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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 15:28:14
Somewhere up there, somebody else mentioned they go downhill mentally after an illness.
It really made me wonder how many others' feel that way.
In December, after a traumatic event AND an infection ( I had a high white count and went on antibiotics), I have never been the same mentally.
Is there a connection between a virus and a downward spiral? It would be interesting to know.
Any other's notice they get worse with an illness/virus or shortly after?
Posted by KaraS on April 15, 2005, at 15:40:00
In reply to Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 15:28:14
> Somewhere up there, somebody else mentioned they go downhill mentally after an illness.
>
> It really made me wonder how many others' feel that way.
>
> In December, after a traumatic event AND an infection ( I had a high white count and went on antibiotics), I have never been the same mentally.
>
> Is there a connection between a virus and a downward spiral? It would be interesting to know.
>
> Any other's notice they get worse with an illness/virus or shortly after?
I have read about this before. (Wish I could remember where and post the link for you.) You are not the only one to suspect a connection here.
Posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 16:38:04
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection?? » Spriggy, posted by KaraS on April 15, 2005, at 15:40:00
> > Somewhere up there, somebody else mentioned they go downhill mentally after an illness.
> >
> > It really made me wonder how many others' feel that way.
> >
> > In December, after a traumatic event AND an infection ( I had a high white count and went on antibiotics), I have never been the same mentally.
> >
> > Is there a connection between a virus and a downward spiral? It would be interesting to know.
> >
> > Any other's notice they get worse with an illness/virus or shortly after?
>
>
> I have read about this before. (Wish I could remember where and post the link for you.) You are not the only one to suspect a connection here.
>I believe the post you're referring to is the one called "What could have made a change?". I responded to mknight's question about antibiotics with this post (I will copy it here for you):
mknight: --"If the change was from the antibiotics, why? They could only have removed bacteria, not fungus, mold, yeast, or parasites".--
jessers11581: Antibiotics kill off all the body's beneficial bacteria along with the bad stuff. This can leave you suseptible to yeasts, parasites, and all kinds of other problems. This is something that I've done a great deal of research on. In fact, I suspect myself of having a candidiasis problem in my small intestine and am going to be having some tests run in a couple of weeks to see. Do you constantly feel run down, get bloated/gassy, have sugar cravings, get yeast infections, have a white-coated tongue, etc? All of these are signs of a yeast overgrowth. The best thing you can do is start taking probiotics (acidophilus, bifidus, etc.), and use LOTS of them after any antibiotic cycles. They replace all the good bacteria that you've lost. Hope this helps!
Also, what I did not mention in the first post is that candida and parasites are known to cause severe psychological issues (depression, anxiety, OCD, you name it). And that's why developing a problem with either (due to antibiotic use) could easily lead to emotional trouble. I didn't belive in any of it at first, but I've begun to see the connections. Just something to think about...
Posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 17:55:12
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 16:38:04
You might be on to something. RIGHT before all this started, I had thrush in my mouth and a yeast infection. I have had chronic yeast infections since.
HOw do you get rid of candida??? Maybe that is my answer. It's weird because a woman from my church actually mentioned this to me a fwe months back but I thought it was ridiculous.
It might make lots of sense now that I think of it!!
I do eat a chewable Acidophilus tablet every day and eat yogurt daily for breakfast. Anything else I can do??
Posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 18:06:45
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 17:55:12
> You might be on to something. RIGHT before all this started, I had thrush in my mouth and a yeast infection. I have had chronic yeast infections since.
>
> HOw do you get rid of candida??? Maybe that is my answer. It's weird because a woman from my church actually mentioned this to me a fwe months back but I thought it was ridiculous.
>
> It might make lots of sense now that I think of it!!
>
> I do eat a chewable Acidophilus tablet every day and eat yogurt daily for breakfast. Anything else I can do??Check out this website: www.healthyawareness.com (sorry, I don't know how to do an actual link). There is a ton of information on the net about candida. You can just do a search on google and get a lot of different sites. Good luck! :)
Posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 18:09:24
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 18:06:45
Oops! I just realized that I gave you the wrong web address. Healthy Awareness is a forum dedicated to candidiasis and might be useful. But for more detailed information about the illness, go to www.wholeapproach.com. This site might be more helpful for you. It discusses supplemental remedies as well as dietary changes that can make a real difference for candida sufferers. Check it out!
Posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 18:26:44
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection?? » jessers11581, posted by jessers11581 on April 15, 2005, at 18:09:24
it looks like I will have to completely change my diet but I am desperate enough to do that at this point.
I never thought I could give up cokes, tea, coffee, sugar, etc.. but I would do it if I knew it would help me feel better.
This might just be a key for me. Even my dad (who is bipolar) CONSTANTLY has yeast infections. He has thrush at least 3-4 times a year. I wonder if he has a connection too.
Interesting.. I'm sure my doctor will think it's hogwash BUT if he sees it make a difference in me, I might could convince him.
Thanks for your help!
Posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2005, at 19:31:09
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 18:26:44
Before and as my thyroid was becoming hypo I had some sort of viral infection which made me unable to expand my chest to cough or breath. I lay on the couch for 2 days and slept, then the anxiety went out of control. I think a virus killed my thyroid. Just my theory. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by MidnightBlue on April 15, 2005, at 23:28:19
In reply to Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 15:28:14
Oh Spriggy!
Don't tell me this I've been sick all week and just found out today my white count is up and they will probably want to put me on an antibiotic. I have to go back tomorrow! I haven't taken an antibiotic in 7 years except for the stuff I smear on my zits.
MidnightBlue
Posted by Maxime on April 15, 2005, at 23:31:32
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 17:55:12
Since you will probably not find a doctor who believes in candida you can go to a health food store and they sell different preparations.
I finally saw my doctor about my chronic yeast infections and she prescribe Diflucan. It's a one dose pill. You will f*rt like crazy but then it's over (TMI?). For the first time in months I have no yeast infection. Drink a lot of cranberry juice as well. But I was impressed with the Diflucan (apart from the stomach upset).
Don't take baths ... this helps as well. Showers only.
Do a search on Candida and see what you come up with. Also read the "yeast connection". Very helpful.
Maxime
> You might be on to something. RIGHT before all this started, I had thrush in my mouth and a yeast infection. I have had chronic yeast infections since.
>
> HOw do you get rid of candida??? Maybe that is my answer. It's weird because a woman from my church actually mentioned this to me a fwe months back but I thought it was ridiculous.
>
> It might make lots of sense now that I think of it!!
>
> I do eat a chewable Acidophilus tablet every day and eat yogurt daily for breakfast. Anything else I can do??
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:05:47
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection?? » Spriggy, posted by Maxime on April 15, 2005, at 23:31:32
I took Diflucan TWICE for the yeast infection. The week after I would take it, the infection would soon come back.
I don't recall the "gas" thing. LOL. Maybe you had beans? LOL
BUT, one thing else I have done differently lately is taking lots of BATHS. Weird. I always took showers before but a warm bath seemed to help me relax.
I can't win for losing..
Posted by jessers11581 on April 16, 2005, at 15:25:43
In reply to Re: Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 18:26:44
> it looks like I will have to completely change my diet but I am desperate enough to do that at this point.
>
> I never thought I could give up cokes, tea, coffee, sugar, etc.. but I would do it if I knew it would help me feel better.
>
> This might just be a key for me. Even my dad (who is bipolar) CONSTANTLY has yeast infections. He has thrush at least 3-4 times a year. I wonder if he has a connection too.
>
> Interesting.. I'm sure my doctor will think it's hogwash BUT if he sees it make a difference in me, I might could convince him.
