"Whereas recent research further demonstrates the persistence of Borrelia spirochetes after antibiotic treatment that follows the guidelines used in Canada (Embers et al., 2012) and indicates that current serology does not adequately describe the diversity of Borrelia bacteria existing in Canada and that the general understanding of, and practices for dealing with, Lyme disease are no longer sufficient or in line with emerging evidence of how the disease operates (Ogden et al., 2011); "
It seems Canada has followed in our wake in the past, adopting the IDSA's guidelines for lyme in the past, but now are seeking their own independent protocol/approach.
Could this be huge or is it nothing to get excited about? I'm imagining Canada treating and recognizing chronic lyme a few years from now with the passage of this bill...am I crazy?
-------------------- Bart/Babs/Lyme Posts: 64 | From Upstate New York | Registered: Jan 2014
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posted
I don't imagine it will do anything. I don't think the government can force the various Physicians College's to drop their IDSA stance on treatment.
There were a few lyme treating doctors in Ontario until 2011, but the Ont College forced then to stop treatment because of what they/IDSA deamed excessive use of abx. I don't the government can change that.
Besides, if the Provincial Health Care systems were to acknowledge chronic lyme, they couldn't afford to treat everyone that would come to them for assistance. Health care would go bankrupt. I think it's for this reason US LLMDs don't accept insurance. Insurance refuses to pay out for what they consider to be inappropriate use of abx and other treatments.
I think the best you can do is to find a provider that doesn't bill OHIP (LLND - naturopath, herbalist) and improve your health using alternative protocols.
-------------------- 13 yo DX PANS/Tourette's/Asperger's/ADHD treated for Igenex positive bartonella/IND lyme with 2 years of abx treatment. Weaned off abx April 2013 at 80% improvement. Continuing with Buhner bartonella/babesia protocols. Aug 2014 99% improvement. Posts: 265 | From Canada, Ontario | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
It could be huge IF it gets passed. The problem is that Elizabeth May is our SOLE Green Party Member of Parliament.
This means that unless she can get other party members from different political backgrounds to back her initiative nothing binding will happen.
On the plus side she is bringing good information to light and is allowing us up here in Canada to have a great starting place to talk with our friends, family and medical professionals about the current dismal state of affairs.
But you never know miracle do happen, maybe this will pass.
Posts: 372 | From british columbia | Registered: Feb 2012
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quote:Originally posted by rowingmom: I don't imagine it will do anything. I don't think the government can force the various Physicians College's to drop their IDSA stance on treatment.
There were a few lyme treating doctors in Ontario until 2011, but the Ont College forced then to stop treatment because of what they/IDSA deamed excessive use of abx. I don't the government can change that.
Besides, if the Provincial Health Care systems were to acknowledge chronic lyme, they couldn't afford to treat everyone that would come to them for assistance. Health care would go bankrupt. I think it's for this reason US LLMDs don't accept insurance. Insurance refuses to pay out for what they consider to be inappropriate use of abx and other treatments.
I think the best you can do is to find a provider that doesn't bill OHIP (LLND - naturopath, herbalist) and improve your health using alternative protocols.
I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm talking about, but I find it hard to believe that treating chronic lyme will make the symptom go bankrupt. I'm sure they would have certain requirements...like you would have to have a positive test to be covered or something like that.
What the disease really needs is more research to prove our side, the amount of money put towards lyme research in the US is pathetic.
-------------------- Bart/Babs/Lyme Posts: 64 | From Upstate New York | Registered: Jan 2014
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I agree with everyone. As a lyme patient in Canada-I can say main stream medicine and doctors are very very hostile towards lyme patients.
If you have lyme on your file, and you go to ER, you are ignored.
even if you have been in a car accident and you have a broken leg.
True story.
Parents can not openly state their kids have lyme or social services threatens to take the kids away.
True story.
I could go on and on.
I hope health Canada supports the bill.
We need more research. Period.
We need more ticks tested to show how many actually carry lyme.
Last count: 18%
We need long term studies on patients "cured" and whether they relapse or continue to stay well.
Hopefully this bill will bring some of these needs to the open.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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Apparently there is some other party interest including LIbby Davis, NDP so that's good.
From Elizabeth May's website:
Dear friend,
Bill C-442, the National Lyme Disease Strategy Act, is up for its first hour of debate on Monday, March 3rd at 11 AM EST.
Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, will be leading off the debate in support of this important piece of legislation.
If passed, Bill C-442 will make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians.
Watch her speech - and those of the other parties - live online at cpac.ca or parlvu.parl.gc.ca. If you have cable television, you can also watch on CPAC.
We have one ruling party here and some of it's members said they will be supporting this bill. Two of the other major parties said they are voting in favour.
Of course we all know that words and actions are different, but good to see at least the words out there.
Parliament members from all parties spoke of constituents who are suffering, leaving the country for treatment and the lack of good testing and "best practice" treatments.
Posts: 372 | From british columbia | Registered: Feb 2012
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Heard from Can Lyme today and they are very hopeful. Bless their hearts, they've worked so very hard for many years to make positive changes. And the fight isn't an easy one. Plus, it is exhausting!
Any support you can give them would be appreciated by all! Here is some updated info and a well done news video to watch.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
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