NEWS: Oregon Lyme advocate challenges IDSA viewpoint: "Lyme is indeed in Oregon."
Theresa Denham, president and founder of the Oregon Lyme Disease Network, takes on a recent Eugene Weekly columnist who maintained that Lyme was not a serious threat to Oregonians.
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From the Eugene Weekly, February 11, 2010.
Viewpoint
Informed Consent
Patients have a right to pick among conflicting studies
By Theresa Denham
I am writing in response to the two Lyme articles published in your newspaper. One by a patient suffering from the illness; the other the rebuttal by Dr. Sarah Hendrickson, who believes that Lyme is rare, easily cured and not a significant threat to Oregonians. The two authors expose the Lyme disease controversy between the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS). This controversy causes problems for Oregon patients, making early diagnosis difficult, and leading to late diagnosis and difficulty in treating this spirochete illness. Oregon Lyme Disease Network (OLDN) has assisted more than 1,000 patients in providing accurate information and advocating for themselves through this controversy.
I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with lyme disease, I was treated with the very minimum of two weeks antibiotics. since that time I am paralyzed and having more difficulties in various areas. The doctors I have seen do not believe in chronic lyme disease and act accordingly. what can I do?
laura howell
Laura, I missed this question/request. Please contact the Oregon Lyme disease network. 541-312-3081
I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in September of 2012 and have been seeing a wonderful doctor who is treating me. Treatment consists of three different antibiotics and one herbal tincture, teasel which is helping me to feel better. I believe I have had Lyme Disease since the fall of 2006 when I discovered bright red mark the size of a dime on my wrist after visiting friends in Maine. No one knew what the mark was and began have frequent bouts of arthritis which spread throughout my body, memory loss, weakness and muscle pain, etc.– all things people with the disease have, but none of the doctors I saw in the last seven years knew anything which helped me .
My question is this—Do you know of any doctors in the Portland, Oregon area who are specialists in treating Lyme Disease ? The doctor I am seeing is wonderful, but will not accept any insurance and I may not be able to continue with him because of this. All payments must be cash for the office visits. My need is to find a doctor who will accept Medicare as I am now disabled. Is there a list of doctors who might be willing to take Medicare patients ? It is my hope as well that more publication of the dangers of this disease will be included for children and adults in Oregon. As far as I can tell, at OHSU where I often go, they know next to nothing about it.
Linda Kangas
Linda, recommend you contact OregonLyme, an on-support group. They can also tell you about the in-person Lyme support group that meets in Portland. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OregonLyme/join
Is anyone in Oregon using
Herbs for GU syndrome.
The accupunturist in Oregon treats Lyme patients. I am on east coast trying them now. Ate we allowed to mention names?
absolutely 2 of my kids are igenix positive and Ispot vector born lyme positive. Thank u THeresa for advocating for Oregon lyme its deff an isue. no drs want to treat and ohp insurance local here deny that lyme is an isue and refuses to aid in paying for any treatment or tests or Drs who treat. Thanks To Theresa she helped us get ped Dr cardiologist who we got refurals to for my sons heart isues and heart pain was diagnosed with tachacardia disarythmia and heart murmer and ohp refused to pay but Theresa got a fund to gether to pay for the majority of the ped dr apointments and testing there, glad to have someone willing to help us. Thanks theresa