Candida/yeast and copper

[Shawnamarie]

Okay, I have been doing some research about the connection between IUDs and yeast infections and am finding some really interesting stuff.

I have had a copper IUD for about five years now and for the past 3 or so years have experienced lots of yeast infections. I have one right now and it is incredibly persistent and uncomfortable. Up until a year ago (when I did Ejuva) I was getting them monthly, a week before my period for at least a year or so.

I am reading that copper IUDs can leak copper into tissues. From http://www.health-truth.com/articles/Candida3.asp I read this:

[shelley]

Yes, that makes total sense. Copper toxicity depresses the immune system. It also means you'll be deficient in Chromium, which is extremely exhausting and means poor carb digestion, which gives candida more to eat.

[Shawnamarie]

Wow, this would make so much sense for my health issues. I have a call in to my doctor to find out how/where I need to get this removed.

Thank you, Shelley! This was a huge connection for me. Should I follow up with a heavy metals detox afterwards? Is that necessary?

Shawna

[shelley]

If the copper toxicity is mild, then really the only thing you have to do is locate how you're getting too much of it. Are you using copper pans, drinking water coming from copper pipes, eating tons of chocolate? Next, be sure to take chromium regularly for awhile, it's in Emergen-C but you probably need a second source to get up to about 200 mcg, and keep taking in good oils followed by a fiber shake chaser, as copper is excreted in bile.

the next and most important thing to do if you're sure you have copper toxicity is to take 500 mg of MSM each day for about 2 weeks. That's what people with Wilson's Disease do, and it keeps them balanced. MSM is a natural antagonizer to copper and helps you excrete it faster. Zinc also helps keep you from absorbing more copper.

[Shawnamarie]

Well, I was thinking that the copper toxicity would be from the copper IUD that I have had for 5 years. Doesn't that make sense?

Thanks for the detox protocol. I don't know for sure that I have copper toxicity, but I suppose it can't hurt to get the IUD taken out. I am sure it just isn't good to have that copper thing floating around in my uterus!

[shelley]

oh duh, forgot about the IUD! LOL! sometimes I answer too many posts at once.

The MSM can't hurt, so I'd start taking that. A hair analysis would let you know how much of the copper you've absorbed, if any, and you can get those done online easily enough. www.labtestsonline.com, the great smokies lab, etc., are good ways to go.

[Shawnamarie]

Thanks, Shelley!