Delusional Parasitosis-Diagnosis Of

[niecy]

Hi everyone, I tried to do a search for Delusional Parasitosis, but the search option doesn't work for me right now. This may not be the correct place to make this post, and it may already be posted, but as I said I couldn't do a search.

A friend had mentioned the other day the process of diagnosing a patient with DOP, he said it was a lengthy process, and if done properly it is.

I wonder how many of us went through this process before being handed that diagnosis, I know I was diagnosed in less than 10 minutes, and that was from the time I walked in the room, the doc was in the room for about one minute when he handed me a brochure on Delusional Parasitosis.

Niecy
xxxxxx


Delusory Parasitosis - Minnesota Dept. of Health

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of DP is a lengthy process involving the following steps:

1. Take a careful case history.
2. Perform a complete physical examination and laboratory evaluation, including skin scrapings and/or biopsies, blood counts, chemistry profile, thyroid function tests, and vitamin B12 levels.
3. Rule out other medical conditions (eg, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and lymphoblastomas) with skin manifestations that can appear to be caused by arthropods.
4. Work with entomologists or parasitologists to rule out true infestations (eg, scabies mites, animal mites, lice, fleas, and bed bugs).
5. Rule out other organic causes (eg, allergies and contact dermatitis).
6. Rule out history of drug abuse (especially in younger or male patients).

I actually had a biopsy report that suggested an arthropod attack, and got diagnosed with pernicious anemia (B-12 dificiency), but the DOP is still in the records....go figure!

[carla]

You said what I ve been thinking Niecy.
I was diagnosed with DOP because my Liver scan came back clear .
That can't be legal surely.None of the proper test were carried out.
He told me I was certainly not delusional at the end of my first appointment and then within one minute of the second appointment starting I suddenly was DOP.
He couldn't look me in the eye as he told me and I dont think he believed I was DOP.
The fact is he had been told to say it by a superior. I know it.
carla xxxxxxxx

[hilly]

Carla.... nobody could be less delusional than you... !!! ;>) Hilly xxxx

[Jo]

It is a really good point Niecy.

Once there's a successful test case getting removal of DOP from medical records, its gonna snow ball. Go Chocket Go!!!

My diagnosis from the derm was dry skin on the back of my head and 'paranoid' was written in the letter to my doc. Initially my doc believed me enough to have one arthropod sent to the biology lab, after I'd told him all about collembola parasites being found in people's skin. Unfortunately when the result came back that it was an unidentified fly he stopped listening.

I know for sure that my doc is thinking about his slim budget - he wont test for anything unless there is serious cause for concern. I just don't 'look' ill enough to warrant investigation, time and money.

Jo xxx

[carla]

Thanks Hilly.Thats nice of you to say so. I think the same goes for everyone who post on this site.
So many of us have been diagnosed with DOP it s unreal.Does any one know how to find the number of DOP cases diagnosed in the last few years? I can't find any records of it . Jo! Do the honours
carla xxx

[megluth72]

I was diagnosed DOP because a biopsy came back negative for skin cancer. No other tests were done. I wish I had your list then!

[Jo]

Oi Carls!!

Good finking!! Havent found any detailed stats yet on mental health, will post if I do. Might ring the department of health to request them.

Ran across a couple of newish letters about DOP in the British journal of Psychiatry, scroll up in this one for Morgellons mention:
BJP -- eLetters for Lepping et al., 191 (3) 198-205

Jo xxx

[Kritters]

Well, I know I've been thought of as a DOPE ;-) but I'd have to check to see if the docs put DOP down on my records. Now, I'm definitely going to find out, althought I don't know how to go about making them show me EVERYTHING they wrote.

But I'll tell you this, if we were to retain an attorney in a class action suite to subpoena all our records from the doctors we know thought us to be DOP, we'd have something going on, my friends.

Great work Niecy! WE CAN REALLY USE THIS SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

xoxo
Dopey Kritts

[tcmgpt13]

" The risks of overenthusiastic ascription of psychiatric causes to physical symptoms have been well documented (eg Slater, 1965), and perhaps in no other branch of medicine is it so important to keep an open mind."

Quoted from dr. robertson. Mighty white of you doc, mighty white, but then you go on to say:

"Although �Morgellons� appears to be limited to the United States at present, with all but universal internet access, and in the age of 'cyberchondria', it will be interesting to see if the phenomenon spreads."

Wonderful to read first hand what keeping an open mind does for you. Must be an advanced case of creeping doctor "just make up your mind, don't bother looking or listening to patients assume DOP" syndrome so many of them seem to have these days. So original too. Uh huh, but that's okay. When doctors have this particular syndrome that's okay. It's entirely normal. And don't forget it is "right" thinking. Dumb patients, what do they know anyway?

And I finks, Jo, that dr. robertson had better pray hard this "cyberchondria" does not spread farther. If it does where would all the "right" finking go? Imagine having to rethink the fact that it is not "cyberchondria."

[jonsi]

Cyberchondria! How many of us ever got on the internet before we got sick? I know I NEVER did. Now I'm a lap-top junkie because this is the best place to get information and find others that share my experiences. It was very lonely and severely depressing when I felt I was alone in this.

Four MDS labeled me delusional. Not one ran any test whatsoever.

Good find Niecy!

In the white light,
~jonsi