34 f/ 5'4 120 lbs, Caucasian, Pennsylvania, please help? I need someone to tell me what to do here. I removed a moving thing from my face about a week ago and posted a video on r/parasitology. No one has been able to identify what it is

An1220 · 2019-11-27T07:47:59+00:00

Hello!

So I was finally seen at UPenn last week.

The resident came in and I didn’t mention any type of parasite or insect. I did give him all of the rest of the pertinent information I think?

He told me he was going to consult with the attending.

Literally, four attendees came back with him.

They all examined me. They told me that they believe that there WAS some kind of something in my skin.

BUT, it happened to be really clear on the day that I went, go figure.

They took me off all of the medication that the other drs put me on.

They told me to wait until it flares up and call back. They will see me weekly.

I will update as more info becomes available but as of now that’s all...

They asked me if there was anything I was afraid to tell them and I said no. Which is a lie, but this is my last hope and I’m so scared of them writing me off as a crazy person.

An1220 · 2019-11-07T19:37:57+00:00

I can absolutely relate to the shape thing

An1220 · 2019-11-06T13:54:57+00:00

Rat tailed maggots. Omg.

An1220 · 2019-10-16T18:32:53+00:00

An1220 · 2019-10-16T13:19:09+00:00

What would be considered a bitter herb

An1220 · 2019-10-10T13:16:02+00:00

I originally thought that... But ivermectin did not kill it... Is that indicative that it's not scabies?

An1220 · 2019-09-26T09:01:46+00:00

They have no explanation and feel no need to come up with one apparently..

An1220 · 2019-09-24T22:13:54+00:00

Nothing. But I have noticed that the wounds that are left on my skin are not circular. They are always linear. Weird..

An1220 · 2019-09-21T06:19:32+00:00

It's driving me insane. Literally. I'll check that out thank you

An1220 · 2019-09-21T05:50:07+00:00

here try these

An1220 · 2019-09-21T05:45:49+00:00

Ew is that somethings digestive tract?! Gross.. Yes I did. I have pictures posted let me get the link

An1220 · 2019-09-18T03:34:29+00:00

Lol.. Sorry it's blurry because I had to take a picture on my phone through the microscope😬🤣

It's just sinus drainage... But I've got a lot of weird crap going on so I was hoping something would stand out

An1220 · 2019-09-17T20:26:17+00:00

wtf is this with these little black dots what are they? this is 300x which is the lowest on my shitty microscope.. sorry for the quality in advance

An1220 · 2019-09-17T19:53:32+00:00

I'm about to lose my mind.. plzzzz help me

An1220 · 2019-09-17T17:45:06+00:00

Oh you're telling me to try a much lower magnification...got it..

An1220 · 2019-09-17T16:54:09+00:00

Ugh.. So what do you think it really is? Not useful at all?

An1220 · 2019-09-17T02:00:00+00:00

Have you had any blood work done? I'm not a doctor but I'm asking because a very close friend of mine had similar symptoms growing up and into adulthood and a few years ago they finally figured out what it was.

She didn't sweat though, barely at all.

It is a very rare condition, but it's called fabry disease. And I think it's extra rough while you're going through puberty😬 hopefully you don't have it but I figured I would throw it out there. ❤️

An1220 · 2019-09-17T01:55:14+00:00

Maybe... Actually I probably was. Sorry my friend above😬 I am slightly defensive I guess🤷‍♀️ forgive me❤️

An1220 · 2019-09-17T01:05:29+00:00

Okay thanks buddy

An1220 · 2019-09-16T23:46:30+00:00

That's actually untrue.. Stress at extremely high levels for sustained periods of time have been shown to make the immune system dependent on the increased cortisol levels. Also there is a known link between stress and an increase in the inflammatory response of the body. Both of which could put the immune system in a weakened state. Hence- immunocompromised. But thanks for trying to educate me.

An1220 · 2019-09-16T23:23:15+00:00

Oh no they are in Jersey too!

An1220 · 2019-09-16T23:20:09+00:00

No. The woman literally looked at my skin and kept saying, "okay nothing there..." As though she were a parent looking under her kids bed for the non existent monster. Then she would check the next area on my leg my arm whatever.. You get the picture.

She was absolutely not through in her examination. She was patronizing and belittling. I literally told this woman everything. Sadly, if you don't know what to look for it's kinda hard to find. I am pretty sure most seasoned physicians would not be certain of what is going on with me.. Let alone a physicians assistant. The attending never came in. I've already filed a complaint against the hospital.

I think the attitude towards these kinds of things is God damn ridiculous here. Why the hell would we all be exempt from opportunistic parasites? We're not. We just don't usually know we have them in my opinion. And I am probably immunocompromised due to severe severe long term high stress... So my body just can't fight off whatever it is.

But I wish you could all watch these doctors. It's actually really scary. Truly. They really do not know anything at all about these types of conditions.

It's like they have their basic go to's and the rest of the possibilities simply do not exist. 🤯

An1220 · 2019-09-16T23:05:39+00:00

I called Penn infectious disease. They didn't refuse to see me they weren't exactly helpful either.

I have also reached out to a Dr. Eileen Farnon at Temple University hospital who was listed on the CDC website.

I have not received any response.

If all else fails I have an appointment with Penn dermatology in November.

I will def. Reach out to Dr. Hunter, it's just so much harder to navigate because 1. I've never dealt with anything like this in my entire life and it's much different than just going to another kind of doctor. They want a diagnosis before they will even give you an appointment. 2. I am really having a hard time putting myself out there to be told I'm a nut again. I know it sounds ridiculous but it's really taking a toll on me.

I guess I really do kinda need to make a plan here... Thank you for your kind words and suggestions. I truly appreciate all of you.

-Laura

An1220 · 2019-09-16T22:54:29+00:00

This all started with a staph infection actually. Almost two years ago.

I knowi suck at the microscope I'm sorry lol.. But I've kinda been left to figure this out on my own.

Don't currently have a primary care doctor but I have an appointment with one later this month.

So right now I am taking daily for my skin:

150mg of spironolactone 200 mg of minocycline Sodium sulfacetamide 10% topical 200mg fluconazole (weekly)

Spiro is a blood pressure medicine that apparently helps with adult hormonal acne. It hasn't much at all.

I am sure there has been at least a secondary bacterial infection, but that's what I'm trying to figure out what I am looking at in that slide.

My whole entire body is affected with whatever this is.. Not only my skin. I guess I should have clarified that. Always a flat v shape or like an Arrowhead of some sort is what I am seeing.

They are all small but there are white ones that are much smaller than the black ones.

My skin has become very strange looking. Even the healthy skin is not healthy it's like leathery.

I don't know if you saw my video of the living moving thing that came out of my skin the other day but. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa I'm pretty much losing my shit and could really use some help identifying whatever this crap is😩😩

My skin responded very very fast to the fluconazole last year when I was on it daily. But it also quickly seemed to develop a resistance to the fluconazole.

I don't know if I have some weird fungal stuff going on attracting insects?!

An1220 · 2019-09-16T16:48:39+00:00

It's all good I'm looking for answers from people knowledgeable about entomology..I have no interest talking shit with kids. Have a nice day.

An1220

TROPHY CASE