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blood test for candida?

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blood test for candida?

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

Is a blood test really a good way to test for intestinal candida? I've had two that show I have it, but I have no idea how I got it. There is no question I have leaky gut(and possibly dysautonomia), which seems to be getting better with 3LS, but I'm not so sure about candida. I used to believe without a doubt that I have candida, but now it seems that leaky gut was my biggest problem.

My gastrologist wants me to try some antibiotics to make sure a I don't have a bacterial overgrowth left over from a surgery I had years ago. I'm reluctant to try the antibiotics because, if I have candida, I don't want it to get out of hand.

I was referred to a lab called Metametrix by someone on this board and I discovered that they have a comprehensive stool analysis that covers candida and various forms of bacteria. It's very expensive, though.

Should I go ahead and assume that I do have candida based on the blood tests? Should I try the antibiotics? Or, would it be best to fork out $450 bucks on the stool analysis?

Thanks

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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by Mike [9222.7738] on March 10, 2010 at 20:12:57:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

Gastroenterologists only understand mainstream disease and mainstream mechanisms to treat disease aka drugs. They're COMPLETELY clueless on nutrition and clueless on all of the new advances in nutrition and digestive treatments. Hey,it's not really their fault as they were never taught this in medical school. In my mind, they are completely useless unless you're going for a colonoscopy to rule out cancer.

Leave it to one of them to prescribe more antibiotics unnecessarily when you already might have a candida overgrowth problem, but don't tell that to them as they'll look at you as if you have three heads.


I did the CDSA from Genova. It's a good test to find out what's going on in your gut as far as PH level of the intestines regarding your levels of gut flora and malabsorption, and bad bacteria etc. However, from what I hear is that it's not very accurate in diagnosing Candida. If you're assuming that you have candida, then you shouldn't be taking antibiotics and should be taking antifungals instead...herbal ones to rotate to prevent resistance.

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SCAM ALERT!!

Posted by James [2889.8684] on March 10, 2010 at 21:29:24:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

Let me put it bluntly - you are being scammed. If you had Candida in your blood you would most likely be in the hospital IC unit or dead.

Systemic candidiasis is when Candida spreads throughout the body, and it can be life-threatening. Infection might include the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, liver, genital tract and joints. This form occurs most often in people with low white blood cell counts (neutropenia) HIV or immunosuppression drugs. This type of infection is also called disseminated candidiasis....and is extremely rare and potentially fatal.

These expensive stool tests are another rip-off. Go to a regular MD and get a script for a stool culture done at your local hospital or the laboratory that services your hospital.

These labs are in collusion with the holistic doctors and give false positives so the doctors can fleece you and possibly harm you with unnecessary treatments.

Our intentional flora likes Candida - it is natural and healthy to be in our gut. If you have an over growth a $60 local lab stool culture will identify it.


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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by James [2889.8684] on March 10, 2010 at 21:32:06:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? posted by Mike [9222.7738] on March 10, 2010 at 20:12:57:

Genova is banned in some states for huge amounts of false positive test results - this is why they changed their name from Great Smokies

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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by Mike [9222.7738] on March 11, 2010 at 00:05:15:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

I'll let Dr. Stoll deal with this one

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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by Mike [9222.7738] on March 11, 2010 at 00:12:25:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

Rick,
Just ignore James. He's clueless on this subject matter and likes to spew garbage to scare people away from alternative therapies. It's sad that everytime this subject matter comes up, James peeks his head out of his shell to make an ignorant remark. Thankfully, no one takes him seriously on this subject matter. Don't let him prevent you from getting the help you need. Let Dr. Stoll respond to this. He is a true doctor. James is just a poster with no medical expertise.

-Mike

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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by Sapphire [2999.8617] on March 11, 2010 at 00:43:10:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

I would do the "candida questionnaire"... google it... take the questionnaire... it's a pretty good indicator. No test is ever conclusive.

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Re: blood test for candida?

Posted by Nutmeg [4785.7783] on March 11, 2010 at 01:32:49:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? posted by Mike [9222.7738] on March 11, 2010 at 00:12:25:

Well said, Mike.

Thank you,
Nutmeg

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Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 07:02:47:

In Reply to: SCAM ALERT!! posted by James [2889.8684] on March 10, 2010 at 21:29:24:

Come on James!

The tests for activated candida in the gut are immunological tests not tests for the organism itself!

You are still parroting the outdated stuff I learned in medical school 60 years ago.

Please do not hold yourself out as an expert in all things--some of which you are woefully deficient in.

Walt


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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 07:15:08:

In Reply to: blood test for candida? posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 10, 2010 at 18:56:33:

Rick,

A comprehensive stool analysis should not cost you $450 -- unless of course the doc ordering it is making a bundle for his "service". Even at that, the lab needs to be looking for the fungal form of candida in the gut and not the spore form which is inactive and ubiquitous in the normal stool.

I agree that, since conventional physicians only recognize "structural" changes as definitive of diagnoses--even though they are beginning to be forced to know that structural changes are the LAST phase of pathology. Functional changes are the first changes now diagnosable and these tests are functional. There may be other changes earlier yet in the cascade of "dis-ease" but so far there are no reliable tests I know of that will help us there.

The "questionaire" is designed to look for the functional stage of disorder.

Your GI doc is still stuck in the 19th century idea of structural medicine. You at least need to find someone who has an inkling of functional medicine, in my opinion. Taking antibiotics at this stage is the exact oposite of what he should be thinking.

Hope this helps.

Walt

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Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by Joe [140.8278] on March 11, 2010 at 07:26:44:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 07:02:47:

Glad to see your reply here Walt. I often don't agree with his replies either. :)

I had a gut feeling he was stepping outside of his bounds again.

