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MZ
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I am desperate. After 2 days of netsurfing, I finally found this NG. I
am really reaching out, because I don't know what to do or who to see.
For about a year, I have had what I thought were insects of some type
living and breeding in my garage where I spend a lot of my time working
with my record collection. At first these pests were simply annoying.
Barely visible, they attacked me as soon as I entered the garage
concentrating on the hair on my head and in and around the ears. After
several days, the problem seemed to stop, but again would surface in
about a week. I dismissed it as being perhaps common gnats, aphids or
other garden pests. As time progressed, the problem increased. It was
also very disconcerting to me that my family members were seemingly
unnafected(thank goodness!). The problem was isolated in my garage for
about 10 months, and I learned to live with it in spite of my efforts to
control the situation with malathion and other pesticides. In addition
to being attracted to my ears, they began to enter my body through my
mouth and nose. I would retrieve them (some) by blowing my nose. They
are almost invisible to the naked eye, but I have learned to distinguish
the several stages which now reside in my body and continue to plague me
as follows...
a.) Very tiny (almost invisible) white in color. shaped like a "V". This
I believe is the airborn stage as it enters my body through ears, eyes
and mucous membranes. Seems to be very smart as it targets these areas
with great accuracy and success. Absolutely relentless. Very seldom are
they visible at this stage, but I see them after they die.
Unfortunately, they are undescernable at this stage, and resemble a very
tiny ash with no body or wings and desintegrate when touched. (Also
retrieved from my hair with the use of a fine tooth comb.) I feel them
on my face and ears.Feels like a tiny fleck of fiberglass has landed,
and then moves to these areas, quickly and accurately. They have now
invaded my lungs to the extent that my ease of breath is impaired and I
begin to wheeze and cough. I get temporary relief by blowing my nose and
expelling mucous from my lungs. They are barely visible in the body
fluids, but nonetheless present.
b.) At this stage, they resemble a single grain of finely ground coffee
(in shape, size and color) These are also present throughout the garage
on countertops, washer & dryer, (etc.) and are also combed from my hair
and retrieved (and collected) from my bathrom sink. They have now
invaded all areas of my house including the bedroom, where I have
recently discovered at least one more stage.
(c.) Resembles a very tiny spider mite, or perhaps a flea. They vary in
color (from beige to red) A body is discernable, as well as legs or a
"fuzz" around the body perimeter, and are also retrieved from my hair,
but mostly found on my white counters and bathroom floors. Also found
recently, and with more frequency are tiny (yet larger) oval shaped
discs. Very similar to a small sesame seed. These are often found
(retrieved and collected) in places where our domestic cat has been.
Lately, I have collected as many as six (6) of these in the morning
where the cat slept the previous night. However, I'm not convinced they
are related, as this has a been only a very recent find compared to the
others which have been present for about a year.
Could these creatures have come from a young parrot (smuggled from
Mexico) who lived caged in the garage for about 6 months, but has since
flown the coup? Or might they be similar to book fleas that may have
resided inside of records (and records and jackets) that I receive from
around the world and are kept inside the garage? Two exterminating
companies have treated both the garage and house. I provided their
entomologists with samples of the various stages. They say: "They look
like something, but we can't identify it", nor can we effectively treat
it. (Probably because of their strict policies.)I live in an upscale
neighborhood in the L.A. suberbs. We are not "clean fanatics" as we have
2 kids. But we do take pride in our home and work very hard to keep it
clean.In the interest of not consuming too much of your time, I will
spare you with the ill affects and poor quality of life I live as a
result of this problem (unless you are so inclined to inquire.) As you
have probably surmised by now, I am either desperate and/or crazy. I
assure you, that my wits are about me and I'm not the latter. I'm also
very persistent and not easily defeated. However, I am also embarrassed
by the situation. I know that I can ill afford to procrastinate a visit
to the doctor, but I would still like to avoid it. I must consider my
health and my family's best interest, not to mention being responsible
for spreading an epidemic of some kind, as it has already increased to a
level which has become intolerabale. Thank You for your time. Any help,
comments and suggestions you may have would be very welcome and
appreciated.
Sincerely:
Keith
butala at pacbell.net
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MZ
