Jeremy Murphree

  • Letter to Psychiatrists and Dermatologists regarding Morgellons Disease For Morgellons Disease Awareness Month 2022, we have prepared this letter which can be mailed to your local Dermatologists and Psychiatrists regarding patients concerned about “Morgellons”. Dear Dr. _______,My name is _________________, and I am a “Real Morgellons” patient/advocate. At this point you may be wondering why I feel there is any difference between “Morgellons” and “Real Morgellons”? Fortunately for both of us there is peer-reviewed research we can turn to for answers instead of relying on my subjective interpretation. Please excuse me if you are already aware of this research. “There is significant overlap in the array of symptoms that may accompany LD (Lyme disease), MD (Morgellons disease), and mental illness, thus complicating the diagnosis. In theory, patients who do not have MD but who are delusional could think they have MD if they have had exposure to the topic through the Internet or other means.7,87 To complicate the diagnosis further, MD patients may exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms, and many have psychiatric diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder, attention-deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.1,7,81 Therefore, many MD patients may have psychiatric comorbidities, and in some cases, patients have been misdiagnosed with a psychiatric illness that they do not have.7 Some MD patients may have false beliefs that are not delusional in origin. Lack of scientific knowledge can cause patients to misinterpret symptoms, such as the presence of filaments and sensations of formication as worms, arthropods, or other infestations. In addition, MD lesions are sticky and arthropods or artifacts can adhere to exudate, and patients may incorrectly believe these external factors are associated with the dermopathy.7,87″History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition – PMC (nih.gov) “The first step needs to determine whether delusion exists or not. A delusion is defined as a firmly, but false belief held with strong conviction and contrary to the superior evidence. It is distinct from beliefs based on an unusual perception, such as formication. The beliefs that patients hold could be delusion, true observations, or overvalued ideas. This must be determined on a case-by-case basis. The presentation of a specimen is not a delusional behavior. Patients with DI/MD with animate or inanimate objects can exist, but the belief of cutaneous fibers may or may not be delusional. A physician is required to perform fiber analysis to identify the nature of fibers. If fibers are present and biofilaments of human origin, then they are a true observation. It is also possible that patients might observe fibers and mistake them for worms in which case the idea of infestation could be an overvalued idea. Real infestation with arthropods such as mites can also occur. Additionally, some patients could have lesions with adhering textile fibers that are accidental contaminants and could mistakenly believe that they have MD, in which case they do not have a delusional belief, but a mistaken belief. In summary, if a physician cannot differentiate between true observations, delusions, and overvalued ideas, they should not immediately make a diagnosis of delusional mental illness.” Reframing delusional infestation: perspectives on unresolved puzzles – PMC (nih.gov) Clearly, the two previous passages infer that some patients can in fact become confused and mistakenly believe they have Morgellons disease. I’m sure you’ve probably seen many people who, because of exposure to the topic through the internet or other means, have become convinced that they have MD. Since you are not an Infectious Disease doctor or a Lyme disease specialist who would prescribe antibiotic therapies, that any individuals with “Morgellons” that you may have “cured” with psychotropic medication may have only mistakenly believed they had Morgellons. Of course, Lyme disease doesn’t simply resolve on its own and requires appropriate antibiotic therapies. You may be thinking to yourself that Lyme disease is rare in my region. Consider this paper from 2000 regarding the prevalence of Lyme disease in South Carolina. “Based on serologic evidence that 38% of the P. gossypinusmice from South Carolina that were tested had antibodies to B. burgdorferi (21), the cultivation of 146 isolates ofB. burgdorferi sensu lato from birds, rodents, and ticks from seven geographic sites within five counties in South Carolina (including Charleston County) (12, 25); J. H. Oliver, Jr., unpublished data), the widespread distribution of I. scapularis in South Carolina (10, 11, 18, 26) and its proclivity to feed on various vertebrates (18, 20) (including humans [13]), the reports of physician-diagnosed LD in the state (34, 35), and the characterization of 28 isolates as B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in this study, we conclude that B. burgdorferi is cycling enzootically in the state and speculate that humans are probably being infected with the spirochete.” Isolation, Cultivation, and Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi from Rodents and Ticks in the Charleston Area of South Carolina | Journal of Clinical Microbiology (asm.org) Consider also that there is potentially another infectious disease which can result in the Morgellons condition. “Although we have not detected T. pallidum in any MD subjects to date, given that there is a historical association with T. pallidum infection in comparable cases, it is reasonable to hypothesize that T. pallidum could be an etiologic factor in a subset of MD patients.” Classification and Staging of Morgellons Disease: Lessons from Syphilis – PMC (nih.gov) I’m certain you’re aware of the mental compromise patients could experience if exposed to this notoriously destructive disease. “His mental status examination revealed increased psychomotor activity, irritable affect, delusion of infidelity and persecution, impaired judgment, and poor insight.” Syphilis presenting as late-onset psychosis : Indian Journal of Psychiatry (lww.com) I would hope you are aware of the current resurgence of this old foe as well. Why Syphilis Rates Are Rising – The Atlantic Thank you for making time to review my email, and please consider this information about “Real Morgellons” and the potential that patients you see concerned about “Morgellons” may either  A) Really Have Morgellons  or  B) Mistakenly Believe They Have Morgellons In either case, I challenge you to consider that in the face of this scientific evidence that every patient deserves to have Morgellons disease thoroughly ruled out before attempting any treatment which may either prolong the infectious process or result in a negative consequence and erosion of patient trust. “It has been well documented in numerous published medical studies of Borrelia’s ability to cause many recognized personality disorders and forms of depression; such as anxiety, depression, confusion, aggressive behaviour, mild to moderate cognitive deficits, fatigue, memory loss, and irritability. As such, the American Psychiatric Associations recommends that specialist doctors and councillors alike should seek to rule out Borreliosis as a possible differential diagnosis before commencing with any form of psychological intervention.” Borreliosis (Lyme Disease) and its known involvement in Mental Health – Morgellons Survey I hope you will consider this evidence when a patient visits your practice concerned about “Morgellons”, and I look forwRead more

  • Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It’s 100% Preventable. This story was originally published by ProPublicaProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winningRead more

  • New Antibiotic Could Rid Earth Of Lyme Disease and Chronic Syphilis For Good A potential new antibiotic is making headlines this week as it harbors the promise to eradicate spirochetal disease, not only in people, but in animals as well. The upside? It doesn’t negatively affect native microbiomes. History of Hygromycin Hygromycin A was previously studied as an agent against swine dysentery in the 1980s. Hygromycin, epihygromycin and a mixture thereof have potent inhibitory activity against Treponema hyodysenteriae and are useful for treatment of swine dysentery.Use of hygromycin and epihygromycin in the treatment of swine dysentery – Patent EP-0213692-B1 – PubChem (nih.gov) Better Vaccines Because Hygromycin is so ineffective at killing other species of bacteria, it was employed in vaccine research for both existing and emerging diseases. The Hygromycin resistance marker has evolved into a common tool of the researchers available resources. The hygromycin resistance vector was used to overexpress superoxide dismutase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in M. vaccae in a form suitable for detailed structural analysis. The potential use of this approach for generation of novel recombinant mycobacterial vaccines is discussed.Transformation of mycobacterial species using hygromycin resistance as selectable marker | Microbiology Society (microbiologyresearch.org) Best For Syphilis? The latest research demonstrates that Hygromycin A may have best success against syphilis, an exciting prospect considering the resurgence in contemporary times. “In our study, we find that hygromycin A has the highest activity against Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, with a MIC of 0.03 μg/mL.”https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674%2821%2901058-8 Human Trials FlightPath, an American company, has filed for permission to begin human trials of Hygromycin-A in people. If information about public participation of a drug trial for this exciting new antibiotic surfaces, we’ll notify you through our social media outlets. ForRead more

  • Five Year Morgellons Survey Preliminary Results Include Almost Six Hundred Entries Morgellons Survey is proud to present preliminary results of its almost five year long scientific survey. The survey will close on December 23, 2021 after five years from initially posting and preceding peer-review. We have removed the 250 entry monthly limit for the next four weeks! If you would like to participate please do so before December 21st and preferably within the next month. Most preliminary results below are adjusted to remove all multiple entries. If the same email address submitted multiple times only the latest entry is counted. Any requests to remove specific entries have been completed. Unadjusted adds +40 entries with the majority (+36) being double entries (twice). Morgellons Survey Preliminary Results Again, the last day to submit your entry for this Morgellons Survey will be December 23 2021. Afterwards this data will be submitted for scientific peer-review and ultimately published in a prestigious scientific journal. Please consider donating to help us continue towards this effort of scientific legitimization. Your continued support and contributions help keep us online and motivated towards achieving real world results for a serious and often debilitating, contestedRead more

  • If it looks like syphilis… If it looks like syphilis, and acts like syphilis, it must be Lyme disease. In this episode, we look at the new research which demonstrates Lyme disease in a Morgellons patient, and question if molecular testing for syphilis wouldn’t also be appropriate.  Morgellons Petition to the CDC Ofshane – Road Tripzzz Study Cements Link Between Protean Morgellons Lesions and Lyme Disease. New Morgellons Research History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition Clinical evaluation of Morgellons disease in a cohort of North American patients Dermatological and Genital Manifestations of Lyme Disease Including Morgellons Disease An Update on the Global Epidemiology of Syphilis How Syphilis Came Roaring Back New CDC statistics: nearly half a million people diagnosed with Lyme disease annually False positive lyme serology due to syphilis: Report of 6 cases and review of the literature Cross-reactivity between Lyme and syphilis screening assays: Lyme disease does not cause false-positive syphilis screens Treponema denticola infection is not a cause of false positive Treponema pallidum serology Rapid Plasma Reagin Breanna Lum; Shane R. Sergent. Removal of bovine digital dermatitis-associated treponemes from hoof knives after foot-trimming: a disinfection field study Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the identification of TreponemaRead more

