Please, Help My Hubby! (A little graphic, sorry!)

[fruitandveggies]

Hi my fellow rawbies! I was hoping one of our many health gurus could help me figure out my husband's very uncomfortable predicament.
A little bit about him first: he's 27, Caucasian, 135 pounds, no regular workouts, vegan for over a year, vegetarian for 3 years, about 70 to 80 percent raw for about 6 months. He doesn't eat very much at all (I have to remind him to eat his meals!).

So here's the problem: for about the past year and a half, he has had on-and-off severe anal itching. It seemed to start after he had some bathroom issues after some bad Chinese food and it hasn't gone away completely since. It got so bad he would curl up in a ball screaming. He's ended up in the urgent care and other doctors. Now (for the past few days) he's itching badly on his pubic area (the top bits and his lower abdomen) and his right forearm. On his rear, he doesn't show any real signs of anything, just a bit of redness. His pubic area shows no outward sign of irritation! His forearm is bumpy and red though.

Here is what we've tried (on my guess and on doctor's orders):
Pure Cocoa Butter (topically)
Preparation H
Hair removal (yes, I got in there with tweezers)
Baby powder
Ice on it
Gauze (to keep the area dry)
Loose clothing
Herbal colon cleanse (this seemed to help for a little bit)
Food subtraction
Natural lotions
Witch Hazel
Hydracortizone
Warm baths (now have been advised to NOT do this)

He has been checked for parasites and shows no sign of any. He is STD free. He had a temporary reprieve from the pain until he had peanut butter, which made it flare up severely. I decided to get him some cashew butter but that also caused an eruption! I didn't think the two were related...
So now we've subtracted spicy foods, all nuts, beans and soy from his diet.

My heart is breaking seeing him curled up on the couch, nearly in tears. It zaps all his will to do anything at all. Does anyone have any suggestions? Its so insane to me that this just showed up one day and still hasn't gone! The saddest part is, he was perfectly healthy before he went vegetarian and now since he's become vegan and then mostly raw, his health is declining.

Please help, if you have any suggestions at all!

[fruitandveggies]

Bump Bump? :o

[RawHeaven]

This is not medical advice, just my thoughts and a recommendation. Anal itching usually indicates parasites. He could've picked one up from the chinese food perhaps (water, etc). But there are other causes and it could also be candida or yeast. Have him try taking GSE (grapefruit seed extract) drops in water 2-3x per day. And he may want to look into doing a parasite cleanse. Dr. Hulda Clark has a great one and you can find more information about anal itching/parasite cleasing on curezone.com. Obviously I'm biased with raw foods...if he incorporates more Raw selections in his diet or goes 100% it will wipe out the anal itching entirely.

Best wishes to you both.

Oh woops! I didn't read the last paragraph of your post that he doesn't have a parasite. But how do you know this for sure? Those buggers are pretty sneaky and crafty. I didn't think I had one either, until after a year of diligent fasting and eating raw foods, I released 3 of them in the toilet. If it's not a parasite, it's probably yeast in the colon? Can cause anal itching also. Seriously though, try the GSE as I don't see it on your list. It's an amazing anti fungal and is very healing to the body. Having raw apple vinegar shots or drink it diluted in water may help as well. Has to be raw vinegar, not the white stuff! Good luck again.

[Ilse W.]

Anal itchin is also a symptom of an acidic body.

[fruitandveggies]

Thank you SO much for these responses! We are willing to try anything. The doctors say he doesn't show signs of parasites, but I don't always trust them. What signs could indicate that parasites are present (aside from the itching)?

[RawHeaven]

^^^ As Emma states above, having an acidic body is a breeding ground for them. But also having no appetite or never feeling satisified after eating is another symptom. Fatigue, moodiness, skin changes etc. I think it depends on the individual. I'm sure you'll get more responses from others, but try doing a google search on the symptoms and how to test for them. There is a great deal of information regarding parasites on the curezone too. As far as testing, the best test out there is his intuition. If you're open to it, try seeking out a medical intuitive in your area to get another opinion. A medical intuitive is a person who is sensitive to energy and can read changes in the body and provide guidance accordingly.

