functional dyspepsia or a parasite?

[mfoster]

Hello,

About 5 or 6 months ago, I began experiencing a loss of appetite. After a week or two it became worse in that I had no desire to eat dinner and felt nauseous when I did. Things then became so bad that my meals at one point were reduced to just a single scrambled egg with serious feelings of bloating and discomfort. I also had terrible onset of nausea in the evenings. My diet now consists mostly of Ensure nutrition supplement drinks.

I've seen a few doctors (including gastro specialists) and they've performed the full gamut of exams and tests but have found no problems with me physically. Endoscopy, sonogram, xray, gastric emptying test, CT scan have all been negative. Blood tests negative too.

I have been diagnosed with functional dyspepsia -- or chronic indigestion with no physical cause. I am only 24 years old, so it seems strange that I would be affected by such a condition so early. However, I recently had a case of mono which may have influenced this. Anyhow, I've losted about 30 lbs from not being able to eat very much -- down from around 168 to only 138 over this period and no medicines (natural or otherwise) have cured me.

There is a remote chance that I have a PARASITE since I took a trip to Hawaii about a month and a half before this all started. Could a parasite be the reason for troubles?

My doctor says its unlikely because I've had blood tests that would have shown something. What do you think?

My current symptoms are:
- loss of appetite
- almost constant bloating
- nausea
- mild constipation

M. Foster

[Health Dr. 1]

M.,
It sounds as if you are having very frustrating experience with the conventional medical route. Some of the symptoms do sound as if there could be parasitic involvement, although that is not certain. Loss of appetite, bloating, and nausea can be associated with parasitic infection. I realize that the conventional tests have shown negative; however, false negatives are possible.

There are very rare cases in medical literature that describe gastritis and gastrointestinal problems as a result of mononucleosis. The parasite link is worth pursuing. I would strongly suggest getting a consultation from a chiropractor or naturopath experienced with gastrointestinal problems. They will probably consider other diagnoses rather than just functional dyspepsia. It is possible that a H. Pylori infection or food sensitivity may also contribute to the overall condition. Fungal infections, including candida, and spinal trauma or misalignment may also form a part of the picture. Further examination is in order.

In the meantime, there are some measures that you can take that may provide some relief. Following are some suggestions:
• Latero-Flora- This is a supplement of beneficial bacteria that can help to re-populate the colon. Probiotics in general can be very helpful in many types of gastrointestinal disorders and are often not considered during conventional medical treatment.
• Colon Cleanse- A cleanse with an oxygen-based colon cleanser like Oxy-powder is an excellent way to begin a detoxification program. This is best followed up with a liver/gallbladder flush to remove toxins and stones from the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Once these have been performed, you can begin a 6-week parasite cleanse with Paratrex. It is preferable to prepare for this by insuring that toxins are being removed through the bowel and that the liver is cleansed in order to process any additional toxins related to parasitic die-off.
• Elimination diet- The rationale behind an elimination diet is to completely eliminate foods to which you may be allergic. You are probably doing something very similar to this now since you are so limited in the foods that you can eat. The most common offenders are corn, wheat, citrus, dairy, and eggs. However, just about any food can potentially cause a problem. Typically, one will consume a very limited diet, often consisting of organic foods including chicken, lamb, cabbage-family vegetables, apples, and bananas. This very limited diet can be consumed for at least a week up to a month. After that point, you can reintroduce one food every two days in order to determine a reaction. After elimination, many people find that they have heightened reactions to food allergies. Blood tests for food allergies represent another, possibly more viable method for determining allergies by specialized blood tests.
• Oxygenator and Silver Fuzion- These two product can be taken on the same day but at different times. They can help support the body during times of infection, especially in the digestive tract.
• Enzymes- An enzyme formula such as Zymitol taken with meals can help to completely breakdown proteins, carbohydrates and fats. This could help to diminish an allergic reaction and help with the overall digestive process.
• Organic Oil of Oregano- Taken with meals, this can support the body during bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It can also help to stimulate bile production and increase your digestion of fats. Some people find that this may decrease nausea if you are experiencing poor fat assimilation.