Recurring yeast infections can be overcome

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Recurring yeast infections can be overcome

January 19, 2010 at 2:24 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Introduction

Hello there,

My name is Danielle Anderson. Since I was an infant I’ve been suffering from recurrent yeast infections. I’ve used all kinds of medicine and underwent all kinds of treatments.

Although I don’t remember it all started with severe diaper candidiasis or a diaper rash if you will.

During childhood I frequently suffered from oral candidiasis or oral thrush. Several times the infection spread to my throat and esophagus. The oral thrush on itself wasn’t that much of a bother however when the yeast infection spread to my throat and esophagus it became very painful to swallow and I got the nasty sensation that food got stuck after swallowing.

Throughout my adolescence these oral thrushes continued accompanied by cutaneous candidiasis. The skin rashes are one of my least favorite yeast infections. Other than the rashes look and feel really disgusting they were very painful in my case. The worst effect these rashes had on me was that they destroyed my self confidence and my self esteem. Imagine just wanting to go for a swim or taking a shower after having played your favorite sport. I was ashamed of myself because of these rashes and because of how my skin looked. The result was that I didn’t get out much and certainly didn’t just go for a swim.

During adulthood I developed vaginal candidiasis. Again this condition was very painful. This yeast infection luckily wasn’t as visible as a skin rash however once in a while you will have vaginal discharges that look like cottage cheese. Which I also find pretty disgusting.

My life up until now has been focused on these yeast infections.

At some point in my life I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to get to know my enemy.

I went to the University of Washington School Of Medicine and got a master’s degree in medical biology (took a while longer than to write this sentence though). After graduation I went on to do my PhD thesis on fungal infections. What I learned gave me some solace and a better understanding of chronic yeast infections.

I would like to share this knowledge and my experiences with you because I would like to help others to understand what they are suffering from and maybe give them the chance to get rid of these nasty frequent yeast infections and be able to live a normal life.

So what topics will I be talking about in this blog?

What is a recurring yeast infection?
What causes yeast infections?
How do you recognize recurring yeast infections and what are the symptoms?
What are my experiences with treatments and medicine and what helped me get rid of my yeast infections?

What is a recurring yeast infection?

To be able to answer this question I first need to explain what yeast is. In general yeast is the name for a larger group of unrelated fungal species. These fungi are single celled organisms ranging from 3 to 40 micrometers (millionth of a meter) in diameter.

Most commonly known is Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is used in the making of bread and the brewing of beer among other things. This type of yeast however doesn’t cause yeast infections. In other words it isn’t pathogenic.

Recurrent yeast infections or recurring candidiasis is caused by another group of yeasts known as Candida. Recurring yeast infections can be caused by the whole group of these single celled fungi. The most common culprit though is Candida albicans.

Candida albicans normally resides in the mammalian digestive tract including that of humans and is present on the skin and in certain body cavities (mouth, vagina etc.). Under normal circumstances it won’t cause any problems. However in people whose immune systems are compromised due to illness or certain medications it can result in yeast infection or even chronic yeast infections.

Now to answer the question: What is a recurring yeast infection?

Yeast infections in general are the result of one’s immune system not being able to limit the growth of fungi like Candida albicans. Candida can invade mucosal tissues (present in genitalia, mouth esophagus etc.) and the skin when damaged. In severe cases yeast infections can become systemic spreading throughout your body. This is most frequently seen in severely weakened patients suffering from diseases like AIDS or cancer.

When yeast infections occur they will result in inflammation of the tissues. Inflammation is a reaction of the body trying to fight of the infection. Tissues will swell with fluids and cells of the immune system will try to battle the infection. This will give a swollen and reddened look. The yeast can multiply and grow out of control due to a weakened immune system destroying healthy tissue in the process giving rise to a variety of symptoms. This is what we call a yeast infection.

In the case of recurring yeast infections the infections will occur on a frequent basis. These recurrent yeast infections can come back more severe after having been treated.

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What causes yeast infections?

There are a variety of possibilities that cause an opportunistic organism like Candida albicans to become pathogenic. Why do you want to know what causes yeast infections? First if you have recurring yeast infections you can try to prevent them by trying to take away these causes instead of trying to battle these chronic yeast infections when they occur. Second if you know what the causes are you can be vigilant for the symptoms and try to treat the yeast infection in an early stage. In both cases you should be able to get healthy without poisoning yourself with mass amounts of medication.

As I already mentioned certain medications and illnesses can be a cause for a yeast infection to take over and win the battle with your immune system.