Edit: I just have to add, we all have parasites to some degree. It's just certain ones are not supposed to be in the gut and cause havoc over time. :) I used to eat a lot of sushi and I traveled abroad a lot - I think this is where I picked them up despite being a vegetarian.

[Bookish Lass]

For some reason this came to mind:

http://www.morgellons.org/

though you said there's no lesions or anything like that

[fruitandveggies]

Oh dear lord, I haven't seen of felt anything like that on him...I hope that's not it!!

[annavon]

I agree with Rawheaven, that it could be candida or yeast. That was my first thought when I read your post. Also, I had some parasite test done a few months ago and my naturopath told me that the ones that the conventional doctors take is not very accurate, so he put my on a parasite cleanse any way. I don't remember the name of the cleanse, but it would help with candida as well. There are some cleanses specifically for candida. Probiotics help as well.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i wouldn't bother with taking the time to check for parasites... i would begin a cleanse immediately.

also... having him go 100% raw with lots of greens would be a great idea to get his pH levels into a nice "non-parasitic" state of alkaline.

sending you both hugs... this sucks!

[Eva]

I just wanted to say --- That's love. (All of it, but I couldn't help but think of your heart going out to him in the whole post and then saw that you plucked his hair. How strangely sweet!)

It reminds me of when I used to have really awful bloating and gas (obviously pre raw!) and my hubby would do these exercises to me to make the gas release. Ugh, and even I was grossed out but he would just keep on and has never made me feel like it was a chore or a problem at all.

When he annoys me, I think of things like that and am reminded that he does love me in a way no one else does but my mother! LOL.

------------------

Anyways, what immediately comes to mind for me is to do a juice feast with NO OJ or other very acidic juices. Things like cabbage, carrot, apple, etc. Something has caused a problem for him and does sound like it could be a parasite.

And it would definitely help to work on the acid-alkaline balance in his body. This is through food and life as well. I would highly recommend looking into that.

My heart goes out to him. I hope this gets worked out sooner rather than later.

[fruitandveggies]

RawHeaven: Thank you for that! I didn't know anything about being acidic except for its bad, haha. He does experience fatigue, too! I have never heard of a medical intuitive! I would definatly like to look into one though.

Annavon: so...(sorry, this is dumb)...what exactly is candidia? I know what a yeast infection is...but I never really recognized what candidia is. How do you treat it?

Aleesha: What kind of cleanse should he do? I don't know much about doing them! We've just done the colon cleanse from Blessed Herbs. I will definatly be putting many greens in his diet! And he just agreed that he should go 100%!!!

Eva: Haha, yep---I LOVE that boy, I would do anything for him! Isn't it wonderful having someone who will do that kind of thing for you? Do you have any list of acidising and alkalizing food and juices? Also, how do you measure the pH of a person's body? Blood tests?

Thanks so much again for everyone's responses!

[Eva]

Here is a pretty good chart for food:
http://www.balance-ph-diet.com/acid_alkaline_food_chart.html

But it is life too, and I am on a deadline so don't have time to find a good chart including lifestyle effects. But here is my personal summary:

Alkalizing:
Love
Calmness
Forgiveness
Peace
Yoga
Hugs
Laughter
Running
Swimming
Anything aerobic that gives a feeling of peace afterwards
Soft music
Any kind of music that makes you feel the happy vibes
Following your dreams
Vacation
You get the picture!

Acidifying:
Stress
Anger
Hatred
Frustration
Negative people
The feeling of not following your dreams or being stuck, negative emotions like that.
Any negativity that is unresolved or held in
Etc.

