Oh well....

I had sent in some of my "Lyme Projects" to the newspapers and they have been cut tremendously....But then I am a "TINY bit wordy" at times! HE HE!

Since they wanted an interview (question and answer form) on the topic...I complied. They sent the questions...I had to answer. Yes, I am happy that it is being printed.

The article below was written for a different paper (not yet submitted, but they have always been kind enough to print my stuff)and similar to the original one I submitted to the other paper...

MAY IS NATIONAL LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

Frequently asked questions:

1. What is Lyme disease and who is at risk for getting it?

Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete (similar to the one that causes syphilis) and can
be found in ticks, fleas, horse flies, mosquitoes, and numerous wild and domestic
animals, from deer to birds. Once transmitted to humans, the spirochete (over 300 strains
identified to date) causes damage by spreading to various parts of the body. It can infect
any and all organs and tissues in the body. It can cause a multitude of symptoms that can
make a person very ill, totally disabled, and/or it can be fatal. The Maryland Community
and Public Health Administration reports that Lyme Disease is ``common in the suburbs''.

2. Can it be transmitted from person to person?

The spirochete that causes Lyme Disease has been found in semen, urine, blood, breast
milk, the cervix, spinal fluid, muscle tissues, joint fluids, and other body fluids and
tissues. Those who have Lyme Disease are prohibited from donating blood or organs.
Lyme Disease has also been shown in many cases to be passed from mothers to their
unborn children, and to young babies through breast milk. Anyone concerned should
take appropriate precautions.

3. What are some of the signs and symptoms of the disease? What are the effects of
Lyme disease?

Unless a lay person or doctor is very experienced with Lyme Disease they may not
recognize it until it is too late, and often, not at all. Lyme has been misdiagnosed as
variety of other conditions such as Muscular Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue, Alzheimers,
Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, Lupus, Depression, Encephalitis, and various forms of
arthritis. The list of possible symptoms is overwhelming and there can be anything from
hearing loss to panic attacks surfacing in otherwise healthy individuals as the first
indication of Lyme. Some patients do not recall a tick bite (thought to be the most
common form of transmission) and many never get the typical bulls eye rash or flu-like
symptoms that are often associated with early stages of Lyme. Lyme can affect the eyes
causing sensitivity to light, floaters, blurry vision, conjunctivitis, and even blindness.
The brain and surrounding tissues can become infected and damage can range from mild
to severe. Often the digestive tract is compromised and people with Lyme can battle acid
reflux, gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, cramps, blockage, and pain. The bladder and
reproductive organs are not spared and hormonal and menstrual problems may surface in
woman, while swollen testicles and pain may cause problems for men. The heart and
lung problems can range from palpitations and shortness of breath, to heart block and
respiratory failure. There is often brain ``fog'', memory problems, confusion, difficulty
thinking, and speech difficulties. Depression, severe anxiety, insomnia, and mood
swings are common. Extreme fatigue is usually a constant problem, along with muscle
spasms and joint pain. Even with what is considered appropriate treatment, Lyme
Disease patients can have a reoccurrence of symptoms and/or new symptoms may
develop. The thyroid responses can be altered and require adjunct therapy. Other
infections are hard to fight off once the immune system is compromised by the
spirochete, and in turn, severe yeast infections, sinus problems, asthma attacks, urinary
tract infections, colds, kidney infections, and eye infections tend to become more severe
and/or more frequent. The blood sugar levels, blood pressure, pulse, and body
temperatures tend to fluctuate, which can cause additional problems. As the spirochetes
die off in the human body, toxins develop which can cause a multitude of chronic
problems unless treated properly. There are promising new treatments available to help
control or eliminate the toxins. Those being treated for Lyme should be aware of the
possibility of a Herxheimer reaction. The ``herx'', as it is better known, is an increase in
the severity of symptoms and often follows the initiation of antibiotic therapy. The
reaction can be mild or very severe and may be confused with an allergic reaction to
medication.

