Scleroderma

[Jannevarez]

Just looking for any kind of insight! My mom has been suffering with unexplainable lumps in her leg below the knee for the past 10 years. The lumps used to come and go and resurface in another area of her leg, always below the knee. But now the lumps are staying and are turning hard where they used to be more soft and pliable. She’s been in constant pain for years but it’s getting worse, to the point where she has trouble walking and moving. She’s been to more doctors than I can count. They just scratch their heads and say we don’t know. She’s had blood tests, x-rays, you name it and no one can seem to say what it is, just what it isn’t! She went to the hospital for an ultrasound a few days ago because now her other leg (knee and below) were so painful and swollen she couldn’t walk. She was worried it may be a blood clot. But once again blood vessels are open and flowing well, no clots or any sign of anything else! They just said we don’t know so here are some pain killers for you to take. Which she refuses because they all make her so sick… anyway… a few months ago one dr. finally took a biopsy from one of the lumps. He told her it was scleroderma. She asked what could be done for it. His response was “Nothing.” She’s been depressed ever since…. my heart breaks for her! Anyway the reason I’m bringing this here is because I have always felt that this all began with a fishing trip. She sat on the bank all day and the mosquitos literally chewed her ankles raw. She had tons of bites just above her sock, all the way around her ankle and it was open and raw. It was shortly after that the lumps started to form on her leg. The two thoughts that keep invading my mind are parasites and the lymphatic system. But I have NO medical knowledge and wouldn’t even know where to begin finding answers for that. When that was brought up to all the doctors they said “No way! That’s not the cause of this, that’s crazy!” …sigh….

So that’s where I am…. a mother with no hope…. a broken heart watching my mom suffer…. and NO answers. I’ve been praying and praying and I keep feeling that there IS HOPE and ANSWERS somewhere…. I just need to keep looking…. anywhere and everywhere!

Hence my post here today! Thank you so much for any insight. It is very much appreciated!!

Jan 🙂

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

Have you done any research (text and images) to see if the diagnosis of scleroderma seems to fit what is going on with your mother? I would start there.

I would also begin to trust your intuition as well. It is my experience (and probably the experience of millions, if not billions, that when a doctor does not know what is going on (which is quite often) they will vehemently deny the patients insight. 🙄 It is our right, from God, to receive inspiration into our needs.

Let’s see if we can help you work through this. There are a TON of tools at our disposal. :yahoo:

We need to start with the initial research first though. Oh, thank you for the information about the activity that proceeded the symptoms though. That is VERY important.

One other question. How long was it from this event and the initial symptoms?

[Jannevarez]

That’s just it. With all I’ve researched and seen online about scleroderma doesn’t seem to fit. Neither does lupus which has one dr. suggested because her blood tested positive for…. something… some type of antibody. In all my research the closest thing that resembles her symptoms is lymphedema. I asked her how long after the mosquito bites did the symptoms start. She said it was over 15 years ago (I didn’t realize how long ago it was) so she couldn’t remember for sure but it was most likely a few months afterwards, definitely within a year. She said her very first thought when finding the first lump was, “I wonder if those mosquitos laid eggs!” I didn’t realize that was her first impression until now. (intuition?) The more I read about scleroderma, lupus and auto immune disease the more I feel like that’s not it. I keep thinking blocked lymph system….. ???

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

Read through this thread:

It is simple, non invasive and will give you some feedback on you intuition.

[Jannevarez]

