Lyme disease is in this area, and most people are unaware of its seriousness. People who end up with the chronic form are treated very poorly by the medical and insurance industries. Victims are extremely ill and yet are denied reimbursement for necessary care and are dumped by doctors.
Now the Infectious Diseases Society of America has released guidelines for diagnosing and treating Lyme that deny the existence of its chronic form. This opens the door for further insurance denials and skepticism from health care providers. This injustice must end.
My 3-year-old son, infected since birth, deserves better, along with the thousands of others who deal with the misery of this illness daily. This epidemic is being kept under the radar because of its expense -- a crime that needs to be brought to the attention of everyone, because anyone can be a victim.
Julie Antenucci
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Very good! Short and to the point and very favorable. I tend to go on too long when I write about Lyme. I will take some pointers from the writing style. Thanks,
Klutzo
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
Right! It is concise, isn't it?
Posted by ma (Member # 10055) on :
Awesome!
With the ole' italian punch!
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
I will add to this thread more letters from Newsweek. They are from June/July 2006
Lyme Disease Warning Just a special note of thanks for your item on Lyme disease ("Bitten by the Bug," TIP SHEET, June 19). Awareness and education are the best defense against a tick bite. On behalf of the public, as well as the tireless efforts of the Tick Borne Disease Advocates, we truly appreciate this wonderful article. Lisa Messner DHS Lyme Disease Advisory Committee Member Sacramento, Calif.
While it was great of you to mention Lyme disease, the small amount of space allocated to the topic left a lot to be desired. Lyme disease is truly a debilitating and complex illness when left undiagnosed and untreated. Perhaps it was not the writer's intention, but the article could leave readers with the impression that if they don't have a rash at least the size of a half dollar, they don't have Lyme disease. Figures vary, depending on the source, but many experts believe that up to 40 percent of those infected with Lyme never had a rash. My daughter never did, nor did my niece—both of whom became ill with atypical (and very different) symptoms, more than one year (and 80 miles) apart. My niece was not diagnosed for more than a year, and my daughter for two and a half years, despite their combined visits to a dozen different doctors for myriad symptoms. Because of the delay in treatment, it is taking a lot longer than two weeks for a complete recovery for both girls. In the meantime, my daughter has missed out on a huge portion of the last three and a half years of her 14-year-old life. That's time she can never recoup—and all because too many people were clueless about Lyme disease. Susan Fairbank-Pitzer Danvers, Mass.