Guest guest Posted June 10, 2002 Report Share Posted June 10, 2002 Carrol, You are exactly right " they do not want to know why " . As a matter of fact, last year I proposed all kinds of things that could be the cause to my neuro's nurse, she finally told me in these exact words " we do not find out why, we try to find medicines that control the seizures " . Idiots. It makes no sense to me. But for your question. The doctor that did find the parasite, after I insisted he check, as said was very uninterested. He asked did I want to treat, and I asked him did he think I was one of Tarzan's relative that wants to live in harmony with the parasites. He wrote the prescription and I never went back. He previously, when was 2yrs old, wrote a prescription for antibiotics that was for a child twice her body weight, luckily I was taking drug dosage and measurement to the time and wanted to test my skills- so I caught it. However, I know I am telling you more than you bargained for. Please do read the summary tomorrow on Dientamoeba fragilis, a lot of people are walking around with the diagnosis of IBS but what they really have is an amoeboid infection. Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2002 Report Share Posted June 11, 2002 Hi Tracey, This article is very interesting. The moment you mentioned Flagyl, I suddenly remembered our encounter with this little parasite a few years ago. When my son was 5 years old, he went to the golf course with his dad and picked up this amoeba from playing in and drinking the water meant for the golf course's grass. This was a very small town on the West Coast of South Africa where we lived for three years. The town's doctor treated him immediately with Flagyl and Tetracycline and mentioned that this was a common infection in the area. I remember the doctor was very concerned and said this amoeba is difficult to get rid of, and that my son must not skip a single dose of his medication. After a week or two he recovered completely. He hasn't suffered any relapses or other consequences of his infection. Today (9yo) he is still very healthy. If you're interested, I could find out the exact name/type of amoeba my son was infected with. Best regards, Lorinda On Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at 04:27 , Traceygrubbs@... wrote: > Dientamoeba fragilis (Df) > > > My primary interest in this organisms stem from the enormous amount > of > controversy this organism has generated through the years. Many doctors > refuse to believe that Df is an actual pathogen. Thus, many patients are > leaving their doctor's offices in distress because their illness was > categorized as a psychosomatic condition and often the patient is > placed on > anti depressants. Df may be asymptomatic for some patients, thus, it is > believed that Df is harmless. However, just as some people suffer with > hay > fever and others don't, the effect of Df is depending on the individual > host > response to the parasite. There are numerous illnesses linked to this > condition that I think are being taken to lightly, and I am sure those > who > suffer from this illness would agree with this statement. > Let's first discuss what Df is and then I will go into detail of > how it > affects the host. I have provided pictures of the organism so you can > relate > to what I am referring to. Df is currently bunched into the category of > protozoa under flagellates. If you go back to what we have learned in > general > biology, flagellates have flagella. Well, Df lacks flagella or any other > means of mobility so it is obvious that it is wrongfully classified. > As a > matter of fact, researchers are unsure of how this organism actually > enters > the host. Some speculate that it uses the eggs of enterobius > vermicularis > (pinworms) as its means of entry. It has been observed that Df is often > found > concomitant with Entamoeba histolytica infections, so future evidence > may > lead to more conclusive information on this. > Df morphological features are simple in structure. The organism is > round > and it can have either one or two nucleuses. Research has indicated > that more > than 60% of these organisms actually do have two nucleuses, thus it is > often > referred to as a multinucleate organism, as the name indicates > Dientamoeba > fragilis. The fragilis by the way refers to the organism being very > fragile, > primarily because it is an anaerobe and exposure to oxygen will kill the > organism in no time. > Now that we know a little bit about the actual organism, we will > discuss > how and where it affects its host. Df lives primarily in the colon > (large > intestine), where it thrives on normal flora (good bacteria of the > colon). As > we have learned from Dr. Dial, normal flora is very essential in the > colon. > It is responsible for assisting the digestion process and reabsorbtion > of > vital nutrients such as vitamins. Since Df depletes the bacteria that > are > responsible for this process it is obvious that it causes the host some > deficiencies. I am just speculating, but I assume if the waste material > excreted by the organism actually gets reabsorbed to some degree it > cannot be > considered very healthy for its host either. > However, we shall stick to the facts. > It has been found that some, although not all; individuals suffer > from > the following symptoms: > Amoebic dysentery (diarrhea) with alternating constipation > Stomach cramps > Excessive bloating > Weakness and fatigue -probably due to lack of nutrients, (sorry, I am > speculating again) > Anorexia > Weight loss > Nausea and vomiting > Flatulence (gas) > Headache > Fever > Malaise (excessive fatigue) > Irritability > Depression (This does not surprise me. I think If I had to run around > all day > with cramps, gas, and numerous other symptoms and only to go to a > doctor that > tells me it's all in my head, I think I would get depressed too). > > As I mentioned, not many doctors are buying into the fact that