posted
My 8 yr old dd has this disease and we are now looking into the possiblity of Lymes disease.
Eosinophils are white blood cells that attack parasites.
EoE is an autoimmune disorder where the eosinophils attack the esophagus causing inflammation among many other symptoms.
The current opinion on this disease is that it is caused by either food allergens or environmental allergens.
In rare cases, it can be caused by virus' or parasites.
I'm beginning to wonder if her weakened immune system, food allergies and EoE are actually a symptom of untreated chronic Lyme.
Any thoughts/experience with these disease?
Posts: 131 | From Nebraska | Registered: Apr 2011
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lululymemom
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posted
I do not have eosinophilic esophagitis but I did have moderate chronic esophagitis. I also have lyme and bartonella. I have been using PPI's and tums for many years quite consistently. It got very bad at one point and doctors thought I may have Barretts, but biopsy disproved that.
The only thing that has helped me and it's gotten me off all antacids and PPI's is drinking slippery elm powder mixed with a little water at night. It's very soothing and has abolished the need for anything else.
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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seekhelp
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posted
i got your PM. I will get back to you shortly. I did a good amount of research on it.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
i also developed reflux so bad that i have erosion, and scarring throughout esophagus and stomach.sometimes they call the red areas different things all i know is it never started until lyme and yeast were a problem.
Posts: 125 | From western mass | Registered: Sep 2010
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lyme in Putnam
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posted
My sons friend has it and it's from food allergies for her. It's been months and they're slowly introducing foods to her. Sh has it rare, esophagus and stomach. She's slowly getting better.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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Razzle
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posted
My DH has EG with esophageal involvement, but his is due to food allergies (he has a ton of them). http://www.apfed.org/ has more info on eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID's).
I do believe it is possible for an infectious disease to cause eosinophilia. And the current state of lab capability to detect the infectious organism that may be causing the EGID is less than spectacular (about as accurate as Lyme tests...). And Babesia is a parasite, and some also believe there are other parasitic type organisms (such as the BLO that Fry Labs has identified), and Lyme itself has some parasitic properties (it's too smart relative to the average bacteria).
Take care,
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4167 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
Bump. I also have Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Just wondering if anyone else has more information.
Posts: 490 | From TX- Go Cowboys! | Registered: Aug 2009
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
Dr. K. finds lungworm in many of his patients.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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seekhelp
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posted
My gastro doctor keeps acting like this condition is no big deal in adults. He says it can't contribute towards any of my symptoms. Don't get it.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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glm1111
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posted
I don't get it. If G.I. parasites are suspected, why are these docs not treating with antiparasitics? Eosinophilia is an indication of parasites.
Really seems retarded to me. Allerigies are on the symptom list for parasites. Mindboggling.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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seekhelp
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posted
Gael, he said parasites are rare and if one had them, their WBC Eos numbers would be sky high. Normal is 0.0 - 0.4. Mine have hit 0.8 before. He keeps saying they'd be 2.0 or higher. Normal eosinophil counts in the esophagitis are under 15. My count was 75+. A severe result, but he said would cause no symptoms other than occasional food intolerance. No food allergies found....BUT it can't be parasites. Supposedly it's allergy of 'unknown' origin.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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glm1111
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posted
seek,
My eos count through the yrs was high, but not sky high, and you know how loaded with parasites I was. Still confused because you were dx with roundworms and tapeworms.
I know you tried both pharma and herbal antiparasitics for a bit, but it can take months of a concentrated effort to move these parasites out. Maybe consider this angle again. Parasites can make you deathly ill if not tx.
Don't mean to keep harping on you about this, just know how much you're suffering and want to see you get well.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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canefan17
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posted
Elevated Eos levels for me were also parasites.
My Eos levels (over a 6 months span when starting Lyme treatment) were never elevated.
I started Humaworm, riled up the parasites, and my immune system responded with high Eos levels the very next month of bloodwork and they've really been elevated ever since. but moreso when I treat them (indicating that by treating them you cause them to become aggressive and the immune system to respond with Eosinophils)
I don't know enough about the food allergie angle. Although many LLMDs will say that Bartonella and parasites can cause food allergies and major heartburn.
Razzle
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Member # 30398
posted
Tissue and blood eosinophil (eos.) levels do not correlate in Eosinophilic GI diseases. Yes, it can be helpful if one does get an elevated blood eos. level, but can't use this as a guide unless in your specific case, you do notice a correlation between blood and biopsy eos. levels.
Yes, I agree parasites can be a major cause of eosinophilia.