  • Jeremy Murphree wrote a new post 3 years ago

    Various Morgellons Petitions to the CDC Request Acknowledgement Why should you sign a Morgellons petition? Above all, Morgellons patients endure many hardships trying to manage their strange skin condition. Firstly, being covered in oozing sores results in a low quality of life. Additionally, there is undue stigma surrounding Morgellons. But the fact is, signing a petition can make a big difference towards improving patients lives! In that regard, the following various petitions to the CDC ask for official acknowledgment of the research that legitimizes the condition. This Morgellons petition in particular has over 3,000,000 signatures!! This Morgellons petition was started by Charles Holman Other Morgellons Petitions Que la maladie du morgellon sorte de l’ ombre (avaaz.org) Morgellons Petition Almost a decade has passed since the CDC’s investigation of an Unexplained Dermopathy, also known as Morgellons Disease. Since that time a volume of contemporary research has demonstrated Morgellons is associated with an infectious process. We want the CDC to acknowledge this research so that physicians are more comfortable treating patients who have Morgellons and also ruling out the condition in patients who do not. Why is this important? Many doctors do not understand there is a real Morgellons condition as opposed to the state of the patient mistakingly believing they have Morgellons. Doctors should understand what Morgellons is, rule it out in the patients who mistakingly believe they have it, and treat actual Morgellons patients according to the latest science. SIGN Home |Read more

  • Morgellons Science, Response to the Opposition Morgellons disease is a polarized topic in the medical community with two opposing points of view that are incompatible. The prevailing point of view is that MD is a psychiatric disorder with a delusional etiology. The minority emerging point of view is based on recent clinical, molecular and histopathological evidence that challenges the prevailing view and suggests an infectious etiology for Morgellons disease. When challenging a prevailing well-established point of view, new evidence will always be met with opposition, skepticism and sometimes outright hostility. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that Morgellons disease is an infectious process is published in many reputable, PubMed-indexed medical journals, including but not limited to: the International Journal of General Medicine, Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, BMC Dermatology, F1000 Research, Healthcare (Basel), Dermatology Reports, and Psychosomatics. Stricker, Middelveen and Fessler are not alone in supporting this point of view. They do not work in isolation, but collaborate with other laboratories. The evidence supporting an infectious process includes experiments performed in at least 12 different institutions that include universities, commercial laboratories or clinical practices, located in 4 different countries and include a diverse group of independent individuals. Resultant peer-reviewed papers, many of which are primary research, have repeatedly demonstrated an association between MD and spirochetal infection (predominantly Borrelia species) that is statistically significant. Evidence includes serological, histopathological and molecular evidence showing Borrelia exposure and/or infection in MD patients. Furthermore, Borrelia species have been cultured and genetically characterized from skin and other clinical specimens taken from Morgellons disease subjects, and culture is the ultimate proof of active infection. To date, Borrelia DNA has been detected in skin specimens taken from Morgellons subjects by at least seven independent laboratories and that fact is available by reading published papers available through a PubMed search. Collaborative studies that included Stricker, Middelveen and/or Fessler as author, in which Borrelia DNA was detected in specimens taken from Morgellons patients, were performed by four independent laboratories (University of New Haven, West Haven, CT; Australian Biologics, Sydney, NSW, Australia, IGeneX Reference Laboratories, Milpitas, CA, and UC -Irvine, Irvine, CA). As indicated in presentations made at Charles E Holman Foundation conferences, two additional laboratories, Mt Allison University in Sackville, NB, Canada, and Oklahoma State University, have also detected Borrelia DNA in MD skin cultures/and or skin specimens. Showing causation is not straightforward. There is no perfect method for demonstrating disease causation. Various proposed methods for demonstrating causation are not checklists that must be met. However, the more criteria are met, the more likely a causal relationship is to exist. Correlation is the first step in showing causation. Currently there is more than a mere correlation shown between MD and Borrelia. Many of the criteria in Koch’s postulates, the Bradford Hill criteria for causation, and the criteria listed by Fredricks and Relman have been met. [1-3] The evidence that Borrelia infection is associated with MD has never been disproven by the opposition in peer-reviewed literature. If those holding the majority point of view feel that there is sufficient evidence to show an infectious etiology for Morgellons disease is wrong then they should challenge the evidence with published, peer-reviewed rebuttal. In contrast, a 2018 review paper by Middelveen et al. published in a reputable PubMed-indexed medical journal [4] provides a detailed evaluation of the evidence supporting both points of view, and addresses significant flaws in the papers that support the point of view that MD is a purely delusional disorder. In contrast, the majority who hold the prevailing point of view have failed to identify specific flaws in the data or methods used by Stricker, Middelveen, Fessler, and their other collaborators, but instead have relied on personal attacks and their own preconceived point of view. At the very least, the emerging body of evidence that concludes an infectious process causes Morgellons disease clearly demonstrates that society is dealing with an unexplored and poorly defined chronic bacterial infection that has affected individuals around the world and needs to be recognized so that steps can be taken to improve quality of life and to lessen if not alleviate the burden of this challenging illness. Attempts to shut down open debate and discussion in medicine stifle medical science. If not for open debate we would still believe in the miasma theory of disease, steadfastly believing that infectious diseases, such as cholera, syphilis, chlamydia, or even the Black Death are noxious forms of “bad air”. Medicine needs to evolve and challenging prevailing thought through open debate is an essential part of that process. References Fedak KM, Bernal A, Capshaw ZA, Gross S. Applying the Bradford Hill criteria in the 21st century: how data integration has changed causal inference in molecular epidemiology. Emerg Themes Epidemiol. 2015;12:14. Published 2015 Sep 30. doi:10.1186/s12982-015-0037-4Fredericks DN, Relman DA. Sequence-based identification of microbial pathogens: a reconsideration of Koch’s postulates. Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 1996, 9 (1) 18-33; DOI: 10.1128/CMR.9.1.18 Middelveen MJ, Martinez RM, Fesler MC, Sapi E, Burke J, Shah JS, Nicolaus C, Stricker RB. Classification and Staging of Morgellons Disease: Lessons from Syphilis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 Feb 7;13:145-164. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S239840. PMID: 32104041; PMCID: PMC7012249.Middelveen MJ, Fesler MC, Stricker RB. History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018 Feb 9;11:71-90. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S152343. PMID: 29467580; PMCID: PMC5811176Middelveen MJ, Stricker RB. Morgellons disease: a filamentous borrelial dermatitisRead more

