Candida (Yeast Infections)

This was one of the greatest problems to get straightened out. For years Katie agonized in some form of pain that no doctor was able to diagnose or explain. Yeast infections are normally associated with children as thrush on the tongue or with women in the form of vaginal infections. Our search for alternative sources of pain lead us to explore many possibilities, but nothing fit. Then we came across Candida and many of the symptoms fit. It wasn’t a highly accepted medical fact at the time partially explaining why no doctor had suggested this as the source of all the crying and screaming. The extent of the infection(s) range from bearable to extreme.

An example of the extent that the problem can be is illustrated by the affect it can have on a G-Tube. Normally Katie's G-Tube would last up to six months without breaking. There was a period when the G-tube would break within 6 weeks of a new one being inserted. Upon removal and replacement, the G-tube was black in appearance, and looking like it was years old. The tube appeared corroded as if it was eaten. Thinking this was an acid problem, Katie was started on Ranitidine. One year of being on this medication did not resolve this problem or the traces of blood that periodically came out of the G-tube. The diet had not been changed, so there was no explanation for this phenomena, and the manufacturer could not explain the performance and state of the tube.

Being on many antibiotics on a regular basis, some of which were of a preventative nature, yeast infections seem to be a major contributor to the discomfort and irritability that Katie exhibited. IV antibiotics such as Gentamicin and Amphocilin used together when combating kidney infections seem to produce the most severe symptoms arising once the treatment is finished.

With many vaginal Yeast infections, diaper rashes down to her knees, open sores between her toes, under her arms and behind her ears as well as with thrush, it was suggested to us by an infectious disease doctor to increase her Nystatin from the 1ml four times a day to 5ml's four times a day. Realizing we not only had a yeast problem but a serious yeast problem, we started researching candida albians.

Over the course of several months we altered her diet. We switched to Nystatin tablets to minimize sugar, decreased Zantac, only allowed antibiotics on 100% conclusive test results and constantly monitored the sugar content of all drugs and substances being given. Over the course of one year, we have watched our daughter go from constant irritability and sleeping only 3 to 4 hours at a time to have the ability to be happy all day and sleep all night. This occurs between recurring UTI's.

Even though our daughter is happier, we feel only a portion of the mystery has been solved. With time and a clean bill of health, we wonder what additional gains Katie will make in her other medical challenges, with the yeast problem becoming better controlled and managed. Other medical challenges that had to be controlled and still need to be managed are constipation and/or diarrhea and constant UTI's. We feel yeast played a major role in these problems.