I know that candida is like fungus that lives inside your digestive system and the growth of this can cause some unpleasant symptoms. I have been reading about this and have come to the conclusion that I may have this. It can build up after taking antibiotics for long periods or even by taking the contraceptive pill. Some of the symptoms can be bloating, gas, headaches, aching muscles, anxiety, intolerance to some foods, tiredness to name but a few. I have done the simple "saliva" test in which you spit into a glass of water first thing in a morning and keep looking at it every so often and if it gets stringy bits hanging down (Sounds revolting I know) then theres a chance you could have candida. I have just bought some tablets that are supposed to help. Will keep you posted to let you know if they work or not.

TTFN XX

Hi Jillybabes, I'd be really interested to know more about the tablets. And also if there were stringy bits? :gag: :wink: How long do you have to keep the glass of water for?
I get a lot of the symptoms you mentioned and I've just started a restricted diet to see if it makes a difference so i'll keep you posted.
I hope the tablets help you feel better soon :)

Hi, I think you keep the glass of water you are testing with your saliva for about an hour, if you spit in the glass and go back after 15 mins and check to see if the saliva has started to deposit long stringy bits dangling below the water (sounds horrid I know!). I found that test out on a website about candida but cant remember which one, will have to have another look. Anyhow the tablets I have bought are called Dida, cost £19.95 on a website yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk, type in the word Dida and it will take you to the section and tell you a bit about them.

I don't think you have Candida....the symptoms you describe could be attributed to a whole host of things.

That saliva test isn't a certain way of diagnosis....in fact it's probably the most inaccurate.

The only way you're going to be sure of what those symptoms actually are is to go to your GP and have the appropriate tests done....usually swabs, and possibly a blood test, but your GP will probably be able to tell you what the problem is without any tests, e.g. you've had a virus recently and you're still getting over it.

Candida is not a disease to be ignored, and it can't be cured with tablets from a health food shop; it needs specialist and urgent treatment, but as I said before, it probably isn't Candida at all!

It used to be people who owned medical dictionaries who were always the subject of jokes about inaccurate self-diagnoses, but with the age of www, anyone can look up different symptoms, and believe that those symptoms apply to them, not realising that those symptoms can apply to a multitude of nothingness!

:)

I thought I might have candida and went on a very restricted diet last year after consulting a nutritionist. I also had a colonic irrigation (not pleasant, wouldn't recommend!) which did show up candida in my digestive system. The therapist recommended a course of colonics and to continue with the diet .... but then I found I was pregnant so didn't continue with it. Funnily enough, since being pregnant and reverting back to a normal diet, I haven't experienced any of the symptoms. So I'm not sure what to make of it ... it all seems a bit vague.

Jilly, I did my test, no strings attatched !! I'm FREE !

Most people's saliva will go like that, actually. It's the mucosal materials starting to precipitate out, I think.

The fungus that causes candida can cause various problems, but it's present in everyone. It's when it gets where it shouldn't that problem starts.

What can cause it to flare up is when the digestive flora and fauna are interfered with in some way - antibiotics will sometimes 'zap' the bugs that are supposed to be there, allowing fungal growth to take place. Compromised immune systems will also allow flare ups, illness, disease - all sorts of things.

There are some 'alternative' medicines around that will help, and also diet can reduce the problem. Anti-fungals will do the job, but you'll never get rid of it totally from your gut - it'll get back in there somehow. However, it should help get rid of it from where it SHOULDN'T be. BTW, when you DO take the anti-fungls to kill it off the chances are you'll feel crap during the 'die off' period.

Joe