NationStates Jolt Archive

I have a friend, he's a bit strange. He's pretty sure he caught Morgellons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons) in Mexico last month.

I wasn't really sure what that was.....apparently I had blocked it from my mind because when I looked it up the old trauma totally kicked in again and now I've got the creepy crawlies and I'm icked out.

Do you think it exists? If not, what else could it be?

Also, less related:
How weird does your friend have to be before you write him off as a nutjob?

No, it doesn't exist. The fibres are from clothes.

I'm lost.

What's the relevence of Flaming Lips Alley?

I'm lost.

What's the relevence of Flaming Lips Alley?

Fixed link.

No, it doesn't exist. The fibres are from clothes.

He claims scientists haven't been able to identify the fibers, that they are not plant or fabric.

He claims scientists haven't been able to identify the fibers, that they are not plant or fabric.

Yup, they have, and they're textile in nature. "Morgellons" is actually delusional parasititis (sp?).

I have a friend, he's a bit strange. He's pretty sure he caught Morgellons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons) in Mexico last month.

I wasn't really sure what that was.....apparently I had blocked it from my mind because when I looked it up the old trauma totally kicked in again and now I've got the creepy crawlies and I'm icked out.

Do you think it exists? If not, what else could it be?

Also, less related:
How weird does your friend have to be before you write him off as a nutjob?
im.....undecided about this disease. it may well exist. im not personally worried about it.

as long as a friend doesnt insist that i believe him and as long as he talks about other things too i will remain friends since he is still sane enough to have friendships. if he becomes unpleasant with his obsessions i move on.

im.....undecided about this disease. it may well exist. im not personally worried about it.

as long as a friend doesnt insist that i believe him and as long as he talks about other things too i will remain friends since he is still sane enough to have friendships. if he becomes unpleasant with his obsessions i move on.

He tends to obsess about things for a few months and then picks something new to obsess over.....

He's given me an email with over 20 links....most of them are from what I would call biased websites, although this (http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/morgellons/index.cfm) one kinda bothers me.

I think it is probably some combination of delusional parasitosis, a few people with actual somewhat similar illnesses, and I-read-it-on-the-internet-and-now-I'm-dying-itis.

my foot itches.







D:

I know. My skin is crawling.........what is that.......is that a fiber? OMG! http://generalitemafia.ipbfree.com/uploads/ipbfree.com/generalitemafia/emo-ahhh1gv.gif

It's real, but obviously not widespread.

Yup, they have, and they're textile in nature. "Morgellons" is actually delusional parasititis (sp?).

Both of those things are contradicted in the source presented in the OP... so maybe it's not that cut and dry?

Both of those things are contradicted in the source presented in the OP... so maybe it's not that cut and dry?

What source? Treating those who present with self-diagnosed (because no doctor would diagnose it as such) Morgellons as delusional parasitosis cures the symptoms. Ergo, it IS delusional parasitosis.

See http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-20070227-000003&page=1 and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article721795.ece

Morgellons does not exist. Delusional parasitosis does.

What source? Treating those who present with self-diagnosed (because no doctor would diagnose it as such) Morgellons as delusional parasitosis cures the symptoms. Ergo, it IS delusional parasitosis.

See http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-20070227-000003&page=1 and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article721795.ece

Morgellons does not exist. Delusional parasitosis does.

Reading the OP, checking the citation, and even checking the sources therein is good practise.

"Forensic scientist Ron Pogue at the Tulsa Police Crime Lab in Oklahoma checked a Morgellons sample against known fibers in the FBI's national database. "No, no match at all. So this is some strange stuff," Pogue says. He thinks the skeptics are wrong. "This isn't lint. This is not a commercial fiber. It's not."

The lab's director, Mark Boese, says the fibers are "consistent with something that the body may be producing." He adds, "These fibers cannot be manmade and do not come from a plant. This could be a byproduct of a biological organism."

(emphasis mine)

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Story?id=2283503&page=3


It's also worth pointing out that "Delusional parasitosis" doesn't 'exist' in the way you seem to believe, since "delusional parasitosis" is a fairly broad spectrum diagnosis that covers a wide variety of things - and can actually be a symptom of a number of (actual, physical) disorders and diseases... from herpes to diabetes.

I think it is probably some combination of delusional parasitosis, a few people with actual somewhat similar illnesses, and I-read-it-on-the-internet-and-now-I'm-dying-itis.

How would one catch that ...

Oh NO! :eek2:

1-Disturbing sensations of insect-like crawling, stinging or biting on or under the skin (i.e. formication)
2-Skin rashes and lesions that do not heal
3-Fiber-like filaments, granules or crystals that appear on or under the skin or that can be extracted from lesions
4-Joint, muscle and connective tissue pain, including fibromyalgia
5-Debilitating fatigue
6-Cognitive dysfunction, including difficulty with concentration, short-term memory, and attention

These are, evidently, some of the symptoms. I have four out of the six on an off and on basis. I just thought it was because I was getting old.

All, except the fiber-like filaments, granules or crysals, are symptomatic of menopause.

I would suggest that your friend is - suggestible. There are a multitude of conditions that show some or all of these signs - hypochondriosis being the most common.

I marked the WTF selection because you didn't have a "meh" selection.

Quit posting teh krazy!

I think it is probably some combination of delusional parasitosis, a few people with actual somewhat similar illnesses, and I-read-it-on-the-internet-and-now-I'm-dying-itis.

I'm not following the link, because even if it's fake it'll probably be icky, but did this remind anyone else of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch? I think that was the book... anybody? No? Okay, I'll go. :(

You should tell him it's caused by chemtrails.


That'll really fuck him up.

It seems perfectly sensible to me that the more you think you are sick, the sicker you will actually become. The mind/body connection isn't to be taken lightly.

So in short, people need to stop thinking stupid things.

the tip of my p@#*& gets like that. is that good or bad. my girlfriend fineds it sexy. it also makes me last longer though so iven ever really thought about stopping it.