In reply to:

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Is there any way to manage the CFS?

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Not really. She said getting "enough" sleep, especially quality sleep is very important. Taking muscle relaxers help, whichI already take. There is no cure or anything. Excercising even though you are to tired to is very important and she says it helps people with CFS to feel better.

I asked about diet and she said many patients feel better on a LSD/NSD or just a high protien low glycemic carb diet (like South Beach Diet) although there is no medical proof to back it up. The theory is that the carbs and high glycemic foods cause spikes in blood sgar levels and for people with CFS the aftermath of the high spikes is extreem lows, more so than a normal person.

She also told me to eat sugar free yogurt every day, at least once a day, but I wasn't sure if that was for the CFS or the Candida yeast.

I'm hoping someone here has some words of wisdom for me on the subject.
As it has been getting progressivly worse.

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

In reply to:

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And another thing: what is the test called to check for candida, and how did you do it? And for the EBV?

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Well first off, she should see an infectious disease doctor. Sounds nasty and scarey doesn't it?

The candida tests involve a special blood culture test. They originally did the wrong, a standard, blood culture test on me. I had to go back and have the correct one one done. They draw blood, you wait approximately half an hour then they draw it again. They then culture the blood for a full 4 weeks. In addition they did a speutum test (spit in a cup kind of thing) which had to be done at three seperate times. That is also cultured for 4 weeks.

From what I understood:
The EBV test is something I *assume* any doctor can order. It involved 4 seperate tests. Different tests show negative or posative and depending on which is which and the levels depends if you have chronic EBV or regular/normal EBV.
EBV is in 90% of the population, but lies dormant. Most people are not affected or only mildly affected by it.
When it does act up the most common thing is mononucleosus (pardon my spelling). With mono the virus is activate for several weeks and then goes back to being dormant...usually for good.
With chronic EBV the virus remains active and goes through highs and lows. During the highs you feel the worst.

I was also tested for thyroid, Hoshimotos disease (a form of thyroid problem), liver function, kidney functioin, full blood counts (white cells, platlettes, iron, etc). I guess EBV can affect those things as well, but luckily for me they are, as of yet, unaffected.

If you do a search on the board for candidia yeast you should find a thread I started about an at home self test for candida. In that post someone posted a link to a site with a great deal of info on the subject. At the end of the article it had a "test" to take with various symptoms on it.

Hope that helps some.

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Hi there! Man, you've really been slammed! I'm so sorry to hear that things are so bad right now. You sound so overwhelmed by it all, and who could blame you!

I don't know much about most of the things you listed, but you were asking about yoghurt. Plain yoghurt has alot of really good stuff in it for equalizing the bacteria in our digestive tracts (not to mention calcium and other good stuff). This might help with the yeast aspect of things (but I'm not 100% sure about that. You might want to look into getting a yoghurt with added acidophalus and, ah hell what's the other one, it starts with a 'b'. Anyway, those are the two things in particular in yoghurt that really help us. I'm not supposed to be on cow dairy, but my naturopath has told me that she wants me eating organic yoghurt on a regular basis. The sugar free aspect of it is because the last thing you need with massive yeast is sugar for it to feed on.

Hope that helps a little.

Hugs,

Kat

Hi CJ! wow! You've got quite a list of ailments to deal with. I was tested for many of those same things when I first started complaining of not feeling well but most of my tests came back negative (how do they test for CFS?) . Hang in there - you've got plenty of shoulders here. - McMom

Wait a minute...
You are diagnosed (among other things) with celiac and she didn't say anything about a gluten free diet????
That's the ONLY treatment for celiac disease, and can easily be NSD or LSD, too.
Darla

"Starting today, your kindness will lead you to success" from a recent fortune cookie

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But I don't know what PMDD is...

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Jade,

Somehow I missed this line from your post the first time.
Here is some info on PMDD:

PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It is the acronym for the more severe form of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). Like PMS, PMDD occurs the week before the onset of menstruation and disappears a few days after. PMDD is characterized by severe monthly mood swings and physical symptoms that interfere with everyday life, especially a woman’s relationships with her family and friends. PMDD symptoms go far beyond what are considered manageable or normal premenstrual symptoms.

PMDD is a combination of symptoms that may include irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, angry outbursts, breast tenderness and bloating. The diagnostic criteria emphasize symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, mood swings or irritability. The condition affects up to one in 20 American women who have regular menstrual periods.


Even though I had a hysterectomy I still have my ovaries which trick my body into thinking I still get my monthly cycle, so I still suffer from it.


CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Thank You Kat. That sums it up.

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

McMom,
There is no sure fire test for CFS. I'm not quite sure how she came to that conclusion, but she was quite certain of it. I guess it was the appearence of the over all results and my other condidtions, and how I've been feeling.

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Darla,
Yes, the gluten free is a given!
She just meant that as far as the CFS goes a low carb diet including cutting out what are now acceptable grains. You know, cutting out products made from corn and rice which are acceptable on a glutten free diet. No more corn flakes, corn muffins or rice cakes, etc.

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Hi CJ,

All I can say is "WOW"! I hope you get to feeling better very soon! It must be overwhelming!

Trinka

Thank you for all your information, CJ!
I have searched the forum for Candida and found several threads with this topic, amongst others the one you wrote. Very interesting, I will be passing on what I have found to my sister.
Thank you again,
Jade