Parasite - Comprehensive Parasitology Testing

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

[DonnaD]

My new doc mentioned testing me too as I have travelled in Thailand, Japan, Dubai and could have picked something up. I did find some things online but have lost the links due to a network problem. I'll have a look again later and post any info I find again. I do know that they are very hard to detect and also hard to kill! If I have any they are very big and and must weight several pounds each LOL, shall we swap??

[key]

I don't know anything about the tests, but if this isn't a normal weight for you, then maybe there is another problem. Epecially since you were at 110lbs for so long. I too wear a "0" and my clothes fall off. I can't gain weight either. I have often wondered if I had a Parasite, but don't reallly want to go through the testing. I don't know where I would have gotten one though. My weight is not at what I used to be and my family and friends think that I look too skinny.

Anyway, let us know if you decide to do the test. THere are different statistics I am sure out there, but you can find on the internet that supposedly a lot of people have parasites. Whether this is true or not, I don't know. My GI doctor has never suggested this for me.

Oh, what GI symptoms do you have, if any?

Goodluck,

Monica

[jerseyangel]

Ms. SS--I don't have any experience with the lab you talked about, but last year, before my dx when I was at my sickest, my GP did an O & P (ova and parasite) workup. I had to take 7 stool samples, over 3 days. When I had done all of that (ew), I took them in the little vials to the lab, Quest Diagnostics, and had blood drawn. The doctor had the results in about a week. In my case, all was negative, because I was dealing with 'just' the Celiac--only didn't know it yet

[dlp252]

They said maybe I have a parisite -- and gave me a stool test to do. It's $200.00 and I really don't have the money to throw away. The test is by "Great Smokie Diagnostic Lab" and is called "Comprehensive Parasitology" you do 3 day stool tests and have to (peeU) mix it in a small container and send it off to them. I searched 20 pages of posts here and came up with a big fat nothing.

Anyone know anything about this company or the test? Or any thoughts on parisites?

I welcome any ideas on the test or how to gain a few lbs... Thanx for the help my celiac cyberspace friend!

I've heard of that lab before--my chiropractor once suggested I get some of their tests. I never did that though--probably should have. I did just go through all those type of tests though. I had the seven little vials to mix my pooh in (came back negative). In addition to that I had a bucket I had to fill (to test for C.Diff I believe--not sure what else--that came back negative), lol. The last test I went through were the smears...I just took those in so I haven't heard anything yet. So far I've had to pay about $230 out of pocket for those tests (my insurance paid the rest believe it or not, lol). In the end it was worth it I guess just to KNOW those weren't my problems. I can add that to the things that aren't causing my problems ans sooner or later the list will get weeded down to what I actually DO have, lol. The good news for me is that I'm pretty close to hitting the maximum out-of-pocket expenses for this year and it's only March. So in the end, no advice on how you can gain weight, but you really might want to go ahead with the tests...I'm not sure there's any other way to know for sure.

[ravenwoodglass]

Anyone here know about parasites?

Yesterday I went to my allergy doc and when they saw how skinny I am they are very concerned. I'm down to about 99 lbs. And my size 0's clothes are big. I can't gain weight and I eat gluten, dairy, soy, corn and legume FREE food. I watch everything I put in my mouth. I went through hurricane WILMA and our water supply was compromised. (We'll really 4 hurricane in the last 2 years.) Although I didn't drink the water I bathed in it. I was without power 3 weeks. I only drink distilled water since my thyroid problem a year or so ago.

I have been gluten dairy free for 5 years and was thriving about 110 lbs, last year after the hurricane around that time I began dropping weight. I've noticed it... and can't gain it back. I eat enough for a football player [giggle] but it doesn't stick to me. I was also wondering if I should get my doc to give me a RX for steroids?

They said maybe I have a parisite -- and gave me a stool test to do. It's $200.00 and I really don't have the money to throw away. The test is by "Great Smokie Diagnostic Lab" and is called "Comprehensive Parasitology" you do 3 day stool tests and have to (peeU) mix it in a small container and send it off to them. I searched 20 pages of posts here and came up with a big fat nothing.

Anyone know anything about this company or the test? Or any thoughts on parisites?

I welcome any ideas on the test or how to gain a few lbs... Thanx for the help my celiac cyberspace friend!

If you are in the US do you have insurance that will cover the lab tests your regular doctor would order, ie. blood, urine? If so you should see your GP or go to a general care clinic and ask for the stool tests. Regular insurance or Medicaid will cover these tests when done in a regualr hospital lab and they are quite reliable.

