Message from Dr. Harvey

[kbubb]

Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 9:30:54 AM
Subject: Re: Treatment for Morgellons Disease

We are moving closer to understanding the mechanism of this illness and have almost completed the defining paper for submission to a medical journal for review. Early in 2007, we did a detailed study of 25 consecutive presumed Morgellons patients here, collecting over 407 parameters on each, from laboratory values, to physical exam findings, to detailed medical history. All parameters were mathematically collated to give us a first "look" at a Morgellons "average". As the illness began with Ms Leitao's search for a name for her son's illness based solely on filaments she saw, all registrants have been purely self-diagnosed...again mainly based on the appearance of skin filaments, then later movement sensation.

The summary data was extremely revealing, and briefly, sowed us consistent abnormalities in immune function, chronic systemic inflammation, multi-system involvement...and perhaps what is turning out to be most important, the presence in all of actual parasites. By August 2007, we had micrographs of at least two genera and several species. The latter are so similar that we needed help in answering the question: exactly what species are they, as this impacts treatment significantly. As I speak, we have assembled a group of scientists at a state university laboratory with equipment capable of giving us the answer. In the group are three veterinarians, a parasitologist, a mycologist, an FBI trained forensics Nurse Practitioner, a PhD invertebrate zoologist, a psychiatrist experienced in infectious causes of behavioral change...and me. Hopefully, they will close the loop for us in the next few months.

Meanwhile, we knew enough months ago to resolve the illness in most, with two caveats. (1) Close to 90% get 90% well if we use intravenous antibiotics strictly tailored for one bacterium for several months. Hundreds have done this safely. The same antibiotics given orally take about 8 months. (2) With the finding of the most common parasite species, the use of one of two anti-helmenthic antibiotics will resolve many symptoms, especially the skin manifestation in days...but only in about half. Knowing the species in each individual may resolve this.

All that said, treatment has to be guided carefully with regular testing of liver, kidney and marrow effects. A clinician must have extensive experience to avoid the errors we made. As we are licensed physicians, it is not permissible for us to write treatment protocols on line. This isn't done for control, but for patient safety and steering to a good outcome.

FYI, this phenomenon in NOT chronic Lyme disease, it's not Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and we are now certain it is NOT Delusions of Parasitosis. The latter in fact, will be the thrust of the paper: the DOP label has resulted in inappropriate and incomplete treatment of countless people who never recovered. Once the final DNA sequencing is done and the paper completed, it will be published with treatment protocol(s) for all clinicians world wide to use. Meanwhile, as both primary organisms create brain limbic system abnormalities, we now understand that the delusional component of the illness is real in many affected (but far from all), so correct psychotropic medication can help that component even if treated purely independently. Nearly half the Morgellons are bipolar, but became so AFTER the parasite infection began. Others have formal diagnoses of extreme OCD or ADD/ADHD. The prevalence in children is no different from adults, and there appear to be no
gender or race differences.

We know that effective treatment can be obtained in Colorado from physicians who worked with us in Colorado Springs. Otherwise the globe is literally full of practitioners offering cures without factual basis. Our task is now focused: to complete and write the defining paper and provide the answer to everybody.

Our best to all of you. Thanks.

William Harvey, MD, MS, MPH
Board Chairman, MRF

[ladycolorado]

i just wanted to thank you for posting this bubba. you have had a long journy to finding answers and hope to many of us. as far as some showing mental problems, it is quite simple: this is a result from the disease and not just because somebody is crazy. there are PHYSICAL CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM, #1 BRAIN SWELLING, #2 NEOROTOXINS FLOODED INTO THE SYSTEM, #3, LACK OF SLEEP IN PARTICULAR REM SLEEP, WHICH SLEEP DEPRIVATION STUDIES HAS SHOWN CAN LITERALLY MAKE ONE HALLUCINATE GO CRAZY. (this is why countries use it as a way to torture individuals and get information from them in this manner). #4 the pain and agony of this disease. as far as add/addhd, ocd, and other things there IS a genetic component to this disease, depending on weakness genetics shows up in different ways. dr. harvey took one look at my callused feet said "in you that is the genetic component, it has passed down through the generations" . i also had severe dyslexia as a kid which i hate to bring up, (it like morgellons is misunderstood and folks think i am retarded or something , it was taken care of years ago). he also did say the parisitic component of this disease is REAL. i just wanted to add this note, because my stepdad was former psychiatric rn, and atidepressants can actually be BAD for somebody with bipolar tendencies. i myself have not been diagosed with any mental disorders, although i do believe we have latentcies, which illness and disease can bring to prominance. so can medication. ONCE i really wanted to stop smoking, years ago, and took the generic for zyban, wellbutrin. i first asked my stepdad, as he has worked years in the mental field, was one of the oldest and most trusted atidepressant. well the good news, was i no longer wanted to smoke, the bad news, was the side effects were so BAD i had to stop after a month. what were they? vertigo, dizzy speels and DANGEROUS mood swings. i also gained 40 lbs in one month as i could taste again, was totally not worth it. swo, i do believe some could benefit from psychiatric meds. however, care and consideration with a competant psychian is a must. so those who have these bipolar latentcies brought out by disease must make sure take meds for bipolar, and not antipsychotic, antidepressant,. there also must be care in the selection of such medicines, many of the newer ones the side effects can be bad, and i have known people who it has literally chaned their brain chemistry over time, and had negative results. however, if you real need these meds it is okay, just exercise care and be aware of such things, please (LC). p.s. please hope things calm down so can come back in here bubba. i am so happy my former doc is still busy fighting, he has it like us and hates disease since put him in a wheelchair for two years. to those of you who say antibiotics do nothing, there is no doctor care you are full of bs. i would not be walking without dr. harvey. if not for him, little would be done regarding our disease. the mrf is also openminded about alternative medicine for those unable to take antibiotics due to toxic exposure. i personally have no agenda, except we get our lives back and BEAT THIS

[Jay62]

Thank You Bubba for posting this good news!