Thank you! Ive never heard of reflexology. Its sounds interesting and may provide some relief for my mom’s symptoms. Having said that I don’t feel like that would address the root cause of her problems. That’s what I REALLY want to understand. I need to know WHY her body is doing this. What is causing it to react in such a way? I know if I can get to the bottom of that I’ll have a better understanding of where to start and what to target…. does that make sense? I guess I really needed to start medical school long ago to understand the intricate workings of the body… BUT I do know without a doubt God can help me understand what I need to know to help my mom. I have had a similar experience with my teenage son only his issues were of an emotional nature. We saw so many doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, over a 5 year span. He was given every imaginable drug out there, while his condition continued to decline. I knew they were addressing only the symptoms. I wanted deeper answers as to WHY. Their response was “Because that’s just the way he’s wired”. That wasn’t good enough for me. So I started searching, praying and fasting more even more intently for answers. The answer came powerfully and unmistakably in just 5 simple words… FOODS IN THEIR PUREST FORM… I knew what I heard but at that time I had no idea what it meant…. other than probably no more boxed macaroni and cheese….? Haha But then the Lord taught me! He took me on an intense, fast paced journey of understanding. He poured out so much information that it was almost overwhelming. I felt like he handed me a straw and then He proceeded to shoot a fire hose at me! I learned so many things I hadn’t known before about food and how it affects the body, physically, emotionally and spiritually! I quickly scooped my son up and took him far away from all doctors. They thought I was crazy and probably wanted to put me on the same anti psychotic drugs they were trying to force me to give him. But I ignored their anger and ridicule. I began followed the prompting that came to me concerning his diet. Very slowly we finally started to see improvements. Very slowly…. only discernable to me and my husband at first. That was about 5 years ago. He has come a long way since then. During that time of intense divine tutoring the word “herbs” was strongly impressed apon my mind. But I received nothing further, only a feeling that I would understand what that meant when the time was right. Well…. the time is definitely right! I shared part of that story in my introduction post about how the Lord pointed directly to “Doc” and said “Go learn”! In the past 5 months I have learned! I’ve learned that God created the most amazing miraculous plants for US! I’ve already seen amazing things that simple plants can do! I’ve also learned how much I don’t know! But I have an unquenchable desire to learn! I’ve also learned that the Lord ALWAYS has answers. I’ve learned to listen and trust Him. I know there is hope and answers for my mom…. He has confirmed that much to me. I just need to keep praying and following impressions that come to me.

Anyway… sorry I didn’t mean to write an essay here! Hahaha I know I probably won’t find all the answers here and it’s been my experience that answers can come slowly…. one clue at a time. I’m still learning how to help my son. But I know there is a purpose for all things we experience on this earth and that the Lord will provide answers but we need to do our part! Thank you so much for your help! And for letting me ramble on!!! 🙂

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

I do know about reflexology but not that much in the way of experience. I should learn more.

My main point in directing you to that thread was the lymph portion of it.

[Jannevarez]

Thank you for that. I do appreciate it. Here’s a question…. do you know if there are specific plants that target different types of bacteria? If you wanted to eradicate a soecific type, are there different plants that target certain bacteria and viruses?

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

All of the plants I know are generalists as far as bacteria go. There are a couple of plants that I know that are good on certain viruses though.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Hi Jan,

Sorry to hear about your mom’s troubles. I haven’t addressed scleroderma before.

My understanding of it is that it’s usually a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, the docs rule out what they can and then lump the things they can’t sort out into a catch-all category.

I can’t speak to your mom’s situation specifically. I would have to visit with her and get a lot more information before formulating a plan (which I would be happy to do).

I have had some cases over the years where lymphatic drainage was an issue. In those cases, cleavers was very helpful. Of course they were on a number of other things as well depending on the specifics of the case. There are also some important physical things one can do as referred to by Steven above.

If you’d like, have your mom contact me and we’ll see what we can do.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Jannevarez]

I would love for my mom to talk to you. I’ll do my best to make it happen. But she’s so discouraged having been to so many doctors including those practicing alternative medicine. She even had a stem cell treatment from a guy in Pocatello…. cleansing her blood through some sort of machine and adding the stem cells to it…. idk? Anyway my point is she after more than 15 years she feels like she has tried everything and feels like it’s hopelessness. I know it’s not but I don’t know to help her believe that. Hopefully my faith can carry us both for now. I’m going to tell you what I think is going on with her legs. I’m pretty sure you’ll think I’m crazy…. but before that I wanted to apologize to Steven. After rereading my prior post I feel like I came across as very curt and dismissive. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to sound like I discounted reflexology. It may even very well be an important factor in helping her regain her health! I really wanted to say Im sorry for that!

