​A Note to Morgellons Sufferers, Researchers and the Like,
It has been nearly 10 years since my recovery from symptoms of the Morgellons Disease spectrum.  Sadly, little credible research has happened since—currently, there are only 51 articles found when searching “Morgellons” on pubmed.gov (the majority presenting it as a delusional condition). In writing this note, I have three purposes in mind: 1) review my contributions, 2) speculate on related patterning and 3) send thanks and good byes to everyone connected to MD.
 
My Sharing-
I wrote an account of my recovery to share with other sufferers; eventually, the editor of Explore! requested permission to publish it. While editing, I decided to review published work related to MD such as Kellett’s 1935 article "Sir Thomas Browne and the Disease Called Morgellons"  and noted patterns in the historic documentation of these symptoms which suggested association with mercury; this morphed into a summer of travels and research resulting in "Patterns in Early Morgellons Disease Considered as Effects of Mercury Exposure".

I understand MD as symptoms due to mercury as a neurotoxin. I wrote on the treatment of Morgellons Disease sufferers and presented a theory on cause and progression .  Online, I published some on Morgellons- A Mundane Approach  (Thank you, Mr. CommonSense) and created the blog Morgellons Joe to focus on MD as a condition related to toxicity.

Friends know I do not enjoy being in front of an audience; however, the situation with MD motivated me to overcome my discomfort to share. Pam Crane interviewed me several times on her Blog-Talk-Radio show, Trish Springstead, RN mentioned my research on the a late night  “Coast to Coast”, Tom Yoder, of the public radio station KSJD, interviewed me for KSJD Morning Talk  and The Discovery Channel aired my story on Diagnose Me . All in all, though a true introvert, I am proud to have overcome my stage fright to share.
 
Speculation on Patterning-
I know there are many who disagree with me on my approach to research (I am not a medical professional) and may cringe when I speculate; nonetheless, I share some of my own thoughts on patterning related to MD/ mercury toxicity.

1. With further research, I believe a large number of symptoms sets including; MD, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease, Parkinsons, ADD, ADHD, Autism, MS and others, will be understood as relating to mercury in our systems. Overall health, genetics, mercurial speciation and mobility of mercury may account for specific parameters of symptom sets.
2. I believe mercury as an endocrine disruptor may cause sexual orientation and/ or confusion in an individual (homosexuality, bisexuality, gender association issues and so on). A research article in Nature shows "Mercury in Ibises Causes Homosexuality" and this toxin may have similar effects on other species (including humans).  I think it merits further investigation.
3. Several health professionals have suggested to me there is a high rate of “Spirituality” among those suffering from heavy metal poisoning. In one study mercury was found to gather in the lower right parietal of brain; this area is discussed in spirituality associated with locations in the brain Does mercury toxicity make you a religious zealous?
4. The Late Renaissance of the Languedoc Region of France may represent the largest case of documented mercury poisoning ever (both spatially and temporally). What are the cultural implications of large scale mercury poisoning?  With support, I would welcome pursuing related research further.

Again, I know I may be speculating more than most are comfortable with. If nothing else, these points might be the basis for some interesting conversations and debates.
 
Good-Bye and Thanks for all the Guacamole-
Before I share my thanks and a hearty good-bye, I’d like to say a little about forgiving. MD is not an easy set of symptoms to overcome—especially when the vast majority of the medical world is willing to label it as delusional. To end this viewpoint, we simply need to follow up on the 2009 study by Harvey et. al.; take patient’s resting heart rates, body temperatures, inquire about endocrine disorders and miscarriages to clearly see this is not in the head of the sufferer, it is systemic and multi-symptomatic. The “research” by the CDC and Mayo Clinic are problematic and this has been discussed (see Cindy Casey's response). Simply stated, there is no way in hell MD is delusional!

So, how do sufferers forgive? I don’t know. I do think those, especially researchers funded by taxpayers’ money, who have in any way covered up the truth need to be held accountable. I think most Primary Care Physicians are confused and I wish this wasn’t so; I ask for them to try their best to listen to their patients and, one hopes, eventually the truth will shine through. Among those who do see MD as related to toxicity (especially mercury), I have had my share of being ignored and/or given no credit for my efforts; I can forgive you and even let you take credit for my findings (as long as you are willing to release personal profit for the good of those who suffer these horrific symptoms and point them in the proper direction towards healing).

Along with the many health professionals who have assisted in my quest for health (you know who you are), I would like to thank the online friends I made including especially- Mr. Commonsense (still doesn’t want the world to know who he is), Trish Springstead, Pam Crane and Ramona Melville; these folks have been very helpful to the Morgellons community and deserve recognition.  I know there are others out there helping sufferers and in my opinion you are all saints—Thanks for helping others!