For example when suffering from a bacterial infection it is not uncommon for a physician to prescribe antibiotics (substances that specifically attack bacteria). In most cases this will do more good than harm. However when taking broad spectrum antibiotics you probably will also kill the bacteria in your digestive tract. These bacteria are necessary for your digestive system to function normally. They also compete with Candida albicans for the present resources in your digestive system. Without these bacteria Candida albicans will have one obstacle less to grow out of control and cause a yeast infection and eventually cause chronic yeast infections.

Patients who have received a donor organ will also get immunosuppressants to decrease the chance that the transplanted organ will be rejected by their own immune system. In this case it is obvious that an opportunist like Candida albicans will be able to become pathogenic when the immune system is suppressed.

Diseases like diabetes and HIV also enable Candida albicans to become pathogenic. When HIV causes AIDS the immune system of the patient is severely compromised giving rise to all kinds of yeast infections and in the most severe case systemic yeast infection which can be life threatening.

In the case of people with diabetes it is caused by the increased blood sugar level in the blood and in the urine. Candida albicans can use this sugar to multiply faster in your body leading to all kinds of yeast infections.

Hormonal changes in the female body are also cause of recurrent yeast infections. During the menstrual cycle hormones like progesterone and estrogen will vary causing a decrease in the strength of the female immune system. Following a drop in the strength of the immune system is an increase in the growth of Candida albicans. Menopause, birth control pills and pregnancy also fall into this category. During pregnancy the mother is vulnerable to recurring yeast infections.

The following list of factors can contribute to developing a recurring yeast infection.

Causes of yeast infections in men and women

Hot and humid weather.
Tight and poorly ventilated clothing, including damp bathing suits, underwear or pantyhose.
Poor nutrition and bad eating habits like junk food.
Poor personal hygiene.
Allergic reactions.
Fatigue
High levels of stress

Causes of yeast infections only in women

Frequent exposure to sperm and semen over a short period of time.
Vaginal douching (washes away both healthy secretions and normal bacteria from the vagina)
Improper wiping from rear to front after using the toilet.
Some prescriptions, including those that contain steroids, such as Prednisone.
Perfumed feminine hygiene sprays.
Not drying the outer vaginal area thoroughly after bathing
Vaginal intercourse with inadequate lubrication

To summarize

In general a yeast infection will occur when the following conditions are present. First of all an immune system that is not up to the task (caused by disease, medication or hormonal flux). This can result in chronic yeast infection depending on the duration and or frequency of this weakness of the immune system.

Another condition is the amount of competition with other organisms inside the body (namely bacteria). Taking away this competition can result in a yeast infection.

The third condition is meeting the optimal living conditions of yeast e.g. the surroundings should be warm and moist enough (between skin folds etc.).

Last of all the yeast should be able to invade certain tissues. This happens when the outer protective layer of your body (the skin) is damaged.

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How do you recognize recurring yeast infections and what are the symptoms?

The most important thing to know is how to recognize a yeast infection. I have compiled a list below of common yeast infections. When these symptoms disappear and reoccur repeatedly over time you have recurring yeast infections.

Infections of the genitalia

Vaginal Candidiasis/ vaginal yeast infection

Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection can be:

irritation and/or itching of the genital area
vaginal discharge (resembling cottage cheese)
vaginal odor (not unpleasant)
discomfort or burning when urinating
pain and or irritation during sexual intercourse

Candidal vulvovaginitis/ yeast infection of the vulva and the vagina

Yeast infection symptoms of the vulva and vagina can be:

irritation and/or itching of the genital area
of the labia majora, labia minora, or perineal area (area between the anus and the vagina)
vaginal discharge (resembling cottage cheese)
vaginal odor (not unpleasant)
discomfort or burning when urinating
pain and or irritation during sexual intercourse

Penile candidiasis/ yeast infection of the male urethra and the head of the penis or penile yeast infection

Symptoms of a yeast infection in men can be:

red patchy sores near the head of the penis
red patchy sores on the foreskin
severe itching
a burning sensation
white discharge from the penis
no symptoms at all

Yeast infections of the skin

Candidal intertrigo/ yeast infection between two folds of skin

Symptoms of candidal intertrigo can be:

an intensely red, macerated and glistening rash
scaling on the edges of the rash
the rash can extend just beyond the limits of the skin folds
satellite lesions (these are small areas of the same rash that are situated close to the main rash)

Perianal candidiasis/ yeast infection of the skin surrounding the anus

Symptoms of this kind of yeast infection can be:

progressively worsening erythema (red patches) around the anus
maceration of the skin around the anus
itching and or burning sensation around the anus