4. What should I know about Lyme Disease and tick bites?

There is a great deal of outdated information still floating around that indicates a tick
must be attached for at least 24-48 hours to be able to infect a person. Unfortunately, this
is not the case and many have found out the hard way and are still suffering the
consequences. The only way to prevent Lyme is to not come in contact with the
spirochete. However, once in contact with an infected source, the earlier the treatment
the better. Early treatment will not guarantee a cure, but it hopefully will increase the
chances of recovery. Unfortunately, the standard Lyme Disease blood tests (ELISA) that
are often used to detect antibodies have a very poor record of detecting the disease and
are thought to miss approximately half of the actual cases of Lyme Disease. They are
less expensive than many of the more accurate tests and are commonly used as a
screening test by insurance companies over the more specific tests performed at specialty
labs. In addition, the standard 2-3 weeks of antibiotic treatment that was once thought to
be adequate to cure Lyme Disease has been shown to not be effective in many patients.
There are no documented long term studies that indicate a short course of antibiotic
treatment is able to cure Lyme Disease and those treated with a short course of
antibiotics have been found to relapse, often repeatedly. If you contract Lyme Disease,
not only is immediate treatment appropriate, but enough treatment MUST be provided by
a knowledgeable health care provider.

5. What type of treatment is available?

Treatment protocols vary depending on the amount of time between the infection and
when treatment begins. It is also very possible to be co-infected with other tick born
illnesses (Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis, all of which can
be fatal, and are found in Maryland) at the same time as contracting Lyme Disease, and
this must be considered. To determine the proper treatment for Lyme Disease, the
spirochete load, the persons age, prior health, allergies, length of time between bite and
treatment, etc. all must be considered. According to current guidelines used by doctors
familiar with the disease, the early cases should be treated with antibiotics for a
minimum of 4-6 weeks and late stages usually require a minimum of 4-6 months of
treatment, either IV or oral medications, or both. If treatments are discontinued before
all symptoms of Lyme disease have ended, a person can remain ill and relapse. Patients
who have been ill for years may require open ended treatment and/or ongoing
maintenance therapy to prevent the worsening of symptoms. There is no current test
available to determine if a patient has been cured, so it is extremely important that a
doctor very familiar with treating the disease be consulted.

6. What are the long term effects of Lyme Disease?

Patients can relapse with any and all of the original symptoms, can develop new
symptoms, and can progressively deteriorate as time goes by. Many will become unable
to exercise, or even to barely walk. Speech, writing skills, and communication problems
may get worse and many may become bedridden or house bound. The brain can be
damaged, eyesight and hearing can worsen, severe headaches and neck pain can
continue, and muscles and joints can become wasted. The heart and lungs can be
seriously compromised and the bladder and digestive tract symptoms can worsen. Severe
depression, anxiety, and panic attacks can continue unchecked. Violent rages are noted
in some individuals, and overall mental abilities may show a decline. The financial
burden of Lyme can be devastating with hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent in
the pursuit of a diagnosis, the costs of treatment, and follow-up therapy. Families have
lost their homes, their jobs, and their sanity while trying to deal with all of the effects of
the disease. Children have been removed from school for years at a time, marriages have
broken up, and Lyme patients have committed suicide. To add to the problems, many
insurance companies continue to deny access to proper testing procedures and treatment
which further stresses individuals and can worsen their overall health.

7. Has Lyme disease been on the increase locally?

The Center for Disease Control requires cases of Lyme disease to be reported, however,
they exclude cases that are not serologically confirmed and many seronegative cases are
not reported, even though Lyme Disease has always been a ``clinical diagnosis''. It is
estimated that there are at least ten times the number of cases actually occurring than
what are reported each year, and that is a very conservative figure. To add to the
problem, an infected female tick can produce 2 to 5 thousand babies and can be carried
into new areas by birds, pets, wildlife, and people, increasing the chance for exposure.