To those who have read this blog, related writings and such, I truly hope you can find your way to health. I have called many of you friends and will continue to do so. I would like to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of life and let MD become a topic of the medical world (as it should be) I have travelled this road will little or no support (even much of my family did not understand what I went through until the Discovery Channel piece aired). I know it isn’t easy. I hope I have been helpful.
 
The very best,
Joe Keleher, AKA Morgellons Joe
 
 
 

The recently aired “Diagnose Me” episode prompted me to once again communicate with Dr. Omar Amin; in it Dr. Amin is portrayed as having diagnosed me with mercury toxicity- found at: http://www.amazon.com/Covered-in-Bugs/dp/B00ZIGACS6. I wrote him to see if I could get clarification on his understanding of Morgellons Disease in relation to mercury exposure.  I’d like to share what I wrote and the response…but first, let’s go back seven years.

I had recovered from Morgellons Disease symptoms and had moved on. One day within the first year of recovery, I reviewed Kellett’s 1935 article titled “Sir Thomas Browne and the Disease Called The Morgellons” (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/letter/kellett.html) and I began to see patterns in Morgellons Disease, documented in the Late Renaissance of France and Victorian Era England, which suggested mercury exposure. I took an entire summer to research these patterns primarily by sifting through medical libraries in London and archival collections in Montpellier, France. I wrote up my findings and it was accepted for publication in Explore! a peer-reviewed medical journal for professionals. https://www.academia.edu/1645874/Patterns_in_Early_Morgellons_Disease_Considered_as_Effects_of_Mercury_Exposure

In response to my request to share his thoughts on my published research Dr. Amin responded with,

                                                                                                Oct 22, 2008

“Joe

…your and my writings conflict if you believe that  ‘early cases cannot be connected to dental adhesives.’ Your subsequent statement is highly speculative and not supported by facts or my research. Compatibility findings are the only test for the effect of specific toxins (including drugs), on the expression of symptoms, neurological or other. I am glad that you managed to publish the results of your library research, which I supported. This, however, is a far cry from having done the actual work with hundreds of patients over many years of testing. Your ‘theory’ is only as good as the facts that back it up. Well, you asked for my thoughts.”
Dr. Omar M. Amin, Director, Parasitology Center, Inc. (PCI)


Of course, the early cases most certainly weren’t connected to dental adhesives; they did not exist in these historic time frames.  As for my theory of Morgellons Disease being a form of mercury poisoning, the number of people represented from approximately 1550- 1776 over the Languedoc area of France would far exceed the number of patients Dr. Amin has worked with- I think the patterns I discovered merits the full attention of the medical world.

Let’s return to the present. After watching the Discovery/ Life show related to my recovery (partial fact/ partial fiction), I decided to contact Dr. Amin to get a better understanding of his take on the role of mercury in developing Morgellons Disease symptoms.  Anyhow, I figured I should write and, assuming Dr. Amin now sees these symptoms as connected to mercury, suggest in a kind fashion he simply point sufferers  in the direction of someone who specializes in mercury detox.

Here is my letter-

                                                                                                                June 16th, 2015

Dear Dr. Amin,

I hope this note finds you well. I had mixed feeling about the final version of the Discovery/ Life Channel's version of my story/ recovery from MD symptoms and wanted to ask about your current understanding. Do you presently understand MD as a form of mercury toxicity? If so, do you have any publications reflecting on this?

As you well know, my research certainly has been directed toward bridging our understanding of MD and mercury; many people with this understanding have asked me for direction. Dr. Chris Shade and his associates at Quicksilver Scientific (https://www.quicksilverscientific.com/ ) have the best understanding of mercurial speciation and internal migration, so I have been directing sufferers in their direction.

Please know I have the greatest of respect for you as a parasitologist, but feel mercury toxicity is complex and should be handled with the greatest of care by those who specialize in it. I hope this makes sense to you.

Sincerely,
Joe Keleher

His response on the same day was-

“Hello Joseph. Thanks for writing and for your kind words. Glad to know that the "thing" aired because we tried to find it everywhere but failed. So I have no idea what transpired. Do you have an account of this program that you can share with us?

I share your opinions re MD and Mercury. However, my research and the examination of over 1000 patients over about 10 years have demonstrated that Morgellons/NCS is basically an allergic reaction to chemical toxins, mostly dental but not exclusively so. Mercury is only one part of the total slue of dental chemical. Yes, I have many publications on the subject but not exclusively on mercury. Please find these if you click on "publications) on our web site and down load to your heart's desire. With best regards.

