Morgellons Disease-Doctors Make Progress With Mysterious Disease

[dogday]

OAKLAND -- A horrifying and fascinating disease is affecting thousands of people in the Bay Area, along the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Though some doctors have claimed the malady is psychosomatic, other scientists are making headway unraveling the mystery of Morgellons Disease.

Former Oakland A's pitcher Billy Koch has it. And so do his wife and their three children. And though they can afford top medical care, doctors have no answers.

It started in Oakland four years ago. Koch saved 44 games and was the top reliever in the major leagues. His fastball wowed crowds. And then the strangeness began.

"He freaked out. He wanted to ignore it … I wanted to too. But when it comes to your kids, you gotta stop ignoring it," said Koch's wife Brandi.


http://www.ktvu.com/news/9264350/detail.html

[mike_c]

1. this is bad, uniformed journalism about a psychosomatic disorder....

I've consulted with several Morgellons sufferers (because I'm an entomologist and many of them suffer from delusional parasitosis). And contrary to the article's assertions, their complaints have been extensively investigated. The photo published in the article is just a bad macro photo of irritated skin with some dark fibers clinging to it-- wear a dark sweater for a few hours or a dark t-shirt and you can duplicate this at home.

People look at the "photos" posted on Morgellon's web sites and in articles like this one and they interpret them just the way that Morgellon's suffers interpret them. The problem is that they are invariably horrible amateur micrographs of normal dead skin, dirt, clothing fibers, or oozy pus from self induced skin irritation. The photo in this article is a good example.

Morgellons rears it's head on DU every couple of months. It's sad-- those folks are in bad shape, but most won't accept the proper treatment. As I said, I've worked with several of them, mostly after their doctors ran out of other options. I've had people look through my microscope, at clearly resolved, high quality images of hair, dirt, etc, and swear to me that they were looking at "crawling bugs" or "eggs."

[dogday]

2. I had never heard of it until recently

Why only in certain areas of the country is this happening do you think??? It is sad what is happening....

[mike_c]

3. it happens all over the place....

I've consulted with folks from my small rural northern california community. It's reported more frequently in some places, and the Morgellon's web site folks have a vested interested in creating the meme that there are specific clusters of incidence.

[dogday]

4. Are there other diseases that affect

people this way... It almost seems like a mass delusion, it is so weird....

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. ever since it hit the internet, cases are way up

go figure.

These articles don't help either.

[dogday]

7. Didn't know

Like I said, I don't much about it and I am trying to learn...

I really would like to understand what is going on..

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. sorry, I was googling...

What is a Psychosomatic Disorder ?
All illnesses can be considered to be psychosomatic. That is, they inevitably involve the mind's reaction (psyche) to a physical (soma) illness. However, in some illnesses, psychological factors seem to play a particularly important part. They can influence not only the cause of the illness, but can also worsen the symptoms and affect the course of the disorder. It is these illnesses that are termed psychosomatic disorders. Because psychological factors are important in every illness, there is lack of agreement as to what should be considered as a psychosomatic disorder. Many doctors believe that illnesses such as duodenal ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, bronchial asthma, eczema, psoriasis, high blood pressure and heart attacks are strongly influenced by psychological factors. Sometimes psychological factors can cause ill health without actually causing a disease. As a result of unhappiness, anxiety or stress due to personal problems, physical symptoms may develop. We are all familiar with the headache that develops as a result of stress. Similarly, other physical symptoms can develop. These include nausea, abdominal pain and chest pain, breathlessness, diarrhoea and giddiness and muscle pains.

How does a Psychosomatic Disorder occur ?
Illness can be due to many factors. It can occur as a result of social or environmental factors. It may also happen as a result of genetic or hereditary reasons: a tendency for a certain condition to run in families. Some families also tend to suppress feelings: any emotion then tends to be expressed by physical symptoms. Children can learn this behaviour which may continue to adult life. Some people think that it is our personality that is a major factor in determining which illness we develop. For example, people with what is known as Type A personality tend to be ambitious, impatient, and set themselves high standards. They seem more likely to develop heart attacks. Quiet, introverted individuals, who tend to conceal their feelings and fears and to suppress emotions, may be more likely to develop cancers.

