Accidentally Getting Rid of My Yeast??!!

[Lauraann]

I am 33 weeks pregnant and recently caught a nasty viral infection from my son/nieces and nephews. My sister was awesome enough to bring me a stash of EmergenC packets to take twice a day, echinecea (sp?) tea which I drank once a day, and some good probiotics to help me back on my feet. It worked great! BUT there was an unexpected side effect. It totally was kicking my chronic yeast problem in the ass! I have tried SO MANY treatment options for this with little to no success and with less than a week of doing this, during pregnancy even which is a big time of flaring up for me, I was having the best results in getting rid of it that I have ever seen. Plus, I had only very mild die off symptoms if any (Based on previous experience, I really think I was just dragging because I was fighting off the viral infection). I have been trying to kick this for over a year and a half, struggled with it all my life, and even Diflucan didn't work this well. SO, my question is does anyone know about the safety of taking these things on an extended/regular basis? Should I be worried about certain vitamins storing up too heavily in my system? Are some of the ingredients unsafe in large doses for pregnancy/nursing? Would the effectiveness wear off with extended use?

I really appreciate any and all insight here. I know that when I have the big hormonal shift of labor, delivery, and establishing a milk supply that the yeast is totally going to go haywire so I am pretty much desperate for anything I can do to start off with baby #2 as healthfully as possible. Right now I am seriously considering using this treatment indefinitely as part of daily life because of the amazing results that I was getting but I want to air on the side of caution before comitting to that. TIA!

[Pat Robinson]

Yes, Emergen-C and "probiotics" are beneficial during pregnancy. Echinacea has questionable concerns during pregnancy.

Rotating probiotics is preferable. Whole food probiotics have more effective microbial benefit. Basically, there are ~600 different microbials in the gut. Most probiotics only have 4-12-ish. And don't survive the stomach acid to make it to the gut. Some probiotics are transient and must be repopulated. Some 'take residence' in the gut.

Overall, killing off candida is not recommended during pregnancy. Displacement (when no mercury fillings) of candida and repopulating the gut with beneficial microbials is terrific any time. Too rapidly and you get die-off.

Too much of some nutrients can cause detox, another issue. But, unlikely with just Emergen-C.

HTH, Pat

[Lauraann]

"Too much of some nutrients can cause detox, another issue. But, unlikely with just Emergen-C."

This is what I was thinking about. It seems that I may have just found the right balance of nutrients that was helping my body get a leg up against the candida. I have been super cautious about taking anything besides my prenatals in pregnancy. The dietary changes I have been making have been helpful, but not quite enough. In the past when I have taken things that "kill" the yeast I have had terrible die off symptoms of migraines, serious brain fog and inability to concentrate, dizziness, weakness, horrible stomach pains and diarrehea, shortness of breath even, etc. But with this all I saw/felt was yeast flaking away, my stomach becoming regular, my tongue losing its white film, and just getting better.

I certainly am not planning on cutting out the leafy greens, cultured coconut milk yogurt, and other foods that I eat for nutrition, I am just considering this as a hearty compliment to my other efforts.