Fish Tapeworm and Weight Loss (Warning: Kinda Gross)

[Dieter72]

On Friday I found out I have a tapeworm. I won't go into details, but I will say I saw it, or part of it, and then had it confirmed by my doctor's lab.

It's DIPHYLLOBOTHRIUM LATUM PROGLOTID, or a fish tapeworm. I'm not a big sushi or raw fish eater but I do know exactly when I likely got it. I ate salmon tar tar on my birthday on October 11. I have a prescription from my doctor for a pill that will clear it up in a day.

Here's my question ...

I've lost about 20lbs. I'm still about 90 pounds overweight. Now, I would never intentionally infect myself with a parasite to lose weight. The thought of doing so is asinine. But, now that I have my little friend, I'm wondering how dangerous it would be to give him another month or two of life before I send him to the gallows?

Considerations:

- If I do lose weight this way, I won't develop the habits I need to stay thin once the tapeworm is gone. That said, maintaining weight is motivating.

- Fish tapeworms rob the body of vitamin B12. I could take B12 suplements subcutaniously, right?

- The big danger (mostly associated with pork tapeworms) is developing a cyst on an organ. Yet, many people live with these their whole long lives and 4 out of 5 people (according to my 30 minutes of web research) with this type of tapeworm never know they had it.

- Usually beef tapeworms are used by nuts who do this on purpose. Why not fish?

- Is this less risky than liposuction -- in terms of risk of mortality.

Anyway, do folks think I'll have problems if I keep him around until the end of January?

[Barb135]

Glad to hear that you decided to take the safe road.  If you'd like for us to help you with further weight loss, please let us know.  

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

You're welcome.. So glad you are doing the treatment!  

Of note.. I have to treat my horse every 3 months for worms...(standard protocol of horse ownership)  if that makes you feel any better...

[Dieter72]

Decided to treat it and took the pill this morning. Thanks for the good advice everyone.

[Barb135]

I'm not into "gross out potential", so am not the least impressed. Risk wise - I'd say it's pretty great.  I just hope you will do the treatment, then begin a program to lose weight in a sensible healthy way.  

We'll be glad to help you in any way we can........

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

My dear.. You have a PARASITE in you!  My goodness...
But,,, trust me.. at times....I WISH I had a parasite in me...just to help me loose weight!  

Please do the treatment because the long term effects can be critical!  
(Ever watch "Monsters INSIDE Me"?)  yIKES

[Dieter72]

Barb, thanks. You're definitely the good angel on my shoulder here. I guess I'm just having trouble getting a real sense of the risk potential. The gross out potential in undeniable.

[Barb135]

I am not an expert on fish tapeworms -- in fact, I've never ever heard of them, but but I will remind you what you said in your own post --- "Now, I would never intentionally infect myself with a parasite to lose weight. The thought of doing so is asinine."  To me, the thought of keeping "him" around, now that you know it's there is, as you said "asinine".  I can't imagine anyway that this could be good for you, even if there may be people who live them and don't know it.  

Why not go ahead and get rid of it, then come back and let us help you lose weight the "good" way -- with a healthy diet and moderate exercise.......