Df is a > pathogen, so treatment (if diagnosed) is often taken lightly. Many > doctors > are under the impression that the body will rid itself of the infection. > The actual diagnosis of Df is not an easy process. It is recommended > that a > three-day stool culture be submitted. The first day should be a purged > BM > (bowel movement) meaning the stool and parasite is forced with the aid > of a > laxative. The second and third day are collected from normal bowel > movement. > Since the organism is not aerotolerant it is necessary to preserve the > stool > sample immediately after defecation. Polyvinyl alcohol fixative, sodium > acetate acid-formalin fixative, or Schaundim fixative are all adequate > preservatives. It is important that the speciment is observed by a lab > tech > that is experienced in detecting this organism because it is easily > overlooked by the untrained eye. Df stains very lightly, thus it blends > in > with the fecal material. > Once a proper diagnosis is established it is important to use the > correct > meds to rid the body of the parasite. I have spoke with a doctor who > specializes in digestive > Health in Australia, who says that the treatment of choice for him is > actually two medications in combination. (Not so fragile after all) > I do not recall the two exact medicines he said would cure this ailment > but I > do have a list of the drugs that have been used to for treatment. > Metronidazole (Flagyl) > Tetracycline > Iodoquinol (Yodoxin) > Paromomycin (Humatin) > It is also very important to maintain good sanitary measures since > reinfection can occur. > It is also crucial to find a doctor who can provide guidance in > treating for > the infection. Many people have tried desperately to treat the illness > with > herbal remedies such as Vermex, and other homeopathic remedies such as a > mixture of wormwood, Black walnut, and cloves. These remedies may be > good for > some parasitic infections but do not affect Df. Also some doctors that > want > to help but know little about the condition will recommend taking > supplements > of bacteria (yes actual capsules containing bacteria) their reasoning > is to > replenish the normal flora found in the colon. However, the replacement > bacteria only provide more nourishment for the Df causing them to > multiply > even more. > So finding a professional who is knowledgeable about Df is a must. > > > > > > > During my research into this amoeboid parasite I have been fortunate > enough > to talk to a few well-educated people about this parasite. One was a > physician who specializes in digestive health, and the other was a lady > who > unfortunately suffered from this infection for seven long years before > actually getting a proper diagnosis. She has made her business to not > only > educate herself on this parasite but also share the information she has > learned with other people. > If you are interested she has a website where she has posted case > histories of the many people who have suffered from this infection, > included > in these people is a neurologist here in the US (? Name) whose > three-year-old > son was infected. To hear/ read some of these people's stories breaks my > heart. They struggled not only with the infection but also with the > fact that > the medical profession just blew them off. Basically told them take two > Aspirin and call me in the morning, oh that's the past, now it's take > Prozac > and don't call me. > This leads me back to a bold statement made by an instructor (I > will not > mention any names) but I shall quote his words " a good parasite will > not > kill its host. " I have to laugh when I think about this, first of all, > is > there such thing as a " good " parasite? The only " good " parasite that I > can > think of is maybe a medicinal leach. The other part is, yes, there has > been > cases where parasites have actually killed the host. But even in those > cases > where the parasites does not actually kill the host but it can make a > host > wish they were dead because of the ill effects they cause. > There are a lot of gaps in the medical profession and a whole lot of > closed-minded doctors. I think it is important to keep an open mind to > new > findings, especially in the medical profession, in order to be a true > help to > the public. > Reference: > 1. An Introduction to Microbiology > 2. www.cdc.gov > 3. www.emedicine.com a website posted by R Mack, MD > 4. Dr. Borody's website, which by the way has great info. > 5. www.udel.edu/medtech/dlehman/mt372/D-fragilis.html > 6. Microbes and People by Neeraja Sankaran 2000 > > I have also used information that I have read some where along the line > but > do not remember the author. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2002 Report Share Posted June 11, 2002 Lorinda, Yes it would interest me to find out the type of organism your son was infected with. Is your son also having seizures? Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2002 Report Share Posted June 11, 2002 cut & paste? >From: Traceygrubbs@... >Reply- > >Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Fw:A bizzarre theory >Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 21:24:08 EDT > >Zoe, >I found my paper but it is in microsoft word and I do not know how to >transfer it so I can post it. I have tried everything that I know how to >do. >Any suggestion? >What I can do is tomorrow when I get time I will summarize it for you. I >read >back over it and the material is pretty well basic but it may help. >Trac _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2002 Report Share Posted June 11, 2002 Dear Tracey, This sounds like genius at work to me! We would never have the knowledge or capabilities we have now if it weren't for people like you who dare to challenge convention and apply valuable critical thinking! Remember that every great thinker or scientist has had to battle the challenge of skepticism or contempt from society. Keep on