quote:Infection-associated chronic diseases that our group studies include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Lyme Disease, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and other unexplained chronic illnesses. We are interested in learning more about how infectious agents may play an etiologic role in these diseases. These infectious agents include human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), retroviruses such as xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, fungi such as Coccidiodes immitis, and bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi (the cause of Lyme disease).
Lymenet, and forums for other chronic conditions are listed in the resources section.
These tick-borne disease foundations/organizations are on the resources page as well:
* Columbia University * LDA * ILADS * And last, but not least, the beloved IDSA
quote:In summary, it is plausible that the persistent activity of intracellular pathogens or the immune response against them could lead to the complex and chronic dysfunction observed in patients with CFS. Furthermore, it is possible that if the infectious trigger is appropriately identified, significant clinical benefit can be observed with appropriate long-term antimicrobial therapy.
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
Here is a link to the team lead, in case anyone wanted more info on his background:
Maybe someone powerful got p***ed off, you never know. Here's hoping...
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Well, if you look at the amount of participants Montoya was recruiting for his study, it is rather insane, and the list of tests were huge.
Maybe he has gone mad. Let's hope. I suspect that when his study comes out, it is really going to shake the medical community. It will probably be the biggest study for CFS ever, and the first to look at an enormous amount of pathogens and viruses that may be involved.
I suspect he will be labeled as an outcast by the medical community for a while, and perhaps he'll then go on to receive a Nobel Prize. Isn't that how it usually works?
Posted by dogmom2 (Member # 23822) on :
Maybe he'll discuss his findings at this talk he's giving at Stanford on March 3rd, it's free too. I'm one of the subjects so looking forward to the results.
I don't know of anyone attending yet, but if i find out about it I will post it here.
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
Thanks, dogmom2!
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
When I first came down sick and was trying to learn why I had a neuro refer me to STanford.
But, primary doc would not work with insurance to get me there.
She said she was not going to pay for it. I didn't know what she was talking about.
Later learned about how docs sign a contract stating that they will only spend so much on a patient a month.
If they go over it they loose their quarterly bonus.
She also took 3 months to see me as she keep rescheduling my appointment.
I dropped her with insurance company. CAlled manager of clinic. They said they would take care of it.
Got a letter from manager and doc at medical center stating that they were dropping me.
Ah the politics of getting help.
CAlled Stanford and learned I could not get in to see this doc unless I had a referral from primary.
Catch 22.
Then got the lyme dx
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Sorry to hear you went through all that, kam. So many of us have had the run around. It's just either insane or criminal. There's so little compassion in the world.
I hate to say it but I believe it's intentional. I never would have thought it if I didn't experience it myself.
Posted by dogmom2 (Member # 23822) on :
I don't have much info from the talk(i wasn't there) but got this from a local support site from someone who was there:
"Dr Montoya's talk will be on you tube in 6-8 wks. The link(s) will be posted on Stanford's CFS website when ready. Stanford is really trying to take this illness to the forefront. If they can achieve that, it will be the shot heard around the world where the CDC and the medical establishment can no longer claim to be in the dark and not know. The results of this large study is going to be the next BIG BOOM in the medical community.
Dr Montoya in his talk said there is going to be a lot of doctors and establishments that owe patients an apology for the injustices done to patients with this illness all these many years. He said it is tragic how badly people are suffering with this illness and doctors aren't trained. Patients having to self administer treatments at home. He hopes to change some of that."