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Friday, February 29, 2008

Lyme Disease and Autism


Recently, there have been many studies concluded regarding the link between Lyme disease and Autism. Do all physicians believe this to be true? No. Why not, I don't know. Again, this comes down to testing. Why not test a child for Lyme disease. If the test comes out negative following a couple of tries (as there are false negatives), go on with the other Autism issues, which are many. If the test results are positive, treatment is available. Will treatment completely solve the Autism issues? The answer to that question is unclear; however, this does create hope for those of us who have children in the Autistic Spectrum.

Does this mean that all children with Autism have Lyme disease? No. Right now, the informal studies show an estimate of at least 30% of children with Autism have Borrelia/Lyme. This would mean that over 200,000 children, just in the United States, have Lyme and Autism. Clinicians are reporting much higher numbers.

How does the child get Lyme? They don't have to have a tick bite. They can catch it in the womb, and some research shows that they may be able to catch it through breast milk.

..."Recently reports of white matter disease are prevelant in children and adults with autism paralleling patterns in Lyme disease."

..."Reports are clear, that parents of autistic children seem to have higher incidences of autoimmune conditions. This is telling us something. It is my belief, this is a sign that the parents themselves have Lyme disease-and are giving this infection to their children. Lyme disease is prevalent in all fifty states of the union, and know no geographical areas."

..."Recent reports show that children with autism are harboring Lyme disease. The cry for chromosomal faults are numerous, and often paid and backed to be equally the only way you get autism. What researchers know, is that no money is funded or researched or goes into the immune lowering/autoimmunity events that create autism, and is simply put down. The cogent finding of Lyme bacterium being a major risk factor for autism needs to be explored. This is superimposed on the already sustained belief, that autism is an autoimmune disorder. Many of the imbalances of autism could be explained as the body's inability to detox and to work on this bacteria. Lyme could also be a trigger or a circumstance that initiate or worsening of the autistic condition. This includes milk allergies, strep infections, mercury, dietary intolerances of wheat and milks, and inability to deal with toxic inhibitors. Interestingly, many of the imbalances and deficiencies can be caused by Lyme bacteria."

..."All involved with late state Lyme disease agree there is a large amount of inaccurate information on this subject. This disagreement exists at every level - journals, scientific meetings, clinical practice, and media outlets. The same can be said of autism, in which denials of its etiologies are profusely displayed as only genetic, and never any environmental iatrogenic factors involved. Profusely are denials of the existence that autism is based on the body’s response to a foreign material either of neurotoxicity, bacteria or virus, such as Lyme, such as vaccinal viruses, such as autoimmune processes that become overabundant. Reports are clear, that parents of autistic children seem to have higher incidences of autoimmune conditions."

..."Recently there have been reports of short term antibiotic use to kill clostridium and or AGBN's. Vancomycin was recently used, and reports are that
when on the antibiotic for thirty days, symptoms of autism decreased. The Jarish Herxheimer reaction is seen when antibiotics are having a therapeutic effect as well, as evidenced when the child is on the antibiotics. This often scares off the weary parent of an autistic child, stopping the antibiotic for fear it is contributing to their autism symptoms when in reality it was killing Lyme with mild to moderate reactions. Unfortunately, in these studies, the children regressed back to autism symptoms as soon as they were removed after thirty days. If the bacteria are not completely eliminated, the symptoms will return. This tells us, I believe, that Lyme is involved in their autism."

-- CanLyme Medical Hypothesis Link

"Autism is classically considered to be a neurodevelopment disorder, the cause of which is unknown. In our work with children who have developed Lyme disease, we have encountered a few children who had developed autistic-like disorders which were eventually also diagnosed as having Lyme Disease due to other concomitant symptoms; when the child received intensive antibiotic therapy, the autistic syndromes dramatically improved and, in some cases, resolved."

-- Link for quote from upcoming research study

"Researcher Robert Bransfield believes that tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease, can weaken the immune system during infancy and make the sufferer more vulnerable to autistic-spectrum diseases."

--- Improving Autism Link

Yes, there are a plethora of quotations here. Where better to gather the information from than the experts. There are ongoing conferences and studies regarding the link between Autism and Lyme disease. This gives hope to those of us who have children in the Autism spectrum and who have been experiencing the joy of our children and the pain of Lyme disease. Perhaps we can help our children by simply testing them. I'm simply pursuing another avenue in the search to find a cure for Autism and Lyme at the same time, helping relieve the stress and pain of families all over the globe.

Sources:
www.lymeinducedautism.com
www.canlyme.com
www.columbia-lyme.org
improvingautism.wordpress.com
www.talkaboutcuringautism.org

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Wellness by Terra Wellington



Terra Wellington is my sister and a wellness expert. Her official website is located at www.terrawellington.com. These videos offer a sample of her expertise.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Sabbath Day, February 24, 2008

What a great country we live in, this great United States of America, that we have the freedom to practice our religion.

