Taking part in the Hookworms for Crohn’s Disease trial at Nottingham University in 2007 had provided me with a brief but tantalising glimpse of how my health might be improved by hosting a small colony of benign intestinal worms, and I was determined to acquire a long-term infection as soon as possible.
To this end, I had secured the agreement of my gastroenterologist, who referred me back to the trial team for reinfection. However, in spite of an earlier indication that they would be willing to provide me with a further dose of hookworm, the trial coordinator then told me that this would not be possible until the study was complete.
This was a considerable disappointment because the trial was taking an inordinately long time – probably due to difficulty finding sufficient volunteers willing to host a small worm colony – and it became clear that the trial would not be complete until the middle of 2009.
In the meantime, I had required further bowel surgery, to repair yet more Crohn’s-related intestinal strictures, and I was still unable to eat any normal foods due to multiple allergies and overwhelming food intolerance, not to mention having a number of other long-term health problems, including M.E., a subgroup of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome characterised by inordinately exaggerated exhaustion following any activity, either physical or mental.
I was becoming impatient… (continued)
Tags: 'Old Friends', Allergy, Annabel Senior, Autoimmune Disease, Autoimmune Therapies, Benedryl, Catarrh, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Constipation, Cramps, Crohn's Disease, Dairrhoea, Eczema, Exhaustion, Fatigue, Food Allergy, Food Intolerance, Headache, Helminthic Therapy, Hookworm, Hypoallergenic Formula Feed, Immune System, Intestinal Gas, Jasper Lawrence, Larvae, M.E., Migraine, Nasal Congestion, Nausea, Necator Americanus, Nottingham, Osteopath, Ovamed, Restless leg Syndrome, Steroid, Strictures, Surgery, Temperature Control, Worms
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Amazing story! Have the worms kept the Crohn’s and the stricturing from progressing?
I haven’t had any tests done yet to determine the state of the Crohn’s, but my stools and bowel habit are now completely normal, with no gastrointestinal symptoms whatsoever. I suppose time will tell about the stricturing.