Parasites

Hi njk,
Welcome to HealingWell!
It seems that most of us with an official IBS diagnosis have been tested for parasites. IBS is/was a diagnosis of exclusion, most of us have been through a series of tests to get to where we are. Colon cleanses do not work.... especially for parasites. People may feel better for a few days, but then they always go back to the same old. What seems to work the best, so far that I have heard of, is Flagyl.
Do you have a parasite? Have you seen a GI doc?

I had my fair share of parasites when I lived in Africa and South America.  They'll cause violent diarrhea, vomiting, high fevers (up to 104); it's really just very messy.  I've been treated with Flagyl and Ciprofloxacin on probably 5-6 different occasions, sometimes I.V. and sometimes orally.  I really did not experience any bad side effects from either of those medications, maybe a little nausea in the beginning, some headaches.  I would NEVER do a parasite "cleanse" - those are complete hokiness, in my opinion, and they can do more damage than good to your intestines. 

Most parasitic infections clear up with a simple round of Flagyl.  But if you did indeed have parasites, it's likely they'd show markers in your labs - you'd have leukocytes and/or blood in your stools, discreet changes in your complete blood count, etc. - even if the ova & parasite smears they do turn out negative. 

You are absolutely right, parasites are difficult to find. That is why any good doc will have you collect at least 3 stool samples a few days apart from each other.
Is a specialist monitoring your cleanse?

Thanks 7hil. Unfortunately i do not have any specialists with me during this. But i will be going to a naturopath soon.


For some reason i find that when people hear natural and alternative answers, cures, anything they immediately get offended. I can't understand why that would be, if someone has a viewpoint other than mainstream doctors i'd be glad to hear it and try their path.

I also have a link showing that 80% of a randomized study had parasite infections. I don't believe i'm able to post it without permission, so if you want it just ask.

But there is no proof either way of the miracles to natural healing because they are covered up by the FDA. Did you know that the cure for cancer had once been developed and the man who found it was either killed or "died of natural causes" and his documents were taken. Do you actually think that medical doctors want you to find a cure for your illness? Ofcourse not, that would put pharmaceutical companies out of business.

I know that statement may anger you because you think i am one who sells "miracle" products. No, i am open to knowledge. I have seen the most sense come out of natural and alternative care and therapy. Is water a scam? I'm not selling but i'm advising it because i know of it's healing properties.

7Lil said...
Njk, we hear "natural" and we think scam. Primarily because they never "cure" anyone. Anyone with real IBS has not been cured... that's the bottom line. People grow out of it and get better, but there is no real cure for IBS.
Cleanses can be dangerous so please be careful with yours. By the way, many of those natural cleanses we read about include ingredients that will make your stool look dark and disgusting and maybe stringy. They are made to make you think you are passing all sorts of things you really never had.
Wishing you the best...

But how is that making you think you didn't have it, if it is sitting right there in the toilet?

I dont know about you, but if there was something disgusting, stringy, and weird looking coming out (even if it wasn't parasites) i'd be glad that it's OUT of me rather than in.

What Lil is telling you is true...the formulations of those "cleanses" are designed to give you some really creepy runs that make you believe you are ridding yourself of the evil parasites or cleansing your system.  Until you study the gastrointestinal system closely, you won't realize that the gut already sheds it's lining every day; new cells are constantly being generated while older cells are sloughed off.  That's why "cleansing" is such a misnomer; your body is perfectly equipped to cleanse itself without the aid of expensive solutions sold by snake oil salesmen!

I have many gripes about the medical profession as well, but at least they have peer-reviewed studies and some sort of regulations to follow.  It is extremely difficult to prepare a pharmaceutical drug for approval from the FDA; endless trials, reviews, etc.  Someone's magic parasite potion can be bottled sewer water, for all you know!

Sarita said...
What Lil is telling you is true...the formulations of those "cleanses" are designed to give you some really creepy runs that make you believe you are ridding yourself of the evil parasites or cleansing your system. Until you study the gastrointestinal system closely, you won't realize that the gut already sheds it's lining every day; new cells are constantly being generated while older cells are sloughed off. That's why "cleansing" is such a misnomer; your body is perfectly equipped to cleanse itself without the aid of expensive solutions sold by snake oil salesmen!

I have many gripes about the medical profession as well, but at least they have peer-reviewed studies and some sort of regulations to follow. It is extremely difficult to prepare a pharmaceutical drug for approval from the FDA; endless trials, reviews, etc. Someone's magic parasite potion can be bottled sewer water, for all you know!

I remember that frame of mind that you have, i used to have it myself.

But that's what the ingredients list is for, if you think it's sewer water. And also think about this, if someone was selling a product that had absolutely no value what so ever, don't you think enough people would take it and be dissatisfied and never buy their products again?


That's not the case from the various herbal suppliers and natural sellers.

I can understand your skepticism. But there comes a point when you have to atleast think about alternatives. I don't have the exact details of how the herbs work, just what they do. Black walnut hulls and wormwood simply kill a majority of parasites, so does garlic and many other substances, these are probably just the most efficient. While Cloves kill parasite eggs.

As for the hulls making my crap mucoid, it would be very very difficult for that to be possible from what i seen in the toilet days after taking it. It would've had to have expanded suddenly out of the pill, turned into a solid texture, changed color, and made alot of it somehow. Or it could've just cleared some junk out of the intestines. I could give you a graphic description of what was in the bowl but i don't think you would enjoy actually hearing it.

As far as knowing, ofcourse what i say isn't a fact. Nothing is. Scientists come back 20 years later after something they say and say the exact opposite. It's my experience, and knowledge of the experience from others as well as common sense. ( not saying you dont have it if you don't believe in what i do )

questforhealing,

thanks for the post bud, i'm glad you understand and support the fact that medical doctors aren't the geniuses that they make themselves out to be.

i'm glad your ibs treatment was successful, i'll be going to a naturopath soon myself.

gimme an e-mail or IM sometime.

[email protected]

and

NCZ Nate on aim.