Ok… here is what I truly think my mom has… filariasis. A parasitic condition that eventually leads to elephantitis. I know it’s not a condition found in the United states. I believe she was infected when she received all those mosquito bites. Along with other multiple flying insects attacking her raw swollen ankles. I’ve learned that blood feeding black flies also spread the filaria parasite. But when suggested to doctors this theory was scoffed at! So I’d be forced to look in other areas for possible causes but I that constant nagging feeling always led me right back to this. It fits perfectly. So that’s where I have focused my research. I’ve found some very good information based on case studies done with individuals infected with this. Long story short I think the culprit causing the most damage isn’t the filarial worms but wolbachia bacteria which is released when the adult worms die. That’s why I asked if there were certain plants that are more effective on certain types of bacteria. Just killing off the worms will make the symptoms will get worse because of an intense immune response to the newly released wobalchia. The wolbachia need to be targeted as well. I was wondering…. If we know that the IgG antibodies specifically target wolbachia bacteria (IgG is specific to a surface protein on wolbachia) is there a way to tell a plant has those same properties therefor getting the same results?

If I’m sounding like a crazy mad woman who is speaking gibberish please just tell me… I realize I’m wandering in unfamiliar areas that I have absolutely NO experience with. It’s OK to be honest! I feel silly even asking questions like this. My terminology is a dead give away that I’m in way over my head…. but I gotta keep looking for answers! Along with doing everything in my power to get my mom to talk to you!!

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

Hmmm, I did not see any curtness or dismissive words. Don’t be hard on yourself. 😉

I do not recall the location of the event you indicate as a possible genesis for her condition. That will help.

[Jannevarez]

Well…that’s the problem. The reason the doctors scoffed and quickly dismissed the suggestion was because the location wasn’t in a place where filaria parasites are known to exist. It was right here in the mountains of Utah. Uintah Basin area. (Eastern ut) my mom lives in the Vernal area . That’s why I know it sounds crazy….. if it had been some tropical island it would have made more sense…. but….. there’s just that constant nagging feeling I can’t seem to shake! Keeps taking me right back to that scenario! :

Jan

[IdahoHerbalist]

Look into the possibility of an analog disease that happens here, if you have not done that yet.

Have you had her start any of the lymph stuff yet? It can only help, I think.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

To my knowledge, elephantitis doesn’t occur in North America. That said, I don’t know why it doesn’t occur. We are all only one mosquito bite away from it if some nice fellow who’s been in Africa gets off a plane in Salt Lake City.

There are other species of Filaria that do exist in the Intermountain West. They aren’t typically human parasites but the skeeters don’t care who they bite and the filaria do get into our bodies on a regular basis and can absolutely cause disease (even the CDC says so…maybe your doctor should read more :really: ). Clinical disease from these worms isn’t common (or should I say…isn’t commonly recognized) but it does occur in some individuals.

Canine heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) can infect humans as can other species. The symptoms your mom is having (skin nodules) could be consistent with Dirofilaria repens or D. tenuis infection. D. repens hasn’t been reported in the US but is very common in Europe. D. Tenuis is common in the USA.

Have a look at this website:

D. tenuis and D. repens can both cause nodules under the skin which may be similar to what you’re describing. If your doc did a biopsy, I’d have expected him to be able to see the parasite if it was there but who knows…biopsies miss things at times.

BTW, I’m a big fan of listening to the little voice in one’s head.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Jannevarez]

Hi! If analog disease means something that looks similar but isn’t exactly the same… than YES that’s what I’ve been looking for! Knowing that terminology might even yield better search results! Haha Its all about asking the right questions! Which us incredibly HARD to do when you feel like a kindergarten student being told to write a dissertation on the mysteries of the universe… sigh… I have looked in to all kinds of Filarial infections trying to MAKE one fit that makes more sense. But the wuchereria bancrofti with symbiotic wobachia bacteria keep screaming at me. I try to scream back to say YOU’RE NOT FOUND IN RURAL UTAH MOUNTAINS! It goes away for a minute while I look intently for something else, reading articles, studies and cases like the ones you posted above. But its a never ending circle that brings me right back to this specific type, each time screaming louder because I find yet something else that fits this … WHY?!!!!! I know the research shows a .000001 chance of the possibility! So WHY can’t I find anything else that’s looks similar but isn’t?

