Digestive system disorders.

[Rick]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

[parfait]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

[steveo777]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

[parfait]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

If you want to pay big money smelling magic crystals or getting washed in a Burmese monk's mixture of yak milk and jizz while listening to low frequency sounds, then that's your prerogative. But keep your shit out of this thread; keep this thread civil, please.

Btw, Rick. Which part of your brother's colon were removed? Did he have any obstructions?

[Rick]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

If you want to pay big money smelling magic crystals or getting washed in a Burmese monk's mixture of yak milk and jizz while listening to low frequency sounds, then that's your prerogative. But keep your shit out of this thread; keep this thread civil, please.

Btw, Rick. Which part of your brother's colon were removed? Did he have any obstructions?

I've done the diet changing and have worked hard all my life. Never exercised because of the type of work I do, but nothing made much of a difference. I've had this thing since I was in my 20's.

My brothers entire colon and rectum were removed.

Y'all crack me up.

[Rockindeano]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

Dude, why the hate on Parfait? The guy obviously knows his medical stuff. I don't get why you feel the need to piss on parfait(no jokes on that, ok?)

[Rockindeano]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

[StevePerryHair]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

Dude, why the hate on Parfait? The guy obviously knows his medical stuff. I don't get why you feel the need to piss on parfait(no jokes on that, ok?)

Yeah, what better way to learn about the digestive system than from an asshole... I can't think of a BETTER source!!!

[DrFU]

Yeah, what better way to learn about the digestive system than from an asshole... I can't think of a BETTER source!!!

[Behshad]

Yeah, what better way to learn about the digestive system than from an asshole... I can't think of a BETTER source!!!

Somehow , Im thinking this will turn into yet another pissing match ( no jokes here either please ) , where Lynn will once again kick Parfait's ass

[Rick]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

I usually just play Tiger Woods PGA tour on my phone for fun on the toilet.

[steveo777]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

Dude, why the hate on Parfait? The guy obviously knows his medical stuff. I don't get why you feel the need to piss on parfait(no jokes on that, ok?)

Um...cause he's dick? The fucker is a lot like you, only probably more edumacated, or so he wants us to believe. Still, however, he should not be giving medical advice on a forum. He should probably pick urologist as his field.

[slucero]

Yeah, what better way to learn about the digestive system than from an asshole... I can't think of a BETTER source!!!

Somehow , Im thinking this will turn into yet another pissing match ( no jokes here either please ) , where Lynn will once again kick Parfait's ass

Naaahh... they'll just shit all over each other...

[brandonx76]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

Fucking classic...

Deano - think you may want to get that checked out.

[brandonx76]

Funny this topic comes up around the holidays, when everyone eats, drinks, and generally parties too much. Moderation is key.

As a fellow sufferer from digestive issues, my sympathies go out.

[steveo777]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

Fucking classic...

Deano - think you may want to get that checked out.

I have my diet down to a science. I can eat in such a way that my turds are like rabbit pellets or nice and firm logs with no runs. No need to buy or use toilet paper. I figured long ago that if my dogs can take a dump and not have to wipe their asses...well, then, so can I! As much as I've tried, I can't seem to lick my ass though.

[Rockindeano]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

Fucking classic...

Deano - think you may want to get that checked out.

I have my diet down to a science. I can eat in such a way that my turds are like rabbit pellets or nice and firm logs with no runs. No need to buy or use toilet paper. I figured long ago that if my dogs can take a dump and not have to wipe their asses...well, then, so can I! As much as I've tried, I can't seem to lick my ass though.

You know, that is a great theory Steve. I too thought about that- not buying TP...however, I haven't had a tapered pooh in forever. My shits look like mudslides or the city of Oakland after a 7.2 earthquake. I haven't had a nice firm BM in months. Help?

[mikemarrs]

don't shoot the messenger i'm not trying to give medical advice but this is what worked for me a couple years ago when i was having issues.....


Lactobacillus acidophilus ---thought to have beneficial effects on digestion and overall health.

Many factors decrease the number of lactic acid producing bacteria that live and work in the gastrointestinal tract and protect us from harmful disease-causing bacteria, aging, alcohol, antibiotics, diet deficiencies, drugs, medications, narcotics, nicotine, and stressful living.

Food is digested in the alimentary canal, mouth and stomach, and finally in the intestines. In the intestines, partially-digested food is metabolized by millions and millions of microorganisms, working simultaneously and synergistically.

If there is too small a colony of L. acidophilus and other friendly bacteria, such as L. bulgaricus and L. bifidus, digestion can be impaired, short-changing us of the full nutritional value from foods. Fewer key vitamins will be synthesized and the immune system may be rendered less effective.

