I’m Loving the Worm Eggs Trial at Midwest Center for Clinical Research
Our brave "worms" trial volunteer!
Any patient with Crohn’s Disease will tell you they would love to hear there is a cure for the disease or at least a medical breakthrough that could cause remission or reduce their symptoms. Right now there is not a cure and we have to rely on medication and diet as well changes in life style and work schedules. Everyone lives around their schedules, their children’s schedules, family functions, and other life events. Unless you have Crohn’s Disease. Then you live around your disease and everything is done if your digestive system will allow it.
Clinical Trials are for Guinea Pigs
Although I frequently see Dr. Taormina for my Crohn’s management, it never occurred to me to ask about clinical trials. Until recently, the thought of clinical trials brought to mind guinea pigs and horrible side effects. So when I received the call from Jody Ehrhardt about a study, I was skeptical. When and she said that the doctor thought that I would be a great candidate for the trial, I agreed. Dr. Taormina has been my gastroenterologist for two decades and I trust him.
No Relief for IBD
Digestive issues have been my major health problems for the past 22 years and for the first 10, I had been misdiagnosed by a general practitioner. After having a colon resection surgery and trying different medications, I had come to a standstill. I had tried nearly every option for the IBD patient:
- anti-inflammatory drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease
- immune system suppressors used to suppress the immune response
- Antibiotics necessary for injury due to IBD to reduce intestinal bacteria
- other medications over the counter and prescribed that help or used in conjunction with other medications
- infusion treatments like Remicade and Humira
However for me and my Crohn’s, nothing worked.
Considering the Worms Clinical Trial
When the explanation of the Helminth OVA trail at the Midwest Center for Clinical Research was described to me, my face twisted into an awkward and painful look of disgust. If you think about it, swallowing a solution with worm eggs just sounds like some kind of test on a reality show. But, once I heard that in poor countries where water naturally has these ova that are consumed on a regular basis … and in these countries, there are very few cases of Crohn’s Disease, Muscular Sclerosis, and Hay Fever to name a few … it made sense. And I decided it was something I should try.
I signed up for the clinical trial and after the initial testing, I was invited back for a very pleasant four-hour stay to drink the solution. I enjoyed my experience at the Midwest Center for Clinical Research. I took a nap in big comfortable reclining chair. There was a television and Wi-Fi available as well. Jody and Jennifer Payne at the research center were pining after me as if I was in a five star restaurant. Drinking the solution was easy; my wait to make sure there were not any negative effects of the solution was fun as I sat joking around with the girls. Before I left, Jody and Jen gave me contact information and my diary and the instructions were a piece of cake.
Improvements Through the Worm Egg Trial
During the two weeks after drinking the solution (which I do not know if I had the actual ova or the placebo) I did notice many positive changes in my symptoms. Regular medication was taken as usual, but the extra over the counter medication I would take was not necessary after a week into the study. The second phase of the trial where the solution would be consumed every two weeks was sounding better and better every day. Now, I am really hoping I can be a part of the next group.
Enjoying the Midwest Center for Clinical Research
The whole experience was very pleasant and welcoming. I felt comforted and reassured when Jody offer her personal number and said that I could call her at anytime. Where else would you have someone in a doctor’s office say, “Call me night or day if you have any concerns!” I’ve never looked forward to going into your doctor’s office until now.
The paperwork was beyond informative and the girls took all the time I needed to answer my questions. Even when there was a blood draw, it was painless and an easy experience. After going through the first phase of this trial, I found myself looking into the other trials and asking about participate in those as well. For anyone that has looked at the information posted in the doctor’s examinations room and wondered about these trials, ask your doctor. I’m definitely glad that mine called me.
