Progression of symptoms?

[zara cybele]

Question to the community at large...
What were your initial onset symptoms? Did you know it was Morgellons right away? Did the things you initially experienced change over time?

The reason I'm asking all these questions is I'm trying to gain perspective on what is going on with me. I am not sure I have Morgellons. For those of you who read my "worm bin goes awry" post, you'll know that I was bit by what I believe was a gnat or flying insect which left a welted rash on my ankle that itched terribly. When it healed over, I started to feel attacked by invisible bugs crawling in my hair, itching, pinching, and biting sensations (initially I felt swarmed) Also, when my winter coat was on, it felt like there was fiberglass embedded in my skin. The bugs got INTO my system through all orifices causing a swollen gland, earache and pain in abdomen (which lasted only a few days).

Additionally, I have seen black specs under my skin (mostly in my hands) with a small hand held microscope as well as a few black specks in my bed twice. My core body temperature seems to be around 96.7-97.8 which seems low to me. I have no lesions or fibers. I have fatigue that comes and goes.

I question whether this is Morgellons, or just some sort of infestation in my apartment that is keeping me infested.

I'd like to know if this is how it began for you? Does it always start with bugs biting? If so, how soon after onset did you have lesions? Is there a way to know one way or the other what the heck this is?
Is it possible to just have body bugs and it not be Morgellons?
Anyone...?

[gigi22]

Zara -

It certainly is possible to have body bugs w/ no Morgellons.

birdmitesorg : Messages : 24264-24293 of 24293

Is a great forum for those dealing with bugs and mites. Unfortunately, some of those folks ended up dealing with Morgellons after their initial mites were gone.

I got a severe, systematic yeast infection after taking antibiotics, which also caused a yeast overgrowth on my skin. In addition, I had some type of fungal growth on my skin as I found mold in my showerhead! I started feeling biting, stinging, and crawling... I never had lesions.. I worked on my skin and now I'm left with biofilm, black threads in the pores, and larva I'm still working out of the skin. I still do not know what I'm dealing with, but this site has helped me tremendously!

Actually, my bugs were attracted to the fungus on my skin (springtails and gnats) and so it did not start with biting bugs for me...

[zara cybele]

Gigi,
That's some story. How long have you been experiencing this? I'd never heard of this particular type of scenario with yeast overgrowth plus showerhead mold. Makes me want to go pull my bathroom apart.

Thanks for the link. I'll check in out further. I have been to birdmites.org and some of those folks who just thought they had infestations in their apt./homes end up sick with Morgellons. That is why I question if I am dealing with this on a systemic level since they did gain entree into my body.

I'm sure you are probably an expert at this point on anti-fungal approaches, but here are a couple of things that if you don't know about, you might research. Coconut oil, oregano oil, cinnamon, pau d'arco tea, acidophilus.

[gigi22]

Zara -

I got really ill with Candida last March/April timeframe. There was clearly something more going on with me.. my immune system was severly suppressed at this time for some reason.. my husband was also showering with the mold, but only getting itchy and got nothing that an antifungal shampoo couldn't fix! I was not so lucky

Yes. I wish I knew nothing about fungus! All of those things you mentioned have worked well for me...

[jonsi]

Hi zara,

The black flecks and low temperature tell me that you are going through middle stages of "M". Are you seeing any glitter on your skin?

My symptoms started with "pimples" in places where one doesn't usually get them (at the nape of the neck, behind the ear, butt cheeks, between the breasts). A rash on my on my leg just above the knee, a "mole" on the same leg that itched or "moved", anxiety, depression, sore joints. I think mosquitoes might have contributed too. Then I had a few spider bites on my stomach that swelled and looked like the lymes bullseye (there's no lymes tick in my state). After that I started to experience the biting skin with black specks & glitter coming out of my legs & arms. Brain fog.

Homeopathic/natural medicine and kenesiology/muscle testing helped me. Also lymphatic massage, reiki, meditation, a good diet, etc..... I never took a pharmaceutical drug & I believe that the meds make us sicker in the long run.

I can 't say where or when I got "M". But I haven't had any symptoms or bites or black specks/glitter for 2 -3 years now. I am healthy and my body is strong (no arthritis or sore joints).

