NEWS: Texas legislator, a Lyme survivor, promotes treatment for Lyme disease
Texas State Senator Chris Harris, who says Lyme disease "rotted out his bones" and gave him a heart attack, is carrying bills to increase Lyme education for the state's doctors and offer protection to physicians who treat Lyme.
From the Fort Worth Star Telegram:
Bills in Texas Legislature would promote treatment of Lyme disease
Lyme disease left state Sen. Chris Harris with rotted-out bones and the realization that treatment wouldn’t come easily.
“I’m one of those people who can tell you what it can do,” said Harris, whose battle with Lyme disease started in 1990. “I’m a survivor.”
Lyme disease also caused a heart attack, Harris, R-Arlington, testified before a recent hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. After 21/2 years without a diagnosis, he was finally treated with long-term antibiotics.
Others aren’t so fortunate.
They travel out of state for treatment because doctors in Texas fear disciplinary action from the state medical board for overprescribing medication and failing to follow the “standard of care.” While that protocol calls for antibiotics over less than a month, some physicians believe that treatment should be more intense and can take much longer.
Two proposed bills would use continuing medical education to address the problem faced by the approximately 100 people in Texas each year who get Lyme disease, which is typically spread by a tick bite. In 2009, there were 88 confirmed cases in the state and 30,000 nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The legislation would increase the opportunities for Texas practitioners to learn more about treating the disease, said Dave Claunch, a Lyme disease advocate. As more doctors become aware of the latest research, they may be more inclined to use long-term antibiotics, he said.
The bills would also allow physicians to defend themselves from disciplinary action by demonstrating a knowledge of the latest science. Both bills could be voted on within the next couple of weeks.
Thank You senator Harris! Insurance companys and standard of care guidlines have been victimizing patients and the very few doctors who will even touch the disease! Anyone with Lymes will tell you "it takes one to know one" lyme is one life sucking monster of a disease no one can imagine without having it. Good luck and thank you senator Harris, I will pray this gets through!
Thank you Senator Harris. We have seven family members who contracted Lyme Disease, as well as other Tick Born Diseases (Co-Infections)such as Erlichiosis, Babesia, and Bartonella. We span four generations, all residing on the same family ranch. The youngest was a 7 yr. old grandson, and thankfully we found the bull's eye rash on him immediately, and he was appropriately treated, in 2004, (when we finally found treatment for a very brief time). Inspite of my experience & knowledge of these diseases in animals which are treated without hesitation,(I was a veterinary technician) we could not convince any physician to treat my young daughter who has been disabled since she was 12 and now is 22, and completely homebound. She could not attend school, and cannot work. Our oldest daughter has Lyme (also Late-Stage)and suffers. My husband and myself are disabled. I have been homebound, and mostly bedridden for 9 years. His elderly parents are very ill, too. Our illnesses began in 2002, nine horrible, lost years ago. Doctors told us "Texas had no Lyme Disease", some of us were told we were just depressed, a pediatrician threatened to call Child Protective Services, to remove our youngest, as we would not confine her to a mental facility. We finally found care, positive tests, and began treatment in 2004. Two years of not being treated for infectious diseases. We had seen doctors of Infectious Disease, and many other Specialists. Unfortunately, our diseases had become late-stage, damaged organs including hearts and brains, degenerated joints. We live with severe nerve pain. Our memories, and other cognitive functions are tattered. Systemic damage has been done that will never be repaired at this point. After being treated just a short time, with antibiotics, the Texas Medical Board threatened our caregiver of losing license to practice, and put her on probation. Texas lost a great practitioner,she moved to another state to practice. We have lost others, too, according to fellow patients. Texans are traveling out of state to get help. Families who are ill, can't work, or travel, and financially are ruined, can't go, and are hurting here in Texas. To the readers, I hope it will never affect you or your loved ones. We know many patients now who are Texans, some have even moved to states that allow doctors to treat their Lyme patients as needed, as doctors in Texas can't risk losing their practices. Patients go out of state, if possible, but appointments cost hundreds of dollars. Insurance won't pay. The Texas Medical Board is causing terrible harm to those they are entrusted to be protecting.
It was good to read that someone in Texas is advocating for us. I received a tick bit in Tennessee 9 years ago while on vacation. I had all the symptoms of Lyme (bullseye rash, flu like symptoms, etc.). I had never heard of Lyme at that time. I got sicker and sicker. Finally after having to quit working and about 25 doctors later, I was told that I had Lyme. But that there was nothing they could do anymore. I have arthritis in my left hip so bad that I can hardly walk, I am 51. My energy is gone, I have nerve damage in my back and it seems to have attacked my joints and bones the most. I was told by several dr.s that there was nothing wrong with me. I suffer daily, and though I have insurance, here in Texas there is not one dr. I can find who will treat Lyme. I hope that the medical community will start realizing we are not crazy, and do not want our lives ruined. I have felt like an old woman for 8 years now. Lyme is a terrible disease.
Rose,
There ARE doctors in Texas who treat Lyme — at any stage.
Go to the ILADS web site and sen them an email — ask for assistance on finding doctors in Texas that treat Lyme.
http://www.ilads.org/contact/contact_ilads.html
Hi, I am in the Houston Area, have been in bed since 2002 with no help, no Lyme Doctor, abandoned by Husband and son. I was diagnosed by the Late William T. Harvey. I know he confirmed more than 88 cases of Lyme in Texas himself. Besides him, there are no Lyme Literate doctors. Being in the financial and physical condition I am when Hurricane IKE hit I obviously did not have home ownders insurance when a Huge Shade tree slammed on my roof distorting it. They treated IKE as a patch it program, you can patch a roof that is structurally unstable. This is my first year without a blue tarp, each time it rains further damage is being done. Water had created sheet rock damage and continues to get worse. The power was out for 13 days after the Hurricane, Mold contamination is a likelihood .. but, I have a hard time doing anything, even advocating for myself. I asked local churches for a tarp for the roof only to be ignored. Ive tried applying for soc sec, but am unable to complete forms by myself. The world has been progressively been crumbling around me for years .. there will be a point of no return. I need help and have looked .. but have found none.
You must go to Chinese Medicine for a complete resolution of the Lyme & Coinfections. Research NYC LYME CLINIC. Or contact Dr. Andrew Weil to see who he recommends. Order the book “LYME DISEASE AND MODERN CHINESE MEDICINE” from Amazon .com. A MUST READ! (Includes treatment protocol in the book.) Highly effective from the first dose!!! Nothing short of amazing…! From: Now Healthy & Happy Family :). P.S. Almost all cells will be able to heal themselves with optimal nutrition. Be optimistic about recovery!