Protozoa Parasite

[SuperLine]

Hi:  I just wanted to post about my situation and hope that it may help some:

  Quite sometime ago I came down with extreme Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) with the accompanying signs such as sleep problems, joint and muscle pain, cognitive issues, memory loss, behavioral changes and a sore throat.  I went undiagnosed for about 10 years with Cushing's disease or hyperactivity of the adrenals.   I have fought long and hard with the medical establishment and have done too much research on my own.  I developed gastrointestinal problems as well.  

  Thru my research and some alternative testing, I was able to piece together the adrenal activity with a pathogen.  Blood tests have always come back normal.   CT scans and MRIs normal.  I first thought that the culprit was a bacterial infection considering that my throat has been sore.  I then moved to the gastrointestinal area since I was having RUQ (right upper quandrant) pain - this would be located on the right side below the liver/gallbladder area.  I also have had IBS and a distended abdomen.  

  Stool tests for pathogens returned negative, even antigen testing of the stool came back negative.  And I would note that conventional stool testing is very hit or miss with more misses than hits, I think I read that you have about a 5% chance of getting a diagnosis when the pathogen has infected the GI tract.  Recently I found a lab that uses PCR testing of the stool and bingo I got the diagnosis of a parasite specifically protozoa parasite.  So this is the critter that has been causing all my pain (physical, mental and emotional).   Now I am undergoing several therapies to eradicate these.  

[Samantha]

  to the forum Superline

So happy to see a post in the 'Diagnosed" section 
Thankyou for sharing, given me a push with research I put off thinking too insignificant but perhaps NOT.

We have rain water tanks so I've always thought about bad bugs, trouble is the water testing board has so many to choose from and the cost is in the hundreds so you want to make sure you test for the right bugs. We live in a farming area, so chemicals, farm sprays, plus having an older style house with old roof tiles, bird dropping etc etc would all end up in the water tank so I'm on the hunt again due to your post 

My water has been tested for the basics but now when money allows and I find the right testing company I'll get onto this too.

May I ask did you also have drinking water tested  or just your own bodily samples  also what are the treatments for this bug

I hope you're starting to feel better  after ten years this must feel like you've won the Lotto 

Sammy
 

[SuperLine]

Hi Samantha:

Thanks for your comments.  Yea these bugs usually like water as their place of colonization although they can be transmitted in food.  No I did not have my water tested (I am in a municpal area although that doesn't mean much as giardia and cryptospordium can exist there as well and I found that chlorine treatments do not always kill these anyhow).  But I had my stool samples examined but again I had multiple samples examined via traditional testing, but received the diagnosis thru a lab that utilizes PCR analysis.  PCR is highly sensitive and can pick up a needle in a haystack.  

These protozoa bugs are quite resistant to many agents and have to be dealt with specific drugs.  They create quite a havoc for sure and mimic many other diseases.  I have had multiple problems come up that are related to these or more specifically the immune responses to these bugs.

I would tend to spend the $ on human testing rather than testing of the water, because I would suspect that there are many species of bacteria (and protozoa?) in the water, the question is which ones can make you sick as there are many varietes of bacteria that can be harmless.  I did not read your posts extensively but have you had any GI symptoms when all this started?  

[Samantha]

Thanks for all your help   as of last week we decided to finally go bottle water for drinking, cooking etc and stick with that for atleast 6-12 months to see if I notice any difference with inflammation (plus other issues like constant skin irritations)

Hope you don't mind the million and one questions   I've got other health problems to sort out (like the lipomas) but really want to test for this also so.

What made you decide to test for this specific bug/s
with millions to test for what or who finally convinced you to test for these protozoa bugs

[SuperLine]

Samantha:  Ask away, doesn't bother me (I have read alot of material and have gathered much information, so it would be a waste to keep it to myself)>

Well, i became quite ill, not suddenly but progressive.  I woke up feeling very sick, no energy, flu like symptoms, achy, pain, poor sleep, emotional/mental issues.  I could not lift my hands above my head, concentrate and felt like I was losing my mind.  I was swollen in my hands, feet, neck and abdomen and having GI problems. 

Blood tests always came back normal which is typical of CFS according to the CDC.  My adrenals started going poof and that is a bad thing.  I did some magnesium sulfate injections which helped initially then backfired on me.  I studied magnesium metabolism extensively.  I did a hair analysis test thru a very good lab and contacted the director of this lab.  After looking at my mineral patterns he ascertained that I was suffering with an adrenal issue that was due to an immune reaction.  Since I have was having issues with IBS, inflammation etc., I made the idea that it was GI based (the infection that is).   Diagnosis is tough for parasites, but I found a lab (Metametrix) that uses PCR analysis which is highly accurate. 

The other thing is that protozoa can evade immune detection so you could have an infection and never have any blood markers show up for it.  And this is true for other parasites, occasionaly high IgE will show up but not always the case.  They always don't exhibit the same symptoms as others, in other words the species of the parasite and the host (you and me) will exhibit different symptoms.  I have found several people test positive that have been quite ill and are all exhibiiting different symptoms.  And I have found that most physicians are not educated about parasites, most beleive that you cannot contract them if you live in the US, which makes no sense to me. 

Regarding your situation,  I presume that they biopsied with no findings?   

[Samantha]

I'm not sure if you're aware but just to clear up I live in Australia  

I've googled PCR not having much luck with info/places of testing in Australia but I will look into this more.
I'm not even sure if this will be the case for me but I know something is causing inflammation throughout the intestines that simply cannot be explained or any test resolve the issue so parasites might be an option  

My theory at present is Lipoma's on my abdominal wall are pressing on nerves hence so much agony (perhaps because they are sitting on nerves and irritating that could also cause inflammation   and bowel troubles. I think it's a very viable theory and will discuss more after my baby arrives in November.
If I can have those removed and see no improvement I'll have this to go on for the next step in searching for a diagnosis and most importantly PAIN relief  

Thanks again for all your insight.
By the way how are you feeling now you've started treatment ?

Sammy
 

[callctr2000]

Hi,
It sounds like you really have systematically narrowed down your search and found this parasite.  Congratulations! 

I have been quite ill for about 1.5 years and undiagnosed still.  I recently had a test come back positive for Rickettsia (similar to Lyme) but the Infectious Disease Specialist doesn't believe this is my problem...actually he thinks it is "snake oil" to be exact. So, I am being treated by my GP with a course of Antibiotics based on the Dr. Cecile Jadin protocol.

I traveled the world quite extensively before I got sick and was an expatriate in India when the illness first started.  So you post peaked my interest because I am sure that i am hosting some parasites. 
In 2007 they did find some, treated them and then took another sample (not PCR) and said they were gone.

My question for you is about treatment for the parasites.  I am wondering if my current Doxicycline based treatment would also kill any unknown parasites as well?  Could you tell me about what treatment protocol you are on?

Thanks!