| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
gmar7814
4 Posts |
 Posted - 08/16/2012 : 09:26:11
|
Hi All,
I'm a firm believer in the TMS theory, and through using this approach, I have successfully cured myself of chronic headaches, RSI, and TMJ in the past.
My current battle, however, is with a yeast infection. It all started about 2 months ago, during a pretty stressful time in my life. My symptoms include burning, itching, and the typical dry/scaly/stretch mark-like appearance of the skin. At first I thought I had a legitimate infection and treated it with monistat 7 for a few weeks, which is supposed to cure it within 7 days - it didn't work. Then I went to the doctor and was prescribed a 5 day supply of fluconazole, which again, is supposed to cure a yeast infection. Neither helped at all aside from what seemed like a slight initial placebo effect.
All along I suspected that it might be stress-related, or TMS. I found conflicting information on this forum about whether yeast/candida infection is actually TMS. I do know that Dr. Sarno believes it is - mediated through the immune system. My symptoms are also very TMSee - they come and go depending on my stress levels, and seem to be triggered by certain activities (like running), moisture from sweating or rubbing. Symptoms seem to go away on the weekends and become worse as the work week goes on. I also run 13 miles round-trip to work every day, so between the running and work stress, it gets worse during the week. But I have noticed that running during the weekend or sweating while doing yard work during the weekend doesn't trigger the symptoms. Also, taking a week off from running did not seem to help at all.
Consciously, I'm almost 100% sure this is TMS. I've re-read Sarno's Mindbody Prescription for the 5th time, but I still can't seem to shake this. I've been committed to the TMS diagnosis for at least 4 weeks now with no apparent improvement aside from temporary relief at times. Sometimes it appears to almost be completely gone for a day or two, only to return again. The RSI and TMJ was a lot easier to deal with, and those resolved within only a few days for me once I accepted the TMS diagnosis. Symptoms also seem to subside when my attention is diverted and I'm not thinking about it - though the skin itself doesn't seem to be healing.
Has anyone out there had any success using the TMS approach to curing a yeast infection? I think I just may need some more encouragement to beat this, or maybe 4 weeks just hasn't been enough time. I am an impatient person, and this has been really frustrating. Maybe it's not working because part of me is worried that this may not be TMS?
Thanks for any help! |
Edited by - gmar7814 on 08/21/2012 13:01:26 |
|
|
drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 11:21:20
|
Bold choice to talk about something so personal on here. But if you're seeking advice and encouragement, sometimes that's what's necessary.
I don't have any advice to offer TMS-wise or medication-wise, but I'm gonna get off the TMS-beaten path here with a personal opinion...can't promise it'll help and I'm no doctor, so take it however you like. If it's purely TMS and not yeast related, then the following will be irrelevant...but if it's yeast related and TMS is part of the culprit, this may help.
I firmly believe that the immune system is influenced by the mind (TMS). I also firmly believe that the immune system is influenced by gut health. After a lot of research I've done so far and research I continue to do, I believe that ensuring gut health is one of the keys to helping to ensure good mental health which is one of the keys to overall mindbody health (getting past TMS). A yeast infection (insofar as I know) is due to an improper balance of yeast bacteria vs other beneficial bacteria in your body (there are those who would argue that the immune system starts in the gut and that having a good balance of gut flora is essential). Have you considered a short term modified diet to help restore this balance? Consuming fermented foods (real fermented sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, taking probiotic supplements, etc) can help restore some of that balance. Cutting down on sugar can also help...yeast bacteria thrive on sugar.
There is mounting evidence that mind-gut communication is two-way and so working on the health of both is, in my opinion, a good idea. If you try it...I'd be curious how it works out for you!
--
Dustin |
 |
|
|
plum
United Kingdom
641 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 12:15:44
|
Amen to Dustin's assertion regarding your courage. It's never easy talking about something so personal. I'm new to the forum but an old hand at yeast infections. I suffered horrifically for 7 years about a decade ago. It was so bad I was suicidal and I don't say that lightly. Long story short I was completely cured of it within 5 days due to taking a probiotic called Threelac.
I have to say while I'm sure it is a manifestation of tms, I wouldn't sleep well if I didn't share what nailed it for me. |
|
|
|
drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 12:38:01
|
Added note - in the appendix of SteveO's book ("The Great Pain Deception" - I highly recommend it)...he lists yeast infections as a TMS equivalent.
And plum - I'm actually very glad to hear that it was a probiotic that did it for you...reaffirms my connection between the mind and the gut :)
--
Dustin |
|
|
|
plum
United Kingdom
641 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 14:05:45
|
Dustin, are you familiar with Dr. Michael Gershon's book 'The Second Brain'?.
It's heavy reading but certainly interesting. On a deeply personal level I came to it because my better half has Parkinsons Disease and Dr. Gershon has found a link between this and the enteric nervous system. I could write at length on this, with particular reference to the emotional aspects and antecedents but this is not the place. Simply thought it may be of interest to you given your words on the mind~gut/thinking~emotional brain(s).
Warm wishes,
Plum |
|
|
|
TaylorJoh
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 17:46:04
|
| That makes sense to me! I always got yeast infections when I took antibiotics in the past. I've been taking antibiotics for the last 7 months and I haven't got one, obviously because I've been taking a strong probiotic. Very interesting!! |
|
|
|
drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2012 : 10:15:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by plum
Dustin, are you familiar with Dr. Michael Gershon's book 'The Second Brain'?.
