Re: My most sincere apologies....THANKS FOR SHARING

[Guest guest]

Terry,

Thanks for sharing your poignant story. I am glad things are turning

around for you and that you were willing to share this with others who

need to hear such stories and realize they are not alone.

Thank you for your prayers for others here, as I too believe that there

is just so much that we mortals can do without help and guidance, and

that we need to unselfishly pray and encourage other through this

mitemare we have to endure.

Tim

>

> Hello my dear dear friends here and bird mite sufferers around the

> world. It has been an unforgivably long time since I last posted. I

> know it has been a while, but I hope you will understand and forgive

me.

> I did not ever wish to be that person who was here and then gone to

the

> bafflement and consternation of all those who remained.

>

> First, this group is about one of the most enduring and persevering

> groups out there. To be so afflicted by bird mites and to not only be

> forced to suffer miserably, but to suffer with so little help and

belief

> from most non-mite sufferers is just about the most soul wrenching

> sorrow one can experience. I know this. You know this. And only we

> select few will ever truly understand.

>

> There are many wise people here who will offer solace, words of

comfort

> and hope and yes even that special brand of dark humor which only we

at

> our most hysterical can truly manifest. We live those cliches of " what

> doesn't kill you will make you stronger " and another favorite " might

as

> well laugh as cry " . And while many of us have tread that fine boundary

> between life and death, not sure which one we wish for, and shed those

> tears of laughter which very often mimic those tears of tragedy, it

may

> be only in retrospect that we can truly tell how close we have come to

> the tragedy of life's terrible sense of humor, aka, the bird mite.

>

> But, life does move on. It does not rewind for us and it does not fast

> forward, it just stubbornly moves on. And while earlier this year I

> believed my life was playing out in its last chapter, I realized that

> perhaps, it had not.

>

> You see, I found you all, this incredibly brave wonderful group of

> people, who first let me know I was not alone in my suffering. That I

> was not alone in this perplexing battle against nature. From first

> discovering the red bird mite on my canary to the dizzying multitudes

> that descended upon me, I felt adrift in the world gone mad. Yes, I

too

> tried the endless round of vacuuming, cleaning, spraying, trying first

> one product only to discard that and try another. Each week found me

> buying a new hope in a bottle, a new PCO with a cure. From deadly to

> organic, nothing seemed to work. Like many here, I started out with a

> compromised immune system which seemed to ring the dinner bell for the

> elusive micro sized mite. Hard to catch sight of, but doggone hard to

> ignore, these mites rained down a bloody hellish mess upon me, then my

> dogs, and ultimately my son.

>

> Like many of you, I washed and ultimately threw out many of my

clothes.

> Like many of you, I found there was never a safe place to sleep. I

> burned my skin from numerous applications of vicks to my face, ears

and

> other very tender spots. I burned menthol until my eyes streamed. Some

> of this worked for a while, some not at all. Why some worked for me

and

> not for others I do not know.

>

> Ultimately, I simply broke down and turned to two things, science and

> God. I began to study the heck out of these mites. I took pictures

> with a digital microscope, studied slides under a more powerful

> microscope. I reached out to Professors in other countries and I began

> a series of communications with Biologists, Micro-Biologists,

> Entomologists and mold specialists. I left no stone unturned. And when

> I found no ready answers nor any relief, I broke down and had a

> spiritual crises. I found myself one night on the bottom of my bath

tub

> as shower water poured down upon the red skin I had just scrubbed for

> the third time that day. I collapsed and turned myself over completely

> and 100% to God. I knew in that moment, I had nothing left. And while

> I believe truly that it was at that moment that my life turned around,

I

> do not say this as a solution for you, as that is, for many, as

> intangible a thing as there is. This was my personal journey. But I

> wish to explain as completely as possible. As many of you know, I

> packed up my dogs and with only a few belongings, fled to a local

hotel.

