I was cave diving in Tulumn area in Mexico during Thanksgiving week. Some time while in Mexico I was bitten by a female sand fly on my cheek under my left eye. It left a one cell protozoa (parasite) under my skin.
I noticed a lump or lesion starting to form on early February, about 45 days after being in Mexico. I went to my eye doctor because it was close to my eye at first looking like I had a black eye. My optometrist thought it was a tear duct infection. He showed me pictures of people with tear duct infections, and the lesion looked very similar.
he optometrist gave me a 7 day round of anti-biotics. But it just got worse. Two weeks from seeing the optometrist, he sent me to an eye lid specialist/ plastic surgeon. Dr Kathy Winkler.
Dr Winkler checked my tear duct and it was clear. She then performed a biopsy, taking a sample from the lesion. About four days latter she called with the diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.
CL is how I will refer to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is rare in USA about 500 people a year get treated with Leishmaniasis, and all have traveled to other parts of the world. Notice I did not say CL, because there are three basic different types of Leishmaniasis.
I will write and add picture's about my journey to get treatment. I have been to three different hospitals. Edwards Hospital in Naperville , IL a prestigious suburb in USA. Rush Hospital in Chicago, rated #10 in USA and Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, #1 in USA and #1 in WORLD. I also was in touch with a Dermatologist in Mexico who has experience and was currently treating people with CL.
Protocol is for the physician is to contact the CDC for determination of sand fly type. CDC also has references of treatment and doctors who have experience with CL.
I found a Doctor in Skokie , IL with experience in healing CL with phototherapy Dr Goldin a dermatologist who case is published in medical journals.
I will try and explain the treatment , the urgency, and my experience. After diagnosis, it took me weeks to get to see someone to start treatment. The longer the wait the more the disfigurement.
After four different systemic treatments, and one topical my lesion/ ulcer is finally closed. Dr Goldin has not even seen the results of a topical anti parasite cream prescribed. The topical had to be produced by a specialty pharmacy. I see Dr Goldin in two days.