[fruitandveggies]

Eva, Thank you so much for taking time out to summarize that for me! Its a great link, too! Now get back to your deadline! ;)

[Eva]

Met my deadline and you're welcome! :)

[Marin Mom]

Oh the poor dear! The only minor thing I can add to the other great suggestions is to not have any tomatos. A definate connection for some between that and anal itching. Has he actually gone out and had one or more colon cleanses or were they done at home?

[fruitandveggies]

Haha, he will LOVE that advice! He hates tomatoes. Would sun dried tomatoes do it, too? I just started to get him to eat some tomatoes that way...maybe that could have flared him up?
No, he hasn't gone out to get a colon cleanse, we just did an at-home, herbal, five-day apple juice fast one from Blessed Herbs. Do you think going somewhere would be helpful?

[annavon]

Fruit and veggies Candidia = yeast. Candida is the critter that causes yeast infections. It can reside in the colon as well as on the skin. If your dh's body is out of balance (too acidic) it basically takes over. The process I have read for getting rid of it is to avoid too much sugar (even from natural sources) to not give the candida food. Get your body in a more alkaline state and add probiotics. If your DH does a parasite cleasne, he would probably start the probiotics afterward (the parasite cleanse may kill the probiotics as well).

Hope this helps

[fruitandveggies]

Oh, okay! What exactly does a parasite cleanse entail? And, are they any probiotics you would suggest?

[Aleesha Sattva]

taking pills for X number of days... waiting and then taking them again (as the eggs need to hatch). someone at the health food store can hook you up!

i loooove garden of eden probiotics myself.

[fruitandveggies]

Oh my god, that sounds so disgusting...ewww!! I will definately be getting some of those for him!

By the way, thank you SO much everyone! Hubby says he will try all your suggestions and is ever-grateful to you all!

[bsqmurphy]

I'm not a doctor & do not intend to give medical advice. A few ideas that came to mind are the following
- 100% raw
- Juice Feast / Cleanse
- Colon hydrotherapy by a certified hydrotherapist (they can make a recommendation for a comprehensive cleansing program - frequency, other supplements, etc.)
- Lemons & Greens (help to alkalinize)
- Get food allergy testing (or do elimination diet / testing) - a natropath can do this for you

Good luck!
Bri.

[fruitandveggies]

Thanks so much Bri! I've convinced him to go at least a week raw 100%. He's a bit wary about going 100 for a long period of time, but maybe if he feels better it will convince him to stay that way. I do want him to see specialists if he has to, but my god, they are expensive...so I'll try as much as we can cheaply first.
Do you know any good websites that detail juice feasting? I guess I could search the forum here, but the search function leaves much to be desired.

And a recent development: last night he was so miserable he declared he was going to get some Monistat for his bum (since yeast was suggested here), he wants instant relief. When you do cleanses and take probiotics, how long would it take to make a difference, on average? I really don't know much about Monistat and stuff, but I'm sure its far less than healthy. I just want him better though, and I can't stop him from doing it anyway! :(

[EZ rider]

Here's a link to some interesting info about Garlic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic#Medicinal_use_and_health_benefits
take a look at section 4.4 "Medicinal use and health benefits" down toward the end of that section where it talks about Garlic "in modern naturopathy".

[Aleesha Sattva]

lavendar will stop the itching and is totally natural! i use it all the time for flea bites, itching etc. it will burn slightly... but it's a good burn not a bad burn sensation... especially in those delicate anal areas. ;)

juice feasting: http://www.juicefeasting.com/

must have IMO: http://www.timelessspirit.com/SEPT08/review1.shtml

[Aleesha Sattva]

oh and when it comes to garlic which is a GREAT idea... as it'll kill parasites as well... if you don't want to juice it and add it to juice... (and you are eating) just peel off the outer shell and drink down (like a pill) the centre section (where the green 'sprout' comes out of)... this is the medicinal section of garlic and if he swallows it like a pill... he won't smell like garlic.

swallow one a few times a day (as you can't really overdo garlic that i'm aware of and i've done a LOT of garlic in the past) - perhaps three times a day right now to get some major healing happening for him.

now comes the hard part... what to actually do with all this abundance of info. if it was me (which it is not...) i would:

eat 100% raw
take garlic 3 times a day
use lavendar to reduce the itching
after a week... i would juice feast and add garlic into at least one juice per day.

