Yasmin and tetracycline

Yeast Syndrome
by Ron Kennedy, M.D., Santa Rosa, California

Introduction

The Yeast Syndrome, also known as chronic candidiasis, the chronic candida syndrome, and candida related complex is still unaccepted by some medical doctors. The habit of the medical establishment, in general, is to not accept as real any symptom complex which they do not understand. The effects of chronic yeast infestation in the intestine are so widespread in the body that it does not at first seem logical that one thing could cause all this. Many a patient have been branded hypochondriac, malingering, neurotic, and hysteric who appeared in doctors' offices with this complex, confusing symptomatology. One of the symptoms is irritability and this quality has tended to alienate doctors, leaving both doctor and patient frustrated. Also, doctors are accustomed to think that if routine blood tests show nothing, then nothing is wrong. Chronic yeast, in fact, shows nothing on routine blood tests.

The incidence of yeast syndrome is remarkably high. In my practice signs and symptoms suggesting yeast syndrome are present in � of new patients. This can be attributed to the commonness of factors thought to lead to a predisposition to this health problem. The three most important factors favoring the development of this syndrome are the presence of dental amalgam and resultant mercury toxicity, the use (and overuse) of antibiotics and the high carbohydrate content of the typical western diet. All three of these predisposing factors are widely prevalent in the modern western world and both favor the growth of yeast. To be correct - yeast, fungus, and anaerobic bacteria as "yeast syndrome" always involves all three. In this article, when I write "yeast," I am referring to all three - yeast, fungus, and anaerobic bacteria. This condition is also know as dysbiosis. Persistent bloating and flatulence unrelated to specific foods are the consistent symptoms.

Antibiotics, especially Tetracycline, long used at the drop of a hat by doctors eager for a simple answer to complex health problems, kill off bacteria which are needed for normal digestion. In their relative absence intestinal yeast are able to proliferate beyond their normal bounds. Add to this the excessive intake of not only simple sugars but "high glycemic index" carbohydrates such as breads, pastas, potatoes, and rice which convert to simple sugars in short order, and yeast organisms are provided with their basic food group. Under these conditions yeast can proliferate and cause symptoms even in people with normal immune systems.

Symptoms of yeast syndrome are caused by the normal byproducts of yeast metabolism. Candida has been found to produce 79 distinct toxins. The human body must dispose of these toxins. They easily diffuse throughout the body and no organ system is immune to the effects they produce.

Yeast, once it takes hold in the intestinal mucosa, is difficult to eliminate and if eliminated, tends to return over and over. Dietary changes which control yeast overgrowth must become a life style change in order to be meaningful as a long term prevention. Once having dominated the intestinal mucosa, yeast renders the mucosa partially incompetent to regulate the entry of digested food into the intestine. This circumstance is called the "leaky gut syndrome" and what leaks into the circulation are long chain polypeptides (partially digested protein). These molecules can set off the immune system into inappropriate action as they are recognized as "foreign" by the immune system. The antibodies which are produced may attack host tissue and this may account for some autoimmune diseases.

Yeast overgrowth is implicated in many forms of psoriasis and other dermatoses (Skinner, Crook, James, Oranje, Buslau), also in infantile seborrheic dermatitis (Bothe, Busacker, Reinel).

The physician responsible for highly publicizing the Candida syndrome is Dr. William G. Crook, M.D. who wrote The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough.

Symptoms of Yeast Syndrome:

