Posts by velvetwolf92

Totally, though this is completely off-topic: where did Magic even 🤔 😕

Well, here I am too. Nothing yet on my end. I’m expecting something to happen either today or maybe tomorrow. If nothing shows up by then, honestly, damn it, I’ll just have to go out and buy a kit and do it myself. I don't even know what kind of outcome I'm actually hoping for, and I guess that's what's really tripping me up...

Kevin Miller12, I feel exactly the same way about this...

So, I’ve been dealing with elevated bilirubin levels since the day I was born. Back when I was on birth control, I made sure to get my liver panels done every single year, and everything always came back totally fine—well, aside from that bilirubin issue, obviously. There was this one stretch in my life where I felt absolutely miserable; I mean, I was feeling just terrible, constantly nauseous and whatnot, specifically during that period when doctors actually suspected I might have hepatitis. I went through every single test imaginable—don't even ask me which ones, because I honestly can't remember anymore, but basically whatever my doctor decided was necessary at the time—only for them to conclude that everything was perfectly normal... It’s just the story of my life, I guess. According to all the lab results, I'm supposedly fine, yet I feel absolutely awful...

Angela Wright said:Alright, here's the update!

I didn't ghost the thread; I've just been trying to find a cheap way to get these damn tests done while juggling a few other things at once.
Basically, I tried hitting up two or three places to see if they'd run the samples for free, but it turns out they don't have the specific equipment for the types of analysis I'm looking for. And even where they could technically do it, they won't touch it because it falls outside their scope of work.
In the end, my dad just bit the bullet and bought a Hydra Wellness—specifically the The SpaFinder—and dropped $450 on it. We all did a session.
Anyway, ignore any talk about rust; the manual itself mentions that possibility.

Dad went first. The water turned so brown and murky we couldn't even see his toes in the tub. Since the electrodes were brand new, I doubt there was enough rust to cause that much discoloration on the first go. Based on the color and the stench of his water, it looked like he had issues with his bones and liver—which, funnily enough, is actually true.

Next was me, and my water turned orange, with a layer of grease floating on top like someone had dumped a spoonful of oil into the tank. The smell was intense. According to the indicators, I have issues with my urinary tract, reproductive organs, and bones—again, all spot on.

Third, we let the machine run by itself. The water changed color only slightly to a pale orange, but it stayed clear and didn't look anything like what happens when you actually soak your feet in it.

Fourth, my boyfriend tried it. His result was slightly better than my dad's, though he had foam on the surface, which apparently indicates air in the digestive tract... and yeah, he deals with major bloating.

🤔 Honestly, I don't know what to make of it... maybe you need a certain number of sessions and real consistency to see any meaningful improvement.

The only testing I could manage to do at home was using urine test strips. It showed the pH shifted to alkaline (8-9), detected protein residues (could just be skin cells), and trace amounts of nitrites and ketones.

So, that's the status report.

Regarding that website, I assume the County Department of Public Health wouldn't be publishing that kind of data if it wasn't legitimate.

Look, right here, it tells you 😬

Sandra Wood45 said:...velvetwolf92, I know you've gone down this path with a super restrictive diet, but honestly, it’s great that you’re actually seeing some progress. I mean, I guess I'd probably tell you the same thing—don't go overboard by cutting out absolutely everything, if I were in your shoes, I'd at least treat myself to something I truly love every once in a while. I won't even get started on how sometimes, when you have an intense craving for a specific food, it might just be your body telling you it actually needs
it.
I really think we all just need to work on having a better relationship with our own bodies and actually listening to what they need and what works for them. That’s basically the best diet there is.

Good luck to everyone. 😘

Well, I do treat myself 😬 But the whole issue is that then I just end up feeling terrible afterward, because I'm convinced I'm doing something wrong.
And I totally agree with what you said about those intense cravings probably being a sign that the body is actually looking for something.

If I could just somehow find a way to calm my mind down, but I guess I'm still just fighting this internal battle.

I am honestly so sorry you had to go through all of that. I’m just glad to hear you’re feeling better now.
I suppose I should be grateful that things weren't even worse, but I just can't bring myself to pretend that what's bothering me doesn't exist and then just go back to eating whatever I used to...
Looking back, I think I was struggling with this stuff even when I was just a kid, but nobody really picked up on it at the time. I guess years of being constantly hit with different antibiotics, over ten years of allergy immunotherapy, four years on birth control, and just constant, unrelenting stress all played their part...

