Since my family has been affected by Lyme disease and May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, i would like to take this opportunity to get the word out. The ticks are out and active-check yourself, your loved ones, your pets after having been outdoors. My husband contracted lyme twice (once undetected, some 15 years ago, we think) and was reinfected 8 months ago. He's still not healed from the latest infection. Here are some facts that come from this website: (bold emphasis my own!)
12 Lyme Disease Facts
1). You are more than 10 times more likely to get Lyme Disease than West Nile Virus. Ticks are everywhere and you are most likely to be bitten in your own yard.
2). Lyme Disease has surpassed AIDS as the #1 infectious disease in the U.S.
3). Testing for Lyme Disease is UNRELIABLE. To be tested correctly you must have your blood tested through a tick borne specialty labe such as Igenex Lab in Palo Alto.
4). Lyme Disease is passed many ways, ticks, all biting blood-sucking insects can be carriers.
5). The average primary Md knows NOTHING about Lyme Disease even though they believe they do.
6). Lyme Disease, if not caught right after the bite can become chronic with multiple systemic (body-wide) symptoms that is extremely hard to treat and patients only hope is long term antibiotics, sometimes YEARS and hope for remission.
7). You know someone with Lyme Disease and they likely don't know it. It is the "great imitator" If you know someone with pain, back problems, knee problems, Fibro, anxiety, migraines - you know someone with Lyme. There are 100 symptoms of Lyme Disease.-my husband had many of these for many years, not recognised by any doctor. It was all "between his ears".
8). Only Lyme literate Md's treat Lyme Disease effectively, not found in your local phone book either. Contact The Lyme Disease Association for more information Lyme doctor referral.
9). Lyme Disease enters the central nervous system almost immediately and even if "cured" you can relapse many years later.
10). The symptoms of LD are so devastating it can be completely disabling with symptoms similar to Parkinsons, Alzheimer's, MS or minor as migraines and insomnia and may be the cause of these diseases!
11). Lyme Disease may be responsible for some psychiatric illness and the number one cause of LD death is suicide.
12). Lyme Disease can kill.
END quote from website.
PLEASE DO TAKE CARE AND GET YOURSELF TO A KNOWLEDGEABLE DOCTOR WHEN YOU DISCOVER A BITE.
12 Lyme Disease Facts
1). You are more than 10 times more likely to get Lyme Disease than West Nile Virus. Ticks are everywhere and you are most likely to be bitten in your own yard.
2). Lyme Disease has surpassed AIDS as the #1 infectious disease in the U.S.
3). Testing for Lyme Disease is UNRELIABLE. To be tested correctly you must have your blood tested through a tick borne specialty labe such as Igenex Lab in Palo Alto.
4). Lyme Disease is passed many ways, ticks, all biting blood-sucking insects can be carriers.
5). The average primary Md knows NOTHING about Lyme Disease even though they believe they do.
6). Lyme Disease, if not caught right after the bite can become chronic with multiple systemic (body-wide) symptoms that is extremely hard to treat and patients only hope is long term antibiotics, sometimes YEARS and hope for remission.
7). You know someone with Lyme Disease and they likely don't know it. It is the "great imitator" If you know someone with pain, back problems, knee problems, Fibro, anxiety, migraines - you know someone with Lyme. There are 100 symptoms of Lyme Disease.-my husband had many of these for many years, not recognised by any doctor. It was all "between his ears".
8). Only Lyme literate Md's treat Lyme Disease effectively, not found in your local phone book either. Contact The Lyme Disease Association for more information Lyme doctor referral.
9). Lyme Disease enters the central nervous system almost immediately and even if "cured" you can relapse many years later.
10). The symptoms of LD are so devastating it can be completely disabling with symptoms similar to Parkinsons, Alzheimer's, MS or minor as migraines and insomnia and may be the cause of these diseases!
11). Lyme Disease may be responsible for some psychiatric illness and the number one cause of LD death is suicide.
12). Lyme Disease can kill.
END quote from website.
PLEASE DO TAKE CARE AND GET YOURSELF TO A KNOWLEDGEABLE DOCTOR WHEN YOU DISCOVER A BITE.