> I was so sick and tired, was so seriously sleep deprived and sick that

I

> thought I was crawling away to die. My little dog was seriously ill

and

> I worried tremendously for my son. But after a week of vomiting up

> black dots and thinking my body was never going to be rid of the

disease

> of the mite, I did start to get well. And as I got well, I became very

> fearful. Does that sound weird? I knew that I would have to face what

> I had run from. My daughter was getting married this June and was

going

> to be a mother as well. I knew that I could not afford to let this

beat

> me. I had to find my courage. Several here recommended I seek out an

> LLMD. I did that. I was told that I had Lyme disease and Bartonella,

> most likely my son did as well, as did my little dog. I was able to

> start my dog on antibiotics and very soon, the limp she had

disappeared.

> I thought she had arthritis, but low and behold, it must have been

Bart.

> My doctor was very concerned about starting me on antibiotics out of

> fear of herxing, but he did start me on anti-fungals. This seemed to

> help some. But nothing could shore up my total cowardice in facing a

> return to home. You see, I had tried to come home just to pick up

> things from time to time and I would no sooner open the door to my

house

> but would be assaulted by a choking infestation which would then take

me

> days to get rid of.

>

> My scientific investigation continued remotely however, and after lots

> of conversations with people here and in the " normal " community, I

> became convinced that mites do not simply " disappear " . They stay and

> stay. And they will feast upon humans and canines. I had read or heard

> or someone hear told me, can't say for sure...but that some small % of

> the population was somehow especially attractive to mites. In fact,

> possibly even to the extent that mites could live for some time off of

> humans. While I scoffed at this notion, it did seem to have merit. How

> else to explain the years of affliction. But like many others here, it

> just did not seem to be all about mites. You see, there is in fact a

> fungus which seems to feed off of mites. At first I thought there was

> some type of symbiosis between this fungus and mites. But I now know

> that this fungus is a parasite...and to be more exact, a mite

parasite.

> It actually kills mites. I have not been able to really work on my

> theory to the extent I wish. But my theory is that there are naturally

> occurring fungi that will destroy the bird mite. This fungi has been

> engineered by organizations and encouraged as a natural harbinger for

> mite destruction, especially targeted for crops. I believe this was

> first developed to kill a tree mite which infested certain fruit

trees.

> This fungi however appears to have been disbursed without proper

> bio-controls put into place. Meaning that this fungus may kill mites,

> but when the mites are gone will turn to humans, releasing pathogenic

> spores into the environment. No mite could move as quickly to torment

> me as an airborne spore could. I have collected samples of this

fungus.

> So for those of us who see these black spots on our counter tops, or

> cough up little dots, or blow our nose and encounter this, it is

> probably actually fungi. I have had no luck in getting any of this

> confirmed, thus it remains theory. But I can say that anti-fungals

> would seem to be a natural deterrent. And I say the anti-fungals work

> because of an interesting experience.

>

> After 6 weeks of hoteling it, I returned home. I can tell you, I was

> scared stiff, terrified in fact. But armed with science in the one

> hand, and God in my right, I did come home. And

> I....opened.....the......door. And nothing happened to me. I

> immediately set to spraying my home with Lysol complete clean using a

> plant sprayer. I sprayed my kitchen, my bathroom and my laundry room.

> I drenched my bedroom. I then washed all of my linens. I waited and

> when nothing happened, I went to bed. And I miraculously slept. The

> next day, I repeated the script. By the third day, I was feeling a bit

> optimistic. So, I stopped spraying. Still all well. So, I got brave

> enough to stop washing my linens in hot water with ammonia and borax.

