Our 'May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month' theme this year is �Get it Right, Treat the Bite!� We encourage everyone to think about Lyme and tick borne diseases when they are first bitten by ticks and to seek preventative medical treatment immediately.
Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Anaplasma, Tularemia and a host of known and unknown infectious organisms can be found in ticks, so why wait?
After all, prevention is the best medicine!
Please share the simple message and the Get it Right, Treat the Bite website with your contacts and ask that they do the same.
With everyone�s help we hope to reduce the suffering that comes with not being adequately treated in a timely and aggressive fashion.
The recommendations for removing a tick, the treatment of tick bites (prepared by a Lyme-literate physician), additional resources and measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of being bitten, can be printed directly from the easy to read and easy to navigate web site and shared with others, or be taken to a doctor�s office to help educate the staff.
[ 05-13-2011, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Tincup ]
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Thank you Tin. I just put Treat the Bite in my favorites. It's going to all my friends and family today.
Next they will get email about PBS Under Our Skin.
I'm going to give them a tick education in May.
You can only lead that horse to water.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Great site, Tincup! I'll be spreading this around too!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
GOOD GOOD GOOD!!!
I'd LOVE to see "Get it Right, Treat the Bite!" become the "norm".
Think how many might be saved from the nightmare we have been through if people automatically thought to "treat the bite" when they were bitten by a tick.
I'd say I'd like to make a song out of the little jingle, but then you know what would happen.
Robin583t658u6 would be here singing to us, like Lionel Richie does ...
All night long!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
No song by Robin3553567...
BUT... the article did make the paper in Maryland for May Awareness Month.
Hopefully it will save some folks from having so many problems.
RECORD OBSERVER Queen Anne County, MD May 12, 2011
Proper tick removal, early treatment can reduce risk of disease
By LUCY BARNES Special to the Record Observer
Published: Thursday, May 12, 2011 5:14 AM CDT
CENTREVILLE To many residents, the fear of acquiring Lyme disease is a major deterrent to exercising outdoors, gardening or even playing in one's own back yard. The fear, however, is well-founded and to be expected.
The Eastern Shore has one of the highest incident rates for Lyme disease in the country, causing major health problems and financial concerns for many.
As impossible as it may seem, tiny ticks are slowly taking over and changing the way we live, work and play on the Shore.
An overview of the situation
1. Ticks can be infected with multiple pathogens which, when transmitted to humans or pets, can spread throughout the body in a manner of hours and cause a variety of mild to life-threatening symptoms.
2. Treatment guidelines requiring patients to "wait and see" if symptoms develop or if blood tests are positive before being prescribed treatment, miss the chance to provide an ounce of prevention and have instead saddled the public with paying dearly for a pound of cure.
The "wait and see" method, aside from causing increased suffering for people, has also failed to reduce the number of Lyme cases over the years.
3. Whether at work or play, prevention efforts have been helpful, but not always 100 percent effective. Ticks obviously do not read the literature telling them not to bite people who are walking around with their socks pulled up over their pant legs.
The spirochetes that cause Lyme are not always dying off when challenged with a cost-effective course of antibiotics.
4. Those who have been negatively affected by Lyme disease (over 150,000 Maryland residents) are often fearful, rightly so, of contracting it again.
A survey conducted by federal agencies reported a reduction in Maryland "sportspersons," with 45,000 less people hunting and fishing (2001-2006). This downward trend negatively affects both private businesses and the state by producing less revenues.
5. Parents report keeping children indoors in an effort to protect them from ticks.
An independent non-profit (Colorado) concluded outdoor activity time for children has been reduced by 11 percent and attributes the reduction to a decline in children's overall health.
6. Outdoor workers have become severely ill, some unable to continue at their job in spite of using protective measures to avoid ticks.
Many must risk the danger of repeated exposures or accept financial ruin by giving up their jobs.
7. Chemicals to repel or kill ticks are being used more often on skin, clothing and in the environment, which in turn has its own consequences.
Reduction of air quality, pollution of watersheds, and damage to our unique flora and fauna must be considered.
