[NRA2BFree]

Very interesting. My stomach and lower intestines ruptured in 1989 and they could never figure out what caused it. The lab work all came back negative. I was so sick, I spent 21 days in the hospital after a six hour surgery. NM has always had a large number of illegals and it's possible I could have received bad blood from a previous surgery. I don't know that this is what it was, but it's more than we've had to go on since it happened. Thanks for posting this. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it.

[neverdem]

When folks have prolonged abdominal complaints over more than a few days, docs usually request a stool sample to check for ova and parasites.

However, that's not the case with this protozoa. They draw blood samples and might be able to visualize the organism in a microscope. If unsuccessful, there are available more sophisticated biochemical tests looking for specific anti-bodies to T. cruzi.

Contrary to this story, there are medicines to treat this condition except they may not always work and can have bad side effects.

However, most folks with this disease, if left untreated, will die from congestive heart failure or a fatal arrhythmia.

Without crapping in your pants, go see your doc, please.

I'm sorry if I scared anyone.