It has renewed my faith that there is a cure or manageable treatment on the horizon.

Thank you for all of your diligent and hard work. You help so many people and I don't believe you'll ever know how much we all appreciate you.

I also thank your hubby and kids for sharing you with us.

God Bless You!

Jo

[tcmgpt13]

Wow, bubba, at last confirmation of what I knew all along--this is parasites, yes! I agree with Doctor Harvey, the parasites may differ from patient to patient, though I am sure there will be a common thread to it! This is so amazing. There may be an end to this, and there may be a way to get well. One question I have is: does this parasite repress the immune system (abnormalities he mentions)? My WBC is nearly into the low end which one doctor recently told me meant the immune system was not functioning properly and this was why I could not shake it off (also told me I wasn't thinking positively enough and that was why I was sick...what a load of pure rubbish and fiction as well).

I am also concerned about the use of heavy antibiotics to control morgellons. I am very allergic to mold and in addition do not genetically excrete it that well. So wonder what folks who have this problem will be forced to do to get over this (although I have made a lot of progress with herbs, it is still with me in a lessened form).

I hope the morgellons team have someone familiar with fish parasites, as in my own case I am sure there is a connection to fish (sick within six hours of eating fish, very dramatic beginning, got it from cooked grouper), but I do see how it would be possible to have different vectors and differing parasites. In fact this has been a major point I have been making since I got on this forum. Still with all the fish and dolphins getting mysterious lesions, I hope this connection in some cases is not being over looked.

I am so excited. I keep pinching myself. Is this real? Oh, praise the Lord! Yes, it is!

God bless us all, every one (as Tiny Tim would have said).

best,

tcm

[tcmgpt13]

Well, lc, you obviously are not retarded. Dyslexia is not retardation, it is a disability and in fact children so afflicted are above average in intelligence. My husband was a psychologist who specialized in adhd children's care, including those with dyslexia. Guess what, his adhd and dyslexia were pretty severe and yet he was quite intelligent, amazingly so, and he had his phd.

[ladycolorado]

well did want to stress the mrf does not oppose natural treatment, because of toxic exposure past medical history they understand this. i am in favor of what works best for the individual and keeps them as strong as possible. this is why tcm, you have see me post on natural things as well. but these type of doctors WILL take something like that into account. they DO exist, yep hard to find them but harvey is working to change this. all the mrf wants is for us to get better and and get the disease recognized, and that we stop being abused by ignorant medical people. i will say morgellons treatment is NOT a one treatment works for all deal. since the disease preys on weaknesses, it can look and be symptomatic in different ways depending on this. you had bad effects when antibiotics forced on you which you were allergic to/ not compatible with your system, which is frankly quite awful. with this disease also must be the RIGHT medicines/combinations of natural therapy. as far as my antibiotics i am tolerating them REMARKABLY WELL i might need the meds tweaked soon due to being out of some meds for a time. i just wanted to let you know with what i know cannot really post, they are not against natural treatment, but FOR the needs of the patient. they are trying to come up with protocols just so dumb old avaerage doc has something to start with. my position is i support both natural and or/ traditional medical treatment preformed in a responsible and SAFE manner. that make sense? (LC).

[ladycolorado]

Originally Posted by tcmgpt13

Well, lc, you obviously are not retarded. Dyslexia is not retardation, it is a disability and in fact children so afflicted are above average in intelligence. My husband was a psychologist who specialized in adhd children's care, including those with dyslexia. Guess what, his adhd and dyslexia were pretty severe and yet he was quite intelligent, amazingly so, and he had his phd.

thanks for that, just how have been treated by stuipid folk in the past, so hate revealing it. i have read at adult level since the age of 7, i might add. i do not however, have any phd's (LC).

[tcmgpt13]

Yeah, lc, I do not have a phd either, but just wanted all to know how brillant folks with adhd/dyslexia can be and that some do go on to get advanced degrees. It is time they stopped treating such as slow or retarded. It just means the brain is wired a bit differently, that's all. It still works, and sometime it seemed my husband's brain worked at mach speed. Einstein, for one, and Edison, for another, were quite brillant but no doubt had brain differences from others (Einstein had problems with simple arithmatic, a sign of this type of problem and Edison was considered retarded). My husband worked so hard to advocate for these children, to give them the respect they deserve as well as the educational help they needed in just some areas, but I feel many folks today are retarded in their outlooks and in their treatment of such children. Too often they are unfairly mocked in schools by other children. Just trying let some here know a little about this area, so that if they see others with this gift (for it is a gift to see the world in a slightly different way, it has brought about many good changes to humanity) maybe they will look up to them with some respect and awe.

[tcmgpt13]

lc, I know that doctors who work with morgellons will not be so narrow today, especially if I seek out the ones who are more open minded. I am just concerned whether there will be ways to combat this adequately with natural therapies or with drugs I may be able to tolerate (maybe plaquenil for one) and that someone will be able to put together a protocol to help this in that way. Main thing though is they identify the parasites involved. That is the major step. We all need to pray alot here on this one. As I am sure they will have to find different parasites, as each person probably exposed to different parasites. The missing key to all is the one in blood, lymph and mucus. My feeling.

Thanks for all you have helped me with here, and in pms. Will try to call later if okay.

best,

tcm

[gumball]

hi bubba thank you for sharing this good news with all of us. i am also excited about this news, especially about the fact that they dont think this is DOP. it would just be so nice to have a doctor or nurse,that will listen and look without forming an opinion of you up front before being seen. thank you so much for all of your hard work and keeping us informed. gumball