Update to my progress

It's crazy, they tell you that when you're better, you'll be too busy enjoying your life to report back on your improvements with helminthic therapy. The only reason I'm making this post is because people have asked me to update.

So I've gotten a total of... 5 inoculations, average about 27 helminths each time. Every 6 months or so I do it. I didnt feel any relief until, surprisingly, 8-10 months into the therapy, maybe because the first few inoculations were dead due to cold weather. I almost lost hope, but I only realize how far i've come after reading about how desperate I was to get rid of my allergies. The improvement was very gradual.

Now to be fair, I'm not in full remission, not even close. I still have very minor congestion, and sometimes my eyes do itch, but it doesnt come close to the misery I felt before this therapy.

I would say that my allergies are about 75% in remission. Foods I couldnt eat before now don't bother me. Including: almonds, all fruits, and a few other things I forgot I was allergic to. I haven't tried soy, but I don't like soy anyway. I still do feel a SLIGHT reaction from fruits. But I can eat a whole apple and only get some tingling now. Strawberries dont make my insides feel like exploding, for example. All in all it has been a major blessing for me.

I never got the "worm flu" or any symptoms, EXCEPT from my very last inoculation. The rash and symptoms increase over time apparently. I got minor gas, but that was about it.

I don't know what else to say, other than I highly recommend it and I hope the accessibility of this therapy becomes much wider.

My provider was AIT and they have been really great after a rough start.

OH and regarding my thyroid, no effect, I'm currently on levo 150mcg

Much needed update on events and progress

Hey everyone, I've been absent for quite a while and for science I decided it was important to update everyone on my situation.

Inoculation 2.5 Months Ago


My provider (Auto-immune Therapies) sent me a batch of 35 Necator Americanus hookworms that arrived on October 28th. I applied the solution containing the helminths to a bandaid which I applied to my forearm.

Typically you can see how many helminths entered because each will leave a small red itchy dot on the point of entry. I could only count about 6 or 7 red dots on my forearm, which made me worry that many of them died on route to my home. You're supposed to feel an itch after 10 minutes of having them on your skin, but I also felt nothing. I was worried that I got a really poor dose, and it was pretty discouraging. Before inoculation I had a congestion that wouldn't go away. It helped me gauge my progress.

7 Weeks Later


7-8 weeks is when people typically report an improvement in symptoms. Not only did I NOT feel any better, I felt NO "worm flu" symptoms, which occur during the period of time between 2 and 8 weeks where people start feeling flu-like symptoms of nausea, headaches, stomach pains, etc. The symptoms come from an immune system response against the helminths while they get situated in your gut. No change in my congestion, some days were slightly better than others, but nothing significant.

Weeks 8-9


I started getting stomach pains randomly in the morning every other day for a while after week 9. I also became very vulnerable to cold and very intolerant to dairy. On the one hand it must have meant that I was definitely infected, and on the other hand I felt pretty awful. Still it was better than nothing. My congestion raged on throughout the ordeal.

Now


My congestion is definitely not as bad as it was before, but that could be from the weather changing. I do notice slightly less fatigue overall and my insensitivity to fruits has definitely decreased. I couldn't eat one or two slices of apple without immense chest pains and swollen gums, but now I can eat a whole granny smith without feeling much. On the other hand, my stomach pains still come and go and milk still does horrible things to me. Note that I was fine with milk before inoculation.

I will be inoculating with another batch in one week or so. Hopefully this dose will be more effective than the last. I'm getting 50 more helminths this time and I'm pretty optimistic! I hope I go into remission before the spring.

If you guys have any questions ask away!

Still no helminths, congestion back in full force

There have been a number of delays preventing me from getting the helminths as of yet, but I won't be going into any details about that story just yet. I haven't given up on getting them however, so I am still hopeful. I figured I'd post a small update as to my current health status since "treating" my hypothyroid with iodine (I put treating in quotes because I haven't verified my levels with a blood test).

I'm still taking 4 drops of lugol's Iodine 2% solution in my daily glass of lemonade. So far I haven't felt the need to take my Levothyroxin prescription, and my energy levels are the same (if not, better) than they were on Levothyroxin (synthetic T4).

I've also been regularly taking prescript-assist (Soil based pre/probiotic supp.) and I can't really report any significant changes to my health as a result. Stools are more solid, but I've also cut down a lot on milk.

I HAVE, however, gotten hit with some of the worst congestion in a long time. This is probably a result of coming off of singulair and the corticosteroids from the summer wearing off. It is a bit discouraging as I tend to be clear of my allergy symptoms by mid-August, and I don't really have any explanation as to why they would still be as strong as they were back in the Spring.

I suspected that my diet or the supplements I've been taking may be be contributing to the symptoms, but after stopping all of the supplements for a few days my symptoms didn't get any better. I wouldn't really be able to explain an iodine or probiotic allergy (yikes!), unless I have hashimoto's thyroiditis.