Some health professionals claim that acidophilus aids the digestive process, helps correct constipation, diarrhea, mucous colitis and diverticulitis, reduces blood cholesterol, enhances the absorption of nutrients, sweetens bad breath, treats acne and other skin disorders, conquers harmful bacteria and certain viruses, helps alleviate candidiasis and other vaginal infections, and may even prevent cancer.


Lactic acid-producing microorganisms, such as L. acidophilus, have been called a "second immune system" because they put the brakes on growth of disease-causing bacteria, such as salmonella and shigella-caused dysentery, various types of diarrhea, and even virus-caused flu. Yogurt with acidophilus culture and acidophilus on its own has been shown to clear up yeast infections and vaginitis in children and adults. However, L. acidophilus is not present in all brands of yogurt (check the labels).

Acidophilus supplements usually work quickly and effectively because they contain as many as one billion individual friendly bacteria per gram. For those who cannot use milk products, acidophilus is available from carrots, soybeans, rice starch, garbanzo beans and other sources.

Health food stores carry a variety of acidophilus supplements in capsule, liquid and powder form. Some of the formulas contain bifidobacteria, another helpful bacteria, as well as vitamin C and other nutrients. Using the powder, you can make your own yogurt-type drink. For best results, acidophilus supplements should be taken on an empty stomach before breakfast and an hour before other meals.

Many who have difficulty digesting ordinary dairy products often have success with cultured milk products, such as yogurt or acidophilus milk. Acidophilus milk, cultured with the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus, may be a digestible alternative to fresh milk.

[steveo777]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

Fucking classic...

Deano - think you may want to get that checked out.

I have my diet down to a science. I can eat in such a way that my turds are like rabbit pellets or nice and firm logs with no runs. No need to buy or use toilet paper. I figured long ago that if my dogs can take a dump and not have to wipe their asses...well, then, so can I! As much as I've tried, I can't seem to lick my ass though.

You know, that is a great theory Steve. I too thought about that- not buying TP...however, I haven't had a tapered pooh in forever. My shits look like mudslides or the city of Oakland after a 7.2 earthquake. I haven't had a nice firm BM in months. Help?

Alcohol consumption definitely plays a key. In those times when I was not drinking or drinking a lot less, it seems I can have a nice firm tapered stool and when you wipe there is nothing there. When I'm drinking and eating a bunch of fried bar food, watch out. Assplosions aplenty!

[Rockindeano]

Thanks for bringing this title up, Rick. I was going to post a similar thread but will piggyback off yours, instead. I was in a weird mood last night and for dinner I had an entire bag of green peas. Don't know why, but I did. Well, today, when I am visiting the shitter, and that has been more frequent than a plane on the LA-SFO corridor, I feel the little fuckers coming out. it feels like little pebbles, or BB's. I am now having fun with it, and am "shooting" the little bastards off the inside of the bowl with all my force. Also, the smell is overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself gagging while sitting in a toxic cloud of shit-odor.

Fucking classic...

Deano - think you may want to get that checked out.

I have my diet down to a science. I can eat in such a way that my turds are like rabbit pellets or nice and firm logs with no runs. No need to buy or use toilet paper. I figured long ago that if my dogs can take a dump and not have to wipe their asses...well, then, so can I! As much as I've tried, I can't seem to lick my ass though.

You know, that is a great theory Steve. I too thought about that- not buying TP...however, I haven't had a tapered pooh in forever. My shits look like mudslides or the city of Oakland after a 7.2 earthquake. I haven't had a nice firm BM in months. Help?

Alcohol consumption definitely plays a key. In those times when I was not drinking or drinking a lot less, it seems I can have a nice firm tapered stool and when you wipe there is nothing there. When I'm drinking and eating a bunch of fried bar food, watch out. Assplosions aplenty!

No wonder I have ass rot! Thanks Dr Steve.

[annie89509]

I think Rick meant this thread to be serious, but as usual, when Deano gets involved, the discussion takes a detour.

[steveo777]

:lol: I think Rick meant this thread to be serious, but as usual, when Deano gets involved, the discussion takes a detour.

I think I may have fucked it up first. My apologies to Rick. Parfait can still suck a high hard one though.

[annie89509]

:lol: I think Rick meant this thread to be serious, but as usual, when Deano gets involved, the discussion takes a detour.

I think I may have fucked it up first. My apologies to Rick. Parfait can still suck a high hard one though.

Yes, and you are a trouble-maker, S0777

[steveo777]

:lol: I think Rick meant this thread to be serious, but as usual, when Deano gets involved, the discussion takes a detour.

I think I may have fucked it up first. My apologies to Rick. Parfait can still suck a high hard one though.

Yes, and you are a trouble-maker, S0777

Bully in practice!

Michigan Girl made me what I am.

[mikemarrs]

(CNN) -- One day in 2004, a 29-year-old man with a terrible stomach problem stepped off a plane from the United States in Thailand. He wasn't there for the sights, or the food, or the beaches. He had traveled thousands of miles for worms -- parasitic worms whose eggs he intended to swallow by the thousands.