  • The Charles Holman Foundation Releases 12th Annual Morgellons Conference Presentations For Free On YouTube Have you ever wondered what happens at a “Morgellons Conference”? The Charles Holman Foundation knows you have and has you covered by releasing its’ 12th annual Morgellons conference presentations free on YouTube! My Morgellons Journey and the Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation: Cindy Casey Holman Morgellons Disease: 16 Years on the Front Lines: Ginger R. Savely, DNP, MED, FNP-C, CAN Morgellons Disease: Testing, Conventional and Alternative/Integrative Treatment: Carsten Nicolaus Detection of tick-borne infection in Morgellons disease patients: Jyotsna Shah, PHD Morgellons Demystified: Marianne Middelveen by Melissa C. Fessler, FNP-BC MorgellonsRead more

  • Historical Syphilis is Lyme Disease (and TBRF) History of Syphilis An Update on the Global Epidemiology of Syphilis Stages of Syphilis Lyme Disease Mimicking Secondary Syphilis Tick-borne relapsing fever: a fever syndrome mimic Ötzi’s Lyme Disease in Context Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and BiRead more

  • New Study! Classification and Staging of Morgellons Disease The new paper, Classification and Staging of Morgellons Disease: Lessons from Syphilis, introduces a structure for physicians to distinguish the condition in their patient population. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7012249/ …read more on Steemit!— Send in a voice mRead more

  • Special Interview with Lyme Expert, Dr. Robert C. Bransfield On Friday evening, July 31st, we were fortunate to interview prominent psychiatrist Dr. Robert C. Bransfield. Here is the recording of that session. What is the deal with COVID19, should people be wearing masks and how is the situation where you live?Does COVID19 cause psychological manifestations?What is Morgellons Disease?What is the most concerning aspect of Morgellons, in your experience?Why is it hard for many people to accept that infections can result in concerning behavior?How can someone tell if they are suffering psychological issues because of infection or other reasons like emotional trauma?Can specific conditions like bi-polar disorder be caused by infections and what other reasons would someone suffer from BPD?When you suspect Lyme, do you treat the patient or would you refer them out to an infectious disease specialist?How soon do patients see remediation of their condition if the cause is infection and how is their infection typically treated?Can psychotropic drugs be harmful to Lyme patients?Are benzos safe?Can cannabis be used to treat psychological disturbances?What is the association of Lyme disease with violence?Is ADD and ADHD associated with Lyme disease?Is syphilis still a prevalent infection or has Lyme overtaken it in incidence?Is it harder for Lyme patients to cope with emotional distress?How can someone tell if they are neurotic or if that is simply their personality?Can Lyme disease alter a persons personality, dramatically?How important is a support network for recovery, can someone make it without any help?What can Lyme patients do themselves to aid the healing process?Are there markers which indicate nominal behavioral health?How common are hallucinations with Lyme disease and what causes them?Are there sexual behavior implications of Lyme disease?Does Lyme disease promote narcissism, like syphilis is reported to do?DoesRead more