It's heavy reading but certainly interesting. On a deeply personal level I came to it because my better half has Parkinsons Disease and Dr. Gershon has found a link between this and the enteric nervous system. I could write at length on this, with particular reference to the emotional aspects and antecedents but this is not the place. Simply thought it may be of interest to you given your words on the mind~gut/thinking~emotional brain(s).
Warm wishes,
Plum
Not familiar with the work. I'll have to look into it. I have (relatively recently) become very interested in the connection between the mind and the gut :)
--
Dustin |
|
|
|
drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2012 : 10:16:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by TaylorJoh
That makes sense to me! I always got yeast infections when I took antibiotics in the past. I've been taking antibiotics for the last 7 months and I haven't got one, obviously because I've been taking a strong probiotic. Very interesting!!
Interesting. And glad you shared :) Seems a stronger connection is being made.
--
Dustin |
|
|
|
ozagnes
Australia
23 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2012 : 19:59:14
|
Hi gmar,
My TMS actually started with yeast infection. It burnt, I had a test done, was positive (although it does not mean that much since Candida can be part of the normal flora, it is only when its growth increases that it changes form and becomes a pathogen...), so I used Canesteen cream. The chemist freaked me out saying to use it for 7 days and no less otherwise it could come back and become chronic. Start of the Nocebo!
For 2 months the pain kept on going and coming back, as soon as I though the yeast was gone, next day the pain was back and I was trying a new treatment. But every test came back negative. Have you had a swab test since you are taking anti-fungal? Problem is, like antibiotics once you take them you need to be off them for 1-2 months before a culture is conclusive, and you can't contemplate that when you first experience consistent pain!
After 2 months a "specialist" diagnosed me with vulvodynia, I read about it, and that was the beginning of the end. Symptoms got worse, could not sit anymore, shooting pain, nocebo in full blast. A year later I was told I had pudendal neuralgia...
Anyhow, back to the yeast, the tests are very hard to interpret, because even if they detect yeast it does not mean it is pathogen yet, and if they don't detect yeast it could be that they simply "missed" the spot where it was, or that you've been taking anti fungal.
Candida grows when your immune system is weak, that can be caused by stress (read TMS), or can be caused by antibiotics because antibiotics kill bacteria (but not yeast) and that leaves more "space and food" for the yeast to grow. That is all about microorganism balance in your body. This is why probiotics can help, they increase the proportion of good bacteria, making it hard for the yeast to grow and party!
But if it is stress/TMS related, you need to address that.
So, I would say, first get a test done to see if there is indeed yeast or not. If there is, treat it with medication, should not harm you anyway. If there is no yeast, I would not waste too much time focussing as I did on "they missed it, it is because I have taken medication" etc, because I think that if there is enough yeast to cause pain, then that means there is a lot of yeast, and it should therefore be detectable. Work on nocebo, conditionning and TMS instead.
I am not a medical doctor (although I have a PhD in medical science) so you might want to discuss this with an open-minded physician.
It is hard to not worry when you think there might be some nasty microorganism having a feast within you, the idea of an infection is very alarming, I know, but try not too worry much about it.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Busted
73 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2012 : 20:37:17
|
| I had chronic yeast infections for YEARS when I was in my 20's. They never went away with medication, but yet I am not dead. So I now assume it was really TMS. Funny how the last time I thought I had a yeast infection was when I was getting serious with a guy. Maybe I should call it a STRESS infection? Cause it seemed to pop up at the exact right time. I think the whole thing is TMS. |
|
|
|
marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2012 : 09:58:20
|
Hi,
I am wondering how you made out with your yeast situation. I keep getting recurring yeast infections. |
|
|
|
gmar7814
4 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2012 : 15:48:25
|
marytabby,
I have had amazing success in treating this using the TMS approach. Even though it took me months to convince myself that this was TMS, I wasn't taking action consistent with this belief. For example, I was still catering to the yeast infection and worrying about it even though I thought that it was TMS. Given all the conflicting information and opinions out there it was hard to really convince myself to stop catering to the infection, but once I did, it slowly started to disappear. At first symptoms would only go away on the weekends, and then slowly, week after week, my symptoms came later and later during the work week until they finally disappeared entirely. I would say that I am 99% cured now and very slowly getting to 100%. This was all done with no physical treatments what-so-ever.
Steve Ozanich's book, "The Great Pain Deception" really helped me to gain the courage and strategies to stop worrying about the yeast infection and stop catering to it. It was more helpful than Sarno's book (even though I still think Sarno's book is a necessary read). Steve's book also helped me to form realistic expectations about how long it might take to cure myself (possibly up to two years). I used this information to prevent me from getting too discouraged with setbacks that occurred several times at first.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Pain-Deception-Medical/dp/0615462219
Best of luck to you. |
|
|
|
SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2012 : 16:56:48
|
This was really cool to read gmar. Every time I see something like this it makes all that suffering and all that hard work writing worth it. The process works nicely if people get down to work and stop obsessing about how much time it will take them to heal.
One of the main points I wanted to make is that people get the process reversed. You don't sit around waiting for symptoms to go away and then jump back into life. You jump back into life, armed with this new knowledge, and then the symptoms go away. This greatly reduces fear, increases self esteem, and engages them socially again, which is very important.
It's not about getting rid of symptoms, they are a byproduct of "inaccurate thinking" and obsession. The idea is to get the life straightened out, and the symptom becomes unnecessary.
If you read this gmar write to me.
Steve |
|
|
|
eric watson
USA
601 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2012 : 19:52:44
|
amen!steveo
Awesome gmar7814 -great story of hard work ,encouragement ,and faith-success |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Help with chronic yeast infection
