Could it have been parasites all along?

So two weeks ago today I started prednisone. Right away it started making me much worse, the bleeding was the worse it has ever been and I felt pain I have never had before. I gave it a week while it got worse daily before my doctor told me I must have an infection and to wean off of it. I have been weaning off (went from 45 to 20 mg last Saturday, then 10 on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday, 7.5 Wednesday/Thursday, 5mg Friday/today, and probably drop to 2.5 tomorrow. Last Saturday I went to my local health food store and asked for a parasite cleanse and she gave me black walnut and clove. I started it that day, the same day I started tapering prednisone. By Wednesday my bleeding stopped, and my symptoms have been progressively better since. I am shocked and amazed and a little hesitant to use the R word, but could this have been all I needed to get into remission? Has anyone else had success with a parasite cleanse? I have to wonder if it is some sort of delayed response to the prednisone, although it made my uc so bad and every time I taper I get better. It just seems too easy after two years of trying EVERYTHING! Anyway, feeling hopeful... :)

imagardener2 said...
I've used wormwood and olive leaf all all they do for me is cause IBS multiple BM's the next morning.
Glad you have had positive to something, that's good news. Hope it keeps up.

That's too bad it didn't work for you, I was also considering olive leaf but the girl said to try one thing at a time. To be honest I am finding it hard to believe it is the black walnut and clove, and yet I don't know what else it could be? I have had 4 days with hardly any blood, not even when I wipe, and that has not happened for over 2 years! I know the black walnut targets liver parasites, so maybe that's what I've had all this time. I'm still going multiple times per day but much more form and little to no blood.

Could it be a delayed response to prednisone? I'm almost scared to drop to 2.5mg, and yet I got worse on it and better off, it just all seems like too much for me to believe this could be it...

Yes it could be that simple. Keep us posted. You need to stay on the cleanse for at least 30 days.

laughingduck said...
Day 5, no blood!

Ewakedals, I'm not sure if I have ever had an eosinophil count. They have done lots of tests on me though! They are going to do another stool test but I doubt they will find anything, they never do.

Pathogenkiller, I was wondering how long to stay on the cleanse for, there is actually very little info online about how to take black walnut. One site recommended 2 weeks on, one week off, two week on for 11 weeks (8 weeks actually taking the stuff). I may see a naturopath this week and get some clarification, I'd hate to get so close only to do the cleanse wrong!

Well, the eosinophil count is shown in your regular blood work for CBC. Was it in the normal range?

hmm, can you tell me the exact brands of the black walnut and clove?

I'm having a hard time to believe it's those 2 things stopped your inflammations, but I also believe is strange and obscure things.

Realistically, it's more probable that your pred round "stopped" it for NOW in a "undetermined time". It's not the first time I read where a pred taper keeps an individual symptom free.

However, having said all this junk, I still would continue on that protocol of yours. If someone told me rat poison cured this, I'd be chugging down the hatch.

Somedude said...
I'm having a hard time to believe it's those 2 things stopped your inflammations, but I also believe is strange and obscure things.

Realistically, it's more probable that your pred round "stopped" it for NOW in a "undetermined time". It's not the first time I read where a pred taper keeps an individual symptom free.

However, having said all this junk, I still would continue on that protocol of yours. If someone told me rat poison cured this, I'd be chugging down the hatch.

I agree pred works for me every time unless something block conversion in the liver.

I am actually taking rat poison, coumadin/warfarin is rat poison but is therapeutic in lower doses as a blood thinner. Pred taper going great, 20 friday, 10 yesterday, 5 so far today. Was 60-70 one month ago.

The cecum and ileocecal area is a notorious parasite hiding place.. If I remember you were having some symptoms there?? We never finished working through possibilities.. I say 30 days and then mix it up, but at least 30.. Preferably longer.. Getting worse on pred is a symptom of hyper infection with parasites...

laughingduck,

did you have any die off symptoms?

I took black walnut and cloves and some tincture of a kind a few years back and all my symptoms subsided(nice LONG BM once a day) but I was getting anxiety/panic attacks so I couldn't handle it anymore.

Then I started eating mad sugary food(thinking I was all good) then flared right back and landed in a hospital years back.

GCOUPE said...
laughingduck,

did you have any die off symptoms?

I took black walnut and cloves and some tincture of a kind a few years back and all my symptoms subsided(nice LONG BM once a day) but I was getting anxiety/panic attacks so I couldn't handle it anymore.

Then I started eating mad sugary food(thinking I was all good) then flared right back and landed in a hospital years back.

Yesterday I started craving sugar and was feeling a little nauseous and had a headache. I ate 3 cookies in the afternoon which I tried to make up for with an extra long cardio workout! All I wanted for dinner was pancakes but managed to stick with roast chicken and potato. I am still gluten and dairy free but other than that have really relaxed about my diet and I am fine. In fact, this morning I did have my blueberry buckwheat pancakes, just only allowed myself 1/2 tsp of maple syrup :)

And speaking of this morning, it has been the best day yet! My body did not wake me up at 5am to run to the lol, I slept in until 7am and then only had to use the washroom AFTER my pancakes and coffee, and it was mostly solid and no blood!! I almost wanted to take a picture! Lol. There is still a bit of white cloudy stuff coming out (mucous?) but is so so much better. I decided to stick with 3.75mg of prednisone again. Tomorrow I will probably do 2.5mg for two days, then 1.25mg for two days, then off. I have 5mg pills so these are the smallest adjustments I can make. I would taper quicker but have psoriasis as well and have read that prednisone can trigger a really horrible flare unless tapered very very slowly.

Post Edited (laughingduck) : 7/9/2013 4:13:46 AM (GMT-6)

aguywithuc said...

laughingduck said...

aguywithuc said...

Somedude said...
I'm having a hard time to believe it's those 2 things stopped your inflammations, but I also believe is strange and obscure things.

Realistically, it's more probable that your pred round "stopped" it for NOW in a "undetermined time". It's not the first time I read where a pred taper keeps an individual symptom free.

However, having said all this junk, I still would continue on that protocol of yours. If someone told me rat poison cured this, I'd be chugging down the hatch.

I agree pred works for me every time unless something block conversion in the liver.

I am actually taking rat poison, coumadin/warfarin is rat poison but is therapeutic in lower doses as a blood thinner. Pred taper going great, 20 friday, 10 yesterday, 5 so far today. Was 60-70 one month ago.

Wow, that's amazing you are tapering so quickly with such success! How long were you 60-70 for?

I'm a bit concerned if it is the prednisone that is working for me, since I am still not 100% better and will be back to zero in a few days. Almost makes me wonder if I should not be tapering? I guess I will find out in a few days if I continue to get better after I stop it completely or if I start to flare up again.

I stayed at 60 for a month - had a ton of things to do at work and home. Remained at 40 for same reason then began the plunge. 5 was a bit low come yesterday afternoon, what with weightlifting, mountain biking then tennis with daughter who would not stop. Important to reduce inflammation when tapering, plus I was out of vicodin so I took 10mg more later in the day when I got the headache. Now I think this sends a strong signal to the adrenal glands to wake up but I will now slow down for a couple days and hang at 15 this week before going lower. Send another strong signal next weekend when I can nap away.

Is it a good idea to try and stimulate the adrenals while tapering? I was wondering about that myself, whether to stimulate them or rest them...

its not just a standard labcorp test, is it?

It really looks like it could be fasciola hepatica, ESP with the large size and your travel history. I so hope this is an answer for you!!