomach to see meat. I realize that I have been making things worse;

it's just so difficult for me to even consider eating meat - the

veins, the blood, the muscle tissue all seems really disgusting to

me. It's so bad that I even find it difficult to walk through the

meat section at the grocery store.

I've been on the candida diet (but no supplements yet except coconut

oil) for almost 3 weeks now, eating only fish (tuna, salmon,

mackerel) for protein. I know that it's probably not the best thing

to be eating (because of the mercury) but I have started to feel

better (less brain fog on good days) and I've noticed that I feel a

little bit more at ease in the meat section of the grocery store and

have been looking to buy some chicken or turkey maybe to start out

with. Unfortunately, reading the ingredients on the package, I've

learned that the frozen chicken here (I live in Sweden)contains both

salt and SUGAR! ARRRG! I haven't yet looked at the ingredients fresh

(not frozen) ones yet, but at least I'm now considering and actually

planning on eating it, which is a HUGE step for me. I can't even

begin to tell you how huge this is. It's taken a lot of soul

searching and tears (nightmares even) to reach this point. I am also

going to try to find a local organic farmer if possible.

Another issue I have is eggs. I know I should be eating them, too,

but ever since I was a baby, I've been unable to tolerate eggs. My

mother tells me that the only time she ever had morning sickness out

of 4 kids was when she was pregnant with me and ate an egg! The smell

of eggs make me gag and nauseous and if I eat them I vomit. I did

try a bite the other day, but I felt nauseated for the rest of the

day. Does this mean I am allergic to them and if so, should I just

stay away from them or should I try to eat them as my body gets

stronger?

I live in the north of Sweden, not Stockholm, and the health food

stores here have very limited selection. I think I'm going to have a

difficult time trying to find the supplements I need. At first

glance, I don't know if I will be able to get even simple things like

Vitamin C at the right dosage and without added sugar. I've noticed

on your supplements page that you have links for some of the products

sold online in the States. Do you know of any European dealers that

carry these same products? I've looked around town here for Pau

D'Arco tea and no one carries it, so I will have to find that online

as well. Are there any other people living Europe on this board who

might have names of suppliers?

I have always believed in natural remedies/healing and I feel very

certain that this is the way to go about healing my body. I am up to

3 teaspoons of coconut oil per day and haven't had any sugar or carbs

in 3 weeks. I just made my first batch of Rejuvelac, but I haven't

tasted it yet. I've lost a few pounds (although I don't own a scale

so I have no idea how much). The bladder irritation has decreased

and I don't have to urinate so frequently. The brain fog has

decreased significantly on good days. Today is a bad day, but

yesterday I felt better than I have in years, so I know it is

working. Focussing on the good days and reading the Success Stories

keeps me motivated on the bad days. Thanks for being here. I really

need the support and I really want to heal, once and for all.

in Sweden