The whole time I was sitting there saying to the TV eliminate Lyme as the cause. Dr. Fallon says that all kids with ADD/ADHD or Psychiatric problems and live in an endemic are whould be worked up for Lyme.

Anyways I sent this letter off today, thought I would share it with you all.

Dear Dr. Phil:

I watched your show today about raging kids. I am a fulltime single father of two boys. I have been my boy's fulltime caretaker since my youngest was 9 months old. He is now ten. Two years ago he went from a straight ``A'' student to a ``C'' student in school. He also started to have these violent rages. Nine months ago I found myself in the same situation as the parents that were on your show today. I was so scared by my son's actions; I did not know what I was going to do.

For 15 years I have been suffering from some chronic illness. The doctors were unable to define it, but 5 years ago, I nearly died from an episode of TTP. Three more years went by and 40 additional doctors, before I was officially diagnosed with Lyme disease. Last September, after the doctors started going down the ADD/ADHD road with my son, I started to wonder if he in fact was suffering from the same disease.

I got in touch with Dr. Jones in Connecticut. He is considered to be the worlds leading pediatrician in Lyme disease. He has personally handled over 6000 kids with Lyme. Several weeks later the blood test results came back and showed that my son in fact was also infected with Lyme. We started him on large dosages of antibiotics and now 7 months of antibiotics later we are starting to see results. His ADD, dyslexia, and depression are subsiding. In addition his grades are also improving. But the biggest improvement I have seen is that his rages and violent behavior has gone from a daily behavior to nonexistence. We have not had one incident in the last four weeks.

I know I am not alone facing this issue. The parent's of other Lyme kids that I have talked to all say the same thing; rage is one of their child's biggest problems. Lyme is becoming a national crisis. I am not saying that Lyme causes all ADD/ADHD or Psychiatric disorders in children, but I am concerned that it is being greatly overlooked.

Dr. Brian Fallon of Columbia University has said in several position papers, children that live in a Lyme endemic area and have symptoms of ADD/ADHD or other Psychiatric disorders should be evaluated for Lyme. The problem is that the CDC and the State Departments of Health have greatly underestimated the spread of this bacteria across the United States as well as the number of people infected with the Lyme as well as other bacteria that can cause as much if not more problems than Lyme. This has created a situation where endemic areas have not been properly identified. All of this has led to a uniformed medical community and public, which is delaying proper diagnosis and leading to potentially unnecessary pain and hardship

There are a growing number of kids at my son's school that have developed strange undiagnosed neurological and autoimmune disorders. In addition, the number of kids being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD has risen dramatically at the school. I can not help but think there might indeed be an epidemic of Lyme at the school. I have been trying to convince some of the parents to contact Dr. Jones, but since the health department is involved over this issue at the school, they are reluctant to do so.

I know that the medical community is split on what to do about ADD/ADHD and Psychiatric Disorders in children. A lot of well respected doctors are against medicating children for these problems. The reality is that could be a big mistake, as it turns out most do need to be medicated but not with psych meds but antibiotics.

Had they treated me when my symptoms first appeared, I might not be as ill as I am today and might have avoided the several near death experiences as well. My son on the other hand might be one of the fortunate ones, because it looks like early treatment might save him from a life of a chronic illness. This was due to the fact he had someone in his life that understood his symptoms and got him the help he needed, but what about the ones that don't have that advocate.

The most disturbing thought about all of this is what we are doing to our kids, by allowing this bacterium to go unchecked. So many kids have had their life destroyed. They are being forced at an early age to face pain, isolation and depression on a daily basis because of how this disease affects their bodies. They are being robbed of their youth and innocence. This is time they will never recover.

The Lyme community is in desperate need of help from the media in spreading the information about this disease. We need this help to expose what is going on and challenge our government to act and face the truth about this disease. Without this support, many more will become infected and have to face a hostile medical community. I thank you in advance for any assistance you or your show might be able to provide.

Sincerely,

Let us know if you get a response.

Beverly
 

Hope some of your "politically correct eloquent speech" rubs off on me!
 

Joan
 

If he did a show or shows on lyme, it would become a household name as some many watch it. If he did shows others would follow as they always copy each other.

Good Luck
Lymiecancuk
 

She was diagnosed with "ADHD" ofcourse. Been on 36 mg of Concerta for about 2 months. It HAS helped her in the classroom. Boy, do I feel for her teacher. But, I must say she finally got an A in citizenship!

I was also concerned about S.I.D. (sensory integration dysfunction) It has so many Anyone ever heard of it? Not a common diagnosis,(has MANY of the same symtoms) and it takes an occupational therapist to diagnose. But, I am NOT ruling out LYME as a culprit yet either.