> Then I stopped taking a scalding hot shower every night. And then I

> just broke down and cried. I thanked God and I cried some more. One

> week after moving back home, I went out and tried to take some clothes

> out of the bags of clothes which were outside on my balcony. I was

> immediately assaulted. Started coughing and having bloody noses. I was

> terrified that all my nightmare was to start again. But after a day of

> hacking, I returned to normal. I went outside to where my dog bed was

> and saw black moldy stuff growing on the bottom. Before I could wash

> it, my larger dog slept on it and proceeded to scratch himself raw for

> about 3 days. I washed it and ever since I have kept things bagged

> until they were washed carefully. Once washed, I have never had to

> rewash. I have bit by bit regained my life. And I saw my daughter's

> wedding day approach. The weather in Washington state is always

> temperamental. But the sun had been out for this past week. Then on

> Friday before the wedding, torrential rains started. We had planned

> for an outdoor garden wedding and I was beginning to lose hope that we

> were going to have good weather. We struggled through a rehearsal that

> soaked us all and tried to scrounge up tents. Saturday, wedding day,

> began decently enough but then not only did the rain come down hard,

but

> thunder storms started rolling in and sheets of rain was blowing into

> our tent. We decided to persevere though it all. I had learned that

> life will move forward, with or without us. And as the time came for

> the bridesmaids and groomsmen to come out of their dressing rooms, the

> rain stopped and as my daughter moved into view, the sun broke out.

And

> out it stayed for the entire day.

>

> And although I am exhausted from that event, and from the months of

> mitemare...I could not sleep until I had at last posted my story to

you

> all. To not give up. That the sun will shine through the gloom. That

> no matter what you put your faith in, do not lose it.

>

> I have not started on antibiotics yet, but I am not scratching. I am

> sleeping good in my bed. I have not thrown out my furniture, nor have

I

> moved, nor have I pulled up carpet. I know that there is a power

> greater than my own at play here. I choose to keep fighting. I hope

> you all choose to keep fighting. But stay in your home or leave it. No

> matter. But... Believe in yourself. Believe in this group. And I will

> keep fighting for you in every way that I can. I am sorry it has taken

> me so long to regain communication. But I have not let one day pass

> that I have not thought of you or not prayed for you. I know this

story

> is long and not filled with as many facts as I would like it to be.

But

> I hope I filled it with....hope.

>

> Stay strong! Terry

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for inspiring words! My story is similar. I'm taking antifungals

myself. Wow what a difference. I start strict diet in a couple days. My doc said

the bugs were probably gone and that the fungus was making the rashes. Thank God

my dogs have been well since last summer. I slept in my bed all week without

washing my sheets. My doc told me to stop all the crazy cleaning that I would be

ok and I am. I get overwhelmed with gratitude. I still get a few bites, rashes

hives or whatever they are but peace of mind.july I get blood work back. It's

over a 2 hour drive but totally worth it. I had a spiritual experience and have

been uplifted since I went to a proper doctor. Like everyone here told me from

the beginning it is something in us. This group is wonderful. Birds are nesting

in the roof of my porch and I am terrified to investigate. I had some kind of

rodent mite certainly the birds won't get me too. Many many nights in the tub

feeling helpless and hopeless for now that feeling is gone. For everyone out

there hang on aand go to the doc.pray pray pray. When I get itchy I do get a

little anxiety. It gets better but we can't do it alone. Peace and love my

friends, alaire

> >

> > Hello my dear dear friends here and bird mite sufferers around the

> > world. It has been an unforgivably long time since I last posted. I

> > know it has been a while, but I hope you will understand and forgive

> me.

> > I did not ever wish to be that person who was here and then gone to

> the

> > bafflement and consternation of all those who remained.

> >

> > First, this group is about one of the most enduring and persevering

> > groups out there. To be so afflicted by bird mites and to not only be

> > forced to suffer miserably, but to suffer with so little help and

> belief

> > from most non-mite sufferers is just about the most soul wrenching

> > sorrow one can experience. I know this. You know this. And only we

> > select few will ever truly understand.

> >

> > There are many wise people here who will offer solace, words of

> comfort

> > and hope and yes even that special brand of dark humor which only we

> at

> > our most hysterical can truly manifest. We live those cliches of " what

> > doesn't kill you will make you stronger " and another favorite " might

> as

> > well laugh as cry " . And while many of us have tread that fine boundary

> > between life and death, not sure which one we wish for, and shed those

> > tears of laughter which very often mimic those tears of tragedy, it

> may

> > be only in retrospect that we can truly tell how close we have come to

> > the tragedy of life's terrible sense of humor, aka, the bird mite.

> >

> > But, life does move on. It does not rewind for us and it does not fast

> > forward, it just stubbornly moves on. And while earlier this year I

> > believed my life was playing out in its last chapter, I realized that

> > perhaps, it had not.

