The Dermatologist Route

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I want to find out what has infested me and what to do about it. Isn't

that simple, and yet apparently completely out of reach in the U.S.A. in

2008.

I crept off from my first derm, who said--why repeat all the junk talk:

He didn't know what was biting me but it couldn't be bird mites; they

don't infest people. The bites he could see were either not bites or

psychically induced, and the crawling sensations entirely imaginary. I

feel them in my nose and ears? Then I should see an ear-nose-throat

specialist. He could tell by looking that it wasn't scabies, no tests

needed.

At least I'm better prepared for the next one. I am under serious

pressure from my main man to try again; he says he'll pay for anything

insurance doesn't cover. He snorts when I cite anything from this

group--what is wrong with these guys????

Next time, I'll ask for a test of skin scrapings. I will not leave the

examining room until he/she has given me an explanation for some of the

stuff on my skin that I can see with my X30 loup. I'm taking my laptop

for show and tell of bites, rashes, and streaks. I will not propose any

theories next time, only present the problem. You have warned me not to

take any samples (the matchbox syndrome), but I don't have any, anyway.

A few months ago I made a similar declaration on this site, and I didn't

follow through, but now I need to in order to satisfy my friend.

HAS ANY SINGLE ONE OF YOU GOTTEN SERIOUS, INVESTIGATIVE ATTENTION FROM A

DOCTOR OF ANY KIND? If so, pls. share who and what happened.

I can't believe I'm living in a twilight zone.

ES

> >

> > So googling around for collembola, I found this mold inspection

> > company:

> >

> > http://www.njmoldinspection.com/pediculosis/collembola.html

> >

> > The webpage says " IT'S NOT A DELUSIONAL PARISITOSIS BUT MICROSCOPIC

> > COLLEMBOLA PRESENT WITH MOLD INFESTIONS " .

> >

> > This gave me hope. Although I don't live in the NY/Tri-state area,

> > maybe I could talk to someone there.

> >

> > So I called and this guy answered the phone (forget his name).

> > He was very generous even after I told him I don't live in the

> > area.

> >

> > I told him briefly my story, that I picked up these bugs from a

> used

> > car and I get biting and crawling sensations.

> >

> > Here's when all hope went out the window. He told me that I'm

> > probably dealing with some type of allergy and not collembola b/c

> > collembola typically don't follow ppl into the house. He asked

> > whether I live in a humid or dry place. I said very dry b/c I have

> > a dehumidifier running. He said it's probably allergy b/c

> > collembola usually breed in damp places.

> >

> > He asked me whether I've seen a doctor, whether I've been to a

> > dermatologist. I told him I had not. He said I need to go see one

> > b/c they know all about skin conditions. I suggested that ppl that

> > often go to a doctor are written off as imagining things or crazy

> > and I suggested some other type of bugs like bird mites. I also

> > told him that this all started when I bought a used car infested

> > with something. He said he's trained in allertology and dermotolgy

> > and the only thing he kept telling me was to go see a dermatologist

> > b/c they know best and they will be able to figure out what I have

> > and don't have.

> >

> > He also kept saying that it could also be some kind of an allergy I

> > picked up - perhaps there are stuff in my clothes like fiberglass

> or

> > silicone. I told him again that this started after I bought the

> > used car. He said that the last thing he wants to do is to tell

> ppl

> > they need to have their home inspected (OK, to that point, he's

> > being honest and good). However, it was obvious that he did not

> > want to give me the benefit of doubt that I'm dealing with

> > mites/collembola/whatever until I've seen a doctor. So I said,

> > thank you and ended the call. I'm not bashing the guy or I'm not

> > being angry b/c he didn't let me hear what I wanted to hear. In

> > fact, I appreciate the fact he took the 8 min out of his day to

> talk

> > to a guy when he knew there was no money in it for him. I'm just a

> > bit deflated after having some hope going into the call.

> >

> > Ok, I'm open to seeing a doctor. I really want them to scrape my

> > skin and find something (or not). But I just don't want to go and

> > speak to a wall, having to tell my story and them labelling me as

> > having delusional paratosis or writing me off as " uh oh, another

> > morg guy with a matchbox syndrome " . Really, what do you guys

> > suggest? I wish I can find an open-minded dermatologist who'll be

> > able to listen.

> >

>