First off, my llmd told me that he doesn't want me cutting carbs out of my diet completely. He feels that's bad for you. He says to eat meats and cheeses mostly but I can slip in a slice of pizza once a day if i like.

Over the 2 weeks that I've been doing this limited carb diet I've noticed an increase in my intestinal symptoms. If I am not feeding the yeast with carbs and sugar shouldn't that be getting better and not worse?

Around my belly button area it just feels irritated and discomforting inside my body.

Still waiting for my yeast blood test results....but if you have any more advice to help me through the holidas it would be appreciated. Thanks,

As for the carbs, I would modify your doctor's recommendations. If you include some carbs, they should be low sugar, high fiber, and processed as little as possible. That would mean wild rice, whole grains, high fiber fruit (like green apples, pears and strawberries) and the such.

I don't know if it makes much of a difference, but when I do cheat, I try to take my Diflucan after cheating, and follow it with a probiotic 2 hours later.

My advice is to nix the sugar and any refined carbs, like white flour (in pizza), white rice, processed grains, basically anything white. These food items are high on the glycemic index because they turn to sugar during digestion.

I do eat some carbs because I feel I have no energy without them. But, I eat them in great moderation.

I had a small piece of cake on Thanksgiving (all flour & sugar) and got terrible thrush and gastro symptoms. So, be careful.

Sorry to be the bearer fo bad news. I have learned frim experience that most carbs and dairy are out if Candida is an issue.

So, the carbs should be in the form of vegetables low on the glycemic index. I agree that bananas are out, and yogurt is out unless it is LOW SUGAR. Watch out for aspartame too....don't want that in it.

I don't do well eating fruit unless it's granny smith apples. Anything else causes problems for me.

I hope you are taking Nystatin and acidolphilus everyday.

My issue is, how do I even know if I have a yeast problem? I've had a blood test and am waiting to hear back. The spit test for me varies.....a couple weeks ago it sank to the bottom but eating just 1 carb meal a day (instead of 3) has my spit returning to almost normal.

There is occaisionally a little bit of white on my tongue, but it's never in great abundance and often it's not there at all.

So should I go on a yeast diet? I really have no idea, but I have noticed that without as many carbs as I'm used to I've been feeling really lethargic. I'm also worried about losing weight without carbs.

It seems as though you can't win because of you DO the yeast diet you lose weight and have zero energy, but if you DON'T, the yeast takes over!

Also, I'm sure many of you are familiar with Dr. Burrascano, considered the leading lyme doctor in the country. In his lengthy article about Diagnostic Hints and Treatment guidelines for lyme disease, he lists a yeast diet.

The link for the article is here, and the yeast diet can be found by scrolling down about 90%: http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html

In this he lists the following foods as acceptable to eat while on a yeast diet: Meat, fish, fowl, cheese, eggs, dairy, tofu.

You'll notice that he lists cheeses and dairy as acceptable foods, so I'm perplexed as to why so many of you feel you can't eat them. Also, what is wrong with processed foods? Hot Dogs don't have yeast, right?

Plus, this candida topic is a new one for me and am trying to determine the best route to go.

Never worry about too many questions. It's why we are here - to help each other. I'll answer to the best that I can:

1. My issue is, how do I even know if I have a yeast problem?

The yeast diet is preventative. If you are on abx, it is a good idea to follow the diet to prevent the yeast from taking over.

2. So should I go on a yeast diet?

You have to answer this question for yourself. Personally, I've had a yeast problem and I never want one again. As a completely non-medically trained lay-person, I recommend the diet.

3. I really have no idea, but I have noticed that without as many carbs as I'm used to I've been feeling really lethargic.

The lethargy could be one of two things (probably more). First, it could be that you have yeast and it is dieing off. Yeast causes lethargy. Second, you may not be getting enough calories. Make sure you are eating enough. Some people find they have to eat smaller portions more often on the diet. Once you are used to the diet, you should actually have more energy. Because you lose the ups and downs caused by sugar.

4. I'm also worried about losing weight without carbs.

If you are eating enough, you shouldn't lose too much weight. Years ago, when I had a problem, I tried the diet as a vegetarian and lost lots of weight. This time, I started eating meat again, and I lost about 5 lbs and have been steady since May. You can always increase fats - preferably healthy fats. My LLMD told me to eat nuts. If you need to, keep some unprocess whole grains like wild rice in your diet. That will stop the Atkins weight loss.

5. You'll notice that he (Dr. B) lists cheeses and dairy as acceptable foods, so I'm perplexed as to why so many of you feel you can't eat them. Also, what is wrong with processed foods? Hot Dogs don't have yeast, right?

The famous cheese debate. Dairy actually has a high sugar count, that is why some people say no dairy - besides plain yogurt. Cheese has mold, which is supposed to be bad. I personally still put cream in my coffee, and eat cheese sometimes - just not everyday.

As for processed. Processed food has lots of chemicals that are just bad for us. Also, many processed meats, like most hot dogs, have sugar added in the form of sugar, honey, corn syrup and many other ways. I sometimes eat Hebrew National because it's all natural and no sugar products are added.

Finally, as for the permanence question. I will be on the diet through my abx therapy, and a few months afterwards. But the first time I had a yeast problem changed my diet in that I ate fewer carbs than before and less processed foods. I felt healthier.

I found that when I cut out sugar, I felt a bit of a slump. Well, I later figured out that I was "slumping" because I had previously been on a constant sugar high!

Overall, you will feel much better on the yeast diet. If you are on long term abx, you NEED to be on the diet....or you will indeed suffer the consequences. Not fun!

Give yourself a few weeks to get over the die-off phase and then enjoy the new-found energy!