posted
Excellent job! Why not write to more area papers also?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Great letter! Thanks for educating others. Helps all of us!!
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
stacey, great writeup! thanks for taking the time and please continue to do so!! bettyg xox
copying it here to read and enlarge for me/others...
Living proof
By Staff Reports 9/21/2008
Paul April illustrates why our Oklahoma medical community isn't diagnosing Lyme ("Credible evidence," Aug. 31).
When a certain disease isn't considered, patients won't be tested, diagnosed or reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a vicious cycle ensues.
This stance of denial began around 2000. From 1993-1999 there were 289 reported cases of Lyme; from 2000-2006 only four.
There are numerous animal studies showing the presence of Lyme in Oklahoma.
Even the state of Oklahoma's Web site discusses the possibility of contracting Lyme, stating that a small percentage of ticks found here are infected with B. burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme.
I had no idea that an infectious disease could be considered controversial until after many months of illness, I tested CDC positive for Lyme.
I was still told that I couldn't have Lyme, and it would be considered "too controversial" to treat me.
I hope that one day soon our state will stop this cycle of denial and patients can receive treatment for this potentially devastating disease.
I can assure you that when diagnosis is delayed treatment is neither easy nor short.
Does Lyme truly exist in Oklahoma? I consider myself living proof that it does.
Stacey Watson, Norman
**************** 2 comments
KJNOKIE, TULSA (9/21/2008 7:08:00 AM)
Sounds like what one would expect of China or Russia. Deny the fact, therefore, it doesn't exist. --------------
Kilgore.Trout, Tulsa (9/21/2008 11:21:27 AM)
The hospitals know the Center for Disease Control will pay for the treatment of Ehrlichia and Lymes Disease. However, if the physician says it's a disease that responded to doxycycline they won't. They use insurance.
The State Dept of Health ignores a very prevalent tick bourne disease in our state, Ehrlichiosis, and the same with Lymes Disease. The State Department of Health's statistics are totally inaccurate for Oklahoma.
Paul April illustrates why our Oklahoma medical community isn't diagnosing Lyme ("Credible evidence," Aug. 31).
When a certain disease isn't considered, patients won't be tested, diagnosed or reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a vicious cycle ensues.
This stance of denial began around 2000. From 1993-1999 there were 289 reported cases of Lyme; from 2000-2006 only four.
[/qb]
Astounding change in stats. This is one reason why you need to keep writing letters, to let people know what's really going on. Also, if you can get other Lyme patients to write, as well. Good job!
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
Stacey, that's a very nice letter...made points and has the personal touch.
I'm sure it opened people's eyes.
good job!
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Thanks everyone!! Kelmo- I will keep checking to see if your letter shows up!! I love it!!
I should have included the article that I was responding to in my letter. It was from a rheumatologist.
The article "Lyme disease takes toll" (Aug. 17) told the story of two people with what was said to have been Lyme disease.
In neither case were all the symptoms related, but the main tenor of the article was that both people had undergone evaluation by specialist physicians who came up with either no diagnosis or alternative diagnoses.
That changed when a physician in Missouri diagnosed both of these people with Lyme disease.
One of these patients is improving with the use of what is shown as a multiplicity of medicines.
This series of events seems implausible to those who are familiar with this disease.
The bacteria that cause Lyme disease do not live in our climate.
The physician in Missouri who made these diagnoses might be doing this frequently in the absence of credible evidence.
The writer should have looked to medical scientists who work with this disease in the endemic areas in which it is found. Oklahoma is not such an area.
In another article, "Views of disease stir controversy" (Aug. 17) the writer recounted the view of a public health worker who stated this, but ignored it in her writing of the girls' stories.
In any case, Lyme disease, when present, is easily treated with short courses of commonly available antibiotics.
Prolonged or repeated courses of antibiotics either given by mouth or intravenously are not necessary.
Oklahomans should not fear this disease unless they travel to endemic areas in certain seasons.
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The
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