My Inoculation!

Prior to traveling to the Worm Therapy clinic, I filled out an extensive patient history form, and took some blood tests and sent the results to Dr. Llamas and Garin. We discussed my case at length and Dr. Llama developed a recommended treatment protocol.


On Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 I boarded a 7pm flight to Colorado. Then I hopped a connecting flight to San Diego. I got into the hotel (Days Inn) around 11pm, but couldn't sleep right away because I was excited about my trip to Mexico the next morning. Luckily, I brought a really good book!


(By the way, I highly recommend Expedia. I flew round trip from Atlanta to San Diego for $300, and paid only $60 for my hotel.)


In the morning, Garin Aglietti picked me up at my hotel and we drove to the clinic in Tijuana. Garin is very friendly and likable. We chatted about everything from scientific theory related to helminthic therapy to the natural beauty of San Diego. Despite stories I'd heard about the crazy driving habits in Mexico, I found the drive less stressful that an average day among the crazy, aggressive drivers here in Atlanta.


Once at the clinic, I met Dr. Llamas. Dr. Llamas is a sweet and caring man. He talked with me for about an hour about my medical history. He is also a holistic doctor and talked with me about my life history, psychology, emotions, diet, and more. He did a physical exam, and we discussed the treatment protocol he was recommending for me.


Then we did the inoculation. I was surprised that i didn't have any last minute questioning of myself. I had read enough that I was completely convinced this treatment will be beneficial and if by any chance I have a negative reaction, my little friends would be easy to kill.


I got 10 hookworm given to me on bandage. And 200 whip worm. The whipworm ova where pipetted onto my tongue by Dr. Llamas and chased down with a little Gatoraide. the hookworm burrowed into the skin of my upper arm from the bandage.


I've heard others say it itches a great deal, but I hardly felt much itch. At the time, however, I had a bit of poison ivy on my other arm, so maybe I'm just comparing. So I can honestly say that compared to poison ivy, hookworm hardly itches at all.


Garin and Dr. Llamas kept me under observation for about 45 mins. to make sure I wasn't going to have a rare but possible severe reaction.


We then heard that the line of cars re-entering the States was really short, so I gave Dr. Llamas a hug, thanked him, and Garin and I jumped into the car and headed back. Garin and I had lunch (I think we broke the record for the most sushi ever consumed at one sitting!) and chatted about many different things. 


My flights back we a little stressful. Due to being a struggling graduate student, I grabbed a couple red-eyes home rather than pay for another night in a hotel. I did a lot of sleeping sitting up in the chairs of the boarding areas. They pack people into planes so tightly now, there was no sleeping to be done on the planes. But I still had my great novel, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.


By the time I got back I was exhausted, but feeling the promise of this fabulous new therapy and looking forward to being able to get off of prednisome with all it's nasty side effects. Due to the prednisone, I've gained 30 lbs. since January. My face and ankles are terribly bloated. I'm starting to get acne. and I feel jittery, my teeth are now sensitive to cold drinks, and I have mood swings.


Helminthic Therapy often takes months to take effect, but I'm hoping to get the positive effects soon enough to get off the prednisone before my hair starts to fall out! :-)