Hello,
Sorry to ask another question about cadida, but i am still in the learning phase here and i have learned alot from here and when you have a question or seem to have run in to coflicting info, take it to the pro's. Below is an article i found and seems to suggest that if you have candidiasis it is a sign of hiv. Any insight answer to this? Reading this kinda scared me! And is it called thrush also? ******** quoted below. your input and help appreciated.



Candidiasis (Thrush)

What is thrush?
Thrush is an overgrowth of a yeast (fungus) called "candida." Candida is normally found on the skin, in the stomach, colon, vagina, rectum, mouth, and throat. Candida causes health problems only when there is an overgrowth in one of these areas of the body. The medical name for thrush is candidiasis.

Thrush is a common early symptom of HIV disease, usually occurring in the mouth and/or vagina. It can become a serious problem if it is left untreated. People with AIDS can also develop thrush deeper within their bodies „ in their windpipe, esophagus (throat) or lungs. People who develop thrush as an early symptom of HIV should talk to their doctor about starting medication to prevent PCP (an AIDS-related pneumonia), even if they have over 200 T-cells.

What are the signs and symptoms of thrush?
In the mouth, thrush looks like creamy white patches or small red spots on the tongue, roof of the mouth (also called the hard palate), gums or throat. Crusting on the corners of the mouth is also a symptom of thrush. Thrush can make it difficult or painful to swallow and can cause chest pain. It can cause nausea and make your food taste different.

Your doctor can usually tell if you have oral thrush by checking your mouth and throat. X-rays or visual examination of your esophagus and stomach with a special instrument called an endoscope may also be necessary for more serious cases.

Hi Mike,

I am certainly not an expert, but one thing that I have read alot about is that allopathic doctors don't seem to consider that a person could have a systemic candida problem UNLESS they have some sort of immune compromising disease, such as HIV, because having a depleted immune system leaves you open to a lot of things. Only then do a great number of them seem to allow it into their thinking that a person just *might* be suffering from Candidaisis.

HOWEVER, I think that there are very large numbers of people (myself included) suffering from Candidaisis that can attest to the fact that one does not have to have HIV or cancer, etc. to have an overgrowth of Candida. There are so many things that we do here in our society that can wreak havoc with our immune systems (over prescription of antiobiotics, steroids, birth control pills for women, very poor diets low in veggies and complex carbs but very high in sugars, all the preservatives-chemicals put into our food plus all of the chemicals we come into contact with in our everyday living, etc), that we do not have to have an auto-immune disorder to do ourselves in, healthwise. I think of Candida as an equal opportunity host...it doesn't discriminate between those with HIV, etc or the rest of us, who have certainly done enough things to compromise our immune systems (or over tax them), thus giving candida a foothold to start taking over the good bacteria that normally hold it in check.

So I wouldn't worry to much about that, unless you feel you have been exposed...all of the people I read about in books on Candida, in my research on candida, on a couple of message boards I visit...I never hear it mentioned that everyone who has Candida must have HIV, or some other immune compromising disease. Instead, they are your neighbor, your friend, your co-worker....probably a good number of Americans who don't even know it (statistics place that number up there).

All of that said, another thought comes to mind. Because candida does such a number on a persons already depleted, or over taxed immune system and causes such problems....I think it is very, very important to take care of it BEFORE it totally wrecks your health and leaves you open and exposed to who knows what other diseases (I read alot about people with CFS or fibromyalgia having a problem with Candida, though I am not sure which came first...the CFS, etc or the Candida...I am thinking it is very well the Candida that came in first and started all the trouble).

Dawn

Dawn
Thanks for your reply, I do not in any way feel i have been exposed to hiv and i do not have the red or white circles it the mouth. But i have in the past two years becuse of allergies and respiratory infections taken many antibiotic's, steroid pills, antihistamines, decongestants, and even proton pump inhibitors for reflux. And now seem to be sensative to certian foods like corn, milk, eggs, among others. I believe 100% it is candida related. But i have to admit articles like that one can invoke fear even when you may even know better. I deffinetly eat a lot of and crave carbs and sugar, i have always been this way~bad eating habits in which i have just in the past year started to change. Know even more so. the coffee, fruit and fruit juices is going to be real hard.

Thanks again, Michael

Hi Mike - Dawn made some excellent comments here, that are very appropriate.

I have read much research over the years on HIV and the interesting thing I found was that there are those who have been infected with it who do not *immediately* go downhill, in fact ~ they live quite normally and in some cases go on in good basic health for years. This was also the case in the anthrax poisonings. There were those that were exposed and were not afflicted by it. These are all people with strong immune systems.

The vital info that is missed out in your article is this: A person with a compromised immune system, and already having systemic candidiasis in their body - THAT THEN is infected with HIV - *yes* I would say that their health would rapidly deteriorate as their system would be so weak.

Having candididasis will not "work into" having AIDS. The person must be exposed/infected first. Having said that - I do believe that acidity/candidiasis go 'hand-in-hand' and there is definitely a link between systemic candida (candida related complex) and many diseases - Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, MS, etc.

Left untreated, candida will affect EVERY body system, and eventually bring about death.

wendy

Mike,

It is hard at first to give up the foods we are used to eating. I was a veggie hater...almost never ate any (or fruits either). I always wanted carbs...that was what tasted good.

Taste buds can change though. You just have to be open to new things. I have come to like broccoli, green leaf lettuces (I can even tolerate some spinach in my salads), zucchini, green beans, cabbage. In fact, I am now looking for veggies at meals...and having 2 veggies at a meal is great! In fact, about 2 weeks ago, on a bad day, I had a bite of biscuit. It didn't taste as good as I remembered. In fact, it tasted rather pasty. This is a big change for me!!! I used to drink alot of milk and orange juice. I have found that dairy is a problem (also not recommended on the candida diet anyway). I have adjusted to drinking water. I like to add a slice of lemon sometimes as well. I don't even care if it is ice water anymore...and I am happy with water, but I wasn't at first.

The thing is...once you start eliminating those things that make you feel bad, and you start feeling better...that really can help to make it easier to avoid the bad things. I didn't connect many of the foods I ate with how I felt (the headaches, sinus problems, etc). But once I gave up something, and then found out (when I tasted it again later) that it causes terrible headaches, etc., it is not longer worth it to me to eat it and I don't even want it. The hardest part will probably be the first several days, when the cravings are really kicking in. It gets easier though.

Dawn

dawn,
I thought it was kind of funny about how you said the biscuit tasted kind of pasty
:-) . i love vegies now any way so that will not be a problem~ but the orange juice and fruit will be. I appreciate you input. it helps. Thanks..