I haven’t talked about my weird health issues here at FlowingFirm.com earlier. Sure, you have had a chance to take a look at my 30 days meditation experience and the complete change of my diet. These matters have been experiments in order to allay the symptoms of the real, unknown cause inside me.
Until yesterday, this real cause didn’t have a name (except vague anxiety disorder). Now it might just have that. It’s called Blastocystis hominis (check wikipedia). Blastocystis hominis is a pretty common parasite that may be found in the stools of both healthy and sick people. In some cases, it doesn’t affect people’s lives in any way. But for some people, it apparently can mess their health – big time.
The doctor informed me yesterday about the results of the comprehensive stool tests made earlier together with many other examines. There was plenty of Blastocystis hominis to be found. According to the doctor, it’s not certain that this parasite causes all my health problems. Be that as it may, now I have at least a direction to follow in order to get healthy again.
The doctor prescribed antibiotics as a solution
After hearing the news, I felt kinda relieved. This is actually the first time when the symptoms appeared over 10 years ago that there is something tangible which I can begin to treat. The doctor prescribed me a dose of antibiotics. According to the extensive googling, those antibiotics can make more harm than actual good for you.
Having said that, I might try some of the natural routes before eating this Metronidazol Actavis regimen. The doctor actually said that there are no guarantees that this medicine would work for me. It might help some and give terrible side-effects for others. People might disagree with me about this approach but at least, it’s my decision.
As you can imagine, saying this didn’t convince me to try it at all.
The Real Reason of Putting Our Travels on Hold
As I said earlier, I’ve had various kind of odd symptoms more or less 10 years now. These symptoms include both physical and mental problems. In addition, I began to have that kind of issues around a year after my first trip to Southeast Asia. Obviously, people bring parasites, such as Blastocystis hominis, after being on tropical holidays without knowing it. You can get it basically anywhere from eating local street food to swimming in waterfalls.
This all began from the mental perspective but as time has passed by, the symptoms have become more and more physical. You can handle at least some of the mental symptoms by trying not to focus on them. But when they start to slow you physically down, you just cannot ignore them anymore.
There have been good periods of time and not that wonderful ones as well. After being on a road four months or so during our last stint in Southeast Asia, I felt my health was decreasing. It didn’t feel right after exercising and eating properly most of the time. At this point, constant traveling affected me in a harmful way.
After getting back to Finland, I was determined to finally find a reason what’s causing all these countless of woes.
It took several doctor appointments, tests, strict diets, mental and physical exercises, and five months to get to this point. So my next step is to begin to tackle this parasite Blastocystis hominis as an extensive attack as I possibly can.
We will see how it will go in the near future!
More articles / Lisää artikkeleita:
First Days Back in Finland after a Half-Year Traveling
Six Months in Southeast Asia Was Just Enough This Time
Colorful Autumn Vibes after Chilly Summer
A Long Waited RV-weekend Finally Done
Flowing Firm’s Springish Road Trip in Finland
From Chiang Mai to Udon Thani with Night Bus
5 Thoughts After 1 Month of Changing My Diet Completely
Hello!
My name is Mikko Raespuro and I am a Finnish location independent entrepreneur in my thirties. Welcome to the Flowing Firm – blog (blog name comes playfully from running a location independent business)!
Were you able to find a treatment that works? I’ve tried many things but nothing seems to work.
Hey Joshua,
Thanks for your message!
Have you tried Umeboshi plums yet? Those plums together with black walnut supplements and similar, decreased the amount of Blasto in me according to tests.
Eat 3 Umeboshi plums four times a day for 10 days period: in the morning to empty stomach, before lunch & dinner as well as before going to bed.
That should give you the impression if it’s working for you or not.
You can find Umeboshi plums from iHerb (seems to be out of stock at the moment, though) and eBay as well as well-equipped Japanese grocery stores.
I used this Black Walnut Hulls supplement from iHerb, too.
Sure, strict sugar-free diet together with plenty of extra virgin coconut oil is very important since Blasto grows and lives from sugar.
Hope you’ll get rid of Blasto soon!
-Mikko-
Hello,I just found your article and wondered how it was going for you. I have just been diagnosed with this too. I live in North Queensland Australia where my doctor says the prevalence of this parasite could be 40%!
Hey Jen,
Thanks for your message!
Actually just picked up this morning some equipment for new tests. Will know the results soon so we’ll see what’s the current situation is.
Feeling a bit better after writing this article, though!
Wish you the best in your endeavor!
Very helpful information. I found out I have this too after having to get a test done on my own, My doctors did not believe me I had it. I am changing my diet and any information I find is very useful. Good luck.
Thanks for your reply, Brett – and good luck! Keep on battling and just drop msg about your progress at some point
Thanks for this….I’m in the same boat….diagnosed via stool test 3 months ago, received a script for Flagyl (metro…..) but from the literature it seems the cure may be worse than the disease so I’m learning to live with it for the time being, by reducing sugars and simple carbs. It’s hard but my symptoms are fewer. I’d sure like to hear from others that are trying both conventional (antibiotics) and nonconventional means of addressing the parasite. David
Hey David,
I didn’t take antibiotics either since reading all those similar comments you pointed out.
According to my latest test results, I’m Blasto free at the moment. I had a very strict low carb and sugar-free diet like you’re having.
In addition, I ate umeboshi plums several weeks, three plums four times a day.
Good luck!