Parasites - dientamoeba fragilis

[SydneySider123]

Hi all

I have IBS-C and I have a parasite...eek, I know!

It's called dientamoeba fragilis. Has anyone had this? Have you treated it? Did it improve your IBS?

Any info greatly appreciated...my IBS and digestion issues are driving me cray-cray. No, seriously...

Thanks in advance 😊

[auntyjean]

Yes after I paid privately for a comprehensive stool test I found I had these trophozoites plus many blastocysts hominis. Also virtually no good gut bacteria. First I was advised to build the good stuff up but a further test showed it hadn't worked. I was in terrible pain and kept throwing up. I lost 2 stone. So then I had two courses of metronidazole with no improvement. In desperation I rang the hospital for tropical diseases. They told me to get a GP referral which I did. The Dr I saw said these are harmless and wouldn't make me ill but there is controversy over this. Anyway he did more tests and a blood test showed elevated eosinophil count which indicated schistosoma. This didn't show in stool tests but he treated me anyway with nitazoxanide and since this I have been free of all symptoms. I can eat anything again and put most of the weight back on. Sorry this is so long but this is the short version! Hope u get help.

[SydneySider123 in reply to auntyjean]

Wow, thanks auntyjean - what great news for you that you can eat normally again and you have gained back some weight. I'm praying for a good outcome for myself as this has been 3+ long years.

[auntyjean in reply to SydneySider123]

It took me two years to get well. I tried different things as was diagnosed with IBS and dietician put me on low FODMAP diet which made me worse. I now drink 250ml kefir daily to keep my gut bacteria healthy. Hope you get well too.

[SydneySider123 in reply to auntyjean]

Yes, the low fodmap diet was helpful at first but i have stayed on the restrictive version for years and now feel stuck as my gut bacteria is so screwy now i can't tolerate many foods. Blah blah. not a good situation. I'm so desperate to get well.

[TobeyL in reply to auntyjean]

Kefir is great!!!!

[32malewithcolitis]

what made you know you had them other than the test, did you see anything unusual in stool?

[auntyjean in reply to 32malewithcolitis]

No. Private consultant asked me lots of questions such as had I ever been to India or Africa which I had. This and my symptoms made her sure I had parasites so had the stool test which showed them up and my poor gut bacteria.

[SydneySider123 in reply to 32malewithcolitis]

Hi, for me i have the symptoms associated with them....digestion issues, constipation then diarrhea, loss of appetite (this is a big one for me), weight loss, fatigue (sometimes)