Dear Dr. Stoll,
After years of problems and no doctor being able to find the cause I finally found a doctor who was smart enough to suggest a stool sample and found that I had a bacteria and a parasite (blastocystis hominis). I was able to get rid of the bacteria but after 3 rounds of antibiotics the parasite still seems to exist. I just finished my 3rd round and still have the symptoms so I believe it is still there. A second stool sample still showed the existance after the first round of medication.
I have read that this parasite is very hard to get rid of and even contagious, possibly spread through sexual contact, etc. I have also been warned that it could be in my water. I don't see a problems drinking bottled water but if I brush my teeth and wash my veggies I don't see this as a viable solution. Its gonna get me again sooner or later. I have made some attempt to get my water tested but so far no luck. I looked at 2 private companies but they don't seem to do this kind of thing. I felt they would be more competent then the city or county.
My questions are how contagious is this really and what drugs for how long will get rid of this. I'm wondering if my boyfriend sould be tested. So far I have taken cipro 500mg for the bacteria & flagyl 375mg(qty 45) 3 times a day the first time, metronidazole (generic flagyl) 500mg(qty 30) 3 a day and finally, yodonix 650mg(qty 60) 3 a day. This parasite has ruined many years of my life and won't go away without a good fight it seems. I can't stress enough how awful it has been.
Please advise. I thank you very much.
Gabriele
In Reply to: Blastocystis hominis posted by Gabriele C. Ferber on August 07, 1998 at 11:38:15:
Gabrielle-
I had blastocystis hominis and was treated with Vermox (a prescription
wormer) and Paramicrocidin and ParQing (two herbals). The timing was tricky,
and I don't remember it exactly, but I took the Vermox for a few days,
then waited a week, then took some more (to kill newly-maturing beasties),
and then started on the herbals. I took the ParQing for about a month,
then I couldn't tolerate it anymore. It contains wormwood, which is
in the ragweed family. I took the Paramicrocidin, which is grapefruit seed
extract, for about three months, and it helped a lot with yeast as well.
The prescriptions were made by my orthomolecular MD, who practices in a
clinic in Wichita, KS. It is called the Center for the Improvement of
Human Functioning. They treat only chronic illnesses, and have patients
come from all over the world. One of their specialties is treating parasitic
infection.
They have a website that is something like www.brightspot.com,
but if you search under the clinic name, I am sure you will find
it. You might also search under the names of the two clinicians,
Hugh Riordan and Ron Hunninghake. They sell numerous health-related
audio and video tapes and books, and have a ton of stuff on parasites.
Their telephone is 316-682-3100. They would be happy to send you
information about their clinic. Your dr might even call to find out
what the BH protocol is, so he can prescribe it for you.
Incidentally, they have observed that blastocystis hominis is commonly
found in their patients who have CFIDS and fibromyalgia.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Martha
In Reply to: Blastocystis hominis posted by Gabriele C. Ferber on August 07, 1998 at 11:38:15:
Dear Gabriele,
ANYONE with a healthy bacterial ecology in their gut CANNOT GET parasites. This is ALWAYS due to the prior existance of Leaky Gut Syndrome. OF COURSE, if the LGS is not dealt with, it will be hard (or impossible) to cure ANY parasite infestation.
Your boyfriend could also have it (for the same reasons) and is just feeding it back to you).
Finally, the chances are that you have more than one parasite & your lab is just missing them. The average lab only finds 1 out of 50 parasites placed in a specimen for testing purposes. The best in the land only find 1 out of 5 with a single purged specimen.
If it were me, I would connect with someone (in your area) who has been associated with a specialty lab like Great Smokies (800) 522-4762 and learn much more about WHY you have this & what parasites are being missed.
Let us know what you learn. In the meantime, become a student of LGS & its causes.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Blastocystis hominis posted by Walt Stoll on August 08, 1998 at 10:42:58:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
Thanks for your reply. I know about LGS from your web site and have also read your book but don't know enough yet on how to manage or cure it. The lab that reported this back to me and my doctor was Great Smokies. I am well aware that they are one of the few labs that know how to diagnose these types of things. They recommended antibiotics to cure this parasite on both of the lab reports after 2 specimen samples. I don't believe they said why I have this just that I do. I have also been taking achidophilus for over a year now if that tells you anything more.
I will now make this story even more interesting. I am in a bit of a quandary right now. My doctor also does Chelation therapy. A few weeks ago a colleague of mine saw on the news the last few minutes of a story about my doctor. Apparently, he was being investigated for his Chelation practice. I was not aware of this and would not of cared even if I knew. Well to make a long story longer, as of this past Friday, his office seems to be closed. There was no answer. I am afraid he is one of those doctors you have talked about. After phoning someone else I know who knows of him, I found out that he was under constant scrutiny regarding his approach to medicine, especially Chelation. He is a DO not an MD. He was not allowed back in his clinic as of the news story and had someone else seeing his patients. He was due in court on Friday, Aug 7, to find out if he could return, but as I said, it appears that the entire clinic has now been shut down. This is very distressing to say the least. Believe me he had alot of patients coming into that place. I wonder what they are thinking and how they are feeing.
I am not sure what to do at this point. I have done alot of work and spent a fair amount of my own money with him in getting my health back but still have a ways to go. I have confidence in him and believe that his troubles are due to the fact that he does not follow conventional medicine. I make a very general statement but I think you know what I mean.
Any advice about LGS and any comments would be appreciated.
Gabriele
In Reply to: Re: Blastocystis hominis posted by Gabriele on August 10, 1998 at 11:43:09:
Dear Gabrielle,
Chelation is NOT illegal in any of the 50 states. In every case where the doc had enough money to meet these gestapo types in court, the doc has won. The problem is that the AMA has more money than any individual & so can afford to keep taking the doc to court till he is broken at least financially. Your doc must have been helping a lot of people for the locals to be so threatened.
Those docs that are NOT helping people soon dry up on the vine because they cannot get referrals from satisfied patients. Only those doing the right thing get attacked like this.
The one constant for resolving LGS is doing a skilled relaxation technique at least twice a day for 20 minutes. I have yer to see a case of LGS that did not resolve itself within 6-12 months of doing that alone.
However, as in your case, frequently the lgs leads to parasitosis. Just resolving the lgs will not usually get rid of the parasites. They need to be addressed separately AFTER the lgs is gone.
Unfortunately, less experienced practitioners frequently try to resolve the parasites first: it is easier, more like we learned in medical school & so more comfortable. Unfortunately, the LGS is how the parasite got its start every time. SO, what is to keep it from happening again?
You can probably speed up the response to the relaxation by doing the 4-R program. Without the relaxation, rthe problem will still recurr if only the 4-R is done. Go to the 'site: www.fxmed.com for information about the 4-R.
Walt