I don't understand why people will buy a diagnosis of RA or lupus or MS in a heartbeat, but scoff at the concept of Lyme Disease.

As an example, a friend of mine and her dog were hiking in a state park in NJ recently. She'd forgotten to put the dog's tick collar on. When she got home, she found three ticks imbedded in her, countless more on the dog.

How many people do you know personally who "had" LD, and were "cured" by a short course of abx, but have all these "strange symptoms" that no one can explain except to maybe say it's MS or RA, etc.?

Or how many people do you know who have all the symptoms of LD but would prefer to think they have something else?

The answer tho, is quite complicated.

I think lyme disease is misunderstood.

I think doctors can be arrogant and think they know everything and therefore know little.

I think the other illnesses are more accepted and if a doctor were to change the dx on a patient, then perhaps previous dxes could have been wrong, opening up a can of worms for potential lawsuits.

My brains tired now....more to come later....

She's not interested in Lyme.

I don't get it either.

They have all these diseases that have no known cause, yet they do have drugs to take for them, so its all about the money it seems.

Hell, they call alcoholism a "disease", but a person can choose NOT to drink, so how is that a disease? Is there a bacteria or virus that makes someone drink?

My opinion is they use the word disease too loosely, and the fact that they won't even consider borreliosis, and tick-born coinfections, responsible for some of these ailments blows my mind!

They clearly saw the damaging effects of syphilis spirochete can do when left untreated.

And, with the CDC's criteria for testing LD, means that most people are left untreated, and suffer with discomfort for years, with a bunch of "I don't knows" from their ducks.

I have always agreed - there is more money in research, than a cure. The pharmaceutical companies are pushing so many drugs for these unknown diseases, if they find a solution they would lose alot of their money, and the grants.

Although it is about HIV, it really gives you firsthand knowledge (from a surgeon) about the political and medical aspects when a new disease emerges.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/09 63094009/qid=1121109670/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9431194-9075867?v=glance&s=books

**
I dont agree with the author on some other issues, but it is a good book worth reading. You can get a used copy for about $2.

I have deep respect for her in that she was willing to go head to head against the Red Cross.

I don't get it??????

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ICEY

Antibiotics get to the root of the problem in lyme but there is not money in it. It's not worth it to them to find a new antibiotic specifically for lyme disease or to treat it with doxycycline (a cheap one) for long enough to prevent full blown disease. If they can say it does not exist they get all kinds of $$$$$ for not treating the underlying problem. all these new drugs for symptoms are golden geese for them.
Short term profits are great. That is what they are in it for.

Actually, watching "and the band played on" the other night I was struck at the paralells to lyme.: the secrecy, continued denial until people get sued (blood banks), egos of big shots clouding progress and truth, fear, and again more denial from the powers that be.
over 25,000 Americans had died of AIDS before president Reagan spoke about the topic publically.

With proper Lyme treatment, you have a chance to get your life back!

Another book for opening the eyes: Death by Prescription by Ray Strand.

People trust their doctors TOO much sometimes!

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Do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express!
oops!
Lymetutu

Don't you hear the news, lyme is rarely fatal, if at all. So i dont think you'll be hearing from George W anytime soon.

Only those who have seen me very sick and now, active, can understand the power of long term anti-biotics.

I remember several years ago when I was given a perscription for severe menstral cramps. The insurance told the pharmacist they would pay for the drug after I turned 60! 60! Uh...ok.

The pharmacist told me 'off the record' that the real reason probably was that the insurance company owned stock in a competing drug.

It is just like the FDA approval of the Lyme vaccine. Later we found out that members of the advisory committee owned stock in the company that made the vaccine.

Some won't even think about getting tested and I can't understand that. They don't even want to hear anything about lyme. This board is where I first found out about lyme and I'm very greatful for that.

There is a pharmacist on there that was dx'd with lyme a few years ago. He doesn't believe that you can have lyme after taking a round of abx. How stupid can you(he) be?? I got so mad reading his posts. He was really putting down Igenex and that really made me mad and I don't get mad very easily or very often.

Anyway, now he has a dx of CFS and he's happy with that. He's supposed to be educated but that is just stupidity that he can't see his problems are still from lyme.

I'm mad now just thinking about what he wrote. I wish I knew how to post the link to his post here so you could read just how stupid he is. I'll get off my soapbox now.

I have a friend who is very ill. She was Dx with Crohn's Disease. She is extremely paranoid, can't follow instructions, has severe headaches, neck pain, joint pain, heart problems and every single symptom on the list. They(the ducks) have told her she also has "Fibromyalga"(sp?)

What can you do? I have given her all of the information. She refuses to look at it. She actually said "I can't have two diseases" She has been on and off steroids for 20 years now. I feel bad for her, but there is nothing else I can do.

I told her when she gets sick enough-- "Call ME!!"

There is a very old saying --------
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink!

I know a young boy who was dxed with lupus 7-8 years ago. I sent them all the literature I had regarding Lyme disease. Fell on deaf ears.

My friend doesn't know what's wrong with her, but after antibiotics she had an "allergic" reaction. I tried to explain it was probably a herxheimer reaction, but she didn't want to hear it. Preferred the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

My brother-in-law had every symptom of LD there was. I shared all my Lyme literature. He didn't want to pursue it. Preferred to be on disability.

He was telling me about a 37 yr old female that has to write directions down on how to get to work and home. The ducks are saying it's early dementia. Come on! 37 yrs old there's got to be a cause.

I've got to believe the true story on TBD's will happen soon. I've got to!!!!

Pam