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Hello So I Just Came Back From The Doctors And

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Posted on Sat, 23 Feb 2019
Question: hello so i just came back from the doctors and got diagnosed with blastocystis and parasite after a stool test. Ge said he isnt familiar with this parasite. i have been feeling ill for the past year with no diagnosis but after this diagnosis would antiobiotics work?
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
hello so i just came back from the doctors and got diagnosed with blastocystis and parasite after a stool test. Ge said he isnt familiar with this parasite. i have been feeling ill for the past year with no diagnosis but after this diagnosis would antiobiotics work?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

There are antibiotics for both blastocysts and most parasites, and they typically do work, but if your doctor isn't familiar with the parasite (which one is it?) and if there isn't an antibiotic that he clearly knows works for it, then I highly recommend that you ask him to refer you to an infectious disease specialist.

Metronidazole (Flagyl) works for many parasites, but again, the medication should be tailored to the specific parasite.

It is very good that you now have a diagnosis of specific microorganisms. Recovery is on its way!

Best regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

There are antibiotics for both blastocysts and most parasites, and they typically do work, but if your doctor isn't familiar with the parasite (which one is it?) and if there isn't an antibiotic that he clearly knows works for it, then I highly recommend that you ask him to refer you to an infectious disease specialist.

Metronidazole (Flagyl) works for many parasites, but again, the medication should be tailored to the specific parasite.

It is very good that you now have a diagnosis of specific microorganisms. Recovery is on its way!

Best regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
what are the symptoms of blastocysts? cuz i feel bloated everyday no matter if i eat or not, i have yellow to light stools, extreme fatigue, brain fog, loss of muscle mass (triceps)
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
what are the symptoms of blastocysts? cuz i feel bloated everyday no matter if i eat or not, i have yellow to light stools, extreme fatigue, brain fog, loss of muscle mass (triceps)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Blastocystis hominis is a parasite that is found in many people's stool cultures and it's not clear if it itself causes the problems or if other organisms that may come along with it cause the problems; some people with blastocystis have symptoms and some don't. So it is poorly understood and whether you have symptoms might be due to the particular strain.

When people do get symptoms, it's usually excessive gas, a bloated feeling, watery diarrheal stools, decreased appetite, and fatigue.

You asked about the yellow to light stools: anytime there is diarrhea, stools can be yellow in color because the bile pigments haven't had time to change the color of the stool to it's usual brown color. That said, if stools are very light, like a clay or khaki color, or almost white, that can be from an obstruction of bile due to galls stones or liver inflammation. Has your doctor checked a liver panel blood test? It would be a good thing to check although sometimes the liver enzymes can be up due to the infection in the gut, too.

Fatigue is possible with a blastocystis infection, but loss of muscle mass would be unusual unless you are also losing weight and exercising less because of feeling sick from it.

You mentioned "blastocystis and parasite". Do you have another parasite in addition to the blastocystis infection?

Did your doctor prescribe you an antibiotic medication?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Blastocystis hominis is a parasite that is found in many people's stool cultures and it's not clear if it itself causes the problems or if other organisms that may come along with it cause the problems; some people with blastocystis have symptoms and some don't. So it is poorly understood and whether you have symptoms might be due to the particular strain.

When people do get symptoms, it's usually excessive gas, a bloated feeling, watery diarrheal stools, decreased appetite, and fatigue.

You asked about the yellow to light stools: anytime there is diarrhea, stools can be yellow in color because the bile pigments haven't had time to change the color of the stool to it's usual brown color. That said, if stools are very light, like a clay or khaki color, or almost white, that can be from an obstruction of bile due to galls stones or liver inflammation. Has your doctor checked a liver panel blood test? It would be a good thing to check although sometimes the liver enzymes can be up due to the infection in the gut, too.

Fatigue is possible with a blastocystis infection, but loss of muscle mass would be unusual unless you are also losing weight and exercising less because of feeling sick from it.

You mentioned "blastocystis and parasite". Do you have another parasite in addition to the blastocystis infection?

