Is SCD still keeping you in remission? How long did it take to reverse symptoms?

Here’s a post I wrote about my own experience with glutamine.
http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2010/05/strawberries-bowel-obstructions-and-glutamine/

I don’t know how long someone else would need to use it. My doctor told me several years, but turned out within 6 months I saw results. I plan on using it for several years however.

I hope you figure this thing out. Keep a journal if you aren’t so you can review your notes and spot patterns if they exist.

I’m keeping it up, the community that’s building around this is so valuable, and whatever I can do to help other Crohn’s patients from suffering like I have is worth it. My posts on articles of possible co-infection, the speculative comments, and my ups and downs are damaging to the commercial companies, which may lead to sick people not taking the plunge and trying worms to get well. I’ve always believed people can read articles and discussions and form their own opinions, and if someone is scared away by a comment on this blog, perhaps they weren’t prepared to make the commitment to try this therapy anyway? I encourage anyone with Crohn’s to try hookworms, they’ve got a pretty high success rate, but we don’t know the right dose, frequency of dose, or who will respond negatively the first few months, etc. Unfortunately, that information is proprietary to the commercial companies, so all the people who’ve gone before remain mysteries, unless you’re one of the very few to publicly blog your symptoms and success (or lack of), which I strongly encourage.

I never got to consistently solid stools. I’ve still had mucus between bowel movements as well. Those have been the main symptoms that haven’t gotten better. I haven’t done a follow up colonoscopy since I’ve gotten worms, so I can’t be certain, but the pain in the IC valve completely went away until recently, and my blood markers of inflammation have been normal while I’ve hosted the worms, until recently. So I conclude that yes, they’ve stopped progression of worsening, which is why I’m so frustrated in waiting through my incubation failures, since every week is bringing more inflammation which can contribute to further scarring.

What has gotten worse is magnesium deficiency, hormonal imbalance which has led to horrible PMS with monthly anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, depression. The magnesium deficiency has caused twitching, muscle cramps, numb hands and lips, and probably is a big contributor to the PMS symptoms. Can’t necessarily blame the worms, but I have seen a few references here and there with TSO patients and the occasional hookworm patient with increased mag loss, so whether or not it’s the worms is still in question. I’ve never had these symptoms before, in my 22 year history with Crohn’s, so it’s a little suspicious, but they’re only supposed to affect iron and protein in malnourished individuals, so I can’t be certain. Supplementation isn’t helping, neither did intermuscular shots, so it’s just a daily putting up with symptoms, and the fear of never getting better that I’ve been dealing with in tandem to the improvement with the Crohn’s.

I’ve just stumbled across your blog. First of all, don’t ever be tempted to take this blog down. You will no doubt encounter debate leading you into negative temptation… but stay strong, and keep it up. The information that you are providing is very valuable and will live on for years to come.

I’m a Crohn’s patient, 29 years old from the UK and have been diagnosed since I was 17 years old. I’ve had mixed results, remission, flare ups, the works. Currently it looks like I’m starting to flare up again, with a recent colonoscopy showing signs of further inflamation.

I’ve not tried any ‘worm’ or similar parasite treatment… but I’m interested. I’m going to start a little research and see how I get on.

Keep up the good work mate, and I hope you recover asap.

Take care, Matt