I mean, I simply cannot eat something if I know for a fact it’s going to mess me up, sorry. I’ve put way too much time, effort, willpower, and—not to mention—money into trying to get my health somewhat under control. My immune system is incomparably stronger than it was a few years ago; I haven't caught the flu in years, no bouts of bronchitis either, and even those herpes outbreaks are way less frequent than they used to be...

But you know how it goes, I used to be pretty satisfied with the progress I made, but now I find myself wishing things were just a little bit better...

And please, for the love of God, don't start with the psychology talk 😬

Nicole Lopez83 said:Look, velvetwolf92, I honestly get the feeling that you think your little... I mean, I’m basically starving myself here because I’m not allowed to eat a single thing, so I guess you could say I'm a total wreck right now. And honestly, that just isn't good, isn't useful, and frankly, isn't healthy at all.
I mean, unless you actually have a legitimate medical allergy to everything you just listed—like if you’re dealing with diabetes or, God forbid, some kind of cancer where you strictly have to watch what you eat to stay alive—then I guess you’re just a perfectly healthy person with a bit of a fixation going on in your head.
I honestly think yeast issues will only settle down once you actually take steps to fix your immune system and get your gut microbiome back in balance—you know, getting that ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria back where it belongs. You can't just expect to repair your immune system by popping a bunch of synthetic pills or relying on those cheap chemical supplements you find at the drugstore; that's just not how it works. To really see a change, you have to commit to a consistent, diverse, and actually healthy diet. I guess what I’m trying to say is that following a doctor's orders isn't always the smartest move in every single situation. Sometimes, you really have to step back, use some common sense, and do what's actually best for your own body.
I mean, if you don't even actually want things to get better, then what are we even doing here? It’s like, honestly, if there isn't some genuine desire deep down to change your situation, I guess everything else is just kind of pointless. You can talk about it all day, but without that actual drive, nothing moves. I guess if you’re actually looking to get back to feeling like a functional human being again, you really need to lean into a combination of things—like, combining medication with all those natural supplements you see everywhere. I'm talking about stuff like propolis, royal jelly, echinacea, maybe even just loading up on garlic; honestly, if you just spend five minutes digging around online, you'll find a million different options for things like that. But beyond the supplements, you should probably try to ease yourself back into a regular diet, too. Like, just eat everything, variety is key, but maybe stick to smaller portions more frequently rather than just gorging yourself once a day. And, I don't know, maybe try to cut down on the stress as much as you possibly can? Because let's be real, stress is a total killer when it comes to your immune system. You've got to find some way to unwind—find your own outlet or whatever helps you blow off steam, because I'm pretty sure everyone has one, even if we don't always admit it.
Look, I really think you should just stop overthinking this whole thing and quit tripping out about it so much. It’s probably better if you just let it go.
I mean, I suppose you could say that I’m a pretty healthy individual, if you want to look at it that way, though I guess it really depends on how you define being "healthy" in this day and age. I try to stay on top of things, I really do, but sometimes it feels like everything is just designed to make us feel run down, you know? I guess I consider myself sound enough, all things considered.

Look, I've gotta say, I really don't like this at all.
I honestly can’t stand the fact that, on top of everything else life throws at me, I also have to obsess over something as incredibly trivial as what I’m going to eat. It’s exhausting. I hate that I can’t just be spontaneous anymore, instead having to lug these damn granola bars around everywhere I go. It really burns me up that every single time I plan to be out of the house for more than a few minutes, I’m stuck worrying about whether I’ll get hungry, if my blood sugar is going to crash, or what on earth I’ll find to eat if that actually happens. And then there's the hassle of always needing to carry both a purse and a separate bag just to hold all my food supplies. I'm also sick of being stuck drinking some shitty tea every time I'm out. Maybe it sounds funny to people, sure. But after several years of this, believe me when I say it gets old. If that means I have to view myself as some sort of martyr, then fine, I guess I am. So be it.

I guess the truth is that I’m just constantly, incredibly on edge about absolutely everything lately. I can't seem to find any sense of calm, and honestly, finding some kind of inner peace feels almost impossible right now. It’s funny, because usually, it’s the tiny things that help me unwind—like grabbing a really good latte with extra foam, for instance—but even then, whenever I finally manage to treat myself to one of those little comforts, I immediately realize how much it's actually messing with my health. So, I end up having to give it up anyway, which just adds to the frustration, I suppose.
I don't have any kind of outlet lately. Everything just feels completely aimless and hollow, you know? Nothing really hits the mark anymore, and I honestly can't find anything that actually makes me laugh or brings me any sense of joy. It’s all just... meh.