Why does a Psychosomatic Disorder occur ?
Why the illness occurs at a particular time is often a mystery. It could be that a combination of the factors mentioned above triggers off the illness. Should there be untoward stress due to personal problems at home or at work, or a bereavement, then an illness may result. We know for instance that certain life events such as moving house, getting divorced or suffering a bereavement can precipitate physical illnesses. Similarly, an existing illness may worsen as a result of these stresses.

http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/medical_conditions/Indices/P/psychosomatic_disorders.htm

[dogday]

10. Thanks for the info

I have heard about people who feel they have bugs crawling on them or under their skin, as a psychotic disorder of some kind....

[mike_c]

6. it's a common delusion, not really a "mass delusion...."

It's partly rooted in cultural fear of dirt, insects, things on or in your skin.

[dogday]

8. Thanks , I understand... I have heard of delusions where

people feel bugs are crawling on them or under the skin..

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. I've seen many meth heads with this symptom

We all know how bad that stuff can mess with your brain, causing all kinds of mental issues, either from the lack of sleep, or the chemical effects on the brain.

We are so far from understanding how our brains work, or in cases like this, how they malfunction. The patient definitely feels real symptoms, we just need to figure out why, so they can be helped.

[dogday]

13. Yes, I heard they pick at themselves

many sores.... This is so sad....

[et in Arcadia ego]

17. uh-huh

Yes, horrible macrophotography like this one:

[mike_c]

30. better photo, but it doesn't show any information other than a rash....

I agree, that person has a rash.

Most, however, are like this image from the Morgellons Foundation website:

[Sugarcoated]

12. I don't think it's always "all in their head"

Read the article. There's nore to this than it's "all in their head".

[dogday]

14. What do you mean?

I don't know anything about this at all other then what the article states, and what posters are telling me...

[et in Arcadia ego]

18. I suggest

You do some of your own reading on the subject instead of relying on other posters here considering you never know who's advice or opinion it is that you're really digesting..

Right, mike_c?

[dogday]

24. I am willing to hear all sides of this subject

I posted below what my reason for understanding this was... Please read and I appreciate all input and will take everything into consideration.... If this is a hot topic, I apologize.. Like I said, new to this subject....

[mike_c]

29. good advice....

Here's the Wikipedia entry :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons

There is LOTS of info available-- google also "delusional parasitosis" or "Ekbom's Syndrome."

[et in Arcadia ego]

42. while you're at it,

Try googling 'gate-keeper scumbag'..

[Sugarcoated]

19. Dogday

were you the one in this thread who made the assumption? Come on now . . .

[dogday]

22. WTF

read my post below and find out why I am interested in this.. I guess I follow politics so much, I missed some other stories and this was one of them... I want to know what you think honestly and sincerely.. Why would you think that is what I want? I am not like that?

What assumption did I make?? I am lost???

[Sugarcoated]

25. DUDE

Mike C says all through this thread it's psychosomatic - I'm responding to that/him.

[dogday]

27. Dudette

And sorry :hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

20. I dug up a few threads where this has been discussed before...

lots of good info

Doctors puzzled over (very) bizarre infection surfacing in South Texas
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=7980

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=8141

Morgellon’s goes MSM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=8600

[dogday]

26. Thanks for taking the time

I will do some reading on this... I can really understand the frustration..

[Viva_La_Revolution]

34. an article from Popular Mechanics sums it up pretty well...

Making Their Skin Crawl

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/medicine/1662162.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

15. I think it's probably real, to a point

Chemical imbalances in the brain can cause all kinds of physical symptoms.

[dogday]

16. I feel for them... I had shingles a couple of years ago

and suffered terribly with them.. It was one of the worst things I have ever dealt with... It took a year for the sores to heal, things were so bad for me... I guess this is why I am concerned with this particular subject.....

[Sugarcoated]

21. Yes, sometimes it's that

but you can't say that's what it is for everybody. I think it's incredibly demeaning, and arrogant to make a blanket assumption like that. These people are at their wits end . . . there's something more going on here. You're not in their shoes.

