Posted by Dan'l on April 19, 1998 at 22:24:09:
When you look at all the medications we’ve been given over the years. You’ll find not one intended to treat the cause of cluster. So far we’ve been treating symptoms not the cause.
We claim "success" when we reduce the pain or the frequency. We say we are "headache free" when we’re waiting for the next bout. No one knows the cause, or the mechanism of the pain either, otherwise we wouldn’t be here talking about it.
Is it a coincidence though, when at a suggestion, you change your diet and take a few over-the-counter diet supplements to counteract intestinal Candida, and your headaches quit? I don’t think so, especially when you consider I’m not the only one who has had this experience. See posts from Jim and Steve.
Why not Candida? After a while, we all know our headaches and cycles. It gets to be something you can count on. My headaches just stopped dead, right in the middle of a series to the extent that I still have half a Prednisone script and a whole card of Imitrex tabs collecting dust in the medicine cabinet. When you look at the purpose of all the other meds we’ve taken, anti-fungals make as much sense as most of the others.
Once we’ve accepted that none of us are lying, then we’ve got to admit Cluster and Candida are related in some way, the next logical question is: "How?"
Take a couple of steps back and look at the big picture when your having clusters.
Clusters come around real regular at the same time of day. Some blame or want to change the circadian clock. Looks to me like the clock is actually pretty accurate. Some other things that occur with the clock are hunger, sleep, and digestion, including intestinal activity.
Clusters look a lot like an allergic reaction, look up anaphylactic shock. Histamine, which has long been identified with cluster, points us there too. What’s wrong with defining clusters as: allergic reactions accompanied by severe headaches that occur in time with the circadian clock.
If you got awakened by extreme nasal discharge, a red and tearing eye, weird sweating, and a big itchy hive on your left butt cheek every night after you went to sleep; only to have them all suddenly disappear, you’d probably agree that you were having an allergic reaction.
Hives are manifestation of sensitive, red, and swollen skin that can go away as fast as they appear. What do you call a "hive" when it appears on, or in, tissue other than skin? How does it feel? What nerve endings are stimulated when there are none that translate stimulation as an "itch". An example of a single purpose nerve endings is in your teeth. Stimulate them and you get but one response. Those of us with metallic fillings can experiment by biting on a piece of aluminum foil to induce a slight electrical current. If you don't have fillings chew an ice cube.
Allergies are triggered, and we’ve all got our lists of possible triggers for Clusters too. Problem is we’re constantly revising it as soon as the next headache comes along after we’ve taken great measures to avoid something. Allergic reactions also occur more often and more severely as the "allergy system" becomes overwhelmed.
Are seasonal clusters caused by pollen in the spring and leaf mold in the fall? I don’t know, but if you consider Clusters as allergic reactions, those things certainly could contribute. If you put intestinal Candida into the picture of overall allergy stress factors, you can find some seasonal patterns too.
I’ve had both chronic and episodic clusters but, till now, I never failed to have them in the Spring and Fall for twenty two years; and just like the seasons, I’ve never failed to support the Girl Scouts by buying at least four boxes of thin mints. I’ve also done in my share of marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies, and done my duty as I sampled a lot of halloween candy for my three kids; and certainly safety tested all the candies I gave out as well.
Fungal infections in other parts of the body can flare up and subside. Why not intestinal Candida? The ones we know like vaginal yeast, jock itch, and athlete’s foot can; and are also famous for their ability to "hang in there" for years without the proper treatment.
I’m not speculating whether we’re directly "allergic" to Candida or to the effect it has on the intestine. Either one works for me. An allergy to a continual exposure to a fungus in our external environment wouldn’t be beyond belief. Why should it surprise us then, if we accept that it may reside inside us. If Candida infested and irritated the lining of the intestine in the same manner of other fungal infections in, or on, other parts of our bodies, its easy to imagine the permeability of the intestine being affected as well.
The main job of the intestines is to be selectively permeable. We expect it to absorb all the things that show up in the intestine that we want in our systems while rejecting all the things we don’t want.
Either way, the recurring rhythm that we associate with cluster could very well coincide with the same rhythm that occurs with eating, digesting, and evacuation. The cause for allergic reaction could be activity of the yeast fed by sugars and carbos in the gut, or the gut’s inability to keep certain chemicals out of our body; especially those that are similar to the ones to which it is normally permeable, such as certain sugars, amminos, proteins and gases. Yes Virginia, they will burn, and they also contain carbon(s) dioxide and monoxide. (O2 sniffers take note)
Whether Candida can reside inside the body is not a question. Look up Diflucan in the med links.
While your there look at the possible side effects. The most common complaints were nausea and headache. These were considered mild and temporary. Also, look up Lamisil, another modern anti-fungal and you’ll see the same thing.
If you read any of the Candida material, you’ll see that these same symptoms occur with intestinal yeast die-off. As a matter of fact, they use it as a measure of effectiveness. Isn’t it possible that some of the side effects that were experienced in the trials of these anti-fungals can be attributed to their effect on intestinal fungal infection. We would assume that all the participants, at the least, had apparent fungal infections.
Why not intestinal?
It is claimed that the diagnosis of intestinal yeast infection is very difficult since a certain amount of yeast is always present in the stool. It normally can pass through the gut without "taking root" and giving us any problems. The prime opportunity for fungi to colonize in the gut is when the "friendly" bacteria that normally reside there have been killed off; as in prescribed antibiotics and who knows what. Hell, I found a Slim Jim under the seat of my car that had to have been there for over a year, and it tasted as good as the day it was bought!
It probably won’t work for everybody, but best way to tell if it’s going to help is to try it. Diflucan and Lamisil a have apparently less side effects, and are more effective, than some of the older anti-fungals like Nyastatin. Short term dosage (a week or two) shouldn’t be a problem for most. Note some warnings about interaction with anti-histamines. Your biggest obstacle may be getting a prescription but still, see your doctor.
If you want more info on treatment read a good paper by Doc Darren. http://members.aol.com/docdarren/med/Candida.html . I’m not sure he’s a doctor yet, but it’s good research and it makes as much sense as anything else I’ve read.
Remember too, just knocking down the Candida is a start. You’ve got to work a little at re-establishing a healthy gut.
Beyond mere success, I’m seven weeks "cured" now. If I’m wrong, I’ll let you know. I wouldn’t feel any more stupid than I do when I think about all the unnecessary pain I’ve put up with for the past twenty-two years.
This is not a scam or a joke. It worked for me and I hope it works for you. Good Luck.
Dan Line