Unfortunately, most GI doctors don't realize how inaccurate the parasite tests are, therefore not much is known about parasitic infections in those with a diagnosed Eosinophilic GI disorder.
I do know of one person who was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EG) but then discovered a positive pinworm test result...her GI doc blew off the results initially, but then she insisted on treatment and after completion of treatment for the parasites, all her EG symptoms disappeared.
I have to wonder how many others diagnosed with an eosinophilic disorder have parasites or some other infection as a root cause.
There also is a controversial published case of a person with Hypereosinophil Syndrome (HES) who improved with treatment for Babesia. Since Babesia is a known malaria-like parasite, it is not inconceivable to me that Lyme/coinfections could be at the root of problems for others who have eosinophilic issues.
Also, it is known that Lyme/coinfections can increase the likelihood of developing allergies - both environmental and food allergies. I speak from experience on this one...
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4167 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
My daughter had eosinophilic colitis when she was around 14 (now 26). She endured a year of pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and misery. We went from doctor to doctor. She was eventually treated with Flagyl by an ID physician. I remember she had a difficult time tolerating this. I was dx with Lyme only this year but have probably had it since childhood. I strongly suspect that she has congenital Lyme as well and this was probably one of her first major symptoms.
Posts: 478 | From Third Coast | Registered: Feb 2011
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I get terrible heartburn, as do two of my siblings.
None of us came up with anything from endoscopy.
My brother told me he read somewhere that you can have Eosinophilic Esophagitis that doesn't show up on studies, but still gives you symptoms.
My brothers and I all feel much better on anti-histamines. I take two benadryl at night and it really seems to settle it down. I also think that Singulair helps.. but you need a prescription for it. One of my brothers takes one claritin a day and it controls it.
My whole family has allergies and serious arthritis (4 siblings with arthritis, 3 of them with Crohn's. All grew up in CT-- probably have Lyme and cos.)
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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GiGi
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posted
Please note that according to Dr. K., many Lymies (don't like the word) suffer from the miserable parasite Lungworm, yet only 10% show higher eosinophils in their lab work.
According to him, when treating parasites, all family members and pets need to be treated - at the same time.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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Jamers
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posted
I have acid reflux from H. Pylori. I have had a lot of throat issues and Im finally getting relief from treatment of Bart. Interesting on the parasites though. Im treating those next.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
To support Gigi's point. I have been ill for 4 years, now I'm nearly fully recovered. Through my own research I suspected parasites were an issue but I could not convince my Lyme doctor. I found another Lyme doctor who had experience with Dr K and went through the parasite protocol. About four weeks in I estimate 200 to 300 parasites came out all at one time. My lungs cleared up instantly and the persistent fatigue I had for years began to vanish.
Before the protocol my white blood cell count had been locked in a range of 4 to 5 for years. After the protocol it jumped up to 7.7. I feel like parasites were the last piece of the puzzle for me. I also believe that parasites were a core part of my illness from day 1 and were simply overlooked by the multiple doctors (12 in total). Sadly I had to figure this out on my own. A special thanks to Gigi and Gael - your posts were very helpful in figuring this out.
Posts: 4 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2010
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glm1111
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posted
ctlyme,
Your post made me smile when i read it. So happy to hear of your progress after treating for parasites. Good for you for being persistent and finding a Dr. K. doc who understands how important treating parasites is.
You are very welcome. Makes me feel that my persistent posts about parasites is not in vain.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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manybites
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posted
In my case I had a high eusinophils account for over a decade that came out as babesia . When I had a car accident this came up high and my Wbc and RBc went very low.I walked in the hospital and came out with blood transfusion and in wheelchair.My Rbc were lowest ever and I had sweats and GASPING FOR AIR.This happened after months of treating parasites and years of chasing bart( covers brucella as well and ehrlichia) and lyme treatment with bionic. So after I was sick to death and my Eusinophils were high I saw the LLMD.He mentioned YOU DO HAVE BABESIA and the eusinophils are showing it as I could barely stand.It is true only antimalaria Drugs and herbs are the ones that fixed my RBC and brougth it to normal.I have not tested anymore for eusinophils.I will test for it but I do not care to chase the test as the antimalarial treatment worked for me.
From beeing like in wheelchair bedridden I started finally cleaning the house and cooking.It was almost 1 1/2 years ago as only 1/2 year ago I could put my hands on the drugs for babesia.I stoped for a few months( that was a huge sat back as I almost gave up on anything ) and BABESIA EXSPLODED .
Was there another parasite MAYBE but the drop was rapidly and it could not have been a lung worm even though I know it could have been present but I used Drugs that covered it already before the car accident.
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