LymeNet Flash: Philadelphia Weekly Online mag, Lyme article

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Posted by slappy2779 (Member # 12193) on :

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17226/cover-story

A very good article on one persons struggle with Lyme, and the war we wage with insurance companies and "doctors".

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

slappy

please look for the other post about this!

i copied the entire article here to the board and broke it up; took 1 hr. of my time; so please bring my broken up version here!!! thanks!!! [kiss]

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

Oh... did you see the response by the IDSA?

NOT good!

Here is the IDSA's letter and my response is below it.

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Tick Shlock

On Tara Murtha's recent cover story about her battle with Lyme disease:

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is the nation's largest medical group of infectious disease specialists. We are simply not the ``white-haired dudes pushing paperwork in offices,'' as your story suggests.

Medical research shows:

Lyme disease is usually treated successfully with no more than 10 to 28 days of oral antibiotics. If symptoms persist, your doctor should reevaluate your original diagnosis and see if you might be suffering from another illness.

Giving antibiotics for months or years to treat Lyme disease is ineffective, expensive and most of all, potentially harmful. If the antibiotics are given intravenously, there's an increased risk of complications such as infection or formation of blood clots.

Prolonged treatment leads to an overuse of antibiotics, which in turn causes germs to become stronger and more resistant to antibiotics and leaves us defenseless against other infections.

The IDSA Lyme disease guidelines are recommendations, not requirements, for physicians. We do not develop nor do we have control over their use by insurance companies.

It is not true, as your story implies, that panel members had financial interests that affected their recommendations in the guidelines. In fact, supporting long-term antibiotic therapy would have been much more lucrative for our members, but the evidence does not support this approach. The guidelines went through a rigorous, multilevel review process by experts outside the panel to ensure the final guidelines were relevant, accurate and balanced.

Finally, the investigation launched by the Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal never questioned our science, and it ended without imposing any fines or penalties. IDSA's advice to patients is unchanged until there are valid medical reasons to change the recommendations.

DONALD PORETZ, M.D.
President
Infectious Diseases  Society of America

[puke]

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Here is my letter to the paper... in response to the IDSA's letter.

Letter to Philidelphia Weekly July 4, 2008

Concerning Mr. Peretz's response to the excellent Lyme disease story by Tara Murtha. Please thank her for us.

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Mr. Peretz and his Infectious Diseases Society of America can continue to ridicule, ignore or dismiss those who remain sick after receiving his "cost-effective" treatment for Lyme disease.

The IDSA can lobby to prevent much needed legislation in a selfish effort to avoid being exposed or opening the floodgates for lawsuits.

Members can keep wheeling and dealing to avoid jail time and penalties for engaging in illegal practices. And when all else fails, they can hire a larger PR team to clean up their mess.

What they can't do is claim they are right.

There are no medical studies proving 2-3 weeks of antibiotics can cure everyone with Lyme disease. Period.

Lyme tests are notoriously unreliable, yet they continue to recommend them. Their studies based on these tests are faulty, but they continue to quote them. Their vaccine failed and generated multiple lawsuits.

The IDSA's prevention efforts are a sick joke, as new cases of Lyme are skyrocketing and once again this year, PA has the highest number of cases reported in the country.

For the good of the country, Mr. Peretz, give it up before more suffer or die from a treatable disease you refuse to treat.

[Big Grin]

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

tincup,

excellent; respectful; but give it up! [lol]