> >

> > You see, I found you all, this incredibly brave wonderful group of

> > people, who first let me know I was not alone in my suffering. That I

> > was not alone in this perplexing battle against nature. From first

> > discovering the red bird mite on my canary to the dizzying multitudes

> > that descended upon me, I felt adrift in the world gone mad. Yes, I

> too

> > tried the endless round of vacuuming, cleaning, spraying, trying first

> > one product only to discard that and try another. Each week found me

> > buying a new hope in a bottle, a new PCO with a cure. From deadly to

> > organic, nothing seemed to work. Like many here, I started out with a

> > compromised immune system which seemed to ring the dinner bell for the

> > elusive micro sized mite. Hard to catch sight of, but doggone hard to

> > ignore, these mites rained down a bloody hellish mess upon me, then my

> > dogs, and ultimately my son.

> >

> > Like many of you, I washed and ultimately threw out many of my

> clothes.

> > Like many of you, I found there was never a safe place to sleep. I

> > burned my skin from numerous applications of vicks to my face, ears

> and

> > other very tender spots. I burned menthol until my eyes streamed. Some

> > of this worked for a while, some not at all. Why some worked for me

> and

> > not for others I do not know.

> >

> > Ultimately, I simply broke down and turned to two things, science and

> > God. I began to study the heck out of these mites. I took pictures

> > with a digital microscope, studied slides under a more powerful

> > microscope. I reached out to Professors in other countries and I began

> > a series of communications with Biologists, Micro-Biologists,

> > Entomologists and mold specialists. I left no stone unturned. And when

> > I found no ready answers nor any relief, I broke down and had a

> > spiritual crises. I found myself one night on the bottom of my bath

> tub

> > as shower water poured down upon the red skin I had just scrubbed for

> > the third time that day. I collapsed and turned myself over completely

> > and 100% to God. I knew in that moment, I had nothing left. And while

> > I believe truly that it was at that moment that my life turned around,

> I

> > do not say this as a solution for you, as that is, for many, as

> > intangible a thing as there is. This was my personal journey. But I

> > wish to explain as completely as possible. As many of you know, I

> > packed up my dogs and with only a few belongings, fled to a local

> hotel.

> > I was so sick and tired, was so seriously sleep deprived and sick that

> I

> > thought I was crawling away to die. My little dog was seriously ill

> and

> > I worried tremendously for my son. But after a week of vomiting up

> > black dots and thinking my body was never going to be rid of the

> disease

> > of the mite, I did start to get well. And as I got well, I became very

> > fearful. Does that sound weird? I knew that I would have to face what

> > I had run from. My daughter was getting married this June and was

> going

> > to be a mother as well. I knew that I could not afford to let this

> beat

> > me. I had to find my courage. Several here recommended I seek out an

> > LLMD. I did that. I was told that I had Lyme disease and Bartonella,

> > most likely my son did as well, as did my little dog. I was able to

> > start my dog on antibiotics and very soon, the limp she had

> disappeared.

> > I thought she had arthritis, but low and behold, it must have been

> Bart.

> > My doctor was very concerned about starting me on antibiotics out of

> > fear of herxing, but he did start me on anti-fungals. This seemed to

> > help some. But nothing could shore up my total cowardice in facing a

> > return to home. You see, I had tried to come home just to pick up

> > things from time to time and I would no sooner open the door to my

> house

> > but would be assaulted by a choking infestation which would then take

> me

> > days to get rid of.

> >

> > My scientific investigation continued remotely however, and after lots

> > of conversations with people here and in the " normal " community, I

> > became convinced that mites do not simply " disappear " . They stay and

> > stay. And they will feast upon humans and canines. I had read or heard

> > or someone hear told me, can't say for sure...but that some small % of

> > the population was somehow especially attractive to mites. In fact,

> > possibly even to the extent that mites could live for some time off of

> > humans. While I scoffed at this notion, it did seem to have merit. How

> > else to explain the years of affliction. But like many others here, it

> > just did not seem to be all about mites. You see, there is in fact a

> > fungus which seems to feed off of mites. At first I thought there was

> > some type of symbiosis between this fungus and mites. But I now know

> > that this fungus is a parasite...and to be more exact, a mite

> parasite.

