Candida?

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GtrGrl
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Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Mon Sep 27, 2021 1:41 pm

Well I’m back in hospital. After my 2nd FMT I felt more well than I had in years. I was so thankful. It lasted about 5 weeks. Then the candida started creeping in (after 8 rounds of antibiotics perhaps not surprising). Swabs were clear. GP said not to treat despite telltale symptoms. Things became unbearable after a month, to the point of internal bleeding, so I self treated. Achieved localised response but I generally feel SO ill, basically exactly as did with C Diff without the actual infection. Could it really be candida and dysbiosis causing this? I have awful abdominal pain and nausea, no appetite, weak, shaking, dizzy, burning sensations in my face and arms (like sunburn). Itching in bladder and in chest, which is a horrible sensation. They’re doing all kinds of weird tests but I wonder if I should ask for Flucanozole despite no growth on any test. Of course terrified of relapse if I do that but can’t actually face living like this. I am 40 and struggling just to stand at the sink to wash my hands.
Contracted C Diff from a round of Flucloxacillin, November 2020.

Metronidazole - Metronidazole - Dificid - Dificid - Vancomycin - Upper GI FMT - Vancomycin - Vancomycin - Lower GI FMT

beth22
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Re: Candida?

Postby beth22 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 5:46 pm

If Candida did not show up, then there is no point in treating that. Have they tested you for SIBO? That is a bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine and it can cause some of the symptoms you describe. Have they also checked your vitamin levels like B12 and B6? Do you have a specialist or just the GP?

GtrGrl
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Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:41 am

Hi Beth, no they haven’t checked any of that. SIBO seems to be dismissed by many gastro docs. I will ask about it - but I now think it might be pancreatitis. I have so much pain and discomfort in that area and had yellow D this morning (apparently classic sign). The question is why? They can’t treat if they don’t know the cause. Online search says candida can cause it but I bet I can find an equal number of articles that say it doesn’t. I now feel almost as unwell as when I had C Diff (unless….it’s back).

I’m hoping to speak to gastro specialist whilst I’m in hospital but no luck so far.
Last edited by GtrGrl on Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

beth22
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Re: Candida?

Postby beth22 » Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:39 pm

I got pancreatitis after c difficile. You need to have your pancreatic enzymes checked with a blood test. My lipase and amylase were high. I never had any issues like that before c difficile. If your doctor does not believe in SIBO, get another opinion. Most doctors that I have heard of do believe in it and do treat it. You can treat with diet as well as meds. I would be reluctant to treat with meds unless you have a severe case. I did. My levels were at 150%, way over the top. I think anything over 20 is considered positive. So, I did treat with Xifaxan that lowered it to 50% and then diet after that. It is hard to treat, but at least you would know if that is the case. It is diagnosed with a breath test.

GtrGrl
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Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:34 pm

Thank you, Beth. My lipase has come back as slightly elevated. The doc said there’s ‘nothing to indicate’ it’s my pancreas . . . Right, apart from the nausea, continued weight loss, pain, yellow D and raised enzyme. They did a CT scan with the contrast dye but I’ve just read EUS is a better option (unlikely to get that). Will have to wait for result and C Diff test result and take it from there.

Will do as you advise re: the SIBO. Is Xifaxan the one that’s not absorbed by the gut so faiiirly safe for C Differs?

roy
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Re: Candida?

Postby roy » Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:51 am

Do you mean raised liver enzymes?

Steffi
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Re: Candida?

Postby Steffi » Wed Sep 29, 2021 8:36 am

Hi GtrGrl,

What is EUS ?

GtrGrl
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Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Wed Sep 29, 2021 1:46 pm

roy wrote:
> Do you mean raised liver enzymes?

No, pancreas. They said because amylase isn’t raised as well, the lipase isn’t significant but surely it doesn’t get raised for nothing, with all these other symptoms as well.

Steffi wrote:
> Hi GtrGrl,

What is EUS ?

Endoscopic ultrasound, Steffi.
Last edited by GtrGrl on Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Steffi
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Re: Candida?

Postby Steffi » Wed Sep 29, 2021 2:10 pm

Thank you GtrGrl,
Sorry for asking such a question, I am Bulgarian :)
I wish you quick recovery and hope you will feel better soon!

beth22
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Re: Candida?

Postby beth22 » Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:03 pm

I had EUS - endoscopic ultrasound. It is when they do an upper endoscopy, but go further down to view the pancreas. A specialist has to do that. You can also get an MRCP - which is an MRI more specific to the pancreas and gall bladder region and is non invasive. That showed a very small cyst on my pancreas more recently.

And yes, Xifaxan is not supposed to be absorbed and has been used as a treatment for c diff after vanco in the past. Kind of like a chaser. But, you can also treat SIBO with diet if it is not severe.

GtrGrl
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Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:21 pm

Ahh MRI/MRCP was not on the table, I suspect due to cost. I’m now hooked up to a vitamin B infusion and they plan to test my fecal elastase tomorrow.

Yet to see a gastro person to ask about SIBO!

I don’t suppose any of this ever caused you non-specific itching? I feel like inside my bladder, stomach and chest all round my heart are itching and it’s driving me insane.

roy
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Re: Candida?

Postby roy » Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:13 pm

Have they done LFT bloods and liver/gallbladder scan?
Almost all the symptoms you describe could be caused by problems in that area.

beth22
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Re: Candida?

Postby beth22 » Wed Sep 29, 2021 8:42 pm

No, I never had that kind of itching, but I know people who have elevated liver enzymes that have terrible itching. If that has not been checked, it would be a good idea to do it.

GtrGrl
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Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:23 am

roy wrote:
> Have they done LFT bloods and liver/gallbladder scan?
> Almost all the symptoms you describe could be caused by problems in that
> area.

Yes, they have but blood tests were normal apart from the lipase. They did an abdominal CT scan yesterday. They haven’t mentioned the results. They gave me a vitamin B infusion last night and nurse vaguely mentioned liver support.

It’s hard to put into words how ill I feel. They keep saying they can’t treat what they can’t find so I’m really scared they’ll send me home like this. I can barely get to the toilet and back without collapsing in a heap with my heart pounding :(

EDIT: they have not done LFT!

GtrGrl
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Posts: 204
Joined: Tue May 04, 2021 4:43 am

Re: Candida?

Postby GtrGrl » Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:59 am

I wonder if it’s possible to have C Diff but also have a liver or pancreas problem that causes constipation and therefore barricades the watery stool in your gut. Maybe that’s why I am alternating between the two. There is no way this is just IBS. I am way too ill.
Last edited by GtrGrl on Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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