It will take time for the worms to develop and to start to take their first blood meal. I am impatient. The side effects I am hoping for will probably occur at the 2 -3 week period. (Garin, Wormtherapy.com). Then there is the wait to see what changes or improvements this therapy may bring... from 3 months after innoculation.
The effects I am having now are the ongoing symptoms of the disease and its interaction with body systems under stress. I have read that lupus can become more pronounced with menopause and other ongoing monthly hormonal changes. Yes symptoms are more pronounced now with monthly hormonal changes .. Roll on menopause!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Holidaying with worms.
It has been 4 days since my innoculation with hookworm. The itching skin at site of innoculation and the redness has all but gone. I am anxious that I am not having side effects, or obvious signs of infection that might indicate that I am a "responder" to this therapy. I guess with only 20 worms on board it may not be as obvious as others who opt to start with a larger dose.
On day two while waiting at the airport my feet suddenly started to cramp up with pain. They have continued to be stiff and bit sore .. another symptom of lupus .. arthritis in the feet .. for one who loves walking this is so not fair! I am hoping that the hookworm are creating an environment for this increased autoimmune activity .. until my immune system starts to fight them instead of me! Is this a sign? .. from the inner team?
I am continuing with my very restricted diet (for 5 years now) and hoping for the best. I haven't had to take a tablet for GERD today .. but this might just be the way I manage it. Somedays I take 20mg of pariet, others 40mg, and some days none .. this may just be one of those days .. I shall wait and see.
On day two while waiting at the airport my feet suddenly started to cramp up with pain. They have continued to be stiff and bit sore .. another symptom of lupus .. arthritis in the feet .. for one who loves walking this is so not fair! I am hoping that the hookworm are creating an environment for this increased autoimmune activity .. until my immune system starts to fight them instead of me! Is this a sign? .. from the inner team?
I am continuing with my very restricted diet (for 5 years now) and hoping for the best. I haven't had to take a tablet for GERD today .. but this might just be the way I manage it. Somedays I take 20mg of pariet, others 40mg, and some days none .. this may just be one of those days .. I shall wait and see.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
So near and yet so far!
The parcel arrived yesterday and as I didn't hear the door .. it was taken away and a parcel pickup note left. I rushed to the post office and was told the parcel was now in the depot at a nearby town and could be picked up tomorrow .. from the local post office fortunately.
Meanwhile ... I am on a course of antibiotics ... not a good way to start the therapy, although WormTherapy tells me that the hookworm tolerates antibiotics well. I was going to wait until finishing the course, as suggested, however it is cutting it a bit fine in the 10 day window in the life of a test tube larvae. .. given the 10 days began last week. I will start them tomorrow. .. there will be a two day crossover.
I am using cortisone cream on my face to settle down the lupus rash, 40mg of pariet a day for stomach (dyspepsia in my case is a symptom of lupus). 100 micrograms of thyroxin for Hashimoto's, Elimination diet for other symptoms. Yoga to get the internal muscles moving to improve symptoms.
Thursday is the day! I am very curious, and hopeful.
Meanwhile ... I am on a course of antibiotics ... not a good way to start the therapy, although WormTherapy tells me that the hookworm tolerates antibiotics well. I was going to wait until finishing the course, as suggested, however it is cutting it a bit fine in the 10 day window in the life of a test tube larvae. .. given the 10 days began last week. I will start them tomorrow. .. there will be a two day crossover.
I am using cortisone cream on my face to settle down the lupus rash, 40mg of pariet a day for stomach (dyspepsia in my case is a symptom of lupus). 100 micrograms of thyroxin for Hashimoto's, Elimination diet for other symptoms. Yoga to get the internal muscles moving to improve symptoms.
Thursday is the day! I am very curious, and hopeful.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
I am waiting for my 20 worms to arrive.
It has been a couple of years since I heard about hookworm for the treatment immune system dysfunction, and since then I have been researching. Finally I have taken the plunge after getting a formal diagnosis of lupus.
I have suffered from food intolerance for many years and follow the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital elimination diet with further modifications. Being salicylate, amine, preservative, colour and flavour intolerant and highly sensitive to any deviation I am hopeful that hookworm therapy will be a positive step. I cannot tolerate gluten, grains, processed grains/seeds. Rice is the only exception. Symptoms of fatigue, IBS, depression, mouth ulcers and worsening of lupus rash, dyspepsia and other symptoms all which take days, sometimes weeks to clear are on my list to cross off, or at least improve. Symptoms can flair up with hormone changes. I also have hashimotos disease and have recently increased thyroxin to 100 micrograms per day which has taken the edge of the dyspepsia.
I just hope I get some relief from my symptoms so that I can eat and enjoy good food .. not just steamed potato, beans, choko and swede .. celery and lettuce. I don't get invited to dinner, and if I do on the odd occasion I bring my own. What a joy it would be to share a meal with friends .. or go out on a whim for dinner, or eat an apple.
Life's simple pleasures.
I have suffered from food intolerance for many years and follow the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital elimination diet with further modifications. Being salicylate, amine, preservative, colour and flavour intolerant and highly sensitive to any deviation I am hopeful that hookworm therapy will be a positive step. I cannot tolerate gluten, grains, processed grains/seeds. Rice is the only exception. Symptoms of fatigue, IBS, depression, mouth ulcers and worsening of lupus rash, dyspepsia and other symptoms all which take days, sometimes weeks to clear are on my list to cross off, or at least improve. Symptoms can flair up with hormone changes. I also have hashimotos disease and have recently increased thyroxin to 100 micrograms per day which has taken the edge of the dyspepsia.
I just hope I get some relief from my symptoms so that I can eat and enjoy good food .. not just steamed potato, beans, choko and swede .. celery and lettuce. I don't get invited to dinner, and if I do on the odd occasion I bring my own. What a joy it would be to share a meal with friends .. or go out on a whim for dinner, or eat an apple.
Life's simple pleasures.
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