What is Candida Albicans?

From an early age I can recall having a "dodgy" tummy with a distinct memory consisting of waking in the morning and having a feeling in my stomach of a pain. Doctors would sometimes be called in to examine but after a few prods round my lower abdomen they would smile and laugh off the possibility of anything seriously wrong and it was just the beginnings of my ongoing relationship with hypochondria that continues to this day. Living with an ex-nurse for the last 19 years hasn't dampened or altered my general outlook on health and I get short shrift when it comes to anything approaching a cure for my ills when they present themselves at the best of times.

I had overall never been troubled by anything more serious than flu and the mainstream kind of illnesses that afflict the human population and until 1992 could honestly say I had remained in "perfect" health for the most part. That year however was to change my life and the discovery of a benign pituitary tumour in the middle of my head came with a bolt like sense to my general outlook on life, work and health. The Endocrine Specialist who managed my hospitalisation during this period couldn't give me any particular reason for the cause and was only able to deal with the cessation of the dysfunction that had been present for some time leading up to it's discovery through a head X-ray that revealed the cause of the pain I experienced just above my nasal passage and behind my eyes at times.

The "cure" for my ills began in August 1992, with a short investigative period in the Endocrine Ward of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), where the exact nature of the tumour was determined and the type of treatment I would eventually have administered. Luckily my tumour was a benign type called a Macroprolactinoma, which meant I was producing a large quantity of milk hormone and this impacted on the pituitary's ability to function in it's other roles of glandular control and so after the various blood tests I found I had deficiencies that required supplementation and which continue to this day and are likely to till I pass into history. The actual treatment began with the use of a medication to suppress the over-production of the Prolactin hormone and thus reduce the size of the enlarged pituitary. In time it's eventual return to it's "normal" dimension would lead to an opening in the nasal passages that would allow the leaking of Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) which would involve the return in February/March 1993 to the Neuro Surgical Ward at ARI and a further stay of 6 weeks to perform procedures that would seal the leak. The requirement for surgery meant I would receive Hydrocortisone, (steroid), to address the need for improved Adrenal function and so the journey back to "health" continued.

In the wake of all my treatment I had a few other additional inconveniences, a haematoma, on the site of the muscle removed from my thigh used in sealing my hole. I then found I was attending my GP (doctor) for recurring yeast infection for which I received repeated doses of antibiotic, anti-fungal creams with varying degrees of success and this may have taken place over a period of 18 months to 2 years. I found that in spite of my recuperation as I stayed off work during my post operative period for 4-5 months and my desire to resume my involvement with my printing business I found I was less "sharp" mentally and "felt" different. I would attend weekend meetings involving driving for 6-7 hours and returning home around 48-60 hours later and then spend days, 4-6 or more days as I needed to recover due to a sense of complete exhaustion. At the time I had no idea what or why I was experiencing this complete and utter loss of life function.

The point at which I became aware of the possible "cause" and the terms to describe what I was experiencing remained in the early stages a complete mystery as it was clouded by the fact I'd "really" been sick and was supposedly cured of my problem(s), only to find I had inherited another set of issues which would require addressing to restore my ability to live and work.

The outcome of my enquiries and contact with a fellow post-operative patient revealed the possible "cause" of my ills when the word Candida was mentioned and from that point I had the clue to where I then needed to make further investigations and much reading followed to answer my numerous questions that had to that point been a source of mystery.

Sufferers on reading the above may well identify with the train of events as I am sure it presents itself in much the same way but having read a few lines of the book displayed in this section that Candida has a myriad form of how it affects individuals.

Amazingly there just seemed to be a wall of silence when it came to asking my (GP) if they could help with Candida and ultimately it was down to my own determination to source material that would lead me to "treating" the problem in a significant and effective manner.

A full understanding of how this condition has positioned itself in the 21st Century and impacts on lives can be found in this informative and revealing e-book Candida Secrets written by a fellow sufferer, Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed., who has studied Candida for 20 years.