thinking and working -- it's a great asset! Best wishes, Carrol " You go, girl! " Traceygrubbs@... wrote: I have a theory to propose to you all. You will probably think I fell off of my rocker but hey when you don't get much sleep... However, please bear with me, getting a point accross is not one of my strong points. I was reading the website on s Hopkins ketogenic diet yesterday and the statement " Nobody knows why this diet actually works for some children " played over and over again in my mind. I think I mentioned to the group that was diagnosed with a ameoba parasite a couple of years back (Dientamoeba fragilis). It is a protozoa, suppossible a harmless critter who lingers in the intestinal tract. The doctor that found it was very nonchalant about it and asked did I want to treat. Of course I said yes, who in the heck wants to live in harmony with a parasite? Because I found it interesting I choose this little critter to do a research paper on. What I found surprised me. First of all doctors are under the impression that this parasite is harmless, which I found otherwise. Different people are affected by it differently. There is a lady who suffered with this organism for seven long years, numerous symptoms, she actually lost her job, had to seek alternative medicine because the doctors all said she suffered psychological factors, that nothing was wrong with her. Fact was, that this parasite had very little research done on it. It is even classified wrong under flagellates and it does not even have a flagella. (I know this statement probably means nothing to you- I am just making a point that there is lack of research on this organism). However, I am getting to the point. This parasite lives in the large intestines where it feasts upon the normal flora (bacteria in our intestinal tract that are responsible for production of vitamins). Of course we all know that bacteria love carbohydrates, simple or complex. With the ketogenic diet, from my understanding, eliminates or minimizes carbohydrate intake, therefore, decreasing bacteria that ferment sugars, therefore, the parasite does not get its meal which leads to decreasing, or after 2-3 years on this diet, irradicating the parasite. I know you probably say with so many brilliant doctors out there, if this were true they would have found it already. I don't think so. When doctors check for parasites they usually check for ascaras, pinworms or some other obvious large parasite. Even if they did think to check for an amoeba, they are conditioned in medical school that this organism is harmless. From the research I done, I learned that it takes a " trained " eye to detect this organism. Not only can it be mistaken for something else once it is detected but the preservation process of the stool culture and the staining process have to be done a certain way or you never see the organism. It is anarobic so it does not tolerate air exposure- dyes in twenty minutes when exposed to the air. Anyone ever had their stool tested within 20 minutes of defecation??? Long story short what if this organism is at the root of some of our problems. Many of us believe, including me, that there is a connection between the seizures and the gut. What if this organism does travel the vagus nerve, or is somehow responsible for the seizures by depriving nutrients (vitamins that those bacteria give us, which by the way are some B vitamins). As I said, this is a theory. Last year I came up with so many theory, I could have written a book. Needless to say, they were all wrong. But then again Edison tried over a 100 times and failed over a 100 times before he actually came up with the right way. So maybe there is hope for me. If anyone wants to check into this. Seek an alternative health doctor and use Great Smockies Lab in Ashville, NC they have plenty of experience in detecting this organism. There is a three day stool culture that has to be done. I think the first day is purge and then the two additional days are normal. The organism is called Dientamoeba fragilis. Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2002 Report Share Posted June 11, 2002 Dear Tracey, Your report on Dientamoeba fragilis was very informative and thought provoking. I'm eager to view the web sites posted earlier and to learn more about this. It is a shame that doctors don't understand the importance of medication and the biological implications of using too many antibiotics or incorrect prescription doses. There are so many new drugs on the market that it would take a full-time staff person in each doctor's office to review prescriptions and doses for accuracy. Many times doctors hand out free samples and prescriptions when they are not educated enough about the uses and side-effects of the drugs they prescribe. I wonder if we'll ever reach a point in our country where continuing education is required for doctors -- it certainly is for teachers who make much less money! Has your new doctor conducted tests to determine whether is, indeed, parasite free? Wouldn't it be great if that was the beginning to a new, healthier stage in her life? !!! (I loved your comment about being Tarzan's relative! He'll probably be quoting that one for years!) Thanks for sharing! Best wishes, Carrol Traceygrubbs@... wrote: Carrol, You are exactly right " they do not want to know why " . As a matter of fact, last year I proposed all kinds of things that could be the cause to my neuro's nurse, she finally told me in these exact words " we do not find out why, we try to find medicines that control the seizures " . Idiots. It makes no sense to me. But for your question. The doctor that did find the parasite, after I insisted he check, as said was very uninterested. He asked did I want to treat, and I asked him did he think I was one of Tarzan's relative that wants to live in harmony with the parasites. He wrote the prescription and I never went back. He previously, when was 2yrs old, wrote a prescription for antibiotics that was for a child twice her body weight, luckily I was taking drug dosage and measurement to the time and wanted to test my skills- so I caught it. However, I know I am telling you more than you bargained for. Please do read the summary tomorrow on Dientamoeba fragilis, a lot of people are walking around with the diagnosis of IBS but what they really have is an amoeboid infection. Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Tracey, I phoned the doc, he said the parasite's name is Entamoeba histolytica, and the condition is called Amebiasis. No, my son has never had a seizure. Your research is very interesting, keep it up. Best regards, Lorinda On Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at 07:17 , Traceygrubbs@... wrote: > Lorinda, > Yes it would interest me to find out the type of organism your son was > infected with. Is your son also having seizures? > Tracey > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Thanks Carrol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Carrol, You are right doctor's should be mandated to do cont. ed. I have been licensed as COTA (Occupational therapy) for 5yrs and even though I am not practicing I still have to do a minimum of 10 hours a week. Which is not much but better than nothing. Although I must say that the last seminar I went to on diabets did have 3 doctors sitting in on it, maybe they did this voluntary. Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Lorinda, The parasite your son was infected with is Df's best friend. Many more times than not, a Df infection lies concomittant with Entamoeba histolytica. Remember that " they " are not sure how Df is transmitted into the host, it lacks any means of locomotion. So they think it enters along with another parasite. Was your whole family tested right along with your son? If not, you may want to be tested. Also remember that this infection does not always cause problems in the host, some people are asymptomatic (without symptoms) while others are deafly ill. Hope this helps! Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Dear Tracey, I bet you have seen all kinds of people and situations working in Occupational Therapy! And, from what you have written, you sound to me like the kind of person who would continue studying and educating herself even if it weren't a job requirement! It's great that you continue to keep your license and improve your vast knowledge. Keep up the good work! I think those doctors who continue to study and improve themselves voluntarily should be commended. The face of health care is in a metamorphosis and, in my opinion, many of those doctors who refuse to stay current will find themselves struggling to be viable providers in the future. It's always interesting to me that so many doctors of Western medicine reject other practices as " quackery. " Sadly, there are " quacks " in every field, no matter how exalted the ground may be. ation, communication and continuing education between all in health care fields will only serve the patient better and, in my opinion, improve the quality of life for everyone in the United States. Wouldn't it be great if a person could see their neurologist for EEG's, MRI's and medications, their naturopath to diagnose and treat underlying pathologies, their nutritionist to mitigate the affects of nutrients lost through medication and to help treat pathological illness, a neuropsychologist for neuro and/or biofeedback, etc., and have all of these covered by insurance? Taking it one step further, it would be great if people were given jurisdiction over their bodies instead of insurance companies, doctors and politicians. I think, in the long run, the costs would be less and people would feel better. O.K. I better get off of my soap box or I'll be here all day! Thank you for writing and sharing! Best wishes, Carrol Traceygrubbs@... wrote: Carrol, You are right doctor's should be mandated to do cont. ed. I have been licensed as COTA (Occupational therapy) for 5yrs and even though I am not practicing I still have to do a minimum of 10 hours a week. Which is not much but better than nothing. Although I must say that the last seminar I went to on diabets did have 3 doctors sitting in on it, maybe they did this voluntary. Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2002 Report Share Posted June 13, 2002 Tracey, no we weren't tested because none of the rest of us showed any symptoms (fever, diarree, vomiting, etc). He was running around on the golf course on a warm day, couldn't bear his thirst and wait till the next water fountain, and decided to have a drink from the sprayers (and apparently he drank a LOT). The water destined for the grass was obviously " fortified " with certain ingredients known to make grass grow better, not for human consumption. He showed symptoms that very evening. The doc mentioned that he regularly treats the children from the nearby school who go playing on the golf course for this amoeba-infection. I don't think I'm infected: I'm never tired, never get sick, but if I do I will definitely ask for this parasite to be included in any test run. Thanks for all this interesting info! Lorinda On Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at 08:13 , Traceygrubbs@... wrote: > Lorinda, > The parasite your son was infected with is Df's best friend. Many more > times > than not, a Df infection lies concomittant with Entamoeba histolytica. > Remember that " they " are not sure how Df is transmitted into the host, > it > lacks any means of locomotion. So they think it enters along with > another > parasite. > Was your whole family tested right along with your son? > If not, you may want to be tested. Also remember that this infection > does not > always cause problems in the host, some people are asymptomatic (without > symptoms) while others are deafly ill. > Hope this helps! > Tracey > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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