Natural treatments for systemic yeast in medically complex child

[Cornelia]

I notice you haven't responded to messages on this forum in over a month.  I am hopeful you will respond shortly as I am in need of advice.  I have a medically complex child whom I have noticed has systemic yeast (yet again).  He has CF, Autism, and end-stage Hepatic Cirrhosis (secondary to his CF).  He takes Rifaximine the first and third weeks of every month prophylactically to control Hepatic Encephelitis.  He is also maintaining his standard CF treatments to maintain lung stability as his lung and liver functions have inexplicably become casually linked.

He just began a 21 day treatment of Amikacin and Fortaz IV again yesterday evening.  This is his third this year.  He had the same regiment for five weeks in January and again another two weeks in February.  Typically (and at his last lung culture) he only cultures mucoid Pseudamonas in his lungs.

For obvious reasons, Diflucan is not a valid treatment option at this point.  Nystatin is ineffective under the best of circumstances and requires direct topical exposure to work (per every Pharmacist I have personally consulted).  With his sensory/Autism issues, it's not an option either, and it won't treat systemic infection.

His specialists are NOT opposed to natural/herbal treatments for his yeast.  They are simply completely inexperienced in providing any guidance.  Due to his fragile condition, I hesistate to consult someone outside of the medical community who might be unaware of the interaction with his hepatic function from some treatment options.

Currently, I have him on Grapefruit Seed Extract three times per day to treat the yeast.  Is there anything I can safely add to this option which can aide in elminating the yeast?  Obviously, with his continued required antibiotic regiment, yeast is a constant advesary we face.  However, the yeast returned before we began his current course so I expect it will become nearly impossible to combat if we don't get on top of it fast. 

Dietarily, he is fully g-tube dependent.  He has been on Peptamin 1.5 for years (8 cans per day).  He was switched to Peptamin Jr 1.5 last month as his GI wanted him in a lower protien formulation to aide his liver function.  It's possible this formula has a higher carb count, though most of the calories are compensated with fat versus protien.  Switching back is not a good option at this point.  There is little that can be done dietarily to combat this issue.  Additionally, we can increase his probiotics but he is already on maintenance probiotics....and honestly increasing them really counter-acts the mechanism of the Rifaximin in regards to the HE.

I just want to keep this child as comfortable as absolutely possible and Diflucan is not an option for him at this point.  Is there anything I can do, or he is doomed to continue with rampant systemmic yeast permenantly at this poin

[DrBobSears]

sorry I didn't see this post sooner.  You've provided me with alot of details here. I don't know enough about the various herbal and natural treatments for yeast and how they may interact with the liver. A naturopath may know better than I do.  I like GrapeFruit Seed extract, but don't know its effect on a compromised liver. So, I don't think I can give you an answer here.

[DrBobSears]

sorry to be gone so long. hope things are going ok. I like colostrum - there are several brands. I do like grapefruit seed, which you are on. oral amphotericin is an option - it's prescription, and is generally well tolerated.

[Cornelia]

Colostrom will combat systemic yeast?  That might be a viable option for him.  He's scheduled to re-start IV antibiotics first of July, and I expect we will battle the yeast symptoms yet again, as we seem to do everytime we do these antibiotics.  I will research the colostrom and run it by his GI to extra careful about liver function.  I wonder if colostrom might help with inflammatory processes as well, since he has significant inflammatory issues in his lungs (takes thrice a week Zithromax for that issue).

Thank you.  I will stock up on the Grapefruit Seed Extract and look into the colostrom possibility.