[Rachel--24]

I did the Great Smokies test last year it was the Comprehnsive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA)...checks for parasites and other stuff. No parasite was found that time but the results showed I had disbyosis. I redid the test recently (different lab) and was found to have C.Diff.

This is what my doctor says about parasites. He says they are everywhere and anyone can get them. He says that when we have Celiac or gluten intolerance the damage in the intestinal lining creates little crypts (or pockets). When the gut is inflammed excess mucus is produced to "protect" the intestinal lining. Mucus gets in these little pockets and it becomes a very desireable place for parasites and other bad "bugs" to make a home. He said sometimes these parasites dont show up in testing because they are deep in the pockets of the intestinal lining. When someone is diagnosed and gets on the diet...healing begins. It takes a few months for these "pockets" to heal themselves but when they do...the parasites lose their home. They are still there and are easier to detect through testing after they are forced out of their crypts. He said this is one of the main reasons for ongoing problems such as added food intolerances. He said he has *never* had a patient with gluten intolerance who didnt come back positive for some type of infection. All of his patients are those like me....with continuing problems after going gluten-free. I did not test positive for parasites...only the bacteria overgrowth (C-Diff). I have not even begun to heal yet and dont even know if the bacteria infection is gone. (will retest in 3 weeks). My doctor says its still possible that a parasite will show up once the healing begins. He says "bad things" enter the digestive tract every 10 minutes but the immune system takes care of them and they dont ususally stick around. When we have problems like undiagnosed celiac...the immune system cant always defend us from these bad guys so sometimes infections are the result of a weakened immune system.

[dlp252]

Rachel - that's a great explanation!

[Rachel--24]

Thanks.

It boggles my mind how I can rememeber all this stuff but cant remember the simple stuff...like what day of the week it is.

I guess my mind just focuses on what it wants to and the rest of the time I'm in a fog.

[dlp252]

Ha! At least you can remember SOMETHING, lol. I have the hardest time, I definitely can't remember what I've just read most of the time.

[jerseyangel]

Rachel--That really made sense to me, too! Thanks for the explanation. Now, a question: I've just started taking Culturelle. Do you think that along with my diet of meat, veggies, fruit and nuts, it will make a difference? Do you know how long it takes for a probiotic to have any effect? The first few days on it, I felt fine, in the last day or two, I'm having lower ab.cramping and weakness in my legs. As I said, I tested neg. to parasites, although that was before gluten-free.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

[Rachel--24]

Rachel--That really made sense to me, too! Thanks for the explanation. Now, a question: I've just started taking Culturelle. Do you think that along with my diet of meat, veggies, fruit and nuts, it will make a difference? Do you know how long it takes for a probiotic to have any effect? The first few days on it, I felt fine, in the last day or two, I'm having lower ab.cramping and weakness in my legs. As I said, I tested neg. to parasites, although that was before gluten-free.

Patti,

I'm not really sure how long it takes...or if you'll notice anything at all. I guess it all depends on whats going on in the intestinal tract. I took probiotics all last year and especially while I was on the candida diet but then when I had my stool test it showed no acidophilus or bifidus strains were found. I had dysbiosis.

Now that I found out about the bacteria overgrowth and candida I know why the probiotics didnt work. I think the bad bacteria had taken over and theres only so much space...so nowhere for my good bacteria to grow.

Now that I took antibiotics hopefully that pushed back the c-diff and my doctor has me taking 2 different probiotics. Hes got me taking a double dose right now. Also he's got me taking colostrum (transfer factor)....its something thats in breast milk for 3 days after birth. It really gives the immune system a boost and its got all the stuff to help the immune system fight off the bad things...he's got me on a double dose of that too.

I'm just learning more about probiotics and bacteria and how it affects our health...but I think its pretty interesting.

You also dont want to overdo the probiotics..its better to start slow and the increase. There *can* be too much of a good thing sometimes.

Also, another thing I've learned is that when you get tested for parasites it needs to be done over several days (at least 3). If you only give one sample the test is useless. My ex-doctor from my HMO tested me like that and then I read that it was wrong so had to have him redo it. He had no clue. My new doctor said there is less than a 50% chance of finding the parasite with one sample....so thats why it has to be repeated over 3 or 4 days.

[jerseyangel]

Thanks Rachel--I'm only taking one capsule a day--in the AM. I plan to finish the 30 day supply, and then deceide whether or not to continue.

[Claire]

Great Smokie Diagnostic Lab is highly regarded and used by many NDs and Nutritionists.

Manu years ago my aunt who was woefully thin was told by her doctor to drink half ginger and half pure cream at least once or more each day. She gained weight - not a rapid gain but slow and steady.

Claire