This "M" has different stages. Hang in there! You will get through this with the help of us friends.

In the white light,
~jonsi

[fracty]

GiGi,

My experience was a bit like yours. At the time I did not realize it, but I was bitten on the head by a tick. I didn't think tick bites were something that happened where I live.

Shortly thereafter I developed what I thought was lice. then things progressed from there.

I do not agree with some of the things you will read here about how the illness "progresses" and what the person is going to experience next. I won't go into why, but I do not thing that is accurate.

But here is way that may help you determine whether or not it is M for sure. Do you have a microscope? It sounds like you do. Start looking at all of the little things under teh mic, but most of all check your clothes and bed linen for antyhing that looks like small fuzz balls.

when I got this I suddenly started having all kinds of little fuzz balls all over my clothes, and even on me, and even on the inside of the clothes. Under the microscope they tended to be balls of (what looked like) thread, but always w a big blue thread thru them. some would also have red, and occasionally maybe green. But it was almost always like that. Some I could even see w/out a microscope. Where were all these white balls of thread w light blue, red, and/or green suddenly coming from? And why specifically in that pattern?

I believe that is a 100% indication a person has M. Some of the fuzz things look more like cat or dog hari, or fuzzies, but the weird thing is they will sometimes stand on end on your clothes, or even seem to wave a bit (but if you put something up to block the breeze they still move.

Another less easy indicator is whether you can see fibers growing out of your unbroken skin. It might be very tiny and feel like a sliver almost. run your hands over your body and check for little bumpy hair things. Some can be big, but you might only have tiny, subtle ones that are hard to find.

I think the biggest indicator are the little fiber balls. I pretty much do not have those now. But I think it would be pretty tough to get rid of them if you did not know what you are looking for, so you probably have them somewhere.

[jonsi]

I forgot about the fuzz balls all over my house, on my clothes, in my sheets. This "M" is so complicated. But yeah, I remember those fuzz balls. Some were as big as a quarter growing in the corners with bright red/blue/orange/black fibers. Some were small white fibers on my clothes, those bit.

Everyone experiences different symptoms. I wonder if everyone who has "M" experiences the fuzzballs?

I use(d) bug arrest or eco-vie to spray my environment & clothes, borax in my laundry.
Bug Arrest call your local pet stores to see if they sell bug arrest.

borax is sold at the grocery store in the soap isle.

itwl,
~jonsi

[fracty]

That's what I wonder too. But from what I can ascertain the fuzz ball/cocoon/fiber balls are something everyone has going on at least until symptoms diminish. Then I think most still have fibers taht can be found under the skin w magnification. Eventually I hope all of those can be eradicated.

I wish I could find out in a logical, systematic way how many ppl w/out M have teh fuzz balls. I do see them at times on ppl. Some I knew had M. Some I do not know if they had it, or were merely getting infected but rather than succumb their immune systems and/or genetic background would fight it off before it actually turned into full blown M (kind of like teh way someone can be HIV positive, but not have crossed over into full blown AIDS). I suspect the fuzz balls only affect ppl in the categories above, and at times those who are getting exposed, but for whatever reason do not cross over even into the "HIV pos" type stage.

[howie]

I had the fuzzballs too - they were EVERYWHERE, even in drawers and cabinets...found some in the refrigerator and freezer. And also had a lot more dust than normal. Still occasionally get fuzzballs on my laundry and on my sheets, but not like before.

[Bee]

My first indcation something was wrong was everytime I would get bumped, poked,scratched or bug bit it would turn into a huge welt then a lesion. That was after I got hit with something while mowing,that left a itchy welt/lesion on my eyebrow.
Then my face where a man beard would be felt like a vibrating itch. Then debris coming out of my face. The first thing to come out were tiny tiny teardrop shaped wing type things. They came out two at a time,stuck together at the pointed end.Then white fuzz,black specks,sand,salt, a few goo balls,fibers. But I don't think I had live mites, maybe dead ? Only a few wormy things the size of a staple, some white some black.
I don't see stuff around the house, but I don't look real hard either.