I phoned my doctor’s office to schedule my annual physical and since she wouldn’t be available for months, I agreed to see someone new, Dr. Humiston. After a relatively short wait he walked in and pulled his chair up fairly close to mine. He’d read through my completed health questionnaire and had many questions for me as to why I’d given my intestinal tract a 1 out of 10 (1 being the lowest score on the scale). I shared many unsettling symptoms though the one which had become most annoying and painful was my stomach’s daily bloating, sometimes resembling a woman’s six month pregnant bulge. Fitting into my clothes had become a strain and the pressure against them felt very uncomfortable.
He spent one solid hour with me which included asking me many detailed questions. We established that all of the antibiotics I took over the years before the dentist’s bi-annual visits for a heart murmur could be a culprit. Ironically I found out one year ago from another medical report that I never had the heart murmur. The fact that I practically lived in a chlorine pool many of my growing up years raised his eyebrows coupled with years of birth control pills and the kicker, being exposed to DDT by the mosquito truck which used to circle around our home inLouisiana spewing out these toxic chemicals which probably killed humans as well. I remember how I’d run into the house when I’d see the truck coming hoping to cover my head with my pillow in enough time. I wasn’t always successful.
After his thorough questioning and muscle testing, he mentioned it appeared I could have Candida overgrowth. Candida is a normal part of the human flora within the digestive tract yet due to many factors, some mentioned earlier, the yeast can overgrow and spread to other parts of the digestive tract and through the bloodstream as a slow, progressive process.
Candida overgrowth is a fungal infection and Western medicine does not know how to treat it so it is often overlooked, perhaps intentionally. There isn’t a specific diagnostic test either; recovery is based on how one responds to the treatments. I had blood work done and my results showed a low white blood count and high liver enzymes which my doctor suggests are indicative of Candida overgrowth patients. He has worked with more than a thousand patients with this condition, experienced Candida overgrowth himself and studied alternative medicine therapies for years after becoming a Family Medicine M.D. After attending one of his free monthly seminars on Candida overgrowth and taking into account his extensive background with it; I chose to follow his program.
The Candida elimination plan consists of giving up most dairy products, all sugar and soy-based products, essentially nothing processed can be consumed. I gave up wheat too because I suspect I may be allergic to it. For two months the diet is quite rigid, and then it eases up somewhat afterward. I cannot have caffeine or alcoholic beverages for now yet giving up fruit has been the most challenging aspect for me.
Dr. Humiston has developed his own plant-based system of supplements which one takes along with the diet which include pills to cleanse the liver; replenish the flora; and to eliminate the candida. There is a one year maintenance plan which follows as completely ridding the body of this yeast condition is not easy to do.
After three weeks on the diet and two weeks taking the supplements, I’m pleased to share that my stomach bloating completely went away. I also retook the liver enzyme panel and my numbers are already going down which is very positive. My mind is clearer, I’m sleeping deeply and with ease, and most of all, I’m grateful to be recovering from a situation which if gone unchecked can cause major havoc to the body.
If after reading this you are curious if you or a loved one may have this condition, please visit Dr. Humiston’s site:
(Please scroll through to see a recent series on Candida Overgrowth and how to remedy it! It includes my most recent posts. Be well)!
Wisdom Quest Arts and Coaching 
It is great that you have a doctor who was able to help you to find the cause of your stomach bloating. I have just had my full blood count reading come back last week and it was normal for once as I was diagnosed with a non alcoholic fatty liver some years ago. In January or thereabouts I read about a tablet called Liv.52 which is based on capers of all things but I decided to give it a try as it was herbal based and not orthodox. I was very happy to hear last week that my liver is now fine and I think with a combination of this tablet, the grapefruit seed extract I have been also consuming I am actually starting to loose weight around my tummy and the bloating that I have had for so long. Its still early days yet but I am happy that my liver is back to how it should be as I am not a big junk food eater and tend to make alot of my food from scratch but it could be the carbohydrates that I have consumed that could be contributing to my bloating… Thank you for this post 🙂 Best wishes
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By: kiwigal007 on May 5, 2013
at 11:22 pm
Hello,
Thanks for your sharing about your experience. I moved my blog to my website sometime ago. Awhile back I wrote a 6-part series detailing my healing journey with the Candida. One of the things which helped me a lot was 3 months of Grapefruit Seed Extract (which you also mention). If you’d like to check out my blog you can find it at my site: http://www.SuzanTusson.com. I write about health and wellness issues, primarily for women.
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By: wisewithin on June 7, 2013
at 3:38 pm
I know that you posted several years ago, but I would just like you to know that you are not alone in this! After a hand surgery last November, I was put on several antibiotics to prevent infection. While my hand is okay now, my stomach is not. I was diagnosed with candida earlier today and experienced exactly the same symptoms as you. My diet is severely restricted, but I imagine I will get used to it. If you have any tips looking back on your healing experience, please let me know!
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By: maya on June 3, 2013
at 9:03 pm
Hi,
Thanks for your post. Am sad to hear you’re going through the Candida experience now. My blog is on my website and has been for awhile now. I wrote a 6-part series on my healing journey with the Candida which I’m sure you would find helpful. You can find it in the archives on my site: http://www.SuzanTusson.com
I wish you all the best in your regaining optimal health and wellbeing!
Suzan : )
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By: wisewithin on June 7, 2013
at 3:41 pm
Thanks for this post! I suffer from daily bloating and am almost certain i suffer from Candida overgrowth. After your elimination plan were you able to introduce the majority of foods you gave up?
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By: ard on May 3, 2014
at 3:48 pm
I drop a comment whenever I appreciate a post on a website or
I have something to contribute to the discussion. Usually it’s a result of the sincerness communicated in the article I
read. And after this article Could your stomach bloating be a sign of Candida
overgrowth? | Wise Woman Within. I was excited enough to
leave a commenta response 😛 I actually do have some questions for you if it’s okay.
Could it be simply me or does it look like like a few of the responses
come across like coming from brain dead individuals?
😛 And, if you are writing on additional social sites, I would like to follow you.
Could you make a list all of your shared sites like your
linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
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By: ans muscle maxx on August 29, 2014
at 4:47 am
I can’t find the website that has your 6-part series on Candida. Has it been deleted? Oh, please no!
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By: Patty on August 14, 2016
at 2:51 pm
I am posting a 6 part series FYI. Posted 1st part today. Hope that will help!!!
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By: Take Flight on February 11, 2017
at 4:08 pm
This is so me! I will be seeing a new doctor soon and hope I can get treatment like yours! I tried to link to your website, but doesn’t seem to work. Do you have a new web address? I’d love to follow your progress! Thank you.
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By: Patty on August 31, 2016
at 12:57 pm
I no longer have the suzantusson.com site. Sorry for any inconvenience. I will be launching a new site sometime in 2017 and will update you. I hope the email I sent helped and that your situation is improving!
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By: wisewithin on September 30, 2016
at 4:40 pm