It's possible that my doctor did neglect to tell me that I have hashimoto's thyroiditis, which would mean that the iodine is making my allergies worse (and making my thyroid worse as well). I'll be giving her a call to find out today. In the meantime I will probably go back to taking Levothyroxin just to be safe.

I haven't been able to breathe properly in a few weeks now and it's getting me down. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time as a result and it's affecting me in a lot of ways.

I suppose time will tell.

No worms yet, but some improvements in my thyroid!

Hey guys, if you've read my intro post then you know that I have had hypothyroidism for some time now. The doctors never told me what the cause of it was, but I have to imagine that since they didn't explicitly mention Hashimoto's thyroiditis, I can probably rule that out. The reason I mention HT is because Iodine can actually make Hashimoto's thyroiditis worse, so be careful what you decide to take, and take my experiences with a grain of salt, your mileage may vary.


After doing a lot of research on the thyroid, I stumbled upon two natural supplements on Amazon. The first is Natural Sources - Raw Thyroid, which had a lot of excellent reviews. I started taking it exclusively and stopped taking levothyroxin 50mcg (which is the generic T4 supplement that I was prescribed). I felt great the following morning, but the day after, and for 3 days since, I had some really bad acid reflux/heartburn that I literally felt all day. Nothing changed in my diet and I generally don't eat greasy foods, so I suspected that the Raw Thyroid was causing strange reactions in my body. I stopped taking it, and 3-4 days later, the acid reflux and chest pains went away. Again I couldn't say for sure who the culprit was. I have not taken Raw Thyroid since then, but I might give it another try if the Iodine fails me.

A week after I stopped taking the Raw Thyroid, my nails and cuticles were visibly deteriorating rapidly from my hypothyroid (peeling and bleeding), and my energy was gradually decreasing. This was expected as it had been more than 3 weeks since I stopped take my prescribed T4 meds.

The second supplement I tried was Lugol's Iodine Solution 2%. I started taking this a week after all of the acid reflux symptoms subsided so I could try it on a "clean slate" so to speak. I put 3 drops into my early morning juice every day, and have since increased it to 5 drops a day. It took about a week for me to see and feel any different, but the difference was definitely there. My nails and cuticles completely healed on their own, and I've been feeling a lot better lately. It may be too soon to say because it has only been a week, but so far so good. It's been more than a month since I've stopped taking Levothyroxin, so I'm really hoping that my thyroid is under control now. I plan on getting a blood test to see what's going on in the coming months. Lugol's is a lot cheaper than generic Synthroid, and I always prefer treating my symptoms with natural remedies if possible.

I've also noticed increased energy at the gym since taking iodine. I haven't lifted in more than a month, and I've lost 20 pounds since, but I've been feeling good and lifting well, although it could have been other factors such as diet and sleep (although those haven't changed as far as I know).

I think it's also worth noting that although people have reported improvements in their allergies from taking iodine, I've still been having a couple of off days with sneezing and itchy eyes. Arguably less intense than usual, but nothing conclusive.

I'll keep you guys updated! Feel free to ask me questions.

Scratch that last post! Continuing medication

In light of recent recommendations from various people in the HT community and after some thought, I realized that weaning off of Levothyroxin 50mcg thyroid supplement is going to complicate the experience in various ways, and is not a very smart thing to do at this stage.

This makes sense for several reasons:

• If I don't feel better after inoculation it will be hard to know whether it's from a decreased thyroid function or because the helminths didn't work
• Shocking my immune system multiple times in the course of a few weeks will probably not produce the results I expect, and will complicate observation and make it harder for others to learn from my experience
• Helminthic therapy most likely won't cure my hypothyroidism anyway according to Dr. Marc, so I'm just setting myself up for failure

So although 50mcg isn't much, I think it makes sense to stay on it for a few months after I feel better and at least perform some blood tests before making any significant changes. I certainly don't want to introduce variables that could convolute the results of this therapy. Doing so wouldn't get me or the community anywhere with any degree of certainty.

Weaning off thyroid supplement, beginning month-long fast soon

**EDIT: Change of plans, see next blog post**

For no reason other than the fact that I ran out of my medication and have no refills, I'm going to discontinue taking Levothyroxin for a while to see how my thyroid levels are with just the worms. I understand that this may be a stupid idea (in fact, I know it is), but I think I can handle a slow thyroid for now while my body adjusts to the helminths. I typically start seeing the effects of my hypothyroid 2-3 weeks after discontinuing the medication, so I have some time before things start feeling extra lazy.

And finally, Ramadan begins on August 1st, so I will be fasting from sunrise to sunset, most likely producing even more fatigue. I should have a good idea of what my energy levels are like typically before I get the helminths, and  then should be able to use it as a comparison.

Lately I've been feeling ok; not bouncing with energy, but not falling asleep everywhere either. I have been averaging 9 hours of sleep and eating several meals a day though, so I suppose I shouldn't expect any less.

