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hookworm therapy for PMR?

Posted , 7 users are following.

snapperblue
snapperblue

Have any of you had experience with using hookworm to dampen the autoimmune system and reduce the symptoms of PMR?  Evidence seems to be accumulating on the effectiveness of this in treating other autoimmune disorders.

When I was first diagnosed, I assumed I’d have to take some prednisone for months or years and everything would be dandy.  However, based on the experiences of those on this forum, and my own overwhelming fatigue, I am getting less optimistic.  I would welcome a few intestinal fellow travelers if this would allow me to avoid both chronic inflammation and the side effects of long-term use of prednisone.

For information on this, you can google “hookworm” and “autoimmune,” or look for the program on parasites.

I’d really appreciate any information anyone might share on using this approach for PMR.  Thanks!

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2 likes, 22 replies

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  • judytal
    judytal snapperblue

    Posted

    The most common clinical symptoms of helminthic therapy include;Fatigue[1]

    Malnutrition[1]

    Gastrointestinal discomfort[3]

    Anemia[1][5][6]

    Fever[6]

    Abdominal pain[6]

    Weight loss[6]

    Anorexia[6]

    Diarrhea[6]

    General malaise[6]

    I googled .... side effects.....

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy snapperblue

    Posted

    A friend of mine has just been round for coffee and said "I have just met someone who has what you have got and she wants to stop taking steroids currently 13mg and try hookworm instead!!" Apparently she has enrolled somewhere and she will have a patch with thirty hookworms on it which they will stick on her skin. She has not done it yet, but seems to be quite a way down the path, I will let you know any feedback. 
    • snapperblue
      snapperblue ptolemy

      Posted

      Thanks, Ptolemy!  The course of PMR is so variable, it will be hard to determine whether the hookworms helped.  However, as I said above, I am more worried about the long-term inflammation of the blood vessels than I would be about a low level infestation of hookworm.  I'd love to hear how your friend's friend does.  
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