> > It actually kills mites. I have not been able to really work on my

> > theory to the extent I wish. But my theory is that there are naturally

> > occurring fungi that will destroy the bird mite. This fungi has been

> > engineered by organizations and encouraged as a natural harbinger for

> > mite destruction, especially targeted for crops. I believe this was

> > first developed to kill a tree mite which infested certain fruit

> trees.

> > This fungi however appears to have been disbursed without proper

> > bio-controls put into place. Meaning that this fungus may kill mites,

> > but when the mites are gone will turn to humans, releasing pathogenic

> > spores into the environment. No mite could move as quickly to torment

> > me as an airborne spore could. I have collected samples of this

> fungus.

> > So for those of us who see these black spots on our counter tops, or

> > cough up little dots, or blow our nose and encounter this, it is

> > probably actually fungi. I have had no luck in getting any of this

> > confirmed, thus it remains theory. But I can say that anti-fungals

> > would seem to be a natural deterrent. And I say the anti-fungals work

> > because of an interesting experience.

> >

> > After 6 weeks of hoteling it, I returned home. I can tell you, I was

> > scared stiff, terrified in fact. But armed with science in the one

> > hand, and God in my right, I did come home. And

> > I....opened.....the......door. And nothing happened to me. I

> > immediately set to spraying my home with Lysol complete clean using a

> > plant sprayer. I sprayed my kitchen, my bathroom and my laundry room.

> > I drenched my bedroom. I then washed all of my linens. I waited and

> > when nothing happened, I went to bed. And I miraculously slept. The

> > next day, I repeated the script. By the third day, I was feeling a bit

> > optimistic. So, I stopped spraying. Still all well. So, I got brave

> > enough to stop washing my linens in hot water with ammonia and borax.

> > Then I stopped taking a scalding hot shower every night. And then I

> > just broke down and cried. I thanked God and I cried some more. One

> > week after moving back home, I went out and tried to take some clothes

> > out of the bags of clothes which were outside on my balcony. I was

> > immediately assaulted. Started coughing and having bloody noses. I was

> > terrified that all my nightmare was to start again. But after a day of

> > hacking, I returned to normal. I went outside to where my dog bed was

> > and saw black moldy stuff growing on the bottom. Before I could wash

> > it, my larger dog slept on it and proceeded to scratch himself raw for

> > about 3 days. I washed it and ever since I have kept things bagged

> > until they were washed carefully. Once washed, I have never had to

> > rewash. I have bit by bit regained my life. And I saw my daughter's

> > wedding day approach. The weather in Washington state is always

> > temperamental. But the sun had been out for this past week. Then on

> > Friday before the wedding, torrential rains started. We had planned

> > for an outdoor garden wedding and I was beginning to lose hope that we

> > were going to have good weather. We struggled through a rehearsal that

> > soaked us all and tried to scrounge up tents. Saturday, wedding day,

> > began decently enough but then not only did the rain come down hard,

> but

> > thunder storms started rolling in and sheets of rain was blowing into

> > our tent. We decided to persevere though it all. I had learned that

> > life will move forward, with or without us. And as the time came for

> > the bridesmaids and groomsmen to come out of their dressing rooms, the

> > rain stopped and as my daughter moved into view, the sun broke out.

> And

> > out it stayed for the entire day.

> >

> > And although I am exhausted from that event, and from the months of

> > mitemare...I could not sleep until I had at last posted my story to

> you

> > all. To not give up. That the sun will shine through the gloom. That

> > no matter what you put your faith in, do not lose it.

> >

> > I have not started on antibiotics yet, but I am not scratching. I am

> > sleeping good in my bed. I have not thrown out my furniture, nor have

> I

> > moved, nor have I pulled up carpet. I know that there is a power

> > greater than my own at play here. I choose to keep fighting. I hope

> > you all choose to keep fighting. But stay in your home or leave it. No

> > matter. But... Believe in yourself. Believe in this group. And I will

> > keep fighting for you in every way that I can. I am sorry it has taken

> > me so long to regain communication. But I have not let one day pass

> > that I have not thought of you or not prayed for you. I know this

> story

> > is long and not filled with as many facts as I would like it to be.