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Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by James [2889.8684] on March 11, 2010 at 08:52:35:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 07:02:47:

I trust you are referencing Candida Immune Complexes testing , IgA and IgG antibodies to casein and gliadin and Total Phagocytic Index and Ingestion Index.

No I am not an expert on microbiology and I doubt anyone here is laboratory certified. What I do know for absolutely certain is the number of patients seen that spent years chasing false diagnosis and being stripped of money by these false avenues.

And that all those years could have been spent dealing with real issues and returning the people back to health and functioning.

My bottom line is that these alternative laboratories do not have any secret tests - go to a reputable, hospital based lab and work with board certified physician.


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Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 10:35:14:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive. posted by James [2889.8684] on March 11, 2010 at 08:52:35:

Yeah, James.

Even the CDC admits that their labs and nearly ALL conventional labs miss more than 4 out of 5 pathogenic parasites in the stool, as compared to countries that have lots of parasites and so are forced to actually diagnose them.

I wish for you to go into suspended cryogenics for 100 years and then come back to find your antiquated ideas to have been so far behind even now.

Walt

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Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by Joe [140.8278] on March 11, 2010 at 11:05:24:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive. posted by James [2889.8684] on March 11, 2010 at 08:52:35:

"Board certified physicians" have ran thousands of $$ worth of tests and probably came back and told me "it's all in your head" or "you're a hypochondriac".

Been there - done that, and wasted time and $$ doing so. I've been apologized to many times because their board certified labs failed to find anything wrong with me. That was decades ago. They used to tell me to "go home and eat a *normal* American diet" of sugar and processed foods.

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 12:44:42:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 07:15:08:

I think his major concern is the fact that I can't put on weight. I'm about thirty pounds underweight. Plus my bm's aren't formed properly. It seems that something is causing some malabsorption. I would just like to know if I do have a bacterial issue. The problem is that I'm always reading that convention stool tests usually aren't analyzed properly.

My GI has also suggested pacreatic insufficiency, but I'm unable to take the enzymes. They seem to cause some widespread inflammation. My guess is that this is due to the protease.

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Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive.

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 13:02:31:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Shame, James! -- Archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 10:35:14:

I knew I would get a reply just like that from James. This is so typical of why people never get cured of the "mystery" illnesses. I was going to every doctor in town a year ago and getting nowhere. They never suggested changing my diet and one of them laughed at me when I asked about candida. I then found an M.D. that also works in wholistic medicine and she got me on track with the proper diet. I'm not 100%, but the traditional doctors were leading me to thoughts of suicide.

My problem is that is seems more is going on with me than candida and stress related ailments. I have so many other problems that other people don't.

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Re: SCAM ALERT!!

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 13:20:48:

In Reply to: SCAM ALERT!! posted by James [2889.8684] on March 10, 2010 at 21:29:24:

I've had a traditional lab analysis, James. It came back negetive-showing nothing at all. I have gotten absolutely nowhere with conventional doctors. How can a lab find something if they aren't even looking for it.

I wish for once you would tell us what you do at your clinic that gets all these people back on track. You ignore me everytime I ask. Furthermore, I was under the impression that you are a doctor, and now I'm being told you are not. What gives?

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 13:40:06:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 12:44:42:

Rick,

A comprehensive stool analysis at one of the labs described in the lab archives will look into all of this.

Let us know what you learn.

Walt

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 14:58:49:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 13:40:06:

Thank you Dr. Stoll. I actually looked at one of those this morning. I just wonder if I will be able to read it on my own.

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 15:22:36:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 14:58:49:

Rick,

Pass them on to me.

Perhaps I can help with that.

Walt

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 16:09:15:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8110] on March 11, 2010 at 15:22:36:

I appreciate it.

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Nutmeg [4785.7783] on March 11, 2010 at 20:03:52:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 12:44:42:

Hi Rick,

You might also want to look into SBBO--small bowel bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, an imbalance with too many pathogenic bacteria and not enough friendly ones in the small intestine.

Google for symptoms to see if yours match--diarrhea and malabsorption are among them. There are natural treatments.

There is a hydrogen breath test for SIBO...you get a test kit from the lab, do the test at home, and mail it in. Requires a doctor's signature on the requisition. I think it was about $100.

It's been a year or two since I did the test (negative), but I think this is the lab that does it--link below.

Also, if the gastro doc wanted you to take prescription drugs, I'm wondering if he was thinking of antifungals instead of antibiotics for the fungal form of candida. There are natural antifungals, but some people also rotate in Rx ones, too, like Nystatin.


Good luck to you.
Nutmeg


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Re: SCAM ALERT!!

Posted by Sapphire [2999.8617] on March 11, 2010 at 20:33:06:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 13:20:48:

According to James, he is a psychologist, not a medical doctor.

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Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive.

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 22:12:01:

In Reply to: Re: blood test for candida? -- Overview: archive. posted by Nutmeg [4785.7783] on March 11, 2010 at 20:03:52:

Thanks for the info.

I actually rotated nystatin, garlic, and herbal antifungals for about three months. I would like to get re-tested for candida now so I can see what progress was made.

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Re: SCAM ALERT!!

Posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 22:14:52:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! posted by Sapphire [2999.8617] on March 11, 2010 at 20:33:06:

In that case, he is wise to correlate stress and emotional issues with physical health. However, he needs to stop discrediting everything that he doesn't know much about.

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Re: SCAM ALERT!!

Posted by Sapphire [2999.8617] on March 12, 2010 at 01:53:33:

In Reply to: Re: SCAM ALERT!! posted by Rick [13561.7683] on March 11, 2010 at 22:14:52:

I like James, and he knows a lot, but I hope he keeps an open mind about what is being taught on this board. :)

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