Would it just be easier to ask him to do "THE TEST"? Is it Western Block?
My mom is just to frusterated most of the time to talk to, however she is very knowlegdable!! Thank-you

By the way, my mom is rosesisland incase you did not know.

 

....who knows what might happen?!

Nancy
 

Pediatric Lyme.

Lookin....your Mom is a wonder...she WILL get well.

Yes, please....rule out, rule out, rule out....and if the tests are not "positive"
ask for emperical treatment for Lyme as it is truly a clinical diagnosis and the tests are NOT 100% reliable.

If your child reacts to the meds for Lyme....antibiotics...not anti-inflamatory...this will be THE indicator.

I would so far as to say this,

make an appointment with Dr Crist www.drcharlescrist.com

I know that rosie hasn't had an easy go of this disease....and is frustrated...however, give this child the running chance they deserve....today.
www.drcharlescrist.com

Trout
 

Sudden Psychoses Could Point to Lyme
By Pat Curry

HealthScout Reporter
http://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?id=105552&ap=55.

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Abstracts:

FRIDAY, Nov. 17 (HealthScout) -- The young man went
to see a psychiatrist after he'd picked up a friend
and thrown him down a flight of stairs. At work, he'd
slammed a co-worker against a wall. He'd never had
these kinds of aggressive outbursts before and was
genuinely frightened by his behavior.

But the psychiatrist, Dr. Brian Fallon, an associate
professor of psychiatry at Columbia University,
noticed something else. Six months earlier, the man
had complained of having trouble putting his words
together. Diagnosis: Lyme disease.

"He had a classic case of Lyme disease," says Fallon,
who also is director of the Lyme Disease Research
Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium and
transmitted by tiny deer ticks, Lyme disease has been
reported in nearly every state and throughout Europe
and Asia. It begins as a skin rash, and early symptoms
often are flu-like, including fatigue, headache,
fever, muscle stiffness and joint pain.

But if not treated early, Lyme disease can attack the
central nervous system and produce a variety of
psychiatric disorders, "from depression to full-blown
psychosis," Fallon says. "Panic attacks or new onset
irritability, insomnia, concentration problems and
depression, or what may look like depression, may
actually be undiagnosed Lyme disease," he says.

That's why it's called "The Great Imitator," Fallon
says: Lyme disease symptoms are similar to those of a
host of other medical conditions. And that's also why
a psychiatrist can be important in diagnosing the
disease, he says. Fallon discussed his work at an
American Psychiatric Association meeting a few weeks
ago.

"Psychiatrists can be very helpful," he says. "We know
what panic attacks and depression look like. If a
patient also has numbness and tingling, migrating
joint pains and a hard time finding the words to say
what they want to say -- instead of 'convertible,'
they might say 'a car without a roof on it' -- that's
classic in Lyme disease, but you don't typically see
it with depression."

Plus, the standard blood tests for Lyme disease have a
significant rate of both false positives and
negatives, he says, creating a significant number of
misdiagnoses.

Dr. Edward Truemper, director of pediatric intensive
care at the Clute Barrow Nelson Children's Center at
St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Ga., says he's seen
enough Lyme disease with neuropsychiatric features -
from seizures to altered mental status -- to always
ask where a younger patient lives and plays, and
whether the child has pets.

"The ticks for Lyme disease are on deer, dogs and
cats," Truemper says. "If [pets] get into the woods,
or you're just in your yard and you've got deer,
squirrels or any species with fur, the chances of
ticks are very real."

"When you don't have an explanation with a person with
neurologic or psychiatric symptoms, you need to not
say it's all in their head," he says. "There may be an
underlying organic illness, and one of those we're
seeing more and more is Lyme disease. We may not be
able to diagnose, but we put them on the antibiotic,
and they get better."

Most people do respond well to the standard treatment,
which is four to six weeks of intravenous antibiotic
therapy, experts say. And sometimes the results are
startling, Fallon says.

"There are cases of people I've met with full-blown
dementia that was reversed with appropriate
medication," Fallon says

we will pray.

A sparkle in your eye, a smile on your face,
down the road.

Steve & Vic
 

Heard anything yet?
 

However, he told me that the key into the show is to find a way for Dr. Phil to DO something, intervene, solve the issue. He's not a med. duck. Bad behavior caused by Lyme or some other illness? Dr. Phil gets to do something.

The show's screeners are in possession of my book, and have been alerted to look for messages that have LYME in the subject line.

orion