Diaper candidiasis/ yeast infection of a child’s diaper area

Symptoms of diaper candidiasis can be:

progressive bright red rash
In boys the scrotum and the penis some areas can get red and scaly
In girls some areas of the labia and the vagina can get red or scaly
pimples, blisters, ulcers, large bumps and or pus-filled sores
satellite lesions (these are small areas of the same rash that are situated close to the main rash)
older children have the tendency to scratch when the diaper is removed
usually diaper rash doesn not spread beyond the diaper

Erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica/ yeast infection on the web between and on the sides of the fingers

Symptoms of this kind of yeast infection can be:

oval area of macerated skin on the web between the fingers
infection may affect the sides of the fingers
may also affect the toes

Cutaneous candidiasis/ yeast infection of the skin or skin rash occurring in bedridden patients. Commonly found in diabetics.

Symptoms of cutaneous candidiasis can be:

Itching or burning sensation
skin lesion or rash
an enlarging patch
Infection of hair sacks which may look like pimples
can be located on any part of the body
macule (a discoloration of the skin less than half an inch wide) or papule (an elevation on discoloration of the skin less than half an inch wide)
satellite lesions (these are small areas of the same rash that are situated close to the main rash)
smaller lesions next to bigger ones)
redness of the skin and or inflamation of the skin

Other

Candidal paronychia/ yeast infection of the nail fold

Symptoms of candidal paronchyia can be:

a painful, red and swollen area around the nail
the infection occurs slowly
changes in the nail concerning color and shape

Oral Candidiasis/ oral yeast infection or thrush

Symptoms of an oral yeast infection can be:

creamy white, slightly raised lesions in your mouth
usually on the tongue and or inner cheeks
the lesions, which can be painful and may bleed slightly when scraped
pain or difficulty swallowing when the infections spreads to the throat and esophagus

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) / a chronic yeast infection of the mucosal surfaces (mouth and genital areas) skin and nails. This is a congenital affliction of the immune system.

Symptoms can be all of the symptoms above.

Systemic candidiasis/ a severe yeast infection that has invaded the body and can be found in every possible organ.

Symptoms of systemic candidiasis can be:

gastro Intestinal problems: bloating, gas, intestinal cramps, chronic diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn
chronic fatigue
depression
Irritability
severe mood swings
feeling mentally “disturbed”
poor memory or even memory loss
lack of concentration
painful muscles
aching joints
developing food and air borne allergies
extreme sensitivity to chemicals, perfumes, smoke, or other odors
severe pre-menstrual syndrome
impotence
inflammation of the prostate
developing recurrent fungal infections
feeling lightheaded or drunk after minimal consumption of alcoholic beverages or certain foods
acne

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What are my experiences with treatments and medicine and what helped me get rid of my yeast infections?

I have tried about everything I could lay my hands on. I have seen doctors and used all kinds of prescription medications, tried alternative therapies and tried several home remedies like garlic and taking sitz baths. Some remedies were more effective than others. There were some consequences however. The remedies that were the most effective also had a nasty downside. Each time the yeast infection reoccurred it became more severe. As you can imagine a person will enter a vicious circle. Because of the increasing severity I had to battle the yeast infections harder and harder which then came back with a vengeance.

What I and a lot of other people did is essentially wrong. Why is that so wrong you should ask yourself. Like every existing organism Candida albicans is able to adapt to changing circumstances i.e. attacking it with medication among other things. The difference with larger organisms is that micro-organisms like Candida albicans can reproduce very quickly and therefore adapt very quickly. The result is that after medication and certain treatments the yeast infection comes back even more severely than before because it has adapted to the new situation.

Finally I stumbled onto the following product which I highly recommend. I thought what the heck? What do I have to lose? The result took a month for me to notice but from thereon life only got easier. The yeast infections became less severe and eventually completely disappeared. You can imagine how happy I was. This was somewhat two years ago and still I’m free of chronic yeast infections.

How does this product work? It conveys an holistic approach to ridding yourself of yeast infection instead of battling each yeast infection individually. Furthermore it contains programs and tips to alter your lifestyle. For instance it will tell you how to change your eating habits. Candida albicans is also very sensitive to changes in alkalinity and acidity. The program will also tell you how to balance the alkalinity and acidity of your body so as to make it an inhospitable environment for yeast.

On the other hand this product allows you to live a life free of ingesting and applying all sorts of medication which of course in the end is a lot healthier.

I hope this blog will help you get healthy again. Thank you for reading and I wish everyone the very best and a healthy life.

Recurring Yeast Infections