Anyone Here Ever Get Parasites?

[Lawnboi]

I can tell you brother, Drs are lazy. I have been dealing with this issue for almost 2 years and it has kept me out of the mountains. I have been to every kind of doctor known to man and for the first 6 months, they blew it off as staph

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Brown recluse spider bite maybe?

 

[archer wapiti]

I have a friend who's a parasitologist (not M.D., but Ph.D.). Here's her response (before your post about S. Padre Island):

Wow..... Ok, well without knowing what he and his daughters did together prior to the one leaving for camp, it is really hard to say. In most cases if people are outdoors and get 'sick' at the same time, often it can be Giardia, Cryptosporidium and the like (at least in North America........). Local water sources can also get contaminated with Crypto, but that can be discovered if you ask, even just asking their local water source. It happens more often on cruise ships, hotels, public place etc. that homes. But if this guy hunts with his girls, Giardia is a very likely culprit. But, with that, you can get a fecal test (several when it comes to Giardia, sneaky bastards....). I would expect if he had any inkling that it was parasites, he should have asked for a test, or even find a doctor that actually knows something about parasites, like a trop med person - it will be expensive no doubt, but they are used to worms, Giardia, malaria, Crypto, amoeba (this is a case where it often ends with dysentary, while Giardia does not) so they are skilled in parasite finding, whereas MOST all of US doctors are NOT......


If they have been officially tested for lactose intolerance, not clear if so, then maybe it is. If he does not believe genetics, he has only to ask his family......


And yes, there are many parasites you can get without fever and bloody diarrhea!!! But that description usually most fits amoeba and heavy Cryptosporidium infections, again, in North America. Giardia can, but they like to maintain a more functional host!!


Well, that is all I can think of without digging around!

 

[Jeff Martin]

Brown recluse spider bite maybe?

That was the theory the first 3 months. That too has been eliminated.


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[5MilesBack]

If they have been officially tested for lactose intolerance, not clear if so, then maybe it is. If he does not believe genetics, he has only to ask his family......

Oh, I believe that lactose intolerance can be hereditary, but I don't believe that three people in the same family of all different ages suddenly develop it the same week. That would be ludicrous to believe that happened without something else causing it. And as for the lactose intolerance part........I drink milk all the time, and I'm a cheese fanatic. But it doesn't seem to affect me as much as the other two. But we all have similar pains in similar locations, I even mentioned that it felt like two squirrels fighting in my gut and gnawing on something down there one night.

We've tried the probiotics.......my youngest and I both got worse. I actually half-jokingly told her that our bodies aren't used to all that healthy stuff, so they are trying to fight it off. The funny thing, I can have diarrhea one night and be constipated the next without even taking anything for it. Maybe I'll take some anti-biotics to kill all the bacteria down there and start over.

 

[Wileycoyote]

2nd on the stool test. Had a great time with the some of the symptoms you described last December. I told the doc n the box what I thought I had, he assured me that's not what you have can't be that. He went off on a tangent that I had elevated liver enzymes and on and on. Well 2 more weeks of bloating, diarrhea, lethargy, basically feeling horrible, I went back and he tells me the same thing liver failure, bland diet and no ibuprofen, drinking etc. I don't drink, never any drugs and some ibuprofen use (after packing out elk, aging knees and back) and now I'm being told I'm dying of liver failure? I was pretty pissed, figured I should of drank whiskey every other day if this was what's going to happen. Anyway it got to where I couldn't even make it through a day of work I was so tired, I had lost 20lbs from all of the shitting. I finally called doc n the box back and said I'm getting way worse who is a gastro specialist I could see and set up an appointment. First test was a stool sample and the specialist assured me I was not dying of liver failure, the enzymes were not that elevated. Test results revealed giardia. Go figure just what I told the idiot I thought I had. But it took 20lbs of lost weight and misery to figure it out, not to mention $1200 in blood tests. I had shot I coyote that came out of a creek bottom that beavers live in, not sure if they survived on him and I got it from him. Science says the cysts can live longer in cold water. There was about a foot of snow then too. I just took the coyote to my fur buyer so my $25 coyote only cost me $1175. Anyway good luck, I hope you get it figured out. Also none of my family members or co workers got sick with this even though I was sick with these bugs for over a month. A health dept guy also called me and said I was the only case for months and that usually swimmers get it swallowing water that's contaminated. Damn coyotes!!?

 

[Jeff Martin]

@ 5Miles

Here ya go..... No DR needed.

Gastrointestinal

 

[Trial153]

just take a dose of prantel....cheap and easy ..

 

[5MilesBack]

@ 5Miles

Here ya go..... No DR needed.