  • Microbiologist Marianne Middelveen LIVE Marianne Middelveen is a microbiologist and a medical mycologist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada currently working in the field of Veterinary Microbiology and specializing in bovine mastitis. She received post-graduate degrees in Microbial and Biochemical Science and in Environmental Science from Georgia State University and University of Calgary, respectively. She has been involved in research projects at the Centro Amazonico para Investigacion y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Territorio Federal Amazonas (Edo. Amazonas), Venezuela; Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela; Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Gerogia; University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Calgary, Alberta. She became interested in Lyme disease after discovering she had the disease in 2011. As a volunteer, she has been involved in research related to Lyme disease on behalf of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. 0:00 Live interview with Marianne Middelveen 2:46 What are #Morgellons fibers and how are they made? 3:23 What pathogens are typically involved in Morgellons disease? 4:29 What is a follicular cast and how is that different from a Morgellons fiber? 6:06 Do different pathogens cause follicular casts and Morgellons? 6:55 Is it true that one symptom of Morgellons patients is that their hairs will grow in reverse and how far down do they grow? 12:10 Some Morgellons fibers react to Borrelia staining.15:43 Is it true that some Morgellons patients do not have any sores at all? 18:37 Other species of Borrelia21:12 Is T. Denticola any different from T. Pallidum? 21:49 Do treponemes cross-react with Borrelia? 24:27 Besides PCR and immunostaining do you employ other methods to elicit Borrelia? 27:07 Is Morgellons caused by a fungal infection? 27:47 Is #Lyme disease demonstrated to cause ulcerations like syphilis? 28:38 What has your research shown you about Morgellons in dogs, is it different from what is in people? 32:30 Objectively looking at the research.36:57 A person can have Lyme and syphilis at the same time.40:26 What are the “white worm” “plugs”? 43:30 What is the difference between BDD and Morgellons? 48:04 There were early reports of Morgellons fibers being discovered inside organs, theoretically in light of what we know about Morgellons could such a phenomenon occur? 50:39 Is Morgellons a condition or a disease? 54:32 How does classification and staging work? 56:25 Do physicians have to meet requirements to start using the Morgellons staging and classification system? 57:53 What are biofilms and how are they involved with Morgellons? 1:00:19 The CDC recently updated their website to warn about congenital Lyme transmission, but not regarding sexual transmission. Can Lyme infect patients in the same manner as syphilis? 1:03:14 Does PCR analysis simply amplify which agents you want to be associated with what you are researching, does it give you the easy answer you want? 1:05:11 If you could direct a Morgellons study with unlimited funding, what would you intend to discover? 1:08:37Read more

  • Interview with Skin Deep Star, Dr. Steve Feldman MD, PHD Skin Deep: https://www.morgellonsmovie.org For acne: topical benzoyl peroxide. Also topical adapalene (brand name is Differin). Psoriasis: http://www.psoriasis.org American Academy of Dermatology: https://www.aad.org/public New Zealand dermatology info: https://dermnetnz.org/ Dr. Score http://www.DrScore.com “Thank you for tuning in to #Morgellons Disease Discussion, and Microscopy videos. I’m your host Jeremy Murphree and today we will discuss a variety of skin conditions with a dermatologist who was rated by ExpertScape.com as the #1 expert in the world on both #psoriasis and #dermatology. He is the founder of the doctor rating website http://www.DrScore.com. Much of his research is on how well patients use their medication. He was also one of the stars in Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons – Dr. Steve Feldman! Hey Dr. Feldman, how are you doing today?” Why did you start a doctor rating website and what was your experience with it? Can my diet affect how my skin looks and are there better foods to eat and others to avoid? What are the risks of sun exposure, especially on prescription medications? What is psoriasis and what causes it? What got you into research on how well patients take medication? If I have a pimple should I pop it, or see you about it? Are there any treatments that are effective for varicose veins? What is Keratosis Pilaris and how is that condition treated? What is the strangest skin condition you’ve seen? What is the most common fungal infection you treat? The health agencies are sounding the alarm about an uptick in syphilis cases, do you see that translate into more cases walking in to your office? What is a skin condition that is common to the South East, that Southerners should look out for? Is Cannabidiol oil beneficial for skin care? What are the concerns of being on amphetamine prescriptions, when should someone taking them consider coming off? Have you had bad experiences with patients, have you ever felt endangered? Is ringworm an actual worm and if not anti-parasitic medication, how is it treated? Can emotional stress affect how my skin looks? What’s the best therapy for cracked heel? Are there any recommended methods of prevention? Is there any sure way to distinguish between lacerations and ulcerations? Was speaking at the Morgellons conference that was documented in Skin Deep challenging forRead more

  • Morgellons Expert Interview, Dr. Ginger Savely Dr. Savely joins us for a special interview about what we now know regarding Morgellons Disease. http://gingersavely.com/morgellons-book/ Have your doctor email Dr. #GingerSavely: lymedc@gmail.com Please donate to help fund future #Morgellons research: https://thecehf.org/donate/ 1) Could you give us a summary of who you are, how you became involved with Morgellons and how you assist the Charles E. Holman MD Foundation? 2) The CDC recently reported 115,000 new cases of syphilis in the U.S., is Morgellons really syphilis as some may assume? 3) Many patients are very afraid of utilizing antibiotics in their treatment because of the resulting side-effects. Are these potentially damaging side-effects limited to fluoroquinolones, and are there ways to mitigate these reactions? 4) In what ways can Medical Marijuana help Morgellons patients? 5) You state on your website that your patients must cease cigarette smoking before engaging in treatment, can you explain why patients will not improve unless they quit? What about vaping or dipping tobacco? 6) Many people present with what they often describe as “white worms”, “seeds”, “shrimp”, “cocoons” which have been described by researchers as “collagen projections” and “follicular casts”. How do we know these aren’t worms? 7) If digging these artifacts out isn’t responsible what is the appropriate manner of treating them? 8) Is it the case that Morgellons patients develop sores independent of excision, is it true that their skin spontaneously ulcerates? 9) Why do some Morgellons patients shave their heads? 10) Is Morgellons the same thing as Hair Tourniquet syndrome or are the two related? (not asked) 11) How much does stress and trauma really affect Morgellons patients? Can it impair the immune system and make symptoms worse? 12) Patients often become desperate and hopeless after repeated attempts to seek help end in failure and rejection. What can a Morgellons patient do when they feel nobody listens and nobody cares and it’s never going to get any better? Is there a way out of the darkness into a brighter tomorrow? 13) Is misinformation and sensationalism really harmlesRead more