Omar”
Dr. Omar M. Amin, Director
Parasitology Center (PCI) and Institute of Parasitic Diseases (IPD)

My reason for sharing these communications are several. First, I would certainly like to thank Dr. Amin for his assistance in the recovery of some who have/had symptoms from the Morgellons Disease Spectrum. He is a very well respected Parasitologist and his work showed- 1) these symptoms are not due to a parasitic infestation and 2) patients may need to have dental work remediated. He should pass his findings on to those who qualify to assist sufferers in detoxification.

Dr. Amin does not qualify to act as a toxicologist. I wish he would write a short piece for the lay audience to assure them that symptoms are not parasitic in nature, but relate to toxicity (he could provide a list of names and contact information for qualified medical professionals). My opinion is he should not be making money off from other people’s suffering.

My clearest reason for writing this piece and sharing my communications with Dr. Amin are to assure sufferers- I DO NOT RECOMMEND VISITING DR. AMIN (sorry about the caps, but I want this to be very clear). Over the years it has been a continual frustration that somehow people think Dr. Amin and I have worked together and are on the same page. Again I thank him for helping me in finding my way along a dangerous health path, but think it is time for him to pass patients on to those who qualify for such work.

Romanian skies of lazy clouds

And the buzz of a motorboat

Float on a breeze

Of cigarette charm


Poles stuck in sandy shores

Up to their reels

Line the river-

Centipede legs of some overturned giant

Stretching its head to

Sip from the Black Sea


Churches are the silos of souls

Which aproned women carry in buckets

To seed the sunflower fields


A basic American

With hunger pains

I have caste my line

And nothing bites

This may be the most effective, safe and least costly approach to detoxification-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF_VeTERa1M

So simply taking Niacin (work way up to 5000 mg), exercise and sauna will take most of the toxins out of your body. Building up to high levels of niacin should happen at your own pace (it is uncomfortable at higher doses), though I recommend taking it in step (possibly 1000 mg added each month, though some build up to 5000 quicker).  If you take 1000 mg step each month, you will be to 5000 at the end of the fifth and keep at 5000 mg for all of the sixth month.

Saunas are available in a variety of prices and qualities. While I know most recommend a far infrared sauna, I have a Swedish sauna (I like the heat!). Ramona from the Healing Grapevine is a great source for information on sauna use and detoxification- http://www.healinggrapevine.com/health-solutions/far-infrared/far-infrared-sauna.html

In my last communication from Dr. Chris Shade, he shared, “DIM is a necessity for fixing recalcitrant problem conditions like MD”. Quick Silver Scientific now has a direct to consumer website at: https://www.purxpressions.com/

A glutathione supplement such as Readysorb (need a medical referral) or Zeo Gold (can be purchased online) is helpful in chelating metals. I am also taking ASEA Water as many mercury toxic individuals find it very beneficial (and it is said to increase effectiveness of glutathione greatly!)

Set time for prayer/ meditation/ yoga or what have you to calm yourself in body, mind and spirit. Quieting the monkeys in our brains can ease the effects of daily stressors and enhance biochemistry.

To Sum it All Up-

-          Follow the niacin, exercise (30 minutes), sauna (40 minutes) protocol

-          If you have MD, consider DIM use

-          Take a glutathione supplement daily

-          Take ASEA Water twice daily

-          Meditate

I know total caps is obnoxious as it represents shouting. Normally, I don't shout, but this time I will. Here is a clip of the Discovery/ Life show directed towards my suffering, symptoms and recovery which will first air on Friday, June 12th at 10 pm. PLEASE SHARE!!

Joe on "Diagnose Me"- Friday, June 12th, 10 pm on Discovery/ Life Channel

I have been blessed. I have been very lucky. I recovered from Morgellons Disease eight years ago and have since tried to bring sensibility to the general public and assistance to those still suffering (my thoughts and research are found at: http://www.jwkeleher.com/, http://morgellonsjoe.blogspot.com/, https://smge.academia.edu/JosephKeleher, and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joseph_Keleher). It feels like a battle- one not easily fought.

Over the past couple of days, the tension between both sides of Morgellons Disease controversy has been rekindled. Why? Joni Mitchell’s hospitalization and her long-term battle with Morgellons Disease have fueled the ongoing debate- is Morgellons Disease real or just in the heads of those suffering? In thinking about writing on this topic, I decided the best approach might be a truce- a kind of safe meeting between the sides of this battle with the chance to consider a couple of pieces of this puzzle  found on pubmed.gov.