8. What is the best way to prevent Lyme Disease?

Many suggest anyone at risk for exposure should wear long pants, long sleeve shirts,
shoes and socks, and a hat outdoors. In 80 to 90 degree weather that is almost impossible
and may cause heat related illnesses, especially in those working outdoors. I recommend
wearing light colored clothing and doing regular tick checks while outdoors and once
returning home. Clothing can be put into the dryer and heated for twenty minutes to kill
ticks. Insect repellent applied to the skin may help to deter some ticks, but it is not a fool
proof method. I recommend a treatment, such as, Repel Permanone, be applied to
outdoor clothing and equipment (not for use on skin). This product actually kills ticks as
they crawl across treated surfaces, instead of trying to deter them or chase them away. It
is unscented which makes it acceptable to hunters and fishermen. I also suggest using a
yard treatment called Sevin Dust (or liquid) in infested areas with high tick populations.
It can be used where pets run, on the lawn, in the garden, on bushes, and wood piles, as
directed by the manufacturers. It won't kill all of the ticks but it will reduce the numbers
to a more manageable level.

9. Should our family get the new LymeRix vaccine?

I personally do not recommend the current Lyme Rix vaccine be given to anyone. Its
uses are limited in the fight against Lyme Disease and the manufacturers admit it is not
effective in preventing all cases of Lyme Disease. Its long term effects have not been
thoroughly studied, and it is not known if it will work effectively in preventing all of the
various strains of Lyme Disease, or if and when a person will require booster shots. It is
not effective against the other tick born diseases and may give a false sense of security to
those who might otherwise be more alert to ticks. It has been reported, by a number of
people who were given the vaccine, to cause a severe form of arthritis for which there is
no cure. There is a lawsuit pending against the manufacturers by those who have
developed severe Lyme-like symptoms and there are approximately 1,000 documented
reports which have been filed concerning various problems associated with the vaccine.
For more information:

Lots of Links on Lyme Disease- Art Doherty http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/lyme-links.html

LymeNet http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/Ultimate.cgi

YOU ARE AWESOME.

WOW - GREAT JOB !!!!!!!

Thanks from all of us.

Once again you take the Gold Cup. You have done such a service to so many people, through this article and to people searching for answers. Way to go, awesome education!

GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chazmyn
LLW in training

(P.S. This posting has been brought to you courtesty of my mind on Lyme. Opinions and postings written while under the influence of Lyme may bear no resemblence to reality.)

Again, as with any Lyme stuff I write...you are welcome to share it, chop it up and use pieces of it, what ever will help you to help others...my copy right release is given freely. My only concern is to help others!

Please guys and gals...if nothing else...copy this article and drop it off at any docs office; it doesn't have to be one you use...just walk in and hand it to the receptionist! Take it to the local golf course, a local park, the local electric company, the library.... ANY WHERE there are folks who work/play outdoors. No need for explanations...just walk in and hand it over and thank them and walk out. I do it all the time. I keep a folder with info in my car so when I do get out, I can do the same. And it does not have to be this article. There is plenty of stuff that is great that you can use! Just PLEASE do it!

If you do find it, make no attempt to capture it yourself, contact "mind control" officials as it is armed with lethal amounts of irony and coated with severe sarcasm.

P.S. to RR/ I finally remembered after a couple hours that comradarie is spelled with an "ie" but it took me about ten hours to remember how to spell piranha. Sob... a mind is a terrible thing to lyme. I feel that as a writer, if I cannot spell, I will soon be sent to the "island of unwanted toys". (Hint: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer went there when he ran away in the cartoon special.) Well... just let me say that this is a fine example of a month's cumulative stress effects on a lyme patient. I have scheduled this week to be stress free - let's see if the world will cooperate. I could soon be back to my former A+ spelling in no time at all.

P.S.S. I have a new theory as to why all that humor made me better. Part of it is oxygen - when you laugh you increase your oxygen input and we know the creepy creatures don't like that. And second, when you're tense your muscles tighten and that aggravates the lyme - when you laugh, you relax and that helps decrease the symptoms. RR you are just TOO funny and TOO fast and TOO sweet and TOO kind and TOO noble and (it appears to me) like you have some strange, direct, connection to my funny bone cause I can't stop LAUGHING!!!!!! (Of course, scientific role models that we are, we should experiment with more jokes to test this theory.)

Edit Note: Correction: It's the island of "misfit" toys, I think.

My hat is off to you. And I will work on adapting what you wrote for our local paper.

I love it when I do not have to re invent the wheel so to speak.

When I tried to print out the words posted here, they ended up being cut off.

But, I was able to print out the article from the papers web site.

Merci Boucoup!

Take care
Abbie