  • Positive Lyme Test Could Mean Syphilis Several peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrate that a positive Lyme test could mean Syphilis instead of, or in addition to, Lyme. False positive Lyme serology due to syphilis: report of 6 cases and review of the literature. A 44-year-old man presented with visual field defects. Ophthalmoscopy revealed papilloedema of the left eye. Neuroborreliosis was suspected and serum was positively being tested using VIDAS* Lyme screen II (bioMerieux Vitek Inc). However, confirmatory testing using the Borrelia VlsE C6 titre was negative. Western Blotting on serum and cerebrospinal fluid could not confirm the possible diagnosis of neuroborreliosis. VDRL and TPPA testing was positive, and finally, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis was established. We subsequently screened our database on patients with positive VIDAS Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing by Western blot, and found another 5 cases in which Lyme screening was false positive due to cross-reactivity with Treponema pallidum antibodies. Our data show that in patients with positive Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing, performance of lues serology should be considered. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21485767 The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Lyme/syphilis survey. Serologic screening of patients for Lyme borreliosis began at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) in September 1987. This report reviews the data on 641 sera from that date up to January 1, 1990. Initially only immunofluorescent (IFA) IgG and IgM titers were obtained. Because of increasing numbers of borderline and positive IFA tests, a Lyme enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was added in April 1988. Also, because of significant serologic cross reactivity in patients exposed to Treponema pallidum, rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) tests were added to the serologic screening panel. Of all sera tested, 10% showed reactive RPR tests and 22% showed reactive FTA-ABS tests. Lyme IFA IgG titers were greater than or equal to 1:64 in 17% of the sera, and Lyme ELISA tests were greater than 1.25 in 15% of the sera. Our experience agrees with reports that serum RPR or VDRL tests are nonreactive in Lyme borreliosis, and that false positive FTA-ABS tests can occur in Lyme borreliosis. The importance of getting all four tests–RPR, FTA-ABS, Lyme IFA IgG and IgM, and Lyme ELISA–in all patients suspected of spirochetal disease is emphasized. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2150843 Some research even demonstrates how those with a positive syphilis test actually have Lyme disease instead. [Suspected syphilis during pregnancy due to cross reactions in Borrelia infection]. A weakly positive titre (1:20) in the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test and a highly positive titre (1:1280) in the fluorescence Treponema antibody absorption test, but negative result for IgM antibodies, were found in the serum of a 23-year-old pregnant woman. The cardiolipin microflocculation test was at first borderline positive, but negative on repeat. In the absence of a history of syphilis tests for Borrelia antibodies were performed. Those for antibodies against B. burgdorferi were highly positive in the ELISA test (550 units), in the indirect Borrelia immunofluorescence test 1:1280 for IgG antibodies and 1:160 for IgM antibodies. In the Borrelia-specific indirect haemagglutination test, which measures both IgG and IgM antibodies, the titres were 1:640 to 1:1280. These results confirmed the presence of an infection with B. burgdorferi and not with Treponema pallidum. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3048959 It seems as if the tests for each of these infections are all over the map. Cross-reactivity between Lyme and syphilis screening assays: Lyme disease does not cause false-positive syphilis screens. Increased rates of Lyme disease and syphilis in the same geographic area prompted an assessment of screening test cross-reactivity. This study supports the previously described cross-reactivity of Lyme screening among syphilis-positive sera and reports evidence against the possibility of false-positive syphilis screening tests resulting from previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26707064 VDRL test The screening test is most likely to be positive in the secondary and latent stages of syphilis. This test may give a false-negative result during early- and late-stage syphilis. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/vdrl-test Resolving the Common Clinical Dilemmas of Syphilis Serologic tests can be negative if they are performed at the stage when lesions are present, and the VDRL test can be negative in patients with late syphilis.  https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0415/p2233.html Apparently the problem isn’t limited to just syphilis and Lyme either. Cross-reactivity in serological tests for Lyme disease and other spirochetal infections. Serum specimens from 163 persons with Lyme disease, tick-borne or louse-borne relapsing fever, yaws, syphilis, leptospirosis, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever were analyzed to assess the specificity of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and microscopic agglutination (MA) procedures. Strong cross-reactivity occurred when sera from individuals with Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever were tested against heterologous Borrelia antigens. Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi bound to Treponema pallidum in immunofluorescence tests for syphilis. Sera from subjects with syphilis cross-reacted in IFA tests and the ELISA for Lyme disease. Immunoglobulin antibodies to Borrelia or Treponema spirochetes, however, did not react with serovars of Leptospira interrogans in MA or IFA tests, and the prevalence of false-positive results in the reciprocal analyses was negligible. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3298452 A Positive Lyme Test Could Mean Syphilis If you think this is a lot to digest you’re not alone! So where do we go from here? It sRead more

