another bill that needs support (call the senators)

[tfence]

This is a bill that will allow VT doctors to treat chronic lyme with long term antibiotics. I am living proof that Chronic lyme is real and can be treated successfully with long term antibiotics. I started treatment 1.5 years ago and I have 40% good days and 60% bad days now. I have another projected 2 years of treatment. I have to drive to NH every three weeks to meet with my lyme doctor. This is very expensive. There are doctors in this area that know how to treat lyme but their hands are tied with the current laws. We need your support on this. Call your senators and say you support the treatment of lyme disease in VT.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2014/bills/Intro/H-123.pdf

[rod anode]

I DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED to treat it

[mkr]

Unbelieveable what you have to go through Tom for treatment. Why do they not allow long term treatment in VT?

[tfence]

It is not the fact they are not allowed to treat Chronic lyme. It is due to them not being allowed to treat anything with long term antibiotics. Long term antibiotics can create antibiotic resistant bacterial infections that would potentialy effect the general public. So they have to pass a bill (law) per disease. I think the only other ones that are aloud to be treated in this manner is whipples and syphilis bacterial infections. Chronic lyme is different than onset early stage lyme. early stage lyme can be treated with 10-15 days of antibiotics because it did not have time to get into the tissue.

[cedarman]

This is the problem when legislators pass bills on subject matters that are best left to area subject matter experts.  Personally, I think the far more common and frequent short term treatment of minor ailments with antibiotics (like sore throats or minor sinus infections) is more likely to cause antibiotic resistent bacteria, but I don't see the legislature passing laws mandating a positive bacteria test before prescribing antibiotics. 

Like the US Congress having hearings on breeding practices in Equine husbandry, there are just some things that our elected officials do NOT need to get involved in.

[tfence]

educate yourselves before you or your loved one get infected with it.  http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/268761

[tfence]

Learn about Lyme Disease
FREE Screening:
 Friday April 19th @ 6:30 pm
 Essex Alliance Church
 37 Old Stage Rd.
 Essex Jct., VT 05452
and a free showing of "under our skin"

[tfence]

This is huge. The senate committee is telling the Vermont department of health to take action on the seriousness of chronic Lyme disease.

http://vermontlyme.com/assets/v1B-HHC_Final-Lyme_Disease.pdf?utm_source=Website+Subscriber&utm_campaign=25fe616ddd-Committee_Sends_Letter5_16_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_341943ae77-25fe616ddd-63463737

Thank You Rep John Mitchell. I noticed he is on the committee that sent this letter to the Vermont Dept. of Health.

[johnmitchell]

I am on the House Health Care Committee, Tom and we did take several days of testimony concerning Lyme Disease and all the consequences thereof.  It is important for folks to be aware of the cause, prevention and treatments for Lyme.  Indeed there is much controversy in the medical community as to diagnosis, testing and treatment, but one thing is sure and that is those whoa re affected by it need our help and support.  I hope the letter from our committee has influence and moves things in the right direction.  We will most certainly be revisiting this topic next session.  In the meantime check yourselves and children for ticks!

[tfence]

Thanks again John for being supportive on this. For the record. I have been diagnosed for about 2 years now with chronic Lyme disease. My doctor that I have to drive to Hanover NH (240 miles round trip) every three weeks suspects that I have had it since the early 80's and about 4 years ago, with some other medical situations in my life that have suppressed my immune system and possibly got reinfected in VT, it took over. I lost over 30 lbs in 3 weeks.  I spent over a year and a half at about 10 VT doctors that do not have the education nor the proper testing for Lyme disease. Thousands of dolor spent on useless testing. Just to be told it is all in my head. They just threw pills at me and told me to go home. That is another subject that I won't get into now. Like I mentioned I have been going to NH for 2 years now and have been on antibiotics since then with tremendous recovery. It is slow but it is happening. I have gained all my weight back and I am able to do a good bit of physical work again that I love. My Doc predicts another year and a half on antibiotics will get me back in good shape again. There is not enough evidence that you fully get rid of Lyme but you can get to a point where your immune system will keep it in check. This is a serious disease. If nothing is done with educating the doctors and the medical boards it will be the most devastating disease to overcome modern civilization. It is already in epidemic proportion. The real statistics are 4-5 times hire because of misdiagnosed. A lot of misdiagnoses are parkensons, Alzheimer's, dementia, MS, and the biggest ones are fibromialga, IBS, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, low T, hormonal imbalances. Fact is they found out recently that Micheal J Fox has Lyme disease. This is the best step I have seen in the Vermont pertaining to Lyme disease. My only worry is that I think this disease is going to devastate the state before the doctors get educated and testing is available. I know of over ten people in Fairfax alone that have a proper diagnoses. So that means there is another 20 that have it and are suffering not knowing what they have. Again, John. Thank You and your colleagues on the committee.

[tfence]

http://vermontlyme.com/burlington-free-press-covers-lyme-in-vermont/