His doctor back home had told him his idea was crazy, that infesting himself with parasitic worms wouldn't do anything to help his ulcerative colitis, and in fact could make him very sick. The gastroenterologist had told the man if he pursued this course of treatment, he would refuse to be his doctor anymore.

"You'll be on your own," the man remembers the doctor telling him.

Indeed, he was on his own, standing in the office of a Thai doctor, asking her to pick the worm eggs out of an 11-year-old girl's stool.

Ten to 15 bloody bowel movements a day

This month, the man's experience treating himself with parasitic worms was published in a medical journal. Depending on who's telling the story, his journey is one of a brilliant, empowered patient who found an amazingly effective treatment for himself and possibly others who suffer the same debilitating disease -- or the dangerous tale of an irresponsible medical rebel who could have killed himself and, by telling his story, might be inspiring others to do the same thing. As with any experimental treatment, you should not try this at home.

The man -- who wants to protect his privacy, and be referred to only as "the patient" -- was 28 when he started having bloody bowel movements. Soon, he was having 10 to 15 bloody bowel movements a day.

"I was constantly running to the bathroom," he remembers.

Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, nothing helped except high doses of steroids, which because of severe side effects, he could take only for limited periods of time. Soon, the patient became so sick he had to quit his job.

His gastroenterologist wanted to admit him to the hospital for an intravenous round of cyclosporine, a potentially helpful yet dangerous medicine that depresses the body's immune system and can increase the risk for getting cancer later in life.

If the cyclosporine didn't work -- and there was a 50 percent chance it wouldn't -- the doctor said his last hope was to remove his colon entirely, an extreme measure that would cause him to have to have a colostomy bag attached to him for the rest of his life to collect his stool.

"I was really at the end of the road," he says.

Meanwhile, the patient had gone on the internet and found an article in a medical journal by Dr. Joel Weinstock, chief of gastroenterology at Tufts University Medical School, which showed some ulcerative colitis patients found relief after ingesting the trichuris suis worm, a parasite that lives in the intestines of pigs.

The patient contacted Weinstock to ask him to treat him with worms, but Weinstock said no, since it wasn't approved for general use by the Food and Drug Administration and could only be done experimentally.

Other doctors also told him no.

"One very famous parasitologist in New York told me he had patients who were immigrants, and he could get the eggs from their stool," he says. "But he told me for legal reasons he couldn't do it. I understood completely. What if something went wrong and I died? He'd be blamed."

The patient became more and more convinced worms could help him. Behind Weinstock's study was this observation: Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis affect nearly one in 250 people in the United States, but are extremely rare in underdeveloped parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa.

Some experts believe parasitic worms might be part of the reason. When underdeveloped areas become developed, parasitic worms, also called helminths, become less common, and diseases such as ulcerative colitis become more common.

"We're not exposed now to helminths in places like the United States, and that probably has an impact," Weinstock says. "We've tried to separate ourselves from our natural environment with our sterile water and our sterile food, and that's saved lives, but there are negative consequences."

A 'terrible choice'

"I was facing a terrible choice," the patient remembers, between going with the doctor's treatment idea, which he really didn't want to do, and looking outside the United States for worm eggs to ingest.

He contacted researchers in various developing countries to ask if they could help him get his hands on some eggs. The researcher in Thailand was particularly helpful, and he got on a plane to visit with her.

After he arrived, the doctor in Thailand extracted roundworm eggs from the stool of an 11-year-old infected girl. She gave the trichuris trichiura eggs to the patient, but he now faced another hurdle. The eggs needed to be cleaned in case the girl had hepatitis or some other infectious disease, and the eggs needed to mature for them to be helpful. It was up to him to clean the eggs and grow them in a process called "embryonation."

"There wasn't much guidance on how to do it, since most people are trying to destroy these worms, not grow them," he says.

But he managed to do it and ingested first a dose of 500 eggs and then another of 1,000. The worms could live in his intestinal tract for many years.

Three months later he had fewer bloody bowel movements, and soon, none at all. His bowel movements were normal. He felt fine.

From time to time, when his ulcerative colitis would flare up again, he'd extract eggs from his own stool, and clean, embryonate and ingest them. Again, his symptoms would go away.

A reluctant researcher

By 2007, having made so much progress, the patient wanted to document his journey scientifically, and he contacted various researchers to help him, including P'ng Loke, who was then a postdoctoral fellow in immunology at the University of California-San Francisco.

"He e-mailed me, and I ignored it," Loke remembers. "I was very skeptical at first, but he convinced me to have lunch with him."

At their meeting, the patient laid out his story in more detail, and Loke became fascinated.

"It's an amazing story, and he's quite possibly one of the smartest people I know," he says.