IF you can afford it... some colonics to get whatever it is... out FAST!

but, i'm not a doctor... i'm just saying what i would do...

[RawHeaven]

not medical advice.

but echoing the garlic advice from Aleesha ^^^...he can also stick one clove of garlic up his bum. i did this when i had a yeast infection in the vagina and it worked within hours. yes, he'll smell like garlic but the itching will go away and he'll get rid of some of that candida/yeast too. oh i don't know how he would handle the runoff because it will leak, i'll let you guys figure that one out! :cool: note: you have to put a couple of cuts in the garlic before inserting it to release the anti-fungal properties.

this is a worst case scenario treatment recommendation if the itching gets really bad....garlic is amazing. and no, i am not shy about discussing anything related to good health anymore...hahahaaa.

best wishes to you and your hubby F&V. :)

[fruitandveggies]

Wow, thank you SO much EZ, Aleesha and RawHeaven! I was starting to get confused with all these wonderful tips! Haha...I will definately have him do the garlic! Would we use laveder oil? Or the plant itself?

[RawHeaven]

Wow, thank you SO much EZ, Aleesha and RawHeaven! I was starting to get confused with all these wonderful tips! Haha...I will definately have him do the garlic! Would we use laveder oil? Or the plant itself?

You've so welcome and I hope he experiences relief...

I believe you would want to use lavendar oil. Maybe dab the anus with a cotton ball? Maybe Aleesha will see this. But I do know apply it liberally because it will burn. And so will the garlic for a bit. Just a head's up. We ladies are used to pain, but you know (some) guys aren't so much. lol.

Edit: If it were me, I wouldn't start with all of the remedies, but choose a couple that speak to you. Then try the others if you're not getting results. I think all of the recommendations are amazing above and should work, but you should probably be careful not to for example, have him use the GSE, garlic, cleanses, ACV and everything else all at once. Could send him straight into heavy detox!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i put the lavendar oil right onto my finger tip and then rub it on the itchy spot. works like a dream!!!

hmmm... raw garlic right up the bum eh? *puts that away as a mental note for someday when it's needed* i would think wearing a menstrual pad would take care of any leakage!

[lafsalot]

If you suspect it is fungal-related, you may want to first try using grapefruit seed extract - it works wonders!! I'd also follow up w a little aloe vera gel that has been chilled first in the frig - should help w the "itchies" and help to reduce inflammation. Hope he feels better soon ~ Cathy

[LeoBrayner]

Hey! I think you must be assured with the raw diet, but I have to say this: Don't let regular doctors discourage you or your husband about the raw vegan diet. It's not it. Whatever ailment he's got now is because of his former eating habits (which was ours too). If you describe a terrible lifestyle to a doctor, like a SAD of fast-foods plus binge drinking, smoking and others they'll say, "Well, maybe you should eat less of that, drink less and exercise three times a week". If you say he's on a raw diet they'll jump right into that like insects on a light source. Don't let that even flicker for a second in your mind, ok?

I really don't know anything about his condition but I think you've got some leads from the people here to follow, so I wish you and him good luck!

[RawHeaven]

hmmm... raw garlic right up the bum eh? *puts that away as a mental note for someday when it's needed* i would think wearing a menstrual pad would take care of any leakage!

i hope you don't need the garlic in the bum. hahaa. you'll probably be raw and clear for years to come. :)

i was thinking the same with regard to the pad, but it's her husband. i don't think a man would want to wear one, lol, unless he's very much in touch with his masculinity. :confused: perhaps one of the small light days kind? okay let me shut up now...may put my foot in my mouth soon. lol.

[Aleesha Sattva]

no he needs one of those HUGE post-partum ones... *giggling* cause you never know how much leakage may happen.

