[Vientiane, 7/18/23] Nearly a month into my bodily discomfort, I still spend most of my waking hours in bed, so have not been as productive at photographing or writing as usual. In Ubon Ratchathani nine days ago, I snapped the oozing wounds on my left leg, but decided against posting that repulsive image. You’d lose your breakfast. It’s offensive.
Many thanks for your concern about my condition, but I am getting better, though slowly. Just two weeks ago, I was still very distressed to stare at my sores and wounds, but they're mostly gone, due to my one sane meal a day, with no beer or sugar. Three days ago, I was even able to walk five miles. The photos of kids and monks in Starbucks were taken on this trek. Granted, the rest of the day, I was in bed and I haven't attempted even three miles since.
It has been a very slow process, but I'm optimistic of coming out of this much healthier than before.
Michael Somsavath, 48, was born December 29, 1965 in Vientiane, Laos the son of Somsavath and Nouth Peeramoon. He passed away March 12, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
Michael enjoyed fishing, traveling, and spending time with his nieces, nephews, and family.
On a light or potentially disgusting note, Lee Greenwood is going to be performing at the nearby Berrien County Youth Fair in a couple of weeks. I might spend the twelve bucks to go and see the action.
The county fairs around here are a welcome semblance of normality. I haven't seen any trans gendered livestock, yet.
Linh, wondering if your health problems could be something more than what you have, up to now, thought they are. I don't know enough to offer any suggestions, but wonder if there is some natural healer near you that could give you a clue and some information that you could use to help.
If it is parasites maybe you can get some ivermectin. Ivermectin has recently proved highly effective with COVID but it was originally used on internal parasites. The oral drug is cheap and safe. Standard dosing is 0.2 mg per kilogram body weight (16 mg for a 80 kg person) but it was safely used during COVID at three or four times that dosing. One complication I've heard of is the debris from the killed parasites can make you sick until your body clears it out. There's also a topical cream though I'm not as familiar with that. If it were me I'd try a 5 day course of 24 mg daily (I'm probably a bit bigger than you Linh).
EDIT: My recommendation above for a 5 day course is from the common COVID treatment protocols and probably doesn't apply to the treatment of parasites. Maybe instead try a single dose and see what you get. Better yet, see if you can find a doctor you trust and ask them for advise.
Ann Barnhardt whose blog I check every now and then is a great fan of Ivermectin and says it cures almost everything. I don't know. I bought it during Covid times and never used it -- I actually had Covid but it was so mild, I didn't need more than aspirin. So perhaps I could send it to Linh. I do think his case must be something else than just a bad diet. But I'm no doctor, and actually I try to avoid doctors and hospitals as much as I can.
And bless you for that. I was expecting some real doc to chew me out for practicing the sacred art of medicine with my ivermectin recommendation.
My brother and I were helping take care of our 90 year old mom when COVID hit in 2020. By late 2020 I had heard of ivermectin and we both started using the notorious horse paste for prophylaxis - actual 1.87% "Apple Flavored" veterinary anthelmintic. I have four empty tubes on my shelf, each with enough ivermectin to treat a 1250 lb animal. Turns out you can order 12 mg ivermectin tablets online but I keep a couple tubes of the ole Apple Flavored in reserve just in case. I still sometimes take a 24 mg dose if I'm heading out into the wilds and have probably taken over a 1000 mg in the last three years with no complaints. I have never been tested, never took the shots and never got sick and maybe part of that was thanks to the ivermectin!
But back to Linh, one story I heard in the early days of COVID was a guy trying to stock up on the essentials to cover his family's needs. He got his antibiotics and antiseptics and creams and all the other essential meds. Then he remembered ivermectin from back in his ranching days when they dosed the herd and the herd was transformed, all the cattle were suddenly healthy and happy. So again Linh, it's cheap and it's safe.
BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND YOU USE VETERINARY IVERMECTIN.
The stuff we feed our thoroughbreds here in the US is probably not the same stuff they feed livestock in southeast asia. Get it from a pharmacy.
Some skin parasites (mites, etc.) are microscopic and can't be seen with the human eye, but they bite and cause much damage - itching, skin damage, etc. It is quite possible that is what is causing your problems. There are herbal remedies that you could try. Different skin parasites take different treatments.
Fleas, ticks, bedbugs, etc., can readily be seen, so if that was the problem you might have found it. But nothing is out of the problem solving question.
Linh, I’m a retired MD, though not an infectious disease or dermatologist specialist, I may be able to offer some suggestions on diagnosis and/or treatment. If you are interested, reply with your email address and I’ll contact you as I’ll want to see photos.
Hi everyone,
Many thanks for your concern about my condition, but I am getting better, though slowly. Just two weeks ago, I was still very distressed to stare at my sores and wounds, but they're mostly gone, due to my one sane meal a day, with no beer or sugar. Three days ago, I was even able to walk five miles. The photos of kids and monks in Starbucks were taken on this trek. Granted, the rest of the day, I was in bed and I haven't attempted even three miles since.
