My LLMD has started my antibiotic treatment this week. I've spent this first week on 500mg Ceftin once a day. Starting today, I will be increasing to Ceftin 2x daily and adding 250mg Biaxin 2x daily. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will increase to 500mg Biaxin 2x daily, 500mg Ceftin 2x daily, and 200mg Plaquenil 2x daily.
I am taking probiotics 2x daily (VSL3 and saccharomyces boulardii), but I can already feel a yeast infection starting. I have always been very prone to these infections. Yaaaaaaay.
My questions are: Can I up my daily dose of probiotics? How much is too much? What can I do as far as diet (cut out all gluten and sugar?) is concerned to prevent yeast growth? Should I go ahead and request some Diflucan from my LLMD?
Any other comments related to antibiotic treatment are welcome! I've also stocked up on burbur, pinella, alka-seltzer gold, and curcumin in preparation for a herx.
Thanks in advance for the support! I've had chronic untreated Lyme for almost 10 years. I'm excited to get this process underway, but of course worried about the effects of long-term antibiotics.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- What worked for me to prevent candida is taking first: anti-fungal herbs. Do not wait. Do it now. I'm not familiar with the ingredients in the brand formulas you have but think burbur might be the one to study first as to if it has anti-fungal properties.
SEAGATE Olive Leaf Extract worked far better for me than than Diflucan, much less expensive and FAR safer.
Other anti-fungal herbs to consider might be berberine, allicin, goldenseal . . . .
LIVER & KIDNEY SUPPORT & and several HERXHEIMER support links, too. -
Posted by meridiawtx (Member # 46362) on :
I forgot to mention I'm also taking Nystatin 500,000U twice a day. Should I add more anti-fungal on top of that?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Q: What can [you] do as far as diet (cut out all gluten and sugar?).
Yes, avoid all processed sugars and go for real food from the earth. Eggs / meat / fish from the most healthy sources.
Going gluten free can be helpful for various reasons, mostly to help reduce inflammation. You might consider getting a genetic celiac test, though, at some point. Most other tests are unreliable. Some gluten detail here:
Excitotoxins; MSG; Aspartame; & "Natural" Flavors (that are not likely natural at all).
GMO foods that can inflame the GI Tract; Gluten; Dairy -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You say: " forgot to mention I'm also taking Nystatin 500,000U twice a day. Should I add more anti-fungal on top of that?" (end quote)
I am not a medical person nor an herbalist so it's hard to say but nystatin really never worked well for me, nor did Nizoral (ketoconazole) and diflucan was too hard on my liver.
Some do fine with nystatin, though. Be sure to use some in your mouth for a gargle, too, and then spit that out and take a few sips of a nystain in water to swallow and coat esophagus.
Seagate OLE makes both capsules and an alcohol free tincture (good for mouth).
OLE was so much better and easier than any of those. But as you have nystatin now, of course, take it as you read about the other options. Nystatin may well be just fine for you all throughout - it's just good to know other ways, too.
Talk with your LLMD, of course. You have various support herbs there now, assuming your LLMD advises though, so directions might best be from him / her. -
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Have your LLMD prescribe Nystatin. Take them with the ABX. It helps to keep the yeast away
Posted by meridiawtx (Member # 46362) on :
Thank you for the info, Keebler! I'm going to call his office tomorrow, but I'll also look into the Seagate OLE.
I'll also definitely be changing my diet immediately. Anything to keep the yeast away!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- At first, I thought it best to wait until your next appointment to pose any more questions. However, going back and hearing you say
" . . . I can already feel a yeast infection starting. I have always been very prone to these infections. . . ."
well, that is a reason to do something very pro-active and if nystatin is not working well enough for you, now is the time to ask "what else; how else?"
Good luck. -
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
There is more to an anti-yeast diet than avoiding sugar. Did you read the Dr. B sticky at the top of the forum? There is a section on diet starting on page 34.
Posted by meridiawtx (Member # 46362) on :
Thanks, Poppy. I'll look that over!
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Take probiotics and saccharomyces boulardii a couple hours AWAY from antibiotic and nystatin.
Antibiotics and nystatin will cancel the others out.
Posted by nyclymedout (Member # 45977) on :
Keebler - what's the dosing on seagate OLE while treating? The manufacturer dosages seem high, so was curious what you found to be optimal and helpful.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Start low (maybe one capsule twice a day to see how you do. You may not need the optimum dose.
Optimum dose for Seagate OLE is 16 per day (four capsules, four times a day) but it takes a while to work up to that, probably at least a month.
I did very well on the top dose for many months.
Still, that is the top dose for all things. What you might find is that ONE capsule, 3 or 4 x day will be enough to keep candida under control in your case . . . or 2 capsules, 3 or 4 x a day.
Seagate LIQUID, though, can be used more often to keep the mouth protected, the dose is lower but even just a few drops covers mouth tissue nicely. It's a glycerine base, not alcohol and is very gentle to the mouth. -
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Researched Nutritionals Microbinate has been helpful for yeast. It has OLE and allicin and some other good stuff.
Of course, check with your doc but the VSL bottle says you can take a lot more than 2 per day, so I sometimes take several per day.
And yes, cutting out sugar would be a good idea. Hard to do!
Posted by meridiawtx (Member # 46362) on :
Update:
I am now finishing month 3 of antibiotics, and I think I've got the diet/candida under control...finally! *Fingers crossed*
Other new:
I have never had a positive Western Blot test in the 22 years (at least 5 Western Blots in those years) I believe I've had Lyme. The only positive test I've had was a DNA test in 2010.
Last week however, I got a call from my LLMD's office saying that I got a CDC positive Western Blot result from my most recent blood work.
I don't know all the details yet, but hopefully that means I'm moving in the right direction with my treatment.