*just being silly no disrespect meant to the OP*

and i hope i never need garlic in my bum either... that IS an exit in my world... not an entrance!

*runs from room covering her butt*

[fruitandveggies]

Hahaha, you guys are so funny! I hope very much that you will never need garlic in your butts!

So, speaking of that, I started him on some of these things last night. I went to Whole Foods and stood infront of the fridge trying to decide what probiotic to get (I wanted it right away or else I would have mail ordered it) and I finally decided on a powedered one that has 8 billion guys in it. The rest of them were not veggie friendly or were close to 70 or 80 bucks!
So I gave him that, he took some garlic--swallowed it and in the bum. Yes, he did say it burned at first, but said that it relieved him after a few minutes. After awhile it began to itch him again...does anyone know if he's supposed to leave the garlic up there until---it comes out, or what?
He is using witch hazel on it for now as he says that helps him relieve the pain for awhile. I will get some lavendar in case he changes his mind. Where would one get grapefruit seed extract? I looked for it in Whole Foods but didn't find it (I noticed that it is in the Witch Hazel I got him--maybe that's why it feels good?).
I made some collard and sunflower seed pate wraps for dinner for him--he was so happy he wasn't food-sleepy after!

And thank you Leo, I was also afraid for him to see a doctor because of that. He has an itchy bum, it must be from eating too many fruits and veggies! :rolleyes:

[RawHeaven]

Wow, your husband is really open to trying all of this holistic stuff. I'm thinking of my former boyfriends and there is no way they would've listened to me with regard to the garlic. Especially up the bum. I think they would've walked out the door. lol. You've got a gem and I really do hope he sees results and alleviates the itching.

You're supposed to leave the garlic in for at least 4 hours I think. But listen to your instincts with that. That's why we were kind of half joking about the pads because it may leak a bit as the yeast breaks up. (if this is in fact, candida). If it's too uncomfortable with the garlic clove physically in the rear, maybe try the lavendar oil?

I really do think if he starts green juicing and taking the GSE (grapefruit seed extract) and adding garlic to meals he will feel better. Viruses and fungus do not like garlic nor GSE.

Really do hope he's feeling better.

[RawHeaven]

You can find the GSE in most natural food stores, co-ops & whole foods probably has it.

The common brand is in a white bottle with red lettering...

NutriBiotic (copywrite)
The Original GSE
Liquid Concentrate

From certified organically grown grapefruit
look for this one ^

[fruitandveggies]

Great, thank you! I will go and look for some today. Yes, he's SUCH a rare find, that boy. Very logical---if garlic up the butt works for others, then he has no problem trying it! No gender roles or masculinity issues there! :) Thanks so much for your wishes.

Yes, he's been saying the garlic is somewhat painful and has a hard time staying up there. If he doesn't expereince runniness from doing this--do you think that means there is not a yeast problem?

[RawHeaven]

Great, thank you! I will go and look for some today. Yes, he's SUCH a rare find, that boy. Very logical---if garlic up the butt works for others, then he has no problem trying it! No gender roles or masculinity issues there! :) Thanks so much for your wishes.

Yes, he's been saying the garlic is somewhat painful and has a hard time staying up there. If he doesn't expereince runniness from doing this--do you think that means there is not a yeast problem?

If it's painful, maybe he shouldn't use the garlic clove remedy. It shouldn't be that uncomfortable. I would go for the internal methods and using food as medicine. But seriously, I really can't stress this enough that I'm simply sharing what worked for me. It could be anything that is causing the itching. I've just read about it possibly being candida or parasites if the butt is itchy. Just want you to be careful with the advice you're getting here. Tread carefully and pay attention to how he's responding. We're all different and respond differently as we're healing. But he should be okay & safe with the GSE. Start with small drops in water and work your way up is my recommendation.

[Aleesha Sattva]

and we aren't there to see how he's doing... so that job is up to you and him.

we all do hope he's feeling much better tomorrow!

