Is it Candida?

I just discovered this place... and I have a question.

I recently saw my tongue was white (thicker in the back) and did some research. Of course, Candida came up first. Then again, it TERRIFIED me mostly because of its common relation to HIV in the websites. I recently had my first sexual experience, it was unprotected oral sex. See, since I only RECEIVED oral from someone else, this is not even considered an HIV risk. Furthermore, my partner tested negative for HIV. I do, however, keep being scared out of my mind. My tongue is still white, the spit-in-the-glass test is positive. Yesterday I started taking a probiotic (LactoFlor - lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilus). Recently I have had more neck pains, even some groin pains (could it be anxiety?), loose stools/diarrhea (especially since I found out about HIV and white tongue, etc.), stuffy nose. Lat night I was preoccupied with checking whether my lymph nodes have swollen, and I think some have indeed. That scares me (still not over my HIV fear). Could it be that my swollen nodes from last night are due to die-off or something? PLEASE help me, I just don't know where else to turn... Thanks!


Sorry to write again... just some more info if you happen to need it.

I first noticed the white tongue after I had experienced about 2 weeks of almost no food due to anxiety. That caused dry mouth (or at least I believe that's what did it), and that's about when I saw the white tongue.
Also, recently I've been having slight pains in this or that muscle/joint, unlike flu (I HOPE I don't get flu-like symptoms, as they'd scare me and bring back my HIV-phobia).
I also got sudden acne about a week ago. I do get it sometimes, but it had been gone for a while and it almost surprised me. (Then again, as we say here, "the eyes of fear are big")
Oh yes, last night I went out dancing... Sweating occured, normal, but it made the back of my hands sting! It felt as if I had cat scratches there! I washed my hands with soap and water and the backs of my hands turned red! And now my skin is quite dry.
I believe (and hope) that this is all.
Thank you all for your patience... I hope you have some good words of advice for me.


hi nicola, this sentence interests me very much 'I first noticed the white tongue after I had experienced about 2 weeks of almost no food due to anxiety.' the severe stage of my candida came on immediately after a period of acute stress and anxiety. i also kind of recognise this 'Sweating occured, normal, but it made the back of my hands sting! It felt as if I had cat scratches there! I washed my hands with soap and water and the backs of my hands turned red! And now my skin is quite dry'. i had that too. your whole post reminds me of when i first got my severe candida problem, its really spooky actually.


Steveuk - so what you're saying is that it is probably Candida? I mean... if the waterglass test is any accurate, I do have it. What scared the **** out of me was the fact that almost ALL of the sites online list Candida as an HIV sign. Except for the homeopathic sites. I like homeopathy myself, but there's always that big IF in the back of my head. On the other side, I have only had oral sex so far, and most sites do say that the risk is so negligible, that some of them dropped it out of the risk factors list. Anyway, my partner tested negative, as I said... so now I am left with anxiety and, evidently, Candida.

(off-topic: My cat is weird! He has been following me everywhere, more so than anyone else at home, and "talking" to me. He scares me, it is as if he is sensing something... maybe cats can sense anxiety?)

Thanks to everyone who is here and is willing to help me. And thanks to Steve for telling me about his Candida problem. I know I can't be glad you got Candida, but it IS nice to know somebody got it this way, so that I can relate!!!


you sound very stressed indeed, and this can open the door to candida to take hold (it certainly did with me), then the candida toxins make you even more stressed. as regards the HIV, if your partner tested negative, then shouldnt that put your mind at ease? its not always easy to think clearly when your stressed i know, but look at the facts, he tested negative,so you should be too. also about your cat, maybe he notices a slight change in your behaviour, you may be moving a little quicker or slower than before you become so stressed, and because your senses are heightend,you notice him noticing you! it can be very difficult, ive been in supermarkets where ive just stared at someone and theyve just stared at me, and we've just stared at each other for 20 seconds (a lifetime!), and ive eventually just walked off feeling like an alien. its very odd and unnerving. it was only later i thought that because i was stressed and my eyes were wide, the other person may have seen me and thought 'he looks stressed, what has JUST stressed him, am i in any danger?' and so he kept looking at me for further signals, but i was just looking back at him thinking whys this guy staring at me, do i look screwed up or something?! OMG im an alien!' lol, when all the time its something very simple. nicola, your in a bad situation at the moment, but you can get better. start the anticandida diet as soon as possible, that should give you some relief, and keep posting here :)


What is it about supermarkets that are so weird? I have similar experiences when I go there. I always feel like I'm in a dream, but I was blaming the flourescent lights. I think it's more being in a situation where you have to be alert and thinking clearly when the candida brain can't focus.


You do not have HIV. I truly believe that many of your symptoms are stress related because you are worried about HIV. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself so I know how it is, but I would stop worrying!

Yes, I am slowly starting to come to grips with the fact that HIV is not my problem. I did go through a year of cancer-cyberchondria 2 years ago, so I recognise some of the psychosomatic symptoms.
HOWEVER, the candida on my tongue is there - tongue is white, feels raw at times, and the spit-in-glass-of-water-in-the-morning test (if it is reliable at all) shows candida is in fact present. I have been brushing my tongue more, taking a probiotic (and planning on getting that grapefruit thing) and even gargling with water+baking soda.

So I am pretty much wondering whether I do have candida... I never had such problems before.