"Freedom of religion is a guarantee by a government for freedom of belief for individuals and freedom of worship for individuals and groups. It is generally recognized to also include the freedom not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many in many nations and people to be a fundamental human right."
-The freedom of religion as stated by Wikipedia

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sunday is a day of rest from our weekly schedule of work. Today is a day that we reserve for worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here is a description of one of our beliefs.

Mormon.org
"The Book of Mormon is a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. It helps us understand His teachings, including those in the Bible. Examples of Book of Mormon witnesses of Christ include:

Nephi, who saw the birth and death of Christ in a vision ( 1 Nephi 11:13–15).
The brother of Jared, who saw the Lord because of his great faith ( Ether 3:7–16).
The prophet Samuel the Lamanite, who prophesied of Christ’s coming and gave the signs of His birth and death ( Helaman 13–14).

Christ Himself, who, after His Resurrection, appeared to the people of ancient America and invited them to come forward one by one to see and touch Him until “they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves” ( 3 Nephi 11:13–17).
In the Bible, Jesus told His Apostles, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” ( John 10:16). Soon after He was resurrected, the Lord visited these “other sheep”—the inhabitants of ancient America. During this visit to the American continent (recorded in the Book of Mormon), Jesus Christ:

Invited people to feel the wound marks in His hands and feet and side.

Taught His gospel.

Called twelve disciples to teach His gospel.

Healed the sick.

Prayed for the people.

Performed miracles.

In September 1823, Joseph Smith was visited by a heavenly messenger named Moroni, in the same way that angels often appeared to Church leaders in the New Testament. Moroni informed Joseph that God had a work for him to do and told him that a record of the ancient inhabitants of the American continent was buried in a nearby hill. He stated that the record contained the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ ( Joseph Smith—History 1:27–34).

In September 1827, Joseph received the record, which was written on thin plates of gold. Joseph translated the book into English by the inspiration of God and called the book the Book of Mormon. It is named after Mormon, an ancient prophet who compiled the sacred record. The book verifies, as another testament of Christ, the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ. It is, then, a second witness that affirms the truth of the Bible. Since its publishing in 1830, the Book of Mormon has blessed the lives of millions of people through its powerful message about Jesus Christ and His gospel."


The more I read and re-read the Book of Mormon, the more I understand why my Heavenly Father asked those who wrote their history (spirital and temporal) to record their experiences. There are messenges that I find are fitting for my life each time I read, ponder and pray. I am so grateful for the work that those people in history took to write those words. I am amazed that they were able to write so much detail when it had to be engraven upon plates. I am also grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am grateful that he did as the Lord commanded him to do. He had a choice. If he had made any other choice, we may not have the Book of Mormon today. I am grateful that I have been able to grow and gain much appreciation for this wonderful book and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It took many years to get to the point I am and I would never go back to the way I was before, nor would I change the fact that I had to travel a rough road to get here. My life experiences have made me appreciate much that I would not appreciate otherwise.

Sources:
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org

Friday, February 22, 2008

Lyme Disease Coinfections

So, you've been diagnosed with Lyme disease, but not getting well with your Lyme treatment regimen. If you and your doctor are wondering why you're not getting well, it's time to suspect a coinfection.

"Piroplasms are not bacteria, they are protozoans. Therefore, they will not be eradicated by any of the currently used Lyme treatment regimens. Therein lies the significance of co-infections — if a Lyme patient has been extensively treated yet is still ill, suspect a co-infection."

"Babesia infection is becoming more commonly recognized, especially in patients who already have Lyme Disease. It has been published that as many as 66% of Lyme patients show evidence of co-infection with Babesia. It has also been reported that Babesial infections can range in severity from mild, subclinical infection, to fulminant, potentially life-threatening illness. The more severe presentations are more likely to be seen in immunocompromised and elderly patients. Milder infections are often missed because the symptoms are incorrectly ascribed to Lyme. Babesial infections, even mild ones, may recrudesce and cause severe illness. This phenomenon has been reported to occur at any time, even up to several years after the initial infection."

Krause, PJ. Spielman, A, Telford, SR et.al. Persistent parasitemia after acute Babesiosis N Engl J Med 1998. 339:160

“Furthermore, physicians tend not to recognize Babesial infection in those who are co-infected with the agent of Lyme Disease, because Babesial symptoms tend to be ascribed to Lyme Disease.”
“Physicians caring for patients with moderate to severe Lyme disease should consider obtaining diagnostic tests for Babesiosis and possibly other tick-borne pathogens... especially in patients experiencing "atypical Lyme disease” or patients in whom the response to antibiotic treatment is delayed or absent.”
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation

According to The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, the three most common coinfections with Lyme disease are Babesiosis, Bartonella, and Ehrlichiosis. Studies have shown these infections to be increasingly noted in patients with chronic Lyme