[kelsi]

I just came on here to read about candida and raw diets. I have had candida for about 2 years. The symptoms... white stuff on tounge (HUGE clue), zits on chest or back, itchy butt, fatigue... there are lots of others, but those are the biggies that i really feel/see from it. If he got a flare up after eating nuts, thats another clue that it could be candida, nuts often times have mould on them, and eating them, can cause a flare up. Also, chinese food is often rather greasy and with lots of sugar (if you get something like sesame tofu), that can cause a flare up too.

Other people have given great ideas, the probiotics, garlic, those are all things that I have used. But what has helped really get rid of it is changing my diet. You can search for candida diet. But generally, you can eat veggies, berries, coconut oil (really good for candida)!, beans (if canned, need to be eden organic), braggs and brown rice. there are some other things. but you get the idea.

I hope yall figure it out! candida is AWFUL!

[fruitandveggies]

It seems like the garlic was causing lots of pain because of its awkward shape. He said "a clove of garlic is not the shape to be put in my butt," haha. I found some smaller ones for him to try and those seem to be working nicely. He's been all raw for three days, been doing GSE, green smoothies and a probiotic. He says he thinks he's starting to feel better, but the itch and irritation are sitll there. But three days is not long, so we will probably see more results soon!

Thank you for that info, Kelsi! He has a lot of those symptoms---is there any cure for the ailment? I guess I mean, will it go away if he eats a healthy diet? Also, I've heard eating sugar makes it worse---is that sugar in fruit, too?

[fruitandveggies]

Okay, update! We have deduced that he does have a candida problem, he has all the symptoms! He has been doing all the things I said above for over three days now. Today, he is having symptoms which I think are really bad detox. His rear and bits are raw and burning (but the itching is subsided), he has a headache, dopeyness, and seriously bad drippy yeasty stuff in the mouth. He also has white, irritaing bumps on the back of his tounge. He feels horrible today and is scared of what is happening. I told him that its detox and to try and stick it out----do you all this that's what it is?
He told me last night that he read this could kill him---is that true???

[Eva]

I think that's great -- it has to get worse before it gets better. That's the thing that stinks about detox, but it's necessary for the health to improve and the problem to be resolved.

I found an article about oral candida. The last three paragraphs seem especially useful: http://www.nutrition4health.org/nohanews/NNS95OralYeastInfections.htm.



Other remedies include: grapefruit seed extract, capricin tea, homeopathic Candida silicea, artemisia, grape seed oil, and gentian. FOS (fructo-oligosaccharide) is an insoluble fiber that acts as a food source for the healthful bifidus bacteria in the intestine. These bacteria ferment this carbohydrate resulting in fatty acids that are used for the intestinal epithelial cells, which enhance water and mineral absorption.

A prescribed therapeutic diet is necessary during treatment to prevent the invasive re-growth of the yeast organism. The diet should include avoiding alcohol, sugar, white flour, and refined or processed carbohydrates. In addition, in order to provide optimal treatment results, fruit and milk, as well as any foods that have been dried, fermented, or that contain yeasts or molds, must be excluded. Also, sterilizing your tooth brush in household hydrogen peroxide or 70 percent alcohol for a few minutes will prevent its re-contamination of the mouth with organisms that survive on the brush.

Taking lacto bacillus acidophilus is safe and inexpensive. It in itself is not a cure but can help provide a healthier and better recovery from a yeast infection. Each use of antibiotics can alter the balance of bacteria. A diet adequate in important nutrients aids this balance for health.

[fruitandveggies]

Thank you, Eva! Yeah, I was telling him to try and be happy about this---now he knows the treatments are working! The suggestion about the cleaning of the toothbrush is great! I wouldn't have thought of that!

[RawHeaven]

F&V so glad he's doing better. That's great. Like Eva mentions, imbalances in the body sometimes get worse before they get better. It's a good thing because you know the yeast is rising to the surface and being released. But you already know this now. Here's to your good health.