Did your doctor prescribe you an antibiotic medication?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (31 hours later)
my poop is mostly light brown and it is usually loose and diahrrea no matter what i eat. havent had a normal stool in year. liver enzymes are slightly elevated ultra sounds and ct scans showed only a fatty liver can that affect me? and i also want to mention that i dont have a gallbladder anymore, but before the surgery i was already feeling ill.
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
my poop is mostly light brown and it is usually loose and diahrrea no matter what i eat. havent had a normal stool in year. liver enzymes are slightly elevated ultra sounds and ct scans showed only a fatty liver can that affect me? and i also want to mention that i dont have a gallbladder anymore, but before the surgery i was already feeling ill.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
Fatty liver would not be expected to cause this problem.

People can have changes in digestion after their gall bladder is removed, because the bile just gets dumped directly into the small intestines as it is formed, rather than stored in the gall bladder where it is released after eating.

My guess is that the blastocystis (and was there another parasite also?) that showed up in your stool may be the culprit.

Were you given an antibiotic such as metronidazole or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole? It may be worth a try even if there is debate over whether blastocystis is a pathogen or not. In some people, it appears to cause symptoms, which is unclear why just in some people and not in others, but some speculate the difference may be due to different strains of it.

The CDC mentions this controversy over blastocystis in a report where they state:
"Whether Blastocystis hominis can cause symptomatic infection in humans is a point of active debate. This is because of the common occurrence of the organism in both asymptomatic and symptomatic persons. Those who believe symptoms could be related to infection with this parasite have described a spectrum of illness including watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, perianal pruritus, and excessive flatulence."
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
Fatty liver would not be expected to cause this problem.

People can have changes in digestion after their gall bladder is removed, because the bile just gets dumped directly into the small intestines as it is formed, rather than stored in the gall bladder where it is released after eating.

My guess is that the blastocystis (and was there another parasite also?) that showed up in your stool may be the culprit.

Were you given an antibiotic such as metronidazole or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole? It may be worth a try even if there is debate over whether blastocystis is a pathogen or not. In some people, it appears to cause symptoms, which is unclear why just in some people and not in others, but some speculate the difference may be due to different strains of it.

The CDC mentions this controversy over blastocystis in a report where they state:
"Whether Blastocystis hominis can cause symptomatic infection in humans is a point of active debate. This is because of the common occurrence of the organism in both asymptomatic and symptomatic persons. Those who believe symptoms could be related to infection with this parasite have described a spectrum of illness including watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, perianal pruritus, and excessive flatulence."
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (26 minutes later)
ive been having this issue for over a year and just 1 week ago found out i was positive for blastocystis from stool test. doctor gave me flagyl for 10 days 3 pills a day. liver enzymes are slightly elevated dont know why. i feel bloated all the time, extreme fatigue, brain fog, sleeping problems, light brown stools everyday, i belch,feels like food just sits in stomach, triceps are gone and i feel weak.
default
Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
ive been having this issue for over a year and just 1 week ago found out i was positive for blastocystis from stool test. doctor gave me flagyl for 10 days 3 pills a day. liver enzymes are slightly elevated dont know why. i feel bloated all the time, extreme fatigue, brain fog, sleeping problems, light brown stools everyday, i belch,feels like food just sits in stomach, triceps are gone and i feel weak.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Consider taking the Flagyl

Detailed Answer:
The liver enzymes can be elevated from fatty liver disease or from the gut problem. It is not uncommon for excess abdominal weight or fatty liver to cause some elevation in liver enzymes.

Have you started the Flagyl? That is metronidazole, and is indicated for treating blastocystis.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Consider taking the Flagyl

Detailed Answer:
The liver enzymes can be elevated from fatty liver disease or from the gut problem. It is not uncommon for excess abdominal weight or fatty liver to cause some elevation in liver enzymes.

Have you started the Flagyl? That is metronidazole, and is indicated for treating blastocystis.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Hello So I Just Came Back From The Doctors And

hello so i just came back from the doctors and got diagnosed with blastocystis and parasite after a stool test. Ge said he isnt familiar with this parasite. i have been feeling ill for the past year with no diagnosis but after this diagnosis would antiobiotics work?