(But if you email, make sure you also send a hard copy by mail or fax to United Media, as I'm not sure if Dr. Gott will read or respond to these emails).
He apparently is also cluless about thyroid disorders.
The Northwest Herald Crystal Lake IL January 19, 2005
Antibiotics can cure Lyme disease
Dear Dr. Gott: My mom was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. She is in the second stage. I know there is no cure. Will she continue to get worse as the years go on or stay the same? Right now the only symptom she has is her joints and bones hurting. How much worse and how fast will this disease affect her?
Dear Reader: I assume that your mother lives in the Northeast, where Lyme disease is epidemic. Physicians in the Northeast are intimately aware of Lyme disease and its cure.
Black-legged ticks carry Lyme bacteria in their digestive systems and can pass the infection along while feeding on humans. Early symptoms include a rash, aching muscles and joints, and malaise. Not every person affected has all these symptoms. If the victim isn't treated with antibiotics at this stage, Lyme disease can affect the brain, heart and other tissues, and prolonged antibiotics therapy is necessary to cure the ailment.
I suggest that your mother follow through with her doctor, take more antibiotics and be patient. If this treatment is ineffective, she might have to see a Lyme expert for possible intravenous therapy, but most Lyme cases can be cured.
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
*Most* people that I know (in New York) with Lyme, were what appears to be, cured. That is, they received a relatively short period of antibiotics, years ago, and have not relapsed or become ill with what's been diagnosed as another illness. This includes my husband.
That said, of course, I also know chronic Lymies like myself. But the *cured* ones do outnumber my chronic aquaintances (I'm not talking about on Lyme forums here, but people I've met/known, etc).
So, although I think quite a significant percentage of people go on to become chronic with Lyme, many don't. I just don't know any real figures.
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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ticked in ri
Unregistered
posted
The Doctor wrote: "I assume that your mother lives in the Northeast, where Lyme disease is epidemic. Physicians in the Northeast are intimately aware of lyme disease and its cure".
I live in the northeast and unfortunately that's not the case unless you have a big bullseye rash, flu-like symptoms and joint pain. If you don't have an obvious early presentation of lyme, a lot of docs in the northeast don't know diddly about lyme disease.
They really should know more or at least know where to refer someone who might have lyme so a knowledgeable doc can run the right tests, etc. I told my doctor that I thought it might be lyme disease and that I wanted to see a specialist. He had no idea of who to refer me to. Luckily I did my own research and found a doctor.
I want to believe lyme disease can be cured.
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posted
after the "cured" have been followed in-depth, medically, for a decade, and they conclude with the statement "most are cured" then i'll believe them....maybe...
Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
wooooh.
It depends on what you mean by cured...
I have met several people in the super endemic area, people that HAD severe neuro and arthitic Lyme and where treated agressively THAT HAVE HAD NO REMISSION OF DISEASE even after many years.
Just talk to a few people that live in the hamptons, montauk, river head etc. I am sure you will find that MANY IF NOT ALL people have had it or know someone who has.
There are some bad stories and some good ones but the good ones are the ones we are looking at.... so consider this..
Are there still organisms in their body??? Very likely yes.
Do they hae any overt signs of disease? NO.
Are they cured??? It all depends on what the definition is "cured" is.
Are they happy, fully functional and have no impairments... YES.
I would certainly be happy with that.
So bottom line is:
A - there is hope B - for all practical purposes a "cure" is possible.
OK I am ready to be shot at now...
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
Okay, David, will you fall over dead, when I am DONE shooting???
CURED? Interesting word. I had Acute Chronic Colitis and was CURED from it in 1994. HOW was I CURED; simple cut it all out with a knife. The WHOLE colon, rectum and anus. ALL of it. TOTALLY cured, cannot EVER get it again. My surgeon said so!
BUT HOW do you say THAT with Lyme D.?
My youngest son at age 2.5 years, contracted Lieukemia, was like a vegetable for the FIRST 30 days, and I mean literally. You could do anything to him and he would not flinch. ANYTHING. Well, after he was on chemo for 38 months they took him OFF. (WE adminstered a lot of it, but couldn't some).
The Doctor said there was a 65% chance HE could be cured. GIRLS had a much better chance. I think about 80% IF I remember right. He would be pronounced CURED, IF he didn't relapse after 5 years.
HE is 18 years old today, and seems to be CURED. BUT she also said, it COULD come back, sometime down the road.
BUT for NOW he IS cured!
I sure hope in a year or so from now, "I" can say that "I" am CURED of Lyme Disease, in the same context, at least.
posted
WOW, That is so funny that you mentioned that. I receive the Northwest herold and I read that article....I was soooo mad My job today was to respond to him. I have been trying to get this newspaper to run a lyme article for quite some time and then they run this....
The article didnt bother me as far as the treatment part...however the part where we should assume that the patient lives in the NorthEast ticked me off (no pun intended)...I live in Northern Illinios no ownder I saw 17 doctors....Ya know im out of energy to even care about this doctors ignorance....but rest assured I will get this newspaper to run a decent article...Jill
Posts: 83 | From Northern Illinois | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
the media outlets are controlled by a mere 5 corporate entities who main source of income is advertising. BigPharma ads are a huge cash cow thus you will never see a "lyme friendly" story anywhere at anytime. Luckily free press is still alive and well in lymenet! at least for now, bwahahaha! Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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