And I wonder if I just proceed with an assault plan with this directly in mind would I make matters worse. Do I actually need to know the exact scientific strain in order to proceed with a treatment plan? I just don’t know how I should proceed? Are there even anti Filarial plants that we know about? Are there plants that would paralyze the adult worms instead of kill them to lessen the effect of the immune response to the bacteria? And use the lymph therapies to move them out of the lymph system? So many questions….

Steven I haven’t done anything with my mom yet because she lives 3 hours away from me which makes helping her even harder!!! 🙁

Jan

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Jannevarez wrote: Hi! If analog disease means something that looks similar but isn’t exactly the same… than YES that’s what I’ve been looking for! Knowing that terminology might even yield better search results! Haha Its all about asking the right questions! Which us incredibly HARD to do when you feel like a kindergarten student being told to write a dissertation on the mysteries of the universe… sigh… I have looked in to all kinds of Filarial infections trying to MAKE one fit that makes more sense. But the wuchereria bancrofti with symbiotic wobachia bacteria keep screaming at me. I try to scream back to say YOU’RE NOT FOUND IN RURAL UTAH MOUNTAINS! It goes away for a minute while I look intently for something else, reading articles, studies and cases like the ones you posted above. But its a never ending circle that brings me right back to this specific type, each time screaming louder because I find yet something else that fits this … WHY?!!!!! I know the research shows a .000001 chance of the possibility! So WHY can’t I find anything else that’s looks similar but isn’t?

And I wonder if I just proceed with an assault plan with this directly in mind would I make matters worse. Do I actually need to know the exact scientific strain in order to proceed with a treatment plan? I just don’t know how I should proceed? Are there even anti Filarial plants that we know about? Are there plants that would paralyze the adult worms instead of kill them to lessen the effect of the immune response to the bacteria? And use the lymph therapies to move them out of the lymph system? So many questions….

Steven I haven’t done anything with my mom yet because she lives 3 hours away from me which makes helping her even harder!!! 🙁

Jan

I don’t think there’s any need to find a “magic bullet” plant for one particular organism. If you give the body what it needs, it’ll sort things out. There are plenty of plants that can help, lymphatic drainage, immunity, killing invaders etc… There are some specific plants that the ayurvedics* use to treat elephantiasis and related conditions. When we get together, we’ll see what your mom needs and go from there.

Where do you and your mom live?

Doc

*http://www.ayushveda.com/health/shleepada-jwara.htm

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Jannevarez]

Well.. I live in West Jordan (Salt lake area) and she lives 3 hours east of here in Vernal Utah….

Jan

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

If you guys can’t come up here, I’ll be down that way a lot in the next few months. I really would like to meet with her in person and see how she’s doing and what’s going on.

The other dynamic here will be her interest level. I get emails and phone calls every day from folks that want me to help someone they love. My experience is that if the ill person doesn’t have enough interest to seek me out him/herself, I can’t help him/her much. If your mom wants to work with me, have her give me a call or send me an email. It’s an important part of the process. 🙂

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Jannevarez]

I definitely agree! I’ll have her call you! In the meantime I’m gonna keep looking for look alike diseases (analog?) There’s gotta be something out there that causes similar symptoms that makes more sense. I know I keep going back to filariasis but her symptoms are confined to her lower legs. She said besides the pain from that she feels healthy. Although she seems to have more issues with kidney/bladder infections…. idk. I’m sure you know all the right questions to ask. Thank you so much for your willingness to help her! I’ll have her call you soon!

PS Steven I’m also trying to learn how to do reflexology! 🙂

Jan

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