> But

> > I hope I filled it with....hope.

> >

> > Stay strong! Terry

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Alaire, I read your post and it reminded me all over again that we aren't meant

to struggle alone. I think that help and love and support can come in many

different forms, and this group of people was one of those forms of love and

support that I know personally, I could not have gotten through without.

I too still feel itches and when I look, I will sometimes have those tiny little

red dots. And sometimes when I breathe in through my nose I will get this

tickle and I know I breathed in something.

I am still fighting back the fungus and although I am so very much better, my

dogs will continue to bring in black stuff from outside. I think much of it has

to do with the fact that we have so much rain here in Washington and the fungus

seems to thrive on the damp. I am constantly having to arm myself with Lysol

and go outside and spray. I think that having the bags of clothes outside,

which I haven't gotten to washing, is also a breeding ground for fungus.

I am not washing maniacally like I used to, but I have not let up too much on my

vigilance in making sure things stay clean. Fortunately, this kind of routine

seems to be successful and I get my exercise as well. If I didn't have my dogs,

I am pretty sure I would have fewer problems, but their love makes up for that

petty grievance.

Like you, I can go a while without having to wash sheets and things which is

such a relief. I suspect that sooner or later I will beat this fungus back and

so long as I continue with my anti-fungal treatments I shouldn't get sick again.

Still have trouble getting into a good sleeping routine. I think all of the

nights being unable to sleep messed up that routine, but I feel sure I will get

it back.

Anyway, I loved your posting. With all the people suffering so, sometimes it is

good to hear that people do survive this and get their lives back. I remember

hearing so many of the terrible stories that I became sorely despondent thinking

that it was never going to get better. But for all those listening and

reading...it does. Never give up.

Stay strong, Terry

> > >

> > > Hello my dear dear friends here and bird mite sufferers around the

> > > world. It has been an unforgivably long time since I last posted. I

> > > know it has been a while, but I hope you will understand and forgive

> > me.

> > > I did not ever wish to be that person who was here and then gone to

> > the

> > > bafflement and consternation of all those who remained.

> > >

> > > First, this group is about one of the most enduring and persevering

> > > groups out there. To be so afflicted by bird mites and to not only be

> > > forced to suffer miserably, but to suffer with so little help and

> > belief

> > > from most non-mite sufferers is just about the most soul wrenching

> > > sorrow one can experience. I know this. You know this. And only we

> > > select few will ever truly understand.

> > >

> > > There are many wise people here who will offer solace, words of

> > comfort

> > > and hope and yes even that special brand of dark humor which only we

> > at

> > > our most hysterical can truly manifest. We live those cliches of " what

> > > doesn't kill you will make you stronger " and another favorite " might

> > as

> > > well laugh as cry " . And while many of us have tread that fine boundary

> > > between life and death, not sure which one we wish for, and shed those

> > > tears of laughter which very often mimic those tears of tragedy, it

> > may

> > > be only in retrospect that we can truly tell how close we have come to

> > > the tragedy of life's terrible sense of humor, aka, the bird mite.

> > >

> > > But, life does move on. It does not rewind for us and it does not fast

> > > forward, it just stubbornly moves on. And while earlier this year I

> > > believed my life was playing out in its last chapter, I realized that

> > > perhaps, it had not.

> > >

> > > You see, I found you all, this incredibly brave wonderful group of

> > > people, who first let me know I was not alone in my suffering. That I

> > > was not alone in this perplexing battle against nature. From first

> > > discovering the red bird mite on my canary to the dizzying multitudes

> > > that descended upon me, I felt adrift in the world gone mad. Yes, I

> > too

> > > tried the endless round of vacuuming, cleaning, spraying, trying first

> > > one product only to discard that and try another. Each week found me

> > > buying a new hope in a bottle, a new PCO with a cure. From deadly to

> > > organic, nothing seemed to work. Like many here, I started out with a

> > > compromised immune system which seemed to ring the dinner bell for the

> > > elusive micro sized mite. Hard to catch sight of, but doggone hard to

> > > ignore, these mites rained down a bloody hellish mess upon me, then my

> > > dogs, and ultimately my son.