On Edit: To be clear: not addressing you dogday, responding to viva la revolution.

[et in Arcadia ego]

23. absolutely (NT)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

28. why is it demeaning?

Mental illness is an illness, most of the time caused by something physical.

Would it be demeaning to say someone has cancer?

[Sugarcoated]

31. It's demeaning to assume their symptoms are caused

by mental illness, not demeaning to say someone is mentally ill.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. well, until we see some physical evidence that it is caused by something

else, all we have to go on are the symptoms.

Thousands of samples have been examined, and nothing has been found.
Blood tests show nothing.
fungal/bacterial tests show nothing.

I'm not assuming, I'm going by the research.

[QuettaKid]

35. not sure where I read it

but I had heard this was an internet marketing campaign for "A Scanner Darkly"...UPDATE:

Fake Disease Created For Viral Movie Campaign?

There's a little rumor going around that a disease called Morgellons, a creepy skin disease that involves little bugs a bug-like sensation under the skin, and the websites associated with it are just a viral marketing campaign for the upcoming movie A Scanner Darkly. Michael Shostack of The Halting Point has collected some information pointing to the likelihood the disease is, in fact his opinion, a viral campaign. Shostack, who, since one never knows when it comes to virals, may actually be part of the viral campaign, points to a Slashdot story which says "Imagine having a disease that is so controversial that doctors refuse to treat you." The Slashdot story leads to a June 2005 Popular Mechanics story about the disease which has, reportedly, been around since 2002 when websites (1, 2) about the disease began appearing.
There's also a Wikipedia citation for Morgellons which, among other places, points to a April 2005 local CBS TV affiliate story on the disease. That article says the disease has been around for a long time. "In 1935, an English physician wrote a paper about Morgellon's including excerpts from medical journals from the 1600's, describing the disease." A disease with Morgellon-like symptoms is also mention in the first chapter of the 1977 Philip K. Dick novel, A Scanner Darkly, on which the movie is based.

[SmokingJacket]

41. That's fascinating!

I first stumbled upon the Morgellons web site a couple of years ago -- so I've been following it for a while and had never heard this.

[mike_c]

32. ultimately, I can only speak for the cases I've actually examined...

...and I can tell you categorically that they were suffering from delusions-- and I investigated their skin, clothing samples, scabs and dried body fluids, bedding and furniture samples, and other environmental material extensively. As I mentioned above, I have had people sit in my lab and look through my microscope at very clear images of dirt, dead skin, clothing fibers, etc and SWEAR to me that they were looking at "eggs," "worms," and even crawling things. They really see them. I'm not suggesting that they don't. But they're not there. That's the simple truth, demeaning or not.

I cannot speak directly for any but the cases I've actually examined, but my personal experience is consistent with the widely held medical and entomological opinion that Morgellon's disease and Ekbom's syndrome are more properly treated as mental disorders than as physical disorders.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

36. Morgellons Watch

http://morgellonswatch.blogspot.com/

What is the CDC doing about Morgellons?

It has been reported several times that the CDC is forming a "task force" to investigate Morgellons, but I could find no mention of this on the CDC web site, nor did the news stories go into much detail. So I emailed the CDC to see if they could give me the official line on what they are currently doing. I got the following response (dated Thu, 1 June 2006 ):

"CDC is forming a working group to provide scientific overview for an objective review of issues surrounding what we are referring to as Morgellons Syndrome. This multidisciplinary group will develop a strategy by which we would expect to form a scientifically useful case definition, an important step toward answering other critical questions as to cause and possible treatment. We are basing this work on the evidence of human suffering without prior assumptions as to underlying cause. That important question can only be addressed by objective inquiry. / Dan Rutz Communications Specialist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)"

What does this mean? I'll give you my interpretation.

They are "forming" a working group (meaning it's not formed yet), to "review .. issues" (meaning looking at the available purported evidence, and judge its scientific rigour and its public health impacts.)