Gastrointestinal

Holy crap......literally. At those prices we'll just put up with it. That's my problem, if I didn't have insurance I'd never go to the doctor even if I can afford it. I'll take my daughter to a gastro guy and make him do the stool tests for her. Those will be free.

 

[5MilesBack]

just take a dose of prantel....cheap and easy ..

I looked up Prantel and the only thing that comes up is in Spanish.

 

[Trial153]

I looked up Prantel and the only thing that comes up is in Spanish.

pyrantel pamoate

 

[Northernpiker]

Building on this; I heard about this in the news a couple years ago when I was living in Portland; you could get a fecal transplant. Sounds disgusting, and it is; but it's essentially taking healthy shit; and swapping it out with yours so the good bacteria in your gut can regrow (to my understanding anyway). Don't know if your symptoms would fit the bill; but something to look in to.

Not gonna try this ^^^!

 

[Bubblehide]

Sorry to hear this. I am on my forth day with abdominal pain. Last night I had a mild fever. Today you can add nausea and chills. I'm at urgent care right now. I hope everyone gets it all figured out, and gets better soon.

 

[Jimbob]

My wife had intestinal problems for almost a year and numerous visits solved nothing until finally a stool sample was done and a parasite was discovered. Symptoms were upset stomach after every meal, no vomitting, but diarrhea (no blood). She was able to eat but just constant intestinal problems after eating. Good drugs and it was gone.

Then a couple years ago I had a young man that was going to university in my town and he got really ill. Doc said it was flu but when it went on a month it was getting suspicious. Then it was food allergies blah blah. The guy was a champ and continued normal life but lost 30lbs of muscle in three months. I still remember him puking his guts out on the ice after hockey, kinda funny now. Anyways I kept telling him I bet it was a parasite and he kept goinbg to docs but they jusyt ignored it. Finally he went back home and his Mom (a nurse) brought in a stool sample from him and sure enough he had a parasite. Special drugs and it was gone.

Good luck and be persistent.

 

[Bubblehide]

Well boys, not to take anything away from anyone else, but I have a previous diagnosis of diverticulosis. It appears I now have diverticulitis, a year and infection in my abdomen. They have a few more tests to do. But now I am on a drip and morphine. Those in a similar boat, push the medical system to figure your medical issues out. If need be, get an advocate.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Absolutely. Keep looking and do not give up. There are some good doctors out there but, there are some uniformed idiots too. To most I have met, you are a number to treat and come back in 90 days. Good luck to everyone and God Bless

 

[MattB]

I have a friend in the medical field who recently told me "you get the medical care you demand." Don't be so quick to take the doc's final word or pass on gettinng a second opinion.

 

[Bubblehide]

Being able to advocate for yourself is an enormous benefit, as is questioning your doctor's determinations and treatment plan. But in general, most people are brought up to simply accept their doctors determinations. So in short, most are unable to effectively do so. But it goes beyond that, a person needs to know their health history, family medical history, and educate themselves in relation to the medical world.

What I mean, is that medical institutions are business, a doctor is required to justify all tests and procedures. The information you provide and your responses to his/her questions is how most tests and procedures are justified. In short, providing reasons to complete tests and procedures increases not only their liability, but the institution's also.

My wife has diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and deforming arthritis in her hands. Years ago she enrolled in college, and wanted accommodations as a student with a disability. In other words, she is unable to take notes at the pace of the classroom. The college/university system requires a doctor to complete a form for such limiting medical conditions. My wife's doctor refused. I had her make another appointment, but this time provided her with documentation and eligibility criteria, which she clearly met. The doctor refused again. I had my wife make another appointment, and I went with her. The doctor was again refusing, until I told him I was a School Psychologist, upon which he made an immediate statement that he would complete the form. I didn't get aggressive, threaten or anything of the like. But by stating that I am a professional who's expertise is in this area. As such, the liability was much to high for him to not complete the form. Needless to say, my wife has a different doctor.

Don't get me wrong. The above issue was an issue due to the doctors ignorance about disabled student programs. The medical system just doesn't provide training in this area. Unfortunately, this doctor was unwilling to educate himself in this area. My point here is sometimes having the right advocate makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Jauwater]

Hmm, this seems interesting. I've always had intestinal problems, but recently went on a thru hike. Came home after 12 days to get a tooth pulled, and leave the dog home. Ended up getting sick with what I think was a flu. Ended up going back, and finished the rest of the through hike in 14 days. Ever sense I've been home I get excruciating pain in my lower gut when I drink large amounts of milk or eat pasta. Eventually leading to very little stool passing, and vomiting. Nothing else seems to bother me. Small amounts of milk, or Pasta just gives diarrhea. I don't have anyone else to judge my symptoms by, nor do I carry health insurance at the moment. 5milesback, I'm curious to see how this plays out for you, and your daughters. Pray for quick recovery.


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