> > >

> > > Like many of you, I washed and ultimately threw out many of my

> > clothes.

> > > Like many of you, I found there was never a safe place to sleep. I

> > > burned my skin from numerous applications of vicks to my face, ears

> > and

> > > other very tender spots. I burned menthol until my eyes streamed. Some

> > > of this worked for a while, some not at all. Why some worked for me

> > and

> > > not for others I do not know.

> > >

> > > Ultimately, I simply broke down and turned to two things, science and

> > > God. I began to study the heck out of these mites. I took pictures

> > > with a digital microscope, studied slides under a more powerful

> > > microscope. I reached out to Professors in other countries and I began

> > > a series of communications with Biologists, Micro-Biologists,

> > > Entomologists and mold specialists. I left no stone unturned. And when

> > > I found no ready answers nor any relief, I broke down and had a

> > > spiritual crises. I found myself one night on the bottom of my bath

> > tub

> > > as shower water poured down upon the red skin I had just scrubbed for

> > > the third time that day. I collapsed and turned myself over completely

> > > and 100% to God. I knew in that moment, I had nothing left. And while

> > > I believe truly that it was at that moment that my life turned around,

> > I

> > > do not say this as a solution for you, as that is, for many, as

> > > intangible a thing as there is. This was my personal journey. But I

> > > wish to explain as completely as possible. As many of you know, I

> > > packed up my dogs and with only a few belongings, fled to a local

> > hotel.

> > > I was so sick and tired, was so seriously sleep deprived and sick that

> > I

> > > thought I was crawling away to die. My little dog was seriously ill

> > and

> > > I worried tremendously for my son. But after a week of vomiting up

> > > black dots and thinking my body was never going to be rid of the

> > disease

> > > of the mite, I did start to get well. And as I got well, I became very

> > > fearful. Does that sound weird? I knew that I would have to face what

> > > I had run from. My daughter was getting married this June and was

> > going

> > > to be a mother as well. I knew that I could not afford to let this

> > beat

> > > me. I had to find my courage. Several here recommended I seek out an

> > > LLMD. I did that. I was told that I had Lyme disease and Bartonella,

> > > most likely my son did as well, as did my little dog. I was able to

> > > start my dog on antibiotics and very soon, the limp she had

> > disappeared.

> > > I thought she had arthritis, but low and behold, it must have been

> > Bart.

> > > My doctor was very concerned about starting me on antibiotics out of

> > > fear of herxing, but he did start me on anti-fungals. This seemed to

> > > help some. But nothing could shore up my total cowardice in facing a

> > > return to home. You see, I had tried to come home just to pick up

> > > things from time to time and I would no sooner open the door to my

> > house

> > > but would be assaulted by a choking infestation which would then take

> > me

> > > days to get rid of.

> > >

> > > My scientific investigation continued remotely however, and after lots

> > > of conversations with people here and in the " normal " community, I

> > > became convinced that mites do not simply " disappear " . They stay and

> > > stay. And they will feast upon humans and canines. I had read or heard

> > > or someone hear told me, can't say for sure...but that some small % of

> > > the population was somehow especially attractive to mites. In fact,

> > > possibly even to the extent that mites could live for some time off of

> > > humans. While I scoffed at this notion, it did seem to have merit. How

> > > else to explain the years of affliction. But like many others here, it

> > > just did not seem to be all about mites. You see, there is in fact a

> > > fungus which seems to feed off of mites. At first I thought there was

> > > some type of symbiosis between this fungus and mites. But I now know

> > > that this fungus is a parasite...and to be more exact, a mite

> > parasite.

> > > It actually kills mites. I have not been able to really work on my

> > > theory to the extent I wish. But my theory is that there are naturally

> > > occurring fungi that will destroy the bird mite. This fungi has been

> > > engineered by organizations and encouraged as a natural harbinger for

> > > mite destruction, especially targeted for crops. I believe this was

> > > first developed to kill a tree mite which infested certain fruit

> > trees.

