NEWS: "Afflicted soldier to seek radical treatment for Lyme disease"
Earlier in the week, the Fayetteville Observer profiled the plight of a North Carolina soldier in a story headlined: "Mystery illness upends lives of soldier, family." Today, the paper updates that story with the news that man will seek "radical" treatment for Lyme disease. The article includes the startling information that Tricare, the military's insurer, will pay for the patient to see controversial Lyme specialist Dr. Joseph Jemsek.
From the Fayetteville Observer, North Carolina
Published: 05:08 AM, Sun Jan 23, 2011
A Fort Bragg soldier whose health is rapidly failing intends to see a controversial Lyme disease specialist in Washington.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Harriss will visit Dr. Joe Jemsek on Monday in hopes of beginning treatment for chronic Lyme disease, Harriss’ wife, Karin, said Friday.
Jemsek’s North Carolina medical license was suspended in 2006 after the state Medical Board charged him with inappropriately diagnosing and treating patients with Lyme disease. One of Jemsek’s patients died after prolonged treatment.
Jemsek has re-established his practice in Washington and continues to treat Lyme disease patients with antibiotics for far longer than national guidelines recommend.
Jemsek’s lawyer, Susan Green, said Jemsek has been treating patients with “incredible success.”
“It saddens me deeply to see this man miscast,” Green said. “There is just a ton of people who will tell you this man has saved their lives. I have seen it over and over again.”
Read the rest of the article here.
Read previous article (“Mystery illness upends lives of soldier, family” here.
This soldier and anyone who thinks he/she has Lyme disease, should read http://www.autoimmunityresearch.org, and the links in the left column.
The MP really does work!!!
A fomer Lymie!
Please inform me as to his treatment and progress. I have suffered from this disease since 1986.
Thank you.
Shirley
Read the history of the Lyme disease controversy – http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/lyme_disease_blog_files/idsa-lyme-review.html
God Bless you the Observer and Dr Jesmek that someone is finally listening to this family and Karin and standing up for their rights. This is not only a chance for Chris Harriss to get well but an opportunity to bring to light a controversial and difficult medical condition affecting people all over the world. This is what medical breakthroughs are made of and speak of what I know, I'm a mother who has been fighting for my daughter who who has a CNS disorder and noone would listen until it was too late!
Thank you for posting this article about my husband. He has been receiving treatment for nearly three months now. We started seeing improvements about two months ago. He no stutters when he talks, he can walk nearly normal now, no longer falling down all the time, has initiative, he is improving! I no longer feel like he is going to die this year or anytime soon. We still have three more months of i.v. therapy…wonder where he will be then? thank you for your concern.
Karinluvsart@gmail.com
Karin Harriss