8. Once tick-borne disease organisms become entrenched, they can destroy a person's health and their wallet.
According to an actuarial study, "37 percent of the financial costs of this disease is incurred before the correct diagnosis is made."
A CDC study (1998) reports early Lyme costs averaged $161 per patient and neurologic longstanding Lyme disease averaged $61,243 per patient, per year.
9. The totals above do not consider the costs for people who are co-infected with one or more tick-borne diseases, such as the several strains of Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and the Rickettsias (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, etc.) found on the Shore.
Adding to those costs are infections that have been detected in some Lyme patients salmonella, trichinoses, Parvo B-19, Epstein Barr, Herpes viruses, Tularemia, West Nile, Brucellosis, Histoplasmosis, STARI and Mycoplasma.
10. The Eastern Shore is experiencing a tick-borne disease epidemic, a true health crisis that is not being adequately addressed by public health officials.
Research funding continues to be funneled to those who believe Lyme is easy to diagnose and cure, there is no such thing as "chronic Lyme disease," the tests are accurate, their insurance-friendly treatment guidelines are in the patient's best interest and the authors are not in spite of the attorney general's findings biased or riddled with conflicts-of-interest.
With all that is wrong, everyone agrees on one major point the sooner treatment begins after a tick bite, the better.
The good news
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. We encourage residents to join in the campaign to Get it Right, Treat the Bite! To lick the ticks we all need to be proactive and say "no" to the old "wait and see" approach.
The site provides prevention information, proper tick removal procedures and additional resource links.
It also includes recommendations for treating tick bites that were written by a physician who successfully treated thousands of Lyme disease patients. ("Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease" 16th edition, 2008- Burrascano)
1. Do not wait for a rash or symptoms to appear. Take action as soon as you are bitten. Proper tick removal and early treatment can help reduce the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases.
2. Deer tick, dog tick, Gulf Coast tick or lone star tick, it doesn't matter. Multiple disease causing organisms are found in ticks once thought not to harbor them.
3. Save your money, forget the tests. Tests are unable to detect exposure to Lyme disease for several weeks after a person is infected (barring prior exposure), and then, up to 75 percent of people with Lyme are missed.
4. If Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is suspected, treat immediately. A newly discovered strain of Rickettsia (spotted fever group) has been found in Maryland ticks. Illnesses caused by Rickettsia can be deadly.
5. Say NO to just one dose of Doxycycline. There is no credible scientific evidence indicating only one dose of Doxycycline will cure Lyme or any other tick borne disease.
6. Read the prescription label and follow instructions. If you have questions, contact your pharmacist or doctor.
7. Be your own health care advocate. Print out treatment recommendations from www.TreatTheBite.com to share with friends and your health care professionals.
Remember to Get it Right, Treat the Bite!
Full article in Record Observer, Queen Anne County, MD
Tincup .. why not start a Facebook account with this name? Then we can all friend "you" .. it would help spread the word!!
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Man, I'm impressed Tutu. That's a great idea. Tinny, I'd "friend" you in a heartbeat.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thousands of us would!!! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up for Tincup
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I think Ms Tinny is concerned she doesn't have time to do Facebook too. Tincup is behind the scenes writing and politicing like some others do for our cause.
I do believe she's thinking about your idea Tutu.
Facebook has helped me personally build relationships with family, like cousins that I haven't seen in way too many years.
Facebook can be a great tool for people contacting from further away. But Facebook does have some horror stories also. I just believe you have to be smart about posting.
I don't post anything on this website that I wouldn't care about it being shared to the world. It is the world wide web.
Facebook I use the same rules. I'm not friends with others unless I want. I use controls to eliminate someone I don't want to communicate with.
So Tincup? Where are you dear?
Pam
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Tincup would have so many friends on facebook, she'd have to hire someone to manage them all!!
Oh, I just found out I'm supposed to sing for you? I suggest you try singing "Get It Right - Treat The Bite" to the opening refrain of "Rock Around the Clock", then
We're gonna get it right, we gonna treat that bite We gonna sic that tick in broad daylight We'll get it right, we gonna treat that bite!