> > > This fungi however appears to have been disbursed without proper

> > > bio-controls put into place. Meaning that this fungus may kill mites,

> > > but when the mites are gone will turn to humans, releasing pathogenic

> > > spores into the environment. No mite could move as quickly to torment

> > > me as an airborne spore could. I have collected samples of this

> > fungus.

> > > So for those of us who see these black spots on our counter tops, or

> > > cough up little dots, or blow our nose and encounter this, it is

> > > probably actually fungi. I have had no luck in getting any of this

> > > confirmed, thus it remains theory. But I can say that anti-fungals

> > > would seem to be a natural deterrent. And I say the anti-fungals work

> > > because of an interesting experience.

> > >

> > > After 6 weeks of hoteling it, I returned home. I can tell you, I was

> > > scared stiff, terrified in fact. But armed with science in the one

> > > hand, and God in my right, I did come home. And

> > > I....opened.....the......door. And nothing happened to me. I

> > > immediately set to spraying my home with Lysol complete clean using a

> > > plant sprayer. I sprayed my kitchen, my bathroom and my laundry room.

> > > I drenched my bedroom. I then washed all of my linens. I waited and

> > > when nothing happened, I went to bed. And I miraculously slept. The

> > > next day, I repeated the script. By the third day, I was feeling a bit

> > > optimistic. So, I stopped spraying. Still all well. So, I got brave

> > > enough to stop washing my linens in hot water with ammonia and borax.

> > > Then I stopped taking a scalding hot shower every night. And then I

> > > just broke down and cried. I thanked God and I cried some more. One

> > > week after moving back home, I went out and tried to take some clothes

> > > out of the bags of clothes which were outside on my balcony. I was

> > > immediately assaulted. Started coughing and having bloody noses. I was

> > > terrified that all my nightmare was to start again. But after a day of

> > > hacking, I returned to normal. I went outside to where my dog bed was

> > > and saw black moldy stuff growing on the bottom. Before I could wash

> > > it, my larger dog slept on it and proceeded to scratch himself raw for

> > > about 3 days. I washed it and ever since I have kept things bagged

> > > until they were washed carefully. Once washed, I have never had to

> > > rewash. I have bit by bit regained my life. And I saw my daughter's

> > > wedding day approach. The weather in Washington state is always

> > > temperamental. But the sun had been out for this past week. Then on

> > > Friday before the wedding, torrential rains started. We had planned

> > > for an outdoor garden wedding and I was beginning to lose hope that we

> > > were going to have good weather. We struggled through a rehearsal that

> > > soaked us all and tried to scrounge up tents. Saturday, wedding day,

> > > began decently enough but then not only did the rain come down hard,

> > but

> > > thunder storms started rolling in and sheets of rain was blowing into

> > > our tent. We decided to persevere though it all. I had learned that

> > > life will move forward, with or without us. And as the time came for

> > > the bridesmaids and groomsmen to come out of their dressing rooms, the

> > > rain stopped and as my daughter moved into view, the sun broke out.

> > And

> > > out it stayed for the entire day.

> > >

> > > And although I am exhausted from that event, and from the months of

> > > mitemare...I could not sleep until I had at last posted my story to

> > you

> > > all. To not give up. That the sun will shine through the gloom. That

> > > no matter what you put your faith in, do not lose it.

> > >

> > > I have not started on antibiotics yet, but I am not scratching. I am

> > > sleeping good in my bed. I have not thrown out my furniture, nor have

> > I

> > > moved, nor have I pulled up carpet. I know that there is a power

> > > greater than my own at play here. I choose to keep fighting. I hope

> > > you all choose to keep fighting. But stay in your home or leave it. No

> > > matter. But... Believe in yourself. Believe in this group. And I will

> > > keep fighting for you in every way that I can. I am sorry it has taken

> > > me so long to regain communication. But I have not let one day pass

> > > that I have not thought of you or not prayed for you. I know this

> > story

> > > is long and not filled with as many facts as I would like it to be.

> > But

> > > I hope I filled it with....hope.

> > >

> > > Stay strong! Terry

> > >

> >

>