The Nashville Scene's October 12th "Best of Nashville" listings named Vanderbilt Medical Center (take a deep breath) "best place to be treated for a tick bite."
Scroll down to right below the picture of the guy building a guitar.
Once I regained my self-control, I wrote a letter to the editor. I'm usually very measured about these things, but I think an outraged tone gets the Scene's attention. Plus, I was outraged.
--- Lisa Robbins' description of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) as ``the best place to be treated for a tick bite'' is misinformed, naive, and potentially dangerous. The experience of the typical patient in this regard is far different from that of the governor's.
VUMC adheres to a standard of care that blatantly ignores empirical and clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness--and necessity--of long-term antibiotics for treatment of chronic Lyme disease. In doing so, they ignore a second set of guidelines, which recognizes that a short course of antibiotics is insufficient to address the effects of disseminated tick-borne illness.
The unreliability of the first-line diagnostic tests that VUMC typically uses, along with their nonsensical assertion that ``there's no Lyme disease in Tennessee,'' virtually guarantees that by the time an accurate diagnosis is made, it will be too late for their recommended treatment to work.
In most respects, VUMC is, as Lisa Robbins states, ``one of the finest clinical, research and teaching facilities in the country.'' For the average citizen of middle Tennessee who is not a high-profile elected official, going to VUMC for treatment of a tick bite could be hazardous to one's health. ---
Anyone else want to join me in bringing the truth to their attention?
Thanks for the info. I wrote a letter to the editor and asked that any investigative journalist to contact me. Janet
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Yes, for anyone having gone to this medical facility about tick/LYME treatment, PLEASE WRITE as was requested.
GOOD Letter! sUCCINCT. Bettyg Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
Yep, that sounds like TN alright. Sigh. We are feircely loyal types.
I'll write, too.
Gov Bredesen would probably like to keep his job, and progress to other things. Too bad he may have slighted the great Vandy when he was trying to figure out what he had.
My bet is that he didn't fair any better at Mayo.
I guess time will tell. Lord knows we tried to get through to Bredesen after his mysterious tick illness.
This blurb has a significant "political" odor.
Geez.....
Hayley
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
NOW might be the ideal time to get thru to your governor. Try thru his wife(we all know THEY have more influence than anybody) She also isnt bogged down in everyday work and can take a second to comprehend the info. (unlike the governors assistants who are overworked and underpaid!!)
I would expect by now all tests have come back and they are still 'scratchin there noggins' wondering what is wrong!! Especially if he was given NO treatment. If, since he is so important, he was given treatment for long enough strong enough, then they already know the ins and outs. If it rebounds they may NEED more info!!!
Usually VIP's can talk to other VIP's so someone might suggest he talk to Birkly Bedell of Iowa!! I would think the common man could not reach him, but other importants could!!
Any further updates on how he is feeling??? news articles??? I remain--just don--
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Janet and Haley,
So glad you wrote to the Scene. Hopefully, you were more level-headed than I was when I dashed off my (uncharacteristically--really!) angry letter.
Don,
I actually managed to get an e-mail to the governor's wife (someone I know has occasional contact with the first lady's executive assistant). Tried to keep it very dispassionate (unlike the letter above), and prioritized information (Igenex, LDA, ILADS, need for an LLMD, 2 standards of care).
There's been no mention of the governor's illness in the media lately--not surprising, since he's up for re-election, so I'm sure his campaign wants to distance themselves from any suggestions that he's not in good health.
Aviva
Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
Aviva,
You hit the nail on the head. IF he ends up w/ chronic Lyme and talks about it, well, 'round these here parts that thar is political sueii-side.
Cause we ALL know that ... (sing along) we don't have Lyme in TN (or insert your state here).
My LLMD actually asked me to try to get the gov to call him. So, if you get anything from the missess, let me know if she wants more info, i.e. a free talk w/ a LLMD.
Hayley
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Hayley,
I will definitely contact you if, miraculously, I hear anything from Andrea Conte.
(and sorry for misspelling your name in the last post!)
Take care, Aviva
Posted by Pure Lymie League (Member # 10421) on :
Just finished my letter to the editor. Went through 3 docs there, not one would give me a lyme test, thank God! Sara
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Sara, Thanks for writing to the Scene. I hope they'll pay enough attention to think about why such a small item generated 4 (so far) letters.
Saw your other post explaining your screen name. I used to love listening to my ex's Pure Prairie League LPs, back in the day...Amie, Falling in and Out of Love...now, THAT's music!
Sorry you have to be on this board, but welcome.
Aviva
Posted by Pure Lymie League (Member # 10421) on :
Thanks Aviva, Would be nice if we could get the Scene to do a feature on Lyme. We have friends that write for the Scene and Tennessean, but are music critics. Yeah, Amie is still the crowd pleaser. Sara
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