Do parasites cause autoimmune diseases?
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I have recently completed 2 stool sample tests that have rendered the same outcome, positive for parasitic organisms but unable to identify. Now I have to complete the exam a third time. I have still not received any treatment and have experienced some serious health problems over the past few years, including an idiopathic cardiomyopathy a little over 2 years ago. Two years before this I was hospitalized for a serious virus that could not be identified. This involved a very high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and the start of kidney failure, however I went to the emergency room at the right time. One month later, I had mono, then 4 months later, had a palsy in my left foot, then less than one year after, started experiencing chest pain, serious headaches, and extreme fatigue. The emergency room kept sending me home telling me it was a virus. Finally several months had passed after numerous visits to this ER, I went to a different hospital where they found a cardiomyopathy. My ejection fraction was 35%. I am only 37! Just after this, I noticed one day that I had experienced severe itching in the rectal area with several days of white discharge that had an odor of infection. I waited for a couple of months to see if things would get better, and they didn't, so I went to the ER. I told the doctor about the cardiomyopathy and previous mysterious illnesses, he completed a brief rectal exam, and said it was probably internal hemmorhoids. I asked if a parasitic infection was possible, and he said it was very unlikely because I hadn't been out of the country in several years. So he never tested my stool. Two years have passed, and I have had the same/similar problems since, and have reported this to the doctors over and over. For the past year and a half, I have developed new symptoms. Extreme fatigue, weakness, joint aches, headaches, constipation and diarrhea, greasy, yellowish stools, sweat that smells like ammonia, skin peeling out of my mouth, gas, burping, bad breath, weight loss and loss of appetite. In addition, I have mysterious skin rashes with hives on a daily basis, and started taking pictures of them to document this. In December of 2012, I tested positive for lupus with a positive ANA, and my doctor ordered the test because my eosinophil percentage had consistently been flagged on my blood reports as high. I still was not getting any answers, so I switched all of my doctors and have been going to the city. This is a world renowned hospital. Upon meeting my new doctors, they ordered a repeat of blood tests. This time the lupus was negative. The doctors quickly dismissed the lupus results prior, and said that sometimes people just test false positive, with no further explanation. Back in April of this year, my doctor informed me that my vitamin d level was very low, 12, should be between 30-40 he said, so I have been taking prescription vitamin d. I met with an infectious disease specialist a month ago, and she said she didn't think that I had parasites, but she would test because of my eosinophils. Bingo, I do have them, and now the doctors are trying to say they are parasitic but may not be causing my symptoms. For several months I have noticed that there is strange looking debris after blowing my nose into a tissue. Last night, I am about 99% certain that it was a small worm, certainly looked like one, and I was a teacher, so I am fairly well educated. I saved it in the tissue and put it in a zip lock bag. I don't know whether to call my doctor or not on Monday morning, as I don't trust him, and think he will once again be dismissive. I already went through the HIV phase with him, and told him I didn't have it, as I've only had 4 partners my entire life, have never had unprotected sex, I don't rim, and had an HIV test. I haven't been sexually active in about three years, so I knew I couldn't have it. I retested a couple of months ago to satisfy him, and it was negative once again. I have asked him if any of my past symptoms are connected, and he didn't think so. I disagree. The only diagnosis I have is another one of idiopathic nature, uticharia, (spelling) and says my blood work is fine, which it isn't, because my vitamin d was very low, and my eosinophils are still high. Any advice on what I should do? Prior to all of this stuff over the past 5 years, I was very rarely I'll. now I can no longer do many of the things that I used to, as I don't feel well enough, and I would really like to get some normalcy back in my life. Is there a doctor who can answer this without telling me that I am imagining things? The test results obviously indicate that I am not.
6 likes, 127 replies
frustrated61 frank47
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frustrated
frustrated61 frank47
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Have you tried the DE everyone has spoke about? I started just under a month now and I'm doing well. I mean I still have symptoms of the parasites but not as bad and I've noticed that some of the parasites have come out....in many different ways. Anyway, it's amazing something with no side effects and tasteless can do so much...but then again if I were around for hundreds of years baking in the sun and feeding off the ocean...I may be in better shape, too....well, best of luck to you....
feel better
frustrated
bbbonita frank47
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frustrated61 bbbonita
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I can atest to De food grade. I started taking it apprx 6 mths ago and found it had tremedous results. I do want to caution those who start this and find that perhaps their "parasite" problem seems worse rather than better. DE will give you "die-off" and that's the parasite dying and the remains are trying to rid the body or the parasites do not like DE and try to flee on their own before perishing. In any case, take it slow and be paitent.
DE is a great product but it can take some time before you see results. I, myself, found I had a bit more energy. That initself was a good thing. As far as my pup, I gave her a biscuit of DE mix and she loved it!! It seemed to settle her down with all the itching and licking. In fact, I need to purchase more. I purchased mine online off Amazon. I was unclear how to use it but called the distributor and spoke with the owner and he gave me some guidence on how to take it and how to up the anty each week. Also, if you are suffering from arthritis, DE food grade will help in that area too. Phil, the distributor, told me that those who suffer from extreme arthritis usually do well when they work themselves up to 3 tbls a day. This is a slow process and please take care as to not rush this product. Meaning, don't start at 1 tsp then after approx 5 days go up to 3 tablespoons....take it slow and go up gradually.
Good luck and I hope you find it helpful as Bonita and I have.
Warm regards
Frustrated
marygumbo frank47
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marygumbo frank47
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marygumbo frank47
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nori641 marygumbo
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I am asking about some terms i don't understand what is meaning
such as :DE , lgg , igm , Diatomaceous earth
if any know them i highly appreciat.
Another request : is Toxoplasmosis gondii not detected at Lab. ?
and is it causes a chronic diarrhea for many years?
Thank you
flo07851 frank47
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marygumbo flo07851
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nori641 frank47
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msmel frank47
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alex70830 frank47
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I am not a doctor (yet), but I am in veterinary school, and my mother is a doctor. Recently she was discussing a patient of hers (no names, of course) that has her completely stumped. This patient has symptoms similar to yours, and I suggested parasitic infection. She was shocked, but after some explanation on my part, she ran the tests. It isn't that your doctor is a 'bad doctor', but there is an extreme under-appreciation for parasitic disease in the US because it's not something human doctors are used to encountering. In veterinary school, we have to learn about potential zoonotic (animal parasites that can infect humans) parasites because we need to be able to warn our clients about certain risks when their pet has certain conditions. Your symptoms are absolutely consistent with parasitic infection, but your doctor might not recognize this. Further, there are very few reliable diagnostic tests for human parasitism. When the infection has progressed from the initial intestinal phase (if it's GI, not all of them are!), it can cause a host (no pun intended) of systematic symptoms that are difficult to quantify. Systemic parasitism will not produce eggs/larvae in stool, and blood tests can't always capture evidence of infection. If I were in your position, I would ask my doctor to run a full parasite panel, and maybe ask about the risks of a broad-spectrum antihelminthic (dewormer) and a course of Doxycycline, with or without positive results. Chronic Trichinosis can cause the symptoms you are describing, as can others. Don't take this as medical advice, like I said, I'm not a doctor. But, I recognize a gap in human medical knowledge pertaining to parasitism, and so asking your doctor about specific tests can't hurt. Best of luck, I hope you're feeling better!
A. S.
ali63625 alex70830
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CydneyRN ali63625
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