* Fatigue or lethargy
* Feeling of being drained
* Depression or manic depression
* Numbness, burning, or tingling
* Headaches
* Muscle Aches
* Muscle weakness or paralysis
* Pain and/or swelling in joints
* Abdominal Pain
* Constipation and/or diarrhea
* Bloating, belching or intestinal gas
* Troublesome vaginal burning, itching or discharge in women
* Prostatitis in men
* Impotence
* Loss of sexual desire or feeling
* Endometriosis or infertility
* Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
* Premenstrual tension
* Attacks of anxiety or crying
* Cold hands or feet, low body temperature
* Hypothyroidism
* Shaking or irritable when hungry
* Cystitis or interstitial cystitis
* Drowsiness
* Irritability
* Poor coordination
* Frequent mood swings
* Insomnia
* Dizziness/loss of balance
* Pressure above ears...feeling of head swelling
* Sinus problems...tenderness of cheekbones or forehead
* Tendency to bruise easy
* Eczema, itching eyes
* Psoriasis
* Chronic hives (urticaria)
* Indigestion or heartburn
* Sensitivity to milk, wheat, corn or other common foods
* Mucous in stools
* Rectal itching
* Dry mouth or throat
* Mouth rashes including white tongue
* Bad breath
* Foot, hair, or body odor not relieved by washing
* Nasal congestion or post nasal drip
* Nasal itching
* Sore throat
* Laryngitis, loss of voice
* Cough or recurrent bronchitis
* Pain or tightness in chest
* Wheezing or shortness of breath
* Urinary frequency or urgency
* Burning on urination
* Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision
* Burning or tearing eyes
* Recurrent infections or fluid in ears
* Ear pain or deafness
* Inability to concentrate
* Skin problems (hives, athlete's foot, fungus infection of the nails, jock itch, psoriasis (including of the scalp) or other chronic skin rashes)
* Gastrointestinal symptoms (constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, or bloating)
* Symptoms involving the reproductive organs
* Muscular and nervous system symptoms (including aching or swelling in your muscles and joints, numbness, burning or tingling, muscle weakness or paralysis)
* Recurrent ear problems resulting in antibiotic therapy
* Respiratory symptoms
* Lupus
* Hyperactivity/Attention Deficit Disorder
* Recurrent vaginal yeast infections in women
* High sugar foods drastically increase symptoms
* Inflammation of the hair follicles (candidiasis folliculitis) of various parts of the body (feet, legs, arms)
* Extreme lethargy
* Diarrhea, chronic gas, abdominal cramps alleviated by bowel movements. Perhaps labeled with the term "irritable bowel syndrome"
* Lactose intolerance
* Anxiety
* Allergies and allergy symptoms, chemical sensitivities
* Panic attacks
* Sinus problems
* Eye fatigue
* Muscle weakness and bone pain
* White tongue coating
* Psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff, dry, itchy skin
* Rectal itching
* Swollen lips/face
* Symptoms worse after waking
* Facial rash
* Avoiding food helps to alleviate symptoms
* Hives
* Chronic inflammation and irritation of the eye and conjunctiva
* Feeling of being intoxicated which leads to a "hangover feeling" (due to fermentation and alcohol production by yeast)
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Treatment:

I have replaced traditional therapies for Yeast Syndrome with the German SanPharma and Pekana remedies. Why? Because they work, are simple and straight forward and the old therapies did not work so well. For a fuller descripton of my current thinking on this subject, go to this article:

Mercury, Gut Wall Infection, and Fatigue

I was given Yasmin when Ortho tri-cycline gave me severe stomach pains and constant bloating-- I was diagnosed with sensitive lining of the stomach a couple years ago (after multiple tests for gall bladder, ulcers, GI tract, etc, that's all they could come up with!!), so basically I have had some sort of stomach ailments for the last 5 years. My biggest concern with the Ortho tri-cycline, prescribed for me to hopefully help wean myself off of my Tetracycline pills before I get married, was that the pills would help my acne-prone skin. Little did I know that that pill would make my stomach problems so much worse; I had constant pain for over 2 weeks before I called the advice nurse, who said I should try Yasmin because it helps with bloating....

Now honestly, I would rather have stomach pains than anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks, and all-around depression. I had a bad bout with depression about 6 years ago, and I thought that dark time in my life had passed once I moved back home and met my dear boyfriend (now my fiance). I was all right for almost a week on each pill before I began having issues.

After a week on Yasmin, the stomach pains started again, but this time I wasn't bloated-- I just felt sick to my stomach, and like someone was pressing on my stomach (I felt like I was flexing my tummy all the time). The kicker was that I fell into such a bad depression at work one day, that I wouldn't talk to anyone, and didn't want to see anyone-- including my poor fiance. I stayed home the next day and tried to sleep it off; my minor, usually (semi-)humorous OCD tendencies became almost unbearable as I became more anxious and nervous about everything that was going on.

After speaking with my Mom and fiance, I decided to stop the Yasmin last Wednesday. I was hoping maybe this pill would help my complexion or help my boobs to grow (LOL, I know, but the ortho made ONE boob grow, LOL LOL), but if it did a little bit of any of that, it wasn't worth the emotional trauma I was going through. I was thinking maybe I'd start the Yasmin again after a month or so, but my body became totally confused and my period started about a week early... now I have bad cramps, and Saturday I fell into panic/depression again and spent the day alone, wondering why I am feeling like this again. I have been sleeping very badly at night as well-- and don't get me wrong, I can usually sleep at any given moment for any given amount of time, haha... I have had some of the worst nights' sleep of my life this last week or so.

In short, I guess the diuretic effect of Yasmin has totally messed up my chemical/hormonal balance or something in my brain. I am on Weight Watchers so I am monitoring my weight closely, and I did lose about 3-5 pounds after taking Yasmin for only 1.5 weeks without changing my diet, so apparently all sorts of things were being flushed out of me unneccessarily.

I can only pray now that I will be back to normal again soon. The negative experiences I have had with hormonal birth control so far are really leading me to believe that I should just go with the IUD even though that scares me too since I am a virgin... yet, I'd rather have cramps or insertion pain than have anything affect me emotionally.

Thanks for reading so far. All I can say is that anyone prone to any sort of nervousness/anxiety/depression should stay FAR AWAY from this pill!!!!!!