More Bloodwork Is Needed

Before I jump into the candida rabbit hole, I want to rule out a few things. This rash can be from 923402934 different things. Rash is like one of the worst things to get diagnosed properly. I got the slip from Dr. Goldstein's office to get some more bloodwork! Now the tricky part is making sure I am in a full break out of hives/rashes when I go. Considering how often I am getting rashes, it shouldn't be TOO difficult. Unfortunately the rashes usually show up late at night--like right now. AHHHH itchy.

I'm going to have the following blood work done:

• CBC (Complete Blood Count) with differential
• BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)
• Liver Function Panel

The CBC will show what is going on with my blood. DMSA can lower your neutrophils, which can be very serious. This causes you to get severe infections VERY quickly. Just today I noticed the flesh behind my wisdom tooth is very very sore. It isn't my tooth, but the skin back there. I just hope this isn't an infection. I have this really really bad feeling it is. It is so sore to the touch.

I also wanted this done because it's been at least a year since my last test. I am very curious to see where my WBC are (higher or lower). They were always low for me. Off the top of my head I can't remember the number, but well below what even the lab recommends. My Eosinophils were always VERY HIGH. Most people say it is from allergies and even though I insisted I didn't have allergies they just shrugged it off like nothing. I often wonder if this was a warning sign for alopecia and the development of the autoimmune disease. No one was really ever concerned about it though. "Oh you are young, don't worry about it". That's what EVERYONE always said. Now look where I am at.

I took a new picture of the other spot on my head. This one looks so much better than before. For comparison this is a picture from mid September, so only about 5 weeks ago. There is no hair growth whatsoever on the spot. This was BEFORE I started to chelate with Dr. Cutler's protocol. I do believe I had been using EDTA though.
I just took this picture a few minutes ago. From the time of the last picture above, I have done a full 8 rounds of frequent-dose oral DMSA chelation. Coincidence? I think not.If it continues to grow how it's been, I think this spot will be completely covered over in 2 months! WOOHOO!

Yeast Overgrowth Causing Itchy Rash?

I don't even want to say this out loud, but my rash may be from candida. Oh no...No one that I have known has EVER been successful in treating "candida". Some of these candida websites are out of hand. Every single symptom is from candida! Hang nail? Candida of course! Toe nail fungus? Candida! Okay I'm being a little sarcastic and nutty, but in all seriousness, a lot of documented mercury toxicity symptom is on this so-called candida list. It is a little ridiculous to say the least. Maybe a lot of the people who suffer from candida also have mercury toxicity? That makes more sense to me.

What do you do if you have candida? I have no idea. The things most people say you have to do is totally non-realistic. It would make me even more psychotic when it comes to food. Why make myself even more OCD about my food rituals and habits. I am a recovering anorexic from 8 years ago...Those of you who have suffered from anorexia know you are never completely recovered. It is much like what an alcoholic deals with.

Most websites say you have to eliminate all carbohydrates and sugar. This includes candy (okay easy), fruit, wheat, potatoes, carrots, rice! Basically anything that has carbs in it even if it is good carbs. Some people say this works, others say it doesn't do anything. With a diet like this I don't know what I'd eat and would likely starve to death. What is a person supposed to eat to make themselves feel full? I do not find any enjoyment when eating meat. I basically eat meat because I have to live.

Let me just list what 1 website says are the symptoms of candida. You will understand what I mean when I say total ridiculousness. A lot of these are mercury toxicity symptoms. Sounds like someone whoever reported all of these symptoms has multiple problems going on. Stuff in ( ) I added in.

• Fatigue or lethargy
• Feeling of being drained
• Depression or manic depression
• Numbness, burning, or tingling (b12 deficiency)
  
• Headaches
• Muscle Aches (mineral deficiencies)
  
• Muscle weakness or paralysis (mineral deficiencies)
  
• 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 (can be from copper toxicity, mineral dificiencies)
  
• Attacks of anxiety or crying
• Cold hands or feet, low body temperature (hypothyroid)
  
• Hypothyroidism (I still don't understand why this would be listed...makes no sense)
  
• Shaking or irritable when hungry (hypoglycemia-Adrenal issues)
  
• Cystitis or interstitial cystitis
  
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Poor coordination (mineral deficiencies)
  
• Frequent mood swings
• Insomnia (mercury?)
  
• Dizziness/loss of balance (possible B12 deficiency, low bp, dehydration)
  
• 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) (Food allergies?)
  
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Sensitivity to milk, wheat, corn or other common foods
• Mucous in stools
• Rectal itching
• Dry mouth or throat (diabetes insipidus or regular sugar diabetes)
  
• 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 (possible diabetes insipidus)
  
• Burning on urination
• Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision (mercury?)
  
• Burning or tearing eyes
• Recurrent infections or fluid in ears
• Ear pain or deafness
• Inability to concentrate (mercury?)
  
• 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 (mercury?)
  
• 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 (possible mercury toxicity link)
  
• Hyperactivity/Attention Deficit Disorder (fake disorder used to get children on meds)
  
• 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

Do I have yeast/candida overgrowth? I don't know, but I surely won't use one of these websites to tell me. Everything under the sun is caused by candida...Give me a break!