51 days

Sore feet, sharp pains in joints and the strange sensation of throbbing .. imagine an electrical current pulsing throught the feet.  Two nights ago I had restless legs, moving involuntarily.  Rosacea is really bad.  I am a pretty picture all round.

The feet symptoms may be exacerbated by the hookworms heading into HHT (hormonal hell time).  Probably need to get thyroid rechecked .. feet could be related to Hashimotos, schleromderma, menopause (bring it on), lupus... according to Dr Google.

Waiting on results of blood tests from immunologist. 

Hormones, hookworm, immunity.  What fun!

9 November 2010

Not much to report .. have been feeling quite good last couple of days .. except for when I didn't take PPI for dyspepsia last night and couldn't sleep.  .. had to pop another pill.  PPI's are not good for long term use.  They play havoc with absorption of essential minerals increasing the risk of bone breaks. ( http://www.jonbarron.org/blog/2010/06/proton-pump-inhibitors-and-fractures.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jonbarron%2FDGMO+%28The+Baseline+of+Health+Blog%29 ).

 

If I am able to tolerate a wider range of foods, I am hoping gut health will improve, and therefore my reliance on PPIs.  Another month and three weeks or so and I might be able to try reintroducing some foods and gut healing products I hope.  This might even improve my rosacea.  http://rosacea-support.org/sibo-eradication-clears-rosacea-are-you-serious.html

The immune system and digestive system are bedfellows.  A healthy digestive system therefore must improve immunity.  

My appointment with an immunologist did not provide any answers to my food intolerance problems and lupus like symptoms.  Blood results need to progress to the next level before autoimmune system labels are applied .. hopefully there will be no progression (40:1 4 years ago, 160:1 this year, 320:1 for the labelling to begin). 

When I told the specialist I had begun hookworm therapy she asked if it was working .. so no shock horror.

6 weeks tomorrow

Coming up to 42 days since innoculation with 20 hookworm and the waiting is almost unbearable.  I would love to feel good, a rarity at the moment.  I have had a couple of good days, but mostly they are parts of days rather than a whole days.  Not much to report... just waiting for the 3 month mark.  I read John Scott's blurb (see hookworm links) regularly hoping to see some parallels.. but ... different bodies, different disease processes..... I would love to report some noticeable improvements.

Today started out okay, not so good now.

Next week I see an immunologist for the first time.  Of course I am hoping that he has some interest in hookworm treatment. 

32 days and counting .. over 4 weeks!

The days are a blur .. fighting fatigue .. (or should I say giving in to fatigue) good days and bad .. today I was wiped out for most of the day in bed unable to even read.  I got out of bed, ate, had a shower, got dressed in my gardening gear and stumbled back in to bed (minus the gumboots)... great day for gardening too .. cloudy, cool and overcast .. I had plantings in mind .. another day wasted .. lying flat out with my eyes closed and feet throbbing! Incredible fatigue that seemed to come on after eating.  Tonight I am in recovery.

Fortunately I was okay yesterday .. I had put off a research trip to the museum the day before due to feeling weird .. my head was not functioning and I could only manage folding and other light housework jobs in slow motion.  The strangest head shaking experience.  Have had a frontal headache for last couple of days too ....  haven't had one of these for a while. .. avoiding particular foods with offending chemicals had eliminated these.

I can't recall having eaten anything that would have brought this on .. again ..  exacerbation of symptoms courtesy of my blood sucking friends. .. well at least that is what I am hoping they are.

Day 26 in Worm World

Mmmm bad night last night.  Dyspepsia has been more pronounced in last couple of days .. last night I took a second dose of a PPI (to reduce acid build up in stomach) something I haven't needed to do for some time.  I also took 3 bicarb soda capsules to calm things down abit.  I couldn't sleep for hours and consequently very tired today.  System seemed on overdrive .. this does happen in the second cycle of the month (after day 14) for one night for some reason .. but this was a particularly horrid experience .. the hookworms must be stirring things up.  It seems they intensify symptoms.

My face is also more reactive than usual ..  with lumpy sore red cheeks despite the use of low dose cortizone cream.  Oh joy.

Day 22 Fatigue

The time is measured in terms of milestones in hookworm world.  Day 22 represents the third day of fatigue.  Noding off in lectures, nearly falling off my chair .. not a good look.   A desire to lie down and close my eyes is very stong when I really need to be reading for upcoming deadlines.  When is the best time to start worm therapy?  ...  Today the fatigue was overwhelming particularly after lunch ... I spent half the day in bed today dozing and sleeping.  I did take 6 months of long service leave this year with the intention of getting my health sorted .. taking the plunge with worm therapy was late in this period .. back to work in 2 weeks .. interesting times ...

Itchy eyes ..  another symptom ..  and incredible irritability ... shorter fuse than usual .. I am almost scaring myself... fortunately .. both these experiences seem to have settled down now.

Day 14

Sometimes it is difficult to tell if the symptoms I have are related to food intolerance, lupus, hormones or hashimotos.  I used to be able to control my symptoms with diet alone (and thyroxin).  There is a link between food intolerance and autoimmune disease and my doctor tells me that it is now recognised that there is a link between lupus and food intolerance. 

The worst symptom I have is the dyspepsia or (GERD).  It has become worse over the last year or so that I now take medication for it.  If I have a weak moment and eat something nice this is when the symptoms become much worse to the point I cannot function.  Last week I had fresh white fish (allowed) but it was cooked on a BBQ plate which may have been the culprit .. or perhaps the fish wasn't fresh enough and the amines had built up in it.  I suffered for two days with fatigue, weakness, nausea and very uncomfortable dyspepsia. 

A couple of new symptoms have manifested over the past couple of days.  Even though I feel a bit sick and have lower abdominal pain these are symptoms that are most welcome!  I am sure the little soldiers are gaining a foothold so to speak.  Lets hope they are persistent in their quest.