By the end of their meeting, they'd started to hatch a plan: Loke and his team would do colonoscopies to track the patient's ulcerative colitis and look for the presence of worms in his colon.

The researcher, now an assistant professor of medical parasitology at New York University Langone Medical Center, and his team did a colonoscopy on the patient, which revealed an abundance of worms and no signs of ulcerative colitis.

When the patient suffered a flare-up of his disease in 2008, a colonoscopy showed fewer worms and typical signs of ulcerative colitis.

When he ingested more eggs, a third colonoscopy showed the colitis was once again in remission.

The study was published in this month's Science Translational Medicine.

Why worms might work

To figure out why the worms seemed to be having this beneficial effect, Loke and his colleagues took a close look at the patient's immune system after he ingested the worm eggs. After ingestion, he had an abundance of cells that produce a protein called interleukin-22, which is important in healing the mucosal lining of the intestines.

"Our main conclusion is that the worms were able to restore mucus production in his gut," Loke says, adding that the mucus lining protects the intestines from harmful bacteria.

But others are not so convinced.

"The impact of mucus alone is not a scientific explanation for the possible improvement attributed to the worms," says Dr. Stephen Hanauer, a member of the board of trustees of the American College of Gastroenterology.

Charges of irresponsibility

Hanauer, chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Chicago, warned against making too many conclusions from one man's positive experience with worms.

"We don't make medical recommendations based on a single case report," he says.

He says New York University was "irresponsible" for putting out a press release about the study, and criticized media outlets such as CNN for reporting on it.

"It's ridiculous and incredibly inappropriate," he says. "You're driving people to go on the internet and buy these worms, and these are potentially pathogenic organisms. These eggs can invade the systems of people who are immune suppressed and cause infections."

Loke says he and his team pointed out in the press release that the worms might hurt some people rather than help them.

"I agree no one should be trying to change their treatment" based on the paper's findings, Loke says.

The patient says he is also concerned others might try to copy him with potentially disastrous results, and so declined to explain exactly how he cleaned and embryonated the eggs.

He says he knows he took a risk by ingesting the eggs from a young girl in Thailand, but for him it was a better option than treatment with drugs that have potentially dangerous side effects, or the removal of his colon.

"Sometimes you really do have to take matters into your own hands," he says.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/09/wo ... th/?hpt=T2

[Rockindeano]

What a fascinating story.

However, if Rick reads this, I believe he'll be scared shitless. Nice going Mike.

[parfait]

Who has them?

I've had Chrons Disease since I was in my 20's. I have one of the best doctors in the bidness and he's kept me pretty healthy. Thank you Dr. Yiantsou.

My older brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago and it's kicked his ever loving ass. And he's a big, healthy corn fed motherfucker, and along with my younger brother, my best friend.

He had to have his colon removed last month, and is recovering nicely. He went back to work today on light duty, which he's been clamoring to do. He's a cop in my home town of McAlester, OK.

I'm fairly sure these digestive system disorders are more behavioral than anything else, as both my older brother and myself are very prone to stress. We worry about everything.

I remember a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy showed up as a foreign doctor and his line was "Happiness Is A Healthy Colon!" He couldn't have been more correct.

My post is for inquiry, knowledge and observation, for my purposes, but for all of you, please, heed the following...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

Much love.

How's your diet? Do you sleep enough and work out?

I read a few months ago about some promising preliminary helminthic therapy results. Stay away from the alternative shit. They'll just take your money.

The faux med student has spoken. Why don't you just jump off a cliff already, you piece of shit? You are probably going to be the worst excuse of a doctor this planet has ever seen. Your interests are clearly suited to your own vanity, not humanity. Now go impale yourself on the cock of an Elephant!

If you want to pay big money smelling magic crystals or getting washed in a Burmese monk's mixture of yak milk and jizz while listening to low frequency sounds, then that's your prerogative. But keep your shit out of this thread; keep this thread civil, please.

Btw, Rick. Which part of your brother's colon were removed? Did he have any obstructions?

I've done the diet changing and have worked hard all my life. Never exercised because of the type of work I do, but nothing made much of a difference. I've had this thing since I was in my 20's.

My brothers entire colon and rectum were removed.

Y'all crack me up.

Did he get a ileostomy, BCIR or a IPAA? (the two latter being internal pouches). Never seen one of those being done before. Would be cool though.

[mikemarrs]

What a fascinating story.

However, if Rick reads this, I believe he'll be scared shitless. Nice going Mike.

LMAO ,this must be that alternative shit parfait was talking about.

[parfait]

What a fascinating story.

However, if Rick reads this, I believe he'll be scared shitless. Nice going Mike.

LMAO ,this must be that alternative shit parfait was talking about.

Nope. Helminthic therapy = Worms.

[YoungJRNY]

This thread certainly is going to take the piss. (No jokes here please.)