>
> Thanks for your help!Hi Spriggy! Yeah, I know how you feel about the diet. I did it last year and it definitely helped with yeast symptoms, but I also got somewhat depressed because I felt deprived. So you have to be kind of careful. You don't want to restrict yourself TOO much. Sugar and white flour are probably the two worst foods as far as candida is concerned, so if you can just limit those, you'll be getting somewhere. There are all kinds of satisfying things you can eat on a candida diet (let me know if you want a list of the things I eat). For a sweetener, I usually use Stevia and think it works well. I also use Sweet and Low sometimes, but many people are opposed to saccharin--I don't have a problem with it. Changing your diet is the best way to deal with candida, but you should also be taking probiotics, and plenty of them. I use a product called Three-Lac, which works really well but is pretty darned expensive (60 bucks for a month's supply). There's something called Primal Defense and/or Fungal Defense that is also supposed to be really good. A lot of people use natural antifungals, but you have to watch out for die-off effects and liver congestion when you do this. Basically, I think gradually limiting your intake of candida-offensive foods and getting LOADS of probiotics is the best method of elmininting yeast. Is there a naturopathic doctor that you could see about getting tested? If you can find out for sure whether candida is an issue for you, it will help. I'll tell you right now, most traditional MD's do not believe in candida unless they can see it somewhere on your body. So you really must go to a naturopath. I hope this helps some. Please contact me if you have any more questions!
Posted by rvanson on April 16, 2005, at 20:08:07
In reply to Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 15:28:14
> Somewhere up there, somebody else mentioned they go downhill mentally after an illness.
>
> It really made me wonder how many others' feel that way.
>
> In December, after a traumatic event AND an infection ( I had a high white count and went on antibiotics), I have never been the same mentally.
>
> Is there a connection between a virus and a downward spiral? It would be interesting to know.
>
> Any other's notice they get worse with an illness/virus or shortly after?
Thats how my symptoms started back in 1980 after a viral infection which, according to my reaserch was probably a Mono or EBV infection or something very like them.I dont even mention it to the pdocs anymore.
They give me the facial impressions that I am somehow making it all up or am somehow mistaken as to my mental state before becoming sick.
Gotta luv all those wonderful, helpful Pdocs we should be worshipping.....NOT!
Posted by Maxime on April 16, 2005, at 20:58:03
In reply to Diflucan » Maxime, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:05:47
Baths are no-no (sadly).
My doctor said if the infection came back then there is a cream they precribed for recurring ones. Of course you have probably given it to your husband and are passing it back and forth to each other.
Maxime
> I took Diflucan TWICE for the yeast infection. The week after I would take it, the infection would soon come back.
>
> I don't recall the "gas" thing. LOL. Maybe you had beans? LOL
>
> BUT, one thing else I have done differently lately is taking lots of BATHS. Weird. I always took showers before but a warm bath seemed to help me relax.
>
> I can't win for losing..
Posted by stargazer on April 17, 2005, at 22:09:48
In reply to Mental illness after an infection??, posted by Spriggy on April 15, 2005, at 15:28:14
I have been researching Lyme disease and there is a correlation between Lyme and depression so probably there are many viruses/infections that also affect one's thinking and mood.
Right now I'm battling something(?) that started with a sore elbow, feels like tendonitis, now the pain has moved into my shoulder. Over the past week I have had severe pain without any known cause. Nothing is helping relieve tha pain including heat, cold antiinflammatory meds, etc. I thought perhaps I did hurt myself somehow but now I'm starting to think it may be Lyme disease.
Has anyone ever noticed that in the throes of a medical flareup like this ones depression/other diagnosis, move into second place?
It almost seems as though whichever disease is more severe at any given time makes itself the priority. I couldn't tell you how I'm doing mentally right now because the symptoms that are most aggravating are the body aches and pains.
I'm still taking Geodon/Adderall/Wellbutrin and
Celexa. Could all these meds be interacting and causing the pain? How much do we really know about how these drugs interact with one another??I 'm having the test for Lyme tomorrow. It would be so easy if that was the cause.
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2005, at 22:46:56
In reply to Lyme disease/mental state affected, posted by stargazer on April 17, 2005, at 22:09:48
No it isn't easy. Make sure you have an Elias, and a Western Blot. And make sure your doc is an infection control specialist. I've been battling chronic lymes for 8yrs since I was first dx'd. First doxycycline which will work if it's a new infection. But you need to stay out of the sun. Then IV recephin, then Biaxin for about 3 yrs. I've been in remission since December and will always remain positive for having had the disease. And it can recurr at any time. Suttles[I think that's how it's spelled] has been E-mailing lots of info as she also has it. It can minic chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, arthritis, and some many other diseases. Also get an ANA done as mine was extremely high before IV tx. It's down now but still abnormal at l:l60. I know it's confusing. Fondly, Phillipa
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