Is it me, or does the Colorado media seem to be really digressing lately?
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Doctors' Group Debates Lyme Disease Treatment
Reporting Dr. Dave Hnida
(CBS4) The Infectious Diseases Society of America has started reviewing guidelines for treating chronic Lyme disease. At issue is whether or not long term antibiotics should be a treatment for people suffering from the illness.
Dr. Dave Hnida, CBS4 Medical Editor, said some doctors don't believe Lyme disease causes lasting effects and exists.
Lyme disease is an infection from a tick that causes flu-like symptoms and a specific rash.
A 2-week course of antibiotics will take care of the symptoms.
In Colorado, ticks don't carry Lyme disease, which is why most cases are on the East Coast.
More and more of those people claim Lyme disease is causing them long-term suffering and they want treatment.
Rob Canum has learned to give himself IV antibiotics and has been through nearly 3 months of treatment.
He said many doctors tried to diagnosis his illness.
"It was really disheartening," Canum said. "It really hurt at times to be treated like that when you're feeling this bad."
Canum was a health teen 10 years ago, but he says he started suffering flu-like symptoms that never went away. He said a blood test confirmed he had Lyme disease.
Ten years later, he has joint pains, migraine headaches and problems concentrating.
Canum takes dozens of medications but said it is the IV antibiotics that provide some relief and could give him his life back.
"I'd like to get back to working real hard," Canum said. "Doing my art work and hopefully doing some sports."
Dr. Dave reports the issues are two-fold.
First, Lyme disease is difficult and expensive to diagnose. Many doctors fell that patients who believe they have the illness are actually suffering from other problems like Multiple Sclerosis.
The other part of the debate is over giving long term antibiotics. The Infectious Diseases Society of America fells that prescribing strong antibiotics will lead to drug-resistant infections.
Am I correct in assuming that they have not actually started reviewing?
Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
Hey Shaz, That first sentence caught my eye as well. But as far as I know, the reviews have not begun. Weren't they to be broadcast anyway?
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi Melanie,
Yes, Colorado has had some bad news for Lyme patients, lately. Now I (probably) know why: this IDSA Lyme group is located there.
I remember that from a few months ago, too.
That IDSA: Bad news.
daise Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Miss M dont forget AG Bluemnthal in Conn this was part of the plea that IDSA revieu there work.
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
Is there a place to respond? (I could not find one).
No mention of ILADS, it just juxtaposes one person against a medical society.
Northstar
Posted by lymeout (Member # 8045) on :
I just checked the IDSA website and found no inormation. They are supposed to post an announcement for the selection of a review committee there. But I am concerned because the Washington Post stated that the review would take place this summer! I am afraid they will try to slip it in quickly and quietly. I would hope that the AG's office or ILADS or someone would publicize when the process begins. Hoping so.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Perhaps the dufus author of the article you posted has financial ties to the new Alzheimer's drug. That seems to be the latest fashion in the disemination of medical information with regard to Lyme Disease.
it's very sad indeed Posted by proudmom (Member # 15532) on :
It is my humble opinion that someone in the field of microbiology needs to study antibiotic resistant bugs more seriously.
Resistant bacteria has been around much longer that the treatments being used to treat Lyme Disease and others.
The first reports I recall was STDs being resistant, like gonneria(sp.) and syphillis. The reports then said that under use of antibiotics was the reason.
People were not taking the antibiotics long enough to get rid of all the bacteria and that was why we were seeing super bugs. TB was another one.
Again the reports stated that because people were not taking the full course of antibiotics the bug got stronger.
Hmmmmmn.......why is that not even in focus in discussions anymore? How many generations have been told that 10days of antibiotics will do the trick?
It seems to me that the answer lies in undertreatment rather than over use.
Just my opinion, proudmom Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
Tree-hugger, yes I am aware of the review as part of the investigation settlement. The question was if it has already begun. My answer was that I did not think so because I thought it was supposed to be broadcast.
Daise, I have just seen so many articles with incorrect information recently coming from my former stomping grounds that it is very discouraging.
I realize that the only way to slow this down is to write in with correct information and hope it will get published.
Not may of us have the time to do that any longer, so I continue to post this stuff in hopes that others will jump in to add their voices...and so appreciate each one of you who do just that.
I've got to get to work, but thanks to each of you for your replies!
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