They are looking at something they are "referring to as Morgellons Syndrome", (meaning they have not judged it a disease, not even a syndrome, they are just picking a name for something that might turn out to be one of them, but is initially just a phenomenon that the media wants investigated).

The "multidisciplinary" group (meaning it has at least two people, including someone for mental health) will " develop a strategy by which we would expect to form a scientifically useful case definition" (meaning they will figure out if Morgellons has enough initial evidence to qualify as an actual syndrome or not, and if so, narrowly define what set of symptoms should indicate "Morgellons" for the purposes of future investigations).

Which would be "an important step toward answering other critical questions as to cause and possible treatment" (meaning, if it is a real disease, you have to have some statistically meaningful evidence of this before moving forward, unlike the current anecdotal or otherwise poor quality "evidence").

"We are basing this work on the evidence of human suffering without prior assumptions as to underlying cause" - (Meaning, people are suffering, so we should do something about it. Possibly they have a real disease, in which case we should track that down. Perhaps Morgellons Syndrome should be treated as a specific type of delusional disorder. Perhaps there are actually several different things going on here. Possibly patients sometimes have some other disease and Morgellons is an unhealthy distraction, in which case we should demonstrate that Morgellons is a fabrication to remove uncertainty in treatment. Either way, it's just good scientific practice to not make any assumptions).

more at link

[mike_c]

37. the Morgellons Foundation-- the folks behind the web site...

...have sponsored letter writing campaigns to Congress about this, so I'm not surprised that CDC is under some pressure to investigate or that they're a bit reticent about the details. I hope they publish their findings in an easily accessible form (but I don't expect any real findings for some time).

[Jigarotta]

38. caught this on CNN this morning.

odd stuff to say the least.

One of the reasons given for this by the people who claim it's all in their heads, is that they stick pieces of fibre under their own skin.... but previous there was a sampling of textiles from clothing and the results were that it was Not textile.

Now this made me think of strange stories of 'spider web' stuff falling from the sky and have seen some closeups of this mysteriousness and looked similiar if I can recall correctly (I believe it's related to Chemtrails).

strange indeed.

[mike_c]

39. I can do better than this hearsay-- I have personally examined...

...large numbers of fibers that Morgellons sufferers claimed came from their skin-- ziplock bags full, quart mason jars full, dozens of pieces of tape or wads of Kleenex with "fibers" stuck to them-- as well as examining the skin from which those fibers were supposed to have come.

First, I have never seen any fiber emerging from the skin of anyone that I've examined. In each case the client found it difficult to explain why there were no fibers emerging "right now" because they were normally plagued by them, or "fibers" located on their skin turned out to be dirt (usually decomposing plant matter from humus) or lint. I have seen the photos published by the Morgellons Foundation that claim to show such fibers growing from skin, and not one of them does IMO, no matter how they might appear to someone who doesn't know what they're looking at.

Second, the fibers, which have ALWAYS been supplied in separate containers, i.e. never obtained from skin in my presence except for the innocuous material described above, are indistinguishable from dryer lint. In one case I know that is where they were actually obtained-- from the dryer filter, which the client believed was a good place to collect the fibers emerging from her skin, getting caught in her clothes, etc. As far as I'm aware, no such fibers have ever been determined to be "not textiles" as you suggested in your post, although the Morgellons Foundation believes that to be true. "Textile" covers a lot of ground, from natural fibers like cotton and wool, through a whole host of synthetic materials, most of which are probably mixed in some of the bulk samples I've looked at. I can say that the fibers I've examined looked exactly like textile fibers to me, i.e. lint.

on edit-- I want to emphasize that I have found decaying plant fibers in several instances as well-- they were clearly not textile fibers, but rather fibers from the organic layer on top of soil.

[Avalux]

40. Thanks for posting this. We won't see these people in our clinic -

Infectious Diseases. When someone calls claiming to have Morgellons and wants an appointment we decline - know it isn't real and we don't give them the opportunity to show up with 'fibers'. There has never been a pathogen isolated for this so-called whatever-it-is; even though the official website claims it's an infectious disease.

Completely bogus.