Hi. My wife was recently diagnosed with the bowel/colon parasite known as entamoeba histolytica. Is there anyone out there who has suffered from this bug, or who knows a lot about it?
I'm wondering what the typical symptoms are in people, and how long it takes to feel better after being treated with antibiotics. She has been suffering from weight loss, lack of energy, and even depression. Is this common?
Thanks!

Hi Roger, know how your wife feels, I picked the little bugger up in Africa months ago about July and the symptoms get worse as u go, to the point where I simply stopped eating and lost over a stone, and I'm only little anyway. For me it came on so gradually, I forgot what normal was! Basically the way I experienced it, it became like having an allergic reaction to any food I ate, always stomach cramps, stomach turning, so tired constantly, the only time I felt ok was when I was hungry and weak. It sucks as it's hard to get the tests, my blood test was normal, it doesn't show, and doctors thought I was stressed.. which I clearly wasn't, until people starting asking if I was anorexic.. which I wasn't so I went to a different doctor. The antibiotics are great.. well actually awful, I was throwing up most nights on the first lot metronisazole whilst trying to complete coursework, but once u start the second, u feel practically normal really fast, oh but just make sure it's gone, I'm going back tomorrow cuz even though the after-test was normal, I know it's still there and getting worse again :( hope that's some help, if ya need anything else, I've had the nasty thing so long I know it pretty well now! Jen

Jenny-
So good to hear from you - THANKS! - although I'm very sorry to hear about your suffering. Your story and my wife's story sound almost identical, although she hasn't experienced the cramps.
My wife was put on a course of ciprofloxacin and paramomycin, which knocked her for a loop for 10 days. She was retested two weeks ago and there is no further sign of the bug, although the doc wants to test her again in a few weeks to be sure. Unfortunately, she is still suffering from malaise, fatigue, depression. The doc says it may take 2-3 months to fully "heal" -- whatever that means! Has your doctor said the same thing?
There seems to be VERY little information out there about how this bug makes people feel. Have you found any good data anywhere?

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Jen-
How did your latest tests go? Best regards.

I'm ok now thanks, I think, they think I had a post-infection, infection which just randomly cleared up on Sunday so hopefully it'll be the last time I see the doctor tomora yay! Though I'm still not really eating yet, just probably need to get used to it again. How's your wife? Is she feeling a lot better now? I wonder if it affects more women...hmm

So happy to hear that, Jen. Congratulations! Sounds like it's really been a difficult and long road for you. My wife has been eating well, with no obvious digestive issues, but the fatigue and weight loss and malaise have taken their toll. Our doctor says the parasite can trigger depressions, since the body is engaged in quite a war with this toxic bug. It's possible that the parasite affects absorption of important vitamins, etc.