Forty-one year-old Tom’s chief complaints were asthma for four years, rectal itching, weight loss and secondary stress. His medical history included tonsillitis from ages 8 to 15 and the use of tetracycline for teenage acne. The need for antibiotics was minimal for the next 18 years of Tom’s life.

Tom’s allergies included increasing severe nasal symptoms which had begun at age five, and improved when he limited diary products in 1995. However, he continued to have a persistent mild stuffiness and post nasal drip.

When Tom first came to see me, his major concern was asthma, which he first noted during exercise in his early 30’s. The symptoms became more frequent and were also triggered by respiratory infections and increased coughing.

He said his symptoms were worse in the middle of the night and when he swallowed. His complaints included tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing.

His symptoms were helped with Albuterol, a steroidal prescription inhalant, which he puffed once a day. High doses of the drugs had caused adverse side effects, including dry mouth, agitation and raised blood pressure. He also used another inhalant, Aerobid, daily.
He said his asthma was better when he was outside the house rather than inside.

His other major complaints were rectal itching, bleeding ands scabbing. An important point he made was with increased asthma, there was decreased rectal itching and vice versa. An inhaled steroid has increased his rectal itching, but helped his asthma.

Tom was also concerned by his 20 pound weight loss over the past three years before his first office visit. He had been avoiding wheat, tomato and soy for two months and he avoided milk for six months before his first visit. He’d also received allergy testing at Johns Hopkins hospital and was found to be negative for allergies to pollen, dust, mold and dog hair. Foods were not tested.

In discussing his problems with him, I said, “Tom, I think you have a yeast problem and in all likelihood, a food allergy/leaky gut plays a part in causing your complaints.”

Physical examination was within the normal limits except for some signs of mold allergies in his nose and severe dermatitis in his genital-anal region. This was treated with antifungal cream.

Tom was also tested for dust products, molds and foods. A yeast culture showed a variety of yeast that was very sensitive to Nizoral and mildly sensitive to nystatin, caprylic acid and garlic. I started Tom on a probiotic, followed by “yeast fighters” two weeks later, then a 10-day course of Nizoral, which caused increased fatigue.

Following this treatment program helped Tom control both his asthma and his rectal itching.

Over the next few months, Tom was given several course of prescription antifungals and he reported, “I feel a lot better, think more clearly and all in all, I’m feeling great.”

At his next visit, Tom told me he was able to start running and lifting weights for the first time in a year. He was still using inhaled steroids to control his asthma.

At his final visit, Tom said he was enjoying his best health in years.

He continued to take a low dose of Diflucan (50 mg. three times a week), which was keeping his asthma under control. On this dosed, his asthma, sleep, fatigue and rectal itching all improved.

He continued to avoid foods he was allergic to, take probiotics and used the inhaled steroids when needed. He’s maintained this good health for a year and a half.

This success story was sent to Dr. Crook in 1999 by Dr. Richard Layton of Towson, MD

©2003 Professional Books, Inc.