[fruitandveggies]

Thank you so much, RawHeaven and everyone for your time and your wonderful responses. I will let you know what happens!! :D

[Ilse W.]

I have an itchy bum for weeks after going through a wine-drinking episode. I have a tin can (green with red flowers on lid) of Bag Balm. It's for raw cow utters and is antiseptic. I rub that on the itchy part to get relief. I bought mine at the health food store. A lot of people use it for various cuts and things, even though it says FOR VETERINARY USE on the can. If the health food store does not have it, your local feed store will. Alternatively, use some good, natural diaper creme. It's made to soothe rashy skin. As for the rest of it, I hope he can hang in there. Detox will be good for him in so many more ways than just for this one problem.:)

[fruitandveggies]

Interesting!! I will certainly have to check this out!

Well, apparently, his itches are mostly gone, its just very very raw and tender now. He, however, swears he is dying his detox is so bad. Chills, weakness, vomiting, stuffiness, sore throat, tounge bumps, thrush, huge yeast globs in eliminations, a general sense of being stupid...that sort of thing. But...I'm convinced this is good....how long does detox last like this?

[annavon]

Is he doing a candida cleanse? Also, have you checked his ph level? I have heard if your ph is off, it can contribute to candida growth by killing the good stuff. You may want to figure out the cause as well as the cure. Usually candida overgrowth happens because something triggered like taking antibiotics or an overly acid condition.

Sorry, I don't know how long the detox would last, but most things I read usually mention a couple of days.

[annavon]

I hope he is getting better. He sounded pretty bad on your last post. Sending you both ((((hugs)))).

[fruitandveggies]

Oh, thank you so much, Annavon! He is doing a very strict candida diet at the moment. He is doing garlic, GSE, and a double dose of probiotics and lots of greens and has been for two weeks now. His itching is mostly gone now! He does have some now and then, but I feel like its getting better. His candida spit test is getting much better, too.
However, he has now fallen into a bout of depression. Pretty much all of the stuff he's been dealing with he's collected and compounded into one big set of sadness for himself. He is afraid that this may not be the problem or the cure for his condition and that he will have to deal with it forever. Could this be a detoxing/die off reaction? I am trying to remind him of how bad he was just a week ago, but he is reluctant to actually come to terms that his sympoms are getting better. I suppose he doesn't want to "jinx" himself by saying anything.
I think this may have started a year and a half ago when we moved into my parents' house. We were both stressed about it and ate horribly. He decided to become vegan (was veggie) and his symptoms started (itchy bum). I had a thought that it could have been the candida that was reacting to him not having cheese and other crappy food anymore. I would hate to think that somehow being vegan in and of itself would cause this condition!
Thank you so much for you thoughts! We both really appreciate it! :)

[RawHeaven]

I know the question for Annavon, but just a quick thought Fruit & Veggies. His depression could most certainly be linked to detoxification symptoms. The body harbors a lot of emotions in the tissues and if he's healing as well as you're mentioning, he's probably also releasing "sad" emotions. I got the blues as I cleaned up my system and still do from time to time. I know he's on a strict candida diet, but have you researched mood lifting foods...like almonds for example? Best to you both.

[annavon]

I'm glad to hear he is improving. I think Rawheaven did a good job of answerng regarding emotional detox. I will add though that when I was sick for several months, I got depressed, which unfortunately doesn't help the situation. To counter act some of the depressed feelings, I try to take a 20 minute walk in the sun on a daily basis, it helps with the seratonin levels. Prayer/meditation can help too. I do eat a lot of almonds as well.

[fruitandveggies]

Thanks to both of you! No, I have no idea about mood lifting foods! He doesn't want to consume any nuts---he's afraid they will set off his symptoms again. He didn't have almonds though, just peanuts and cashews. Where can you find raw almonds now a days anyway? I will certainly research these foods!

I agree---maybe a nice little walk would do him good!