TAPEWORM

Dear Dr. Parks,  I have been having numorous health problems for years.  What is consistant is low ferriten levels -4, elevated eosinephills, I know I didnt spell that right.  Adrenal problems and horrible digestion.  Also I am extremely deficient in many vitamins and minerals, my readings are like an anorexic but I am 200 lbs and I have no appetite and barely eat.  My triglicerides (triglycerides) are usually between 40 and 60 if that tells you how well or little I eat.  It has been about 7 years I have been going from dr. to dr. trying to get help and they think Im fine.  My D.O looked at the whole picture and said you probably have parasites of some sort.  We sent stool, blood and saliva to diagnostics lab and it came back positive for a pork tapeworm t. solium..  I guess the antibodies are very specific.  Any way I took 10 days of alinea retested and they said it was still there so I took another 4 days.  The lab said this is supposed to eradicate it however I do not feel any better.  No one seems to be familiar with this cause it is so rare any advice??

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Dear Stacey,

A couple questions for you before I respond to your posting:
1. How "young" are you?
2. Were the stool tests positive for t. solium?
3. Did you have both IgM and IgG antibodies for t. solium? (you may have to ask for you laboratory report to answer this question)
4. Can you provide more information about "alinea"?

Lastly, even after effective treatment, recovery from a chronically present intestinal parasite can take time (4-6 weeks or longer).

When did you complete the treatment?

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[stacey555]

I am 38,  they did not find anything in my stool although they said it cycles so you dont always see this.  My saliva and blood had t.solium antibodies I guess I will find out about the IGM andIgG.  alinia is the drug the lab recommended and is fairly new, very strong, it raised my liver enzymes alot and  turned my eyes yellow.  I will write with more info later when I find out.
thanks

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Dear Stacey,

Ok. I am familiar with Alinia (nitazoxanide).

Please feel free to keep this line of communication open.

Dr. Parks

[stacey555]

I finally looked up the info for my tapeworm results.  The lab results were SIgA elevation which indicates intestinal immunocyte response to tapeworm eggs specifically T.Solium it did say to follow up with igG testing which the doctors did not do they just gave me 2 rounds of alina. Do you think when I go to the university of michigan they can figure this out?