As for that other part in bold, I honestly don't even know where to start. I mean, of course I don't want things to get better—it's just not how it works for me. If I actually started making progress, then nobody would have any reason to feel sorry for me anymore, and I wouldn't be able to play the martyr role I've gotten so used to. 🙄 I mean, honestly... I just can't even begin to wrap my head around it. It’s like, I sit here thinking about how things are going, and I just feel this overwhelming sense of frustration, you know? I guess I'm just being dramatic, maybe, but there’s something about the way everything seems to be unfolding lately that feels completely off. I don't know, I really don't. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it is, but it’s enough to make me want to just throw my hands up in the air and walk away from the whole thing. I suppose I'm just venting, but sometimes you just have to say it out loud, right?
Look, I know there are plenty of people out there dealing with much more serious stuff—real, life-altering crises—and I’m supposed to feel guilty about that, right? Like, I should just be sitting here feeling incredibly grateful because, hey, at least I don't have some terminal illness or something equally devastating. But honestly? I’m not happy. I’m not satisfied, either. My quality of life feels like it’s circling the drain, even if someone looking in from the outside might think everything seems perfectly fine on paper. On paper, I suppose I have every single thing I need to be living my best life. I have all the prerequisites for happiness, really. And yet, I’m just not there. So, what now? Go ahead and shoot me for feeling this way!

I guess this whole thread hasn't exactly taken off the way I was hoping it would, honestly. It feels like everyone else seems to be handling the direction of this conversation a lot better than I am, if that makes any sense. As far as I’m concerned, this entire topic could just... 🙂

silvermason16 said:I read somewhere that if you're dealing with a "candida child," you should probably stay away from dairy altogether and switch to things like soy milk or other soy-based products instead...

The candida test:

First thing in the morning, on an empty stomach and before you even brush your teeth, just spit into a glass of water (use bottled
or filtered water, something without too much chlorine in it).
Let it sit for maybe 15 minutes or so.
If you notice these little "white threads" drifting down from the surface, that’s supposedly a sign that Candida is taking over your
saliva. Healthy saliva stays pretty thick and mostly just sits at the top.

I started using rice malt instead of sugar, but I don't know, it just doesn't seem sweet enough for me🙄 .
Apparently, you're supposed to eat tons of sauerkraut, garlic, stuff with Lactobacillus, coconut oil or maybe some cold-pressed olive oil, whey (you can find natural versions or buy it at a pharmacy—I think there's even a concentrated organic whey out there), and people also mention grapefruit seed extract and those cinnamon oil tablets mixed with oregano, peppermint, and various other herbs.

😘

Well, I can't touch soy milk or any soy products because I have a soy intolerance.

As for that saliva test, I've done it more times than I can count, and the result is always exactly the same.👎

You really have to cut out all sweets. And every single type of artificial sweetener, too.

I've tried everything you listed—I eat them, I use them, or I've used them in the past. Nothing works. Except for those cinnamon oil tablets, I guess.
And I even made my own goat milk kefir. Still nothing.

In my case, it seems like things are a bit more serious and stubborn.

Alright, I guess I'm throwing in the towel 😢 😢
So, I’ve gone ahead and cut out (well, temporarily 😈) dairy, and now I’m trying to get used to rice milk. It isn’t exactly revolting or anything, but let’s be honest—it doesn't even come close to being like actual milk. It’s also just not great with my coffee; I can't stand bitter coffee, and this stuff is way too sweet... though I suppose it might actually work okay in some vanilla green tea or something...
Honestly, screw dieting and all this food stuff 🙂 👎

It’s honestly kind of bizarre how it feels like we’re constantly missing exactly what we aren't allowed to have 😬
Except, in my case, I'm strictly forbidden from having a whole mountain of stuff, so I guess I don't really have anything to swap it out with 😢

I mean, I suppose if I were being totally honest with myself, I really ought to probably give up coffee with milk—and honestly, it’s more about the dairy than the caffeine itself, I guess.
No way in hell am I doing that! :2up:

Look, it’s pretty simple math—sweets are packed with sugar, and Candida basically thrives on sugar. I guess that means I have to be super careful with grains too, since they just turn into sugar once you digest them (or whatever the scientific explanation is 🤔 😬 ). Until I actually get things under control, I probably need to stay far away from all that stuff, though maybe later on I can try to experiment a little bit...