It has been a very slow process, but I'm optimistic of coming out of this much healthier than before.
Linh
Michael Somsavath, 48, was born December 29, 1965 in Vientiane, Laos the son of Somsavath and Nouth Peeramoon. He passed away March 12, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
Michael enjoyed fishing, traveling, and spending time with his nieces, nephews, and family.
https://www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com/services/services_detail_newspaper.aspx?rid=15909
may he rest in peace
Thank you for the kind words Linh. It's an honor.
On a light or potentially disgusting note, Lee Greenwood is going to be performing at the nearby Berrien County Youth Fair in a couple of weeks. I might spend the twelve bucks to go and see the action.
The county fairs around here are a welcome semblance of normality. I haven't seen any trans gendered livestock, yet.
Such a beautifully written piece Linh. I can only hope things get better for both you and Troy.
Linh, wondering if your health problems could be something more than what you have, up to now, thought they are. I don't know enough to offer any suggestions, but wonder if there is some natural healer near you that could give you a clue and some information that you could use to help.
I agree Linh there are many other explanations including parasites.
If it is parasites maybe you can get some ivermectin. Ivermectin has recently proved highly effective with COVID but it was originally used on internal parasites. The oral drug is cheap and safe. Standard dosing is 0.2 mg per kilogram body weight (16 mg for a 80 kg person) but it was safely used during COVID at three or four times that dosing. One complication I've heard of is the debris from the killed parasites can make you sick until your body clears it out. There's also a topical cream though I'm not as familiar with that. If it were me I'd try a 5 day course of 24 mg daily (I'm probably a bit bigger than you Linh).
EDIT: My recommendation above for a 5 day course is from the common COVID treatment protocols and probably doesn't apply to the treatment of parasites. Maybe instead try a single dose and see what you get. Better yet, see if you can find a doctor you trust and ask them for advise.
Ann Barnhardt whose blog I check every now and then is a great fan of Ivermectin and says it cures almost everything. I don't know. I bought it during Covid times and never used it -- I actually had Covid but it was so mild, I didn't need more than aspirin. So perhaps I could send it to Linh. I do think his case must be something else than just a bad diet. But I'm no doctor, and actually I try to avoid doctors and hospitals as much as I can.
>> I'm no doctor...
And bless you for that. I was expecting some real doc to chew me out for practicing the sacred art of medicine with my ivermectin recommendation.
My brother and I were helping take care of our 90 year old mom when COVID hit in 2020. By late 2020 I had heard of ivermectin and we both started using the notorious horse paste for prophylaxis - actual 1.87% "Apple Flavored" veterinary anthelmintic. I have four empty tubes on my shelf, each with enough ivermectin to treat a 1250 lb animal. Turns out you can order 12 mg ivermectin tablets online but I keep a couple tubes of the ole Apple Flavored in reserve just in case. I still sometimes take a 24 mg dose if I'm heading out into the wilds and have probably taken over a 1000 mg in the last three years with no complaints. I have never been tested, never took the shots and never got sick and maybe part of that was thanks to the ivermectin!
But back to Linh, one story I heard in the early days of COVID was a guy trying to stock up on the essentials to cover his family's needs. He got his antibiotics and antiseptics and creams and all the other essential meds. Then he remembered ivermectin from back in his ranching days when they dosed the herd and the herd was transformed, all the cattle were suddenly healthy and happy. So again Linh, it's cheap and it's safe.
BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND YOU USE VETERINARY IVERMECTIN.
The stuff we feed our thoroughbreds here in the US is probably not the same stuff they feed livestock in southeast asia. Get it from a pharmacy.
Yes, exactly. I was just getting ready to comment the following:
Dr. Hulda Clark, in her book Cure for All Diseases, makes the case that most all disease is caused by parasites.
Some skin parasites (mites, etc.) are microscopic and can't be seen with the human eye, but they bite and cause much damage - itching, skin damage, etc. It is quite possible that is what is causing your problems. There are herbal remedies that you could try. Different skin parasites take different treatments.
Fleas, ticks, bedbugs, etc., can readily be seen, so if that was the problem you might have found it. But nothing is out of the problem solving question.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/scabies
Here Comes the Flood [Peter Gabriel]
When the night shows, the signals grow on radios
All the strange things they come and go as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
Still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction, we cannot even choose a side
I took the old track the hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs they were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
And as the nail sunk in the cloud the rain was warm and soaked the crowd
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent, in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry
When the flood calls you have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash you're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll use up what we used to be
"Having no plans to return to the US, I won’t see them again. I’m exhausted, man."
:/(
Linh, I’m a retired MD, though not an infectious disease or dermatologist specialist, I may be able to offer some suggestions on diagnosis and/or treatment. If you are interested, reply with your email address and I’ll contact you as I’ll want to see photos.
Sending prayers and hugs to you, dear Linh. Glad you are feeling better and still eating healthy food.
Great song from Iggy Pop. Thanks Troy.
Marvelous letter thanks.