In 2009, Morgellons Research Foundation published a clinical study meant to create a “…formal characterization of MD from detailed examination of all body systems” ( Harvey et. al. 2009). They created a lengthy list of common systemic symptoms, notably, “All blood pressures were low and all resting pulses were high,” suggesting this condition is physiologic, potentially easily diagnosed, and not created in the heads of self-defined sufferers.  Among the study group were high rates of miscarriages and endocrine disorders. The study concludes, “…the consistent abnormal findings in the data above may be used to improve clinical diagnosis and possibly initial treatment in current patients.” In short, Morgellons Disease appears to be systemic and much more than the symptoms of fibers, crawling sensations and skin lesions.

The 2012 study performed by the Kaiser Foundation for the CDC (Pearson et. al. 2012) while concluding “No common underlying medical condition or infectious source was identified, similar to more commonly recognized conditions such as delusional infestation,“ suggests sufferers are dealing with a condition to be placed in mental illness . Some highlights include; “Over 75% of our cases reported onset of their symptoms during or after 2002, but the epidemiologic importance of this is unclear as it also corresponds to the time when Internet postings related to this condition began to surface” (suggests MD is internet meme),  “A substantial proportion (40%) of biopsied lesions had histopathologic features compatible with the sequelae of chronic rubbing or excoriation” (suggests lesions are self-created), and “The fibers and materials collected from case-patients' skin were largely consistent with skin fragments or materials such as cotton and were either entrapped in purulent crust or scabs, suggesting the materials were from environmental sources (e.g., clothing) or possibly artifacts introduced at the time of specimen collection and processing” (suggests fibers are meaningless). Many of those in the Morgellons Disease community had hoped for light and found themselves in an even darker place.

Currently, a search of “Morgellons Disease” on pubmed.gov lists fifty articles (accessed 4/3/2015). Half of these peer-reviewed articles present Morgellons Disease as a delusional condition (the majority of these are found in dermatology related periodicals), seven discuss MD as real, and the remainder appear as inconclusive. I invite readers to further explore what appears to be opposite conclusions in peer-reviewed medical research.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Joni Mitchell and all of those still suffering.


Sources:

Harvey, William T et al. “Morgellons Disease, Illuminating an Undefined Illness: A Case Series.” Journal of Medical Case Reports 3 (2009): 8243. PMC. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Pearson, Michele L. et al. “Clinical, Epidemiologic, Histopathologic and Molecular Features of an Unexplained Dermopathy.” Ed. Christophe Egles. PLoS ONE 7.1 (2012): e29908. PMC. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

I’ll admit it. I have an addiction. I am a total junk-finding, thrift-store-hunting, yard-sale fanatic! It is not that I need anything. It isn’t even that I want anything. I love the process- the hunt for the unknown potential.

Yesterday, I had a dentist appointment.  I decided the morning should be dedicated to finding  some junk pieces I had in mind. I’ve been putting together a game room- with a ping pong table and dart board and the white walls look especially bare. So, I had in mind to try to find some old advertisement sign from the local junk yard- Belt Salvage.

As I was driving south of town, a yard sale sign beckoned me. I surveyed the sale and found an old bookshelf I thought was interesting. “Would you take ten dollars for it?,” I asked the lady in charge. 

The dresser standing next to it wasn’t great, but it’d make one of my spare rooms more livable for a renter. “How about forty for the dresser and the book shelf?”

“Sure.”

Once again I’d made a spontaneous purchase. And off I drove to Belt Salvage.

I parked in front of the riveted corrugated steel building and had, along with the old metal signs, two other treasures to find- I needed a wooden reel top for a table I’m creating and I wanted to see what kind of shelves they had in the heaps. I trekked off into the land of unending junk and found some of what I sought. 

I went into the front office. "How can I help you?" asked the man behind the counter. 

"I need a reel top and some shelves." 

"Just take the reel top. I need to get rid of those. Let's go see the shelf you found." And off we went.

We navigated over the old school desk and rusted twisted metal to the shelf.

He lifted it with, “Steel. How about twenty dollars?”

“Sure,” I said. “I also was wondering about the mercantile sign you’ve got hanging on the fence. Is it for sale?”

“Yeah, I’ll sell that. How about thirty dollars?”

“So, fifty all together?”

“Yeah. I’ll get someone to help you load these.”

With the help of a young guy in work overalls, I loaded the self and reel top. I drove back over to the main building and hiked over to the old mercantile sign. The guy who’d helped me load up, helped me under the wiring holding the sign in place. Rusty and beat up, I thought the sign would be right at home in my basement.

I started loading the sign on top of my Blazer. A man in a white Ford pick-up was pilling in alongside of me. His wife sat quiet in the rider’s seat. “You know where that sign came from?” he asked.

“No. I have no idea.” I stated.

“Dove Creek. It used to be on the building where the bean company is now. That was Romer’s first business. He went on to become governor of the state.”

Wow! Who’d have thought I’d find a piece of Colorado history in a heap?