The Great Lyme Debate

I am absolutely bewildered over this debate, and I hope that Attorney General Blumenthal takes the infectious disease industry to public outrage over their attitudes and personal opinions regarding this issue. I live in an epidemic area in the northeast. Three years ago, I had three bulls-eye rashes in one summer, even though I was taking all the necessary precautions. I live on a farm; our work is outside; remaining safely inside a house or office (like many physicians) is not an option. As each rash appeared, I became INCREDIBLY ill. I was prescribed antibiotics and was assured that one course for each rash was sufficient, and I felt confident all would be fine, even though I had this feeling that this infection was not completely eradicated, or I was unfortunate enough to be reinfected without the obvious bulls-eye rash. Now, three years later, late-stage symptoms have appeared, and once, again, I went back to my doctor. After several weeks of antibiotic therapy, I feel MUCH better; but my primary care physician referred me to an infectious disease group because of his obvious concerns and neurological involvement. Much to our shock, when my physician called a well-known and respected infectious disease group in our region, the "aid" in the office reviewed my records and told us that the infectious disease group was rejecting my case and would not accept me as a patient since they don't think I have Lyme. I've had three bulls eye rashes and three years of looming sickness. I just want to be healthy and cured; I don't want to be thrown into a ridiculous and unethical power struggle. Shame on the ALL the physicians who refuse to remain open minded and objective. A family member, a physician himself, said, "There is ALWAYS an infectious disease out there that we don't know about yet." This may be it. Maybe what we have labeled as "Lyme" is another, more aggressive, tick-borne illness yet identified. But how will we know if these physicians are now refusing to see patients, like me, who have symtoms that point to the now taboo label of "Lyme," and who are spending an inordinate amount of time posturing for their positions on this issue. For what purpose, really? I can say one thing for sure: not one of these physicians denouncing the validity of this disease has ever been bit by a tick.

If Dr. Wormser says that the guidelines are the best medical science has to offer then we are doomed. Let's also ask ,why has he held up the neccesary funding for research that is being proposed in congress today? Why hold up research for this disease if he was not afraid of what it would show? And lets ask him how terribly inadequate those blood tests are for Lyme disease? And why haven't they come up with a better test? FFinally

I have chronic Lyme disease. I knew I had Lyme disease within 2 months of being sick but doctors told me that Lyme carrying ticks in Virginia are rare...right!! Three and a half years later, I was diagnosed with it. This was a long and painful wait; both mentally and physically. Certainly if people are treated for Lyme within the first 2-3 weeks of infection, then they probably get better very quickly. The problem lies with those who do not receive treatment and are left to suffer for months or even years. Let someone tell me to my FACE that chronic Lyme is not real! This is a pointless and angering debate in the medical community. It is the arrogance of certain physicians that keeps them from accepting the obvious. Adrian Prentiss, VA

http://www.lymecryme.com

http://www.donttickmeoff.info

Doctors need to go out into the wild, get bit by a tick and ignore the signs and let's see how many doctors rethink their position. Better yet, let their young children get infected and let it go untreated. This is a real disease and these egotistical dimwits need to listen to their patients and realize that Lyme disease is a real disease that needs a long term treatment.