To: Violet Hill Farm

[JackiePecora]

Hi Garden Lady,
I was just wondering how you found out that you have systemic yeast. What did you take, if anything to get it under control? Does it affect your IC?
I know I have systemic yeast and I never eat any type of sugar because I will have a yeast flare. I would love to get my yeast to a respectable level but it seems impossible.
If you have any ideas, please let me know.
Thanks,
Jackie

[violethillfarm]

Hi Jackie: It showed up in some urine testing I had done while in the midst of doing the doctor gauntlet...you know trying to convince the GP's in my family practice office that there was something strange going on. I had a lot of yeast in my urine,
and was put on Diflucan which did the trick.
I also started reading and found that excessive sugar in the diet can facilitate yeast overgrowth in certain people. So, I've
cut way back on sugar. Some forms of vulvodynia are apparently linked to yeast overgrowth just below the skin surface and usually pop up around menstrual period time,
(thought to have some connection with estrogen loss if I've read correctly). Well, I had that pleasant little episode just before my period for 20 years before I found out what it was. Antifungal creams do help this form of vulvodynia, as does cutting back on the ol' sugar. Also now that I'm
menopausal I noticed that my vulvodynia was in constant flare until I started on HRT.
I can tell you for sure that in general I feel much better without a lot of sugar. I do have a little dessert once in while and I usually have an all over "sicky" feeling afterwards, so I know I'm on the right track.
Along with this "yucky" feeling I usually have some bladder discomfort, but the biggest difference is defintely how it's helped with the vulvodynia and general feeling of well being. You'd be surprised how easy it is to cut back when you can feel the difference. What works for me may not work for you. Those of us with IC and other
ailments seem to require a very finely tuned
health regimine and getting that fine tuning right can take a while.

Good luck, and keep searching for that "perfect balance"