Oh and my allergies have been flaring up for no reason lately. Watery eyes, sneezing, increased sensitivity to certain fruits.

Only a few more days now!

The beginning of the end

The purpose of this blog is to document a relatively underground and fairly experimental therapy used to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases that I am eager to get rid of.

I will be writing very few (if any) educational posts on the therapy itself, as there is a staggering amount of information out there already, all of which you can find here.

Below is my health history as well as some statistics about my physical well-being to give you a better idea of where I am and how big (or small) of an effect the helminthic therapy will have on my body. I've had allergies for about 7 years now and fatigue for at least 4 years.

Current Health Stats

• Male
• Age: 22 yrs
• Height: 182 cm (6 ft)
• Weight: 80 kg (175 lbs)
• Body fat: 9%
• Diet: Moderately healthy 
• no fast food, soft drinks, or juice
• less than 50g sugar per day
• high in omega 3
• 2500-3000 calories a day
• GNC Mega Men multivitamins + Super B-complex daily
• 3+ days of weight lifting per week (no cardio)
• Average sleep: 8-9 hours a day over the last 5 years
• Cholesterol/vitamin levels within normal range (recent blood test)
• Current medications: Levothyroxin 50mcg (thyroid supplement)

Chronic Symptoms

• Unexplained fatigue despite abundant amount of regular sleep and treatment of hypothyroid
• Food allergies:
• Various fruits - peach, apple, strawberries, pears, tomatoes, other similar fruits
• Soy, almonds, peanuts
• Seasonal allergies:
• Spring season from April - August
• Grass, trees, ragweed, pollen
• Misc. allergies:
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Mosquito bites? (they always swell up beyond the typical bite)
• All allergies except for mosquito bites and soy have been confirmed by a specialist through skin tests

Prior treatment attempts

(Allergy)

• Allergy Treatment: 3 years of immunotherapy - 5 allergen injections, increasing in dosage, daily, then weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly
• Result: Negligible improvement in seasonal symptoms
• Allergy Medications:
• Zyrtec
• great success for 2 years of allergies, then it stopped working
• Benadryl, Claritin, Claritin-D, Allegra, Allegra-D, a few other brands I don't remember
• None successfully controlled symptoms
• Variety of alcon eye-drops
• No effect
• Naphcon-A eye drops
• Temporarily relieved symptoms, but dangerous long-term health effects (vasoconstrictor)
• Variety of nasal sprays
• Helped with congestion, but usually increased frequency of sneezing
• Annoying to apply
• Corticosteroid injection (kenalog 80mg) - Amazing relief of symptoms for up to 3 months
• Dangerous long-term health effects
• Liver flush
• Didn't do a single thing for me. My recipe was 4 organic cage-free egg yolks, a table spoon of olive oil/sunflower oil, and several limes.
• Nasal irrigation
• The water wouldn't flush out of my other nostril because I was too congested to allow any flow of water, so I couldn't quite get any relief from this treatment, though I heard it helps a lot
• Herbs and Supplements
• High doses of vitamin C
• No noticeable relief
• Grape Seed Extract
• No noticeable relief
• Stinging Nettle (for natural production of corticosteroid)
• No noticeable relief

(Fatigue)

• Levothyroxin (taken for past 6+ months)
• Helped tremendously with skin and nail condition
• Initial energy improvements, but nothing extraordinary
• Hair thinning accelerated
• Vitamin B-complex
• Helps a little bit, but isn't enough
• Exercise
• Helps the most, but also isn't enough

Further Notes on Symptoms

My seasonal allergy symptoms typically included itchy eyes, conjuctivitis (swollen eye lids) which prevented me from being able to wear contacts, major congestion (which interfered with sleep), incessant sneezing, hives, itchy skin (at worst cases), and extra sensitivity to certain foods. I wouldn't say the symptoms are dangerous as much as they are terribly uncomfortable (to such an extent that sometimes I rather lay in bed for days to wait out the discomfort).

My food allergies aren't particularly dangerous, with the exception of soy and the occasionally peach, both of which make my chest feel like it's closing up.

I also tolerate pet dander and dust mites reasonably well, with some minor congestion or light sneezing.

Needless to say, I don't quite understand where my fatigue comes from, as I've done many blood tests hoping to find the root of the problem to no avail.

Next Steps

I will be getting my initial treatment of 35 helminths some time next week, so expect some delicious photos and a detailed post! I was told that I would eventually host a total of 130 or so hookworms over the course of my treatment, so this is just the first step. I do expect a reasonable amount of improvement within a couple months of my first dose, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

The end result will hopefully be complete remission of my allergies, and (if i'm lucky) maybe my thyroid will return to normal, although I doubt it. I also expect my energy levels to normalize and my sleep needs to decrease considerably.

Stay Tuned
-Logan