  • Post Treatment Lyme Syndrome Debunked A new scientific research paper questions the legitimacy of “Post Treatment Lyme Syndrome” also known as PTLS “In summary, in this pilot study we demonstrated persistent infection despite antibiotic therapy in 12 North American patients with ongoing symptoms of LD. Cultures were positive in all 12 patients in our study, indicating that the Borrelia spirochetes were replicating and therefore alive. The spirochetes were genetically identified as Bb in a blinded fashion using PCR and gene sequencing in three separate laboratories. In contrast, cultures from control subjects without Lyme disease were negative for Borrelia spirochetes. Our findings provide evidence that persistent infection rather than spirochetal “debris” was at least in part responsible for ongoing symptoms in these cases of Lyme disease, and the results mirror recent observations in a non-human primate model of treated Lyme disease [37]. Larger clinical studies using corroborative techniques are needed to confirm the findings in this pilot study.” http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/6/2/33/htm This is frightening considering the alarming pace of the disease as illustrated in some projections. “1 million people are predicted to get infected with Lyme disease in the USA in 2018. Given the same incidence rate of Lyme disease in Europe as in the USA, then 2.4 million people will get infected with Lyme disease in Europe in 2018. In the USA by 2050, 55.7 million people (12% of the population) will have been infected with Lyme disease. In Europe by 2050, 134.9 million people (17% of the population) will have been infected with Lyme disease. Most of these infections will, unfortunately, become chronic.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29438352 Another question arises concerning the data demonstrating sexual transmission of the bacteria which commonly occurs in syphilis, also a spirochetal infection. If the standard 8 weeks of antibiotics treatment does not clear out the infection, how likely is it the infection can then be sexually transfered to other individuals? “As expected, all of the control subjects tested negative for Borrelia burgdorferi in cultures of semen samples or vaginal secretions. In contrast, twelve of thirteen patients with Lyme disease had positive cultures for Borrelia burgdorferi in their genital secretions. Furthermore, two of the couples with Lyme disease showed identical strains of the Lyme spirochete in their semen and vaginal secretions, while a third couple showed identical strains of a related Borrelia spirochete in their genital secretions. “The presence of live spirochetes in genital secretions and identical strains in sexually active couples strongly suggests that sexual transmission of Lyme disease occurs,” said Dr. Mayne, who recently published the first comprehensive study of Lyme disease in Australia. “We need to do more research to determine the risk of sexual transmission of this syphilis-like organism.”” https://www.morgellonssurvey.org/news/expanded-study-confirms-lyme-disease-may-sexually-transmitted/ Will this evidence be taken seriously and will the projections decline as a result of action taken? We’re not holding our breath but it would be refreshing.Read more

  • Expanded Study Confirms that Lyme Disease May Be Sexually Transmitted Content Curated from: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/12/prweb12403459.htm An expanded study confirms that Lyme disease may be sexually transmitted.  Lyme disease is a tickborne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of corkscrew-shaped bacteria known as a spirochete (pronounced spiro’keet). The Lyme spirochete resembles the agent of syphilis, long recognized as the epitome of sexually transmitted diseases. In 2013 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Lyme disease is much more common than previously thought, with over 300,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. That makes Lyme disease almost twice as common as breast cancer and six times more common than HIV/AIDS. “Our findings will change the way Lyme disease is viewed by doctors and patients,” said Marianne Middelveen, lead author of the published study. “It explains why the disease is more common than one would think if only ticks were involved in transmission.” The current study, which confirms and expands a preliminary report published in The Journal of Investigative Medicine, was a collaborative effort by an international team of scientists. In addition to Middelveen, a veterinary microbiologist from Canada, researchers included molecular biologists Jennie Burke, Agustin Franco and Yean Wang and dermatologist Peter Mayne from Australia working with molecular biologists Eva Sapi, Cheryl Bandoski, Katherine Filush and Arun Timmaraju, nurse-midwife Hilary Schlinger and internist Raphael Stricker from the United States. In the study, researchers tested semen samples and vaginal secretions from three groups of people: control subjects without evidence of Lyme disease, individual patients who tested positive for Lyme disease, and couples engaging in unprotected sex who tested positive for the disease. As expected, all of the control subjects tested negative for Borrelia burgdorferi in cultures of semen samples or vaginal secretions. In contrast, twelve of thirteen patients with Lyme disease had positive cultures for Borrelia burgdorferi in their genital secretions. Furthermore, two of the couples with Lyme disease showed identical strains of the Lyme spirochete in their semen and vaginal secretions, while a third couple showed identical strains of a related Borrelia spirochete in their genital secretions. “The presence of live spirochetes in genital secretions and identical strains in sexually active couples strongly suggests that sexual transmission of Lyme disease occurs,” said Dr. Mayne, who recently published the first comprehensive study of Lyme disease in Australia. “We need to do more research to determine the risk of sexual transmission of this syphilis-like organism.” Dr. Stricker pointed to the implications for Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment raised by the study. “We have taken Lyme disease out of the woods and into the bedroom,” he said. “We need to start fighting this runaway epidemic just like HIV/AIDS.” Reference: F1000Research 2014;3:309 (http://f1000research.com/articles/3-309/v1). Contact information: Jesus Walker Salas, Union Square MedicaRead more