Man, I honestly wouldn't have believed it myself 😬 but there are just so many "creative" options out there—and by creative, I mean they really miss the mark—when it comes to food. You've got your rice crackers with whatever topping you can find, or you could whip up some quinoa, buckwheat, or oatmeal and drown it in some kind of almond milk substitute and toss in some seeds... but honestly, nothing ever quite hits the spot like a real slice of bread with something good on it. I know how it is. 😬 I totally get where you're coming from, and I hear you loud and clear 😘

hollowraven I’ve completely cut out everything that feeds the Candida—so, basically all the sugar, yeast, fungi, you name it... Everything else was based on my food intolerance testing.

Angela Wright, I honestly have no idea how many different herbs are actually out there. I feel like I’ve tried a literal mountain of herbal remedies, natural supplements, various diets, and anything else meant to boost the immune system, but nothing seems to stick. When you're dealing with systemic Candida, it's everywhere. It isn't just localized in your gut or vaginal area... it's a whole-body issue.
I managed to get my immune system up quite a bit, but I couldn't get much further than that. I recently finished a course of systemic antifungals (I was on Voriconazole) and now I just have to wait a little while before I go back for more testing to see if any of it even worked. Though, to be honest, my GP told me she thinks it might just come right back, even if I manage to clear it temporarily. You can't really "get rid" of Candida from your body because it's a natural resident of our mucous membranes—everyone has it. The real issue is when it starts multiplying uncontrollably because of things like antibiotics, birth control, steroids, or just pure stress... For some people, it stays quiet, but for others (like me), it just goes absolutely wild.

Is anyone else here dealing with strict dietary restrictions? What’s your specific diagnosis? And I’m curious, how do you even handle meal prep—are you the only one eating this way, or does your whole family follow suit? How do you manage when you're out at restaurants? Or when you're visiting people? Do you find yourselves breaking the "rules" sometimes?

2 Angela Wright: Honestly, all the attempts we've made up to this point to try and get rid of "that" haven't really moved the needle much at all. I mean, if I'm being real, it feels like we're just looking at a permanent situation here.

2 nimbledriver81: Yeah, I guess for the first couple of years I actually looked at it as some kind of challenge to overcome 😬 But now? I don't know, I think I've just reached my limit and I'm totally over it.🙂

I guess I’m stuck eating this pretty "boring" kind of food that just doesn't have any of that spontaneous flavor you eventually start craving so badly...
Basically, it’s just vegetables—though I try not to go overboard on the potatoes—white meat, fish, pasta, rice, millet, buckwheat, goat cheese, seeds, and legumes. They even tell you not to eat too many grains, but honestly, I need them; otherwise, I'm starving immediately, and they really help me feel settled... And I can't have too much fruit either.
Right now, I'm in one of those phases where I've completely lost the will to cook. I just don't have the patience to wait thirty minutes for breakfast to be ready, and since I'm always running around, my meals usually end up being half of the stuff I just listed.

Lately, though, I feel like I've been slipping a bit. I'll find myself snacking on some sour cream, or having red meat, or maybe a little something sweet like that cookie I had yesterday at Panera Bread 🙏 😍. Then there's a spoonful—well, maybe two, three, or four 😢—of whipped cream, or just some homemade jam (just fruit, no added sugar) with butter on rice cakes.

And honestly, I can't stand preparing fish; I hate it when my food stares back at me with eyes... So most of the time I just grab a can of tuna or a frozen fish fillet. Maybe once a month I'll actually sit down for a whole fish at a restaurant, but mostly just because it's so expensive.

Right off the bat, I have to say, I just love to eat. I love eating things that I actually enjoy eating. I’m not even sure how to put that into words properly... I don’t mean that I’m constantly overindulging or stuffing myself until I can't move, but rather that I have these specific comfort foods that just, you know, lift my mood and help me unwind... I guess you could say food is kind of my drug. And being close to my man is another thing entirely, but that’s a whole different story which I covered in an old thread called "his scent" or something like that 😍: )

