Posted by Librarian on 4/4/2002, 6:40 pm

May 10, 1999 My doctor has just called round for his three-weekly visit to see how I am. He has only been with us for 15 months so he hadn't known much about the parasite problem, especially as I was getting over most of it. His main aim is to nurse me through this end phase of interstitial fibrosis of the lungs. Anyway, I told him about my contacts with you and how my symptoms in 1995 fitted in with your diagnosis that I had been got at by Wuchereria bancrofti. I showed him the chapter in my book on Tropical Medicine, which goes on to say that W. bancrofti can lead to tropical eosinophilia and interstitial fibrosis of the lungs. He was extremely interested and said that it was a possibility that the parasites had caused my present lung condition. He has never come across the problem before as it is unheard of in England. He did ask me to email you and ask whether you know of an antibody test for W. bancrofti, name and supplier if possible. Please, Sidney, if you do know such a test, please email me back as soon as possible. May 30, 1999 On Thursday, I saw two specialists together. One from my home town and one who had travelled down from Royal Brompton in London. I had X-ray and lung function beforehand and they both thought that I was slightly better than a year ago and that part of my right lung had actually expanded a few millimetres. I told them in detail about my correspondence with you, but they refused to even contemplate that W. bancrofti had anything to do with it and also claimed that they had carried out tests for Tropical Eosinophilia, without success. It was obvious that they were telling lies and ganging up together but there was nothing I could do. Apart from Prednisolone, I take Ciproxin 500 mg twice a day. When I stop the Ciproxin my lung problem gets worse, so, to me, it is obvious that there is also a bacterial infection. In fact, a great family doctor friend for 30 years now retired, postulated a year ago that he thought the cause of the problem, was a 'deep-seated encapsulated bacillus' that had caused the fibrosing alveolitis. Who knows? Yes, I have had moving lumps on my head. These were buried under the skin about the size of a pea. The curious thing was that they had a hole through to the surface and inside this hole was a spike that retracted when touched. It appears the spike was a breathing hole for the insect that lived beneath. I have looked back at some of your emails and one time you mentioned the possibility of infection by fly larvae. I surfed the net yesterday and found that, almost certainly, one of my infestations had been from the tumbu fly. The web site is http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com.sokjal.htm (North Carolina) and it could be worthwhile looking it up. The article mentions sealing the holes with various substances, including chewing gum, to prevent them from breathing. We used a pharmaceutical product called Flexible Collodion, which is an ether based blue. The results were amazing and the creatures came to the surfact after two days where they died and disintegrated. For the moment, the parasites seem to have gone away but I am sure that there are various sites around my body where they will still come out from time to time. The old lesions,now hopefully dead, appear as white lines or white lumps. The lumps work their way to the surface of the skin. They itch a lot, but I think they are the calcified remains of the larvae/worms (and possibly arthropods). I rub them gently without drawing blood and they disappear. Wednesday, February 16, 2000 Dear Sidney. I am still alive but only just.- I have wanted to write to you since beginning of December. Thanks for all your e-mails, I have been into hosptital twice since Sept 99, big mistakes by "consultants". Shall write later Love Peter and Sally March 03, 2000 Dear Sidney Please use any part of what I have sent you and you may, of course, publish it elsewhere. I am now out of bed for two hours a day and at the computer for maybe 30min. It's tough at the top! If I am able, I shall let you know full details of the medical system that failed me in the past few months. God Bless Peter & Sally