  • Morgellons Test Is Fool Proof To begin with, have you ever heard that you can tell if a person has Morgellons or not by having them swish wine around in their mouth and spitting it into a bowl? Is it factual or fictional? Will the Red Wine Test determine if someone has Morgellons, or not? You and your doctor should be able to save time by avoiding the dead-ends discussed in this short article. Why Not The Spit Test? Initially, some people on the internet proposed the “red wine spit test” as a method of eliciting Morgellons. While this test might reveal evidence of oral biofilms in the mouth, the red wine spit test does not demonstrate if filaments are embedded in skin tissue. Morgellons is a skin condition, and the associated filaments do not appear in teeth. For this reason, the red wine spit test will not demonstrate if someone is actually afflicted with Morgellons or not. Since the spit test is not accurate, what is the Gold Standard Morgellons Test in 2021? Accurate Testing In reality, the characteristic subsurface fibers define Morgellons. The fibers themselves are distinguishable, and always much smaller than a human hair from on top of the head. Knowing what these fibers look like, where do we look for them and what do we use? The Fool Proof Morgellons Test Method will have us looking directly in lesions. Although Morgellons patients can be asymptomatic, usually Morgellons becomes problematic during times when ulcerations are present. For the purpose of looking for fibers, here is a how-to guide for photographing Morgellons fibers. Subsurface Fibers Notice that in the following videos you can see the fibers are obviously growing from under the surface of the skin. At times you will see the gleam of the light passing above fibers, demonstrating they are under the skin. Also, in this video you can again see how the subsurface fibers are revealed with this simple and accurate Morgellons Test. Here’s a guide on how to photograph Morgellons which may help. For certain, the red wine Morgellons test is not an effective way to rule out or diagnose Morgellons disease. Tested Positive, What’s Next? Above all, recent research has allowed us to better understand Morgellons. Watch the following conference presentation, Morgellons Demystified to learn more about what we now know. Finally, finding a good doctor who hasn’t been dissuaded from treating Morgellons is a bit of a process. Additionally, one of the best resources to aid in your healing journey is Dr. Ginger Savely’s “Morgellons: The Legitimization of a Disease”. The information contained in this book allows for a better understanding of the facts versus misinformation. Indeed, at just under ten dollars for the Kindle version, how could you afford not to own such a valuable resource? Listen below to an audio excerpt from that Dr. Ginger Savely’s “Morgellons: The Legitimization of a Disease”. Home | Learn | Find a Doctor | Home Testing | Petitions | Shop |Read more

  • Find A Morgellons Doctor To begin with, life can be frustrating without a Morgellons doctor on your team. Not knowing what medicine to take or how well it’s working is one benefit you’ll miss without a doctor’s expertise. Though it may seem like no doctors know how to treat Morgellons, the fact is more are learning about the condition every day. This article will help you find a knowledgeable physician in your battle against Morgellons. Don’t Go In Alone Many patients reject the notion of seeing a doctor after several bad experiences. But the fact is, things have gotten better recently! Now that we have a good idea of what Morgellons is, more and more doctors are starting to learn how to treat it. Lyme Disease Training Indeed, it’s often the doctors we currently see and trust that will benefit the most from the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation’s ILADEF PHYSICIAN TRAINING PROGRAM. The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, or ILADS, has developed a foundation of understanding through years of experience. With their training materials, your current physician can become knowledgeable about the complexities of tick-borne infections and the current methods of treating them. Lyme Doctor Referral Do you want to see a doctor already practicing the ILADS guidelines? Register on this page to get an email containing a list of ILADS certified physicians in a close radius. Global Lyme Alliance also provides a form for patients to find Lyme literate physicians near your location. Be aware that many Lyme and Morgellons patients travel great distances to see a good doctor they can trust for a positive experience. Functional Medicine Functional Medicine is a new way of practicing healthcare. This form will allow you to find a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area. Be sure to call the office of the doctors you find and ask them if they are familiar with Morgellons disease specifically. Letter to Psychiatrists and Dermatologists This example letter to Psychiatrists and Dermatologists may help you work with your current team of physicians to either rule out or diagnose and treat and get your life back altogether! Financial Assistance Affording responsible treatment can be difficult, especially without health insurance or with an insurer who will not cover the costs. Fortunately, financial assistance is available for those suffering with Lyme disease. Financial Assistance – Global Lyme Alliance. Here are 7 Organizations That Help You Pay for Lyme Treatment & Testing. Morgellons Doctor Several doctors and scientists researching Morgellons work directly with the ILADS organization. Because of this, Morgellons patients will likely have access to the latest information and study results. It is always recommended to have a trained physician on your team rather than fighting alone. Hopefully, this information will help you build the team you need to succeed in your fight against Morgellons. Home | Learn | Find a Doctor | Home Testing | Petitions | Shop | LinksRead more

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