Midnight Shadow,
It shouldn't be so difficult. I'm sorry you had to suffer unnecessarily. Hope you're feeling better soon.
Your diagnosis corresponds to something I read recently:
"However, one interesting trend was noticed upon comparing the distributions of Candida species for the different age groups. The data showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases in the prevalences of non-albicans species, along with steady decreases in C. albicans, with increases in age. C. glabrata accounted for >18% of isolates in women of menopausal age and older (≥51 years), compared to <4.8% for young adults (<30 years) and <11.8% for middle-aged women (31 to 50 years).
This increase in non-albicans species, specifically C. glabrata, is an important observation that was reported in smaller studies of the elderly. Similar increases in non-albicans species have been reported for diabetic patients, in which C. glabrata was the primary species isolated. Understanding the changes that occur in patient populations which exhibit higher prevalences of non-albicans species is warranted (i.e., menopausal and postmenopausal women and diabetic patients). Possible explanations include changes in patient physiology, hormone balance, and decrease in immune function."
From the CDC:
"Echinocandin resistance appears to be increasing, especially in the species Candida glabrata. C. glabrata already has high levels of resistance to the antifungal fluconazole, and this resistance has remained fairly constant over the past 20 years, according to CDC surveillance data. Echinocandins are the preferred treatment for C. glabrata, and echinocandin resistance could severely limit treatment options for patients with candidiasis caused by C. glabrata."