[ 05-16-2011, 01:49 AM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
Finally a quick guide to the RIGHT Protocol for Tick Bites. Wish I had this info 2 yrs ago...but happy enough to have it now and spread it!! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I dont' think it would take that much time. At least her NAME would not be on the site if she's worried about her privacy.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
HA! I knew Robin5837596 would come up with a song to make me laugh! Good one dear Robin!
And about Facebook... I am sorry to report when I tried to join they took one look at mine and said NO WAY!
Actually, I have tried joining several Lyme sites, but people suddenly wanted to be my friend and hug me and do all sorts of things .... and it freaked me out and I didn't know what the heck to do!!!!
I mean I DO appreciate it very much and think it is sweet, but it seemed to require too much brain power to figure out how to answer people, so I really had a big problem trying to be a GOOD friend to anyone.
In fact, a member here saved me from being bombarded by friendly notes when I joined one Lyme site. I called them in a panic and said help me get rid of all this stuff coming at me. Make it stop!!! NOW!!!
Luckily they walked me through quitting the site so I could be sane again. And do know, it is NOT the sites, it is me.
BUT... I REALLY do appreciate it when others can make a face book post and do twitter and be friends, so thank you.
Folks here, the LymeNet pit crew, did amazing with Facebook and Twitter for the race car... and I really appreciated it more than many will know.
Anytime you all (like Jenn- thanks so much) can share Lyme info in that manner, please do. It's just not my cup of tea, cause I am craz- eeeeeee!
And Map is right too. I spend too much time doing other stuff, so it is more like work than fun to be on the computer even more hours a day.
So call me the "Facebook Reject" or the "Unfriendly Friend" cause that is me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
WEll, shoot. Maybe someone can use your info about tick bites and begin their own. Hmmmm....
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
TC, I'm happy - I made you laugh - I laughed too today, 'cause I was singing it while out on the town today - and I even came up with more silly stuff -
You're right - there is so much coming at us on these sites - I set aside a certain amount of time to respond, and that's it! Gotta live a regular life, too.
I think what those of us on these other sites can do is tell others to go to the www.TreatTheBite.com site and the news will get around - I like your long list of resources there - Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Keep thinking TuTu... you're doing good! Much appreciated.
Yes, Robin- if all Lyme stuff is on one site it is too much for new people who've been freshly bitten.
And this time of year many tick bite questions come up. Responding to each one does add a lot of time to your list of things to do.
Hopefully, by going to this shortened version, new folks can read what Dr. B has to say about treatment by using this one link.
That way too, "we" are not recommending what "we" think they need, it is coming from an official source. And it can be printed out and taken to local doctors to help educate them.
New tick bite patients educating doctors helps ALL of us.
So, keep singing...
Get it Right, Treat the Bite!
You silly one, you!
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
Most excellent compilation, TC! YAY and LUV for all you do. Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm off to post the site on FB! Thanks, tinny! Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
SO, what I heard today isn't true?
Two guys were talking. One says to the other... and I kid you not....
"Yep, when Jackie Gleason and Archie Bunker came on TV, it ruined women forever. They'll never be the same."
I am still laughing that we are no longer able to be "put in our place" because of the two TV shows. HA!
And you all made me think of that again tonight cause you are sharing the word and making important noise to help others.
I'm glad for the Archie and Jackie shows- cause we now have you!
Of course, that is assuming you would even listen to the male chauvinist pigs.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
More West coast coverage for you today, m'dear - I mentioned www.treatthebite.com in our televised testimony for Lyme Disease Awareness month at City Hall in San Francisco today.
No, I did not sing. Someone else usually does the singing during public comment, such that the president of the board usually says, "Next singer, please," and the guy does -
he sings about everything. I requested that he sing about Lyme and ticks, but he sang his own agenda.
Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
THANK YOU!! TinCup
WWW.TreatTheBite.com is by far the BEST link for Lyme information all Compiled into an easy format to navigate!!
This will be the link I share with family and friends who are ill looking for a dx.
EXCELLENT!
Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
TinCup...
This would be GREAT on FB....Please make a profile page for TreatTheBite!!
It'll be easier to share this Link with family, Friends and 600+ Million members around the WORLD who use FB! Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Just think - 600+ million new friends - wow!!!
No really, we're all very proud of you and your great work!
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