I suffered from an undiagnosed extreme itch condition which lasted over a year. Thankfully, it was not Morgellons (though that was a hypothesis at one point). I can't say whether the Morgellons folks are delusional or not, but I can conclude that I was not (as I have been cured).
Aside from the itching/lack of sleep/depression, the most striking thing I remember from that period is just how awful the medical system is. I started visiting local dermatologists, then more renowned dermatologists, then finally the guy who founded The International Forum For the Study of Itch. Once at the top of the medical mountain, I was seen briefly, given a prescription which may or may not work....and told to come back in 8 months!!!
I expected that our medical system, at the top, would be set up in such a way that "special cases" would be passed off to people (labs, research groups) who handle special cases and learn from it. This is not so.
What was also striking is how bound by rules doctors are - for the most part I think a computer could do their decision making. If you don't fit into their rules, then too bad. And yeah, they label you crazy which is such an awful feeling (especially when, months later, I proved I was not).
In the end, I discovered I have some kind of uncommon mite which does not affect most other people but which can be easily treated by ivermectin. I have written more about my experience here: http://www.reddit.com/r/publichealth/comments/2ph9iy/xpost_m...
Aside from the itching/lack of sleep/depression, the most striking thing I remember from that period is just how awful the medical system is. I started visiting local dermatologists, then more renowned dermatologists, then finally the guy who founded The International Forum For the Study of Itch. Once at the top of the medical mountain, I was seen briefly, given a prescription which may or may not work....and told to come back in 8 months!!!
I expected that our medical system, at the top, would be set up in such a way that "special cases" would be passed off to people (labs, research groups) who handle special cases and learn from it. This is not so.
What was also striking is how bound by rules doctors are - for the most part I think a computer could do their decision making. If you don't fit into their rules, then too bad. And yeah, they label you crazy which is such an awful feeling (especially when, months later, I proved I was not).
In the end, I discovered I have some kind of uncommon mite which does not affect most other people but which can be easily treated by ivermectin. I have written more about my experience here: http://www.reddit.com/r/publichealth/comments/2ph9iy/xpost_m...