36 Week Update of Using Helminthic Therapy
This is my 36 week update of using helminthic therapy for severe Crohn’s disease and total food intolerance.
How I Have Been Feeling
Overall I am definitely feeling better than before I started helminthic therapy. My food intolerances have improved significantly, maybe even up to 70-80% improvement. Which I am really happy about, as I was getting most of my calories from meal replacement shakes before I started using helminths.
But my IBD symptoms have not improved as much. I have only seen about 20-30% decrease in my symptoms since 36 weeks ago. I am definetly not where I was hoping to be at this stage of the therapy. Some improvements I have seen include:
- No longer having to run to the toilet halfway through a meal – or even after it
- No blood in my stools for over 3 weeks
- 50% reduction in pain and nausea with BMs
- Almost no pain or nausea in between BMs
Some areas that still need improvement:
- Completely liquid stools
- Daily pain and nausea, although less
- Frequent BMs (6+ daily) without the use of Imodium (Loperamide)
- Nocturnal BMs – almost all my BMs happen at night time
- Still have strong food aversion, and almost no appetite ever
- Underweight, and not gaining weight
- Overall still feel like crap, mentally and just overall
Medication Update
I am still taking 2.5 mg of prednisolone. I am studying full time for the next 6 weeks, so I am apprehensive to make too many changes. Esoecially because I have not done well in the past when I get fully off of prednisolone.
I am taking daily Imodium (the drug Loperamide). I have tried quite a few times to take less Imodium, but each time my number of bowel movements slowly begins to increase. With each increase of BMs, my IBD symptoms get worse.
Mentally, I cannot handle that, so I am continuing to take Imodium.
My Plan Going Forward
At the recommendation of many of you in the Helminthic therapy Facebook group, I have done quite a bit of research into TSO.
When I was choosing helminths originally at the start of my therapy, I was aware that NAs and TSO are recommended for Crohn’s disease. I chose NAs because they are financially more affordable, about $800 AUD per year. Whereas TSO costs about $5000 AUD per year.
Obviously I was hoping to achieve remission, without the bigger price tag.
But a few things have happened that have changed my mind.
Firstly, I had a chat with a gastroenterologist, where we discussed my health history. He told me that I have very severe Crohn’s disease that has affected large areas of my gastro tract. He pressured me into taking biologics.
Basically the conversation scared me. It made me impatient to see results with helminthic therapy, or else I may have to try conventional, long term, western medications (biologics). Which I have been avoiding as best as I can.
Secondly, since getting this polyp I have become terrified of getting another abscess. I have had 3 abscesses over the last 4 years, and each time is a horrible, painful, traumatic experience. I want to do everything I can to avoid that happening again.
Third, when I started to research TSO, I discovered that some people who take TSO do so for the short term.
Tanawisa told me that someone in my situation, with long term, chronic disease, once I am in remission from TSO I may be able to stop the therapy and stay in remission for 1-3 years. Therefore avoiding the ongoing financial burden of TSO. I also asked Tanawisa, that once TSO gets me into remission, is it possible that NAs will keep me there? They responded that that is possible.
On their website Tanawisa states that, “it appears that around 80% of those who take TSO do eventually respond positively, although response and remission may take longer in the case of more severe or chronic conditions.”
80% chance of remission – that is exciting odds!! So although I am not sure how long TSO will take to work for me – I am super hopeful that the combination of NAs and TSO will put me in remission – and keep me there long term!