The real issue here is that I feel like whenever I actually manage to find a little something that gives me that sense of relief, it gets snatched away from me.
Because of systemic issues with candidiasis and all these various food intolerances, so much of what I love is basically off-limits—and I mean, it's not like anyone is holding a gun to my head or anything, but I am fully aware that if I consume these things, I'm doing real damage to myself, even if I don't notice some immediate "side effect" right away.
Just to give you a few examples: I can't have sweets. Which means no chocolate, no pastries, no cookies, no candy, no hot cocoa, no ice cream, no honey, no granola bars, no sweet fruit... (I think every woman knows the magic of chocolate and how much just a couple of squares can help 😉 ).
Then there's wheat flour (and barley or rye too): so that means no bread (with that warm, crispy crust 😢 ), no bagels, no donuts—basically, nothing from a bakery, and again, no cakes, no creamy desserts, no pasta
I can't even have corn: so no polenta (which I absolutely love), and no popcorn.
I can't have soy: not in beans, not tofu, not soy milk, and don't even get me started on how much soy is hidden in processed meats...
And I really shouldn't be touching all those fucking additives either...
Cow's milk isn't technically "forbidden," but I've realized it wreaks havoc on me—it gives me terrible headaches and makes me feel all congested. So, that means no cow's milk, no cheese, no sour cream, no heavy cream, no whipping cream, no yogurt, no kefir...
There's plenty of other stuff I can't touch, but I won't dwell on it; I'm only mentioning the things that hit me the hardest.

The final straw was that stupid cow's milk: I had been drinking goat's milk instead. But now even that is out of reach because they only have the young kids available right now. I mean, it's nice to know it isn't as commercialized as cow's milk and is available year-round, but it's the only actual milk I can drink without issues.

My go-to "relaxation tool" used to be coffee. Twice a day, morning and evening. With milk. And lots of foam.
And now I can't even do that... These alternative plant milks are just gross to me; they're slightly sweet even when there's no added sugar, and out of all the drinks out there, coffee is the only thing I like bitter. Plus, you can't even make decent foam with them 👎

Hmm, this turned into a massive rant, sorry about that, but I just had to get it out because I feel like I'm going to lose my mind.

So, I intended for this thread to be a space where anyone dealing with dietary restrictions can vent about what's bothering them and maybe find a little solace... How are you guys handling it? How much does it actually diminish your quality of life?

I know this isn't the worst thing that could happen to someone, and I know there are plenty of people facing incomparably harder struggles than mine, and I also know that this part of my life is generally fine—I'm sure I'd find something else to complain about eventually—but the truth is, what I described is really weighing on me right now, and it kills my spontaneity and makes me feel incredibly frustrated...
I suppose it might be a bit easier (and I assume it is for others too) if I can see that I'm not alone in this...

Look, I mean, every single medication is basically a double-edged sword; there's something good about them and something bad, too. I’m certainly no medical expert by any means, but I suppose it really just comes down to whether the potential benefits actually outweigh the potential side effects, which is pretty much what you were getting at.
Take a standard antibiotic, for instance—something like Ceporex, Amoxil, or Klavocin... Honestly, they practically pumped me full of those things when I was a kid because I was constantly catching everything under the sun. And looking back, I guess those antibiotics just wiped out all the good and bad stuff in my system indiscriminately, which ultimately wrecked my immune system—and now I'm stuck dealing with chronic candidiasis (which, let me tell you, is way more than just some discharge or itching!). Not to mention the desensitization treatments I had to go through for allergies using corticosteroids. And then, of course, there's the birth control pills with the low-dose hormones. All of it worked for whatever immediate problem I was facing at the time... but the downside of it all? Well, I'm feeling the consequences of that right now.
As it stands, a systemic antifungal, like maybe Verbinaf, feels like my only real shot at getting rid of this fungal mess that's causing all sorts of issues for me: everything from a tanked libido and messed up periods to sinus problems, irritability, and digestive issues...
I don't know, maybe you should just head to a different doctor and get a second opinion... God knows I tried... Good luck!

I’m actually on Verbinaf myself, just taking one tablet a day. I started this whole thing because I’ve been dealing with chronic candidiasis for years now, and honestly, it’s just exhausting. Not to beat around the bush, though—yeah, they are hepatotoxic. Because of that, you really have to get your bloodwork done before you even start, and I actually went in for more tests today (since I’m on day 20 of the treatment) because my doctor recommended it. We need to see how my liver is holding up to decide if I should even bother continuing with the regimen or if it's time to stop.
At the same time, I also started taking Hepatil (one tablet three times a day), which is supposed to, I guess, help protect the liver... So, if you absolutely find yourself needing to take Verbinaf, maybe it might be worth looking into something like that?? I can't really recommend any other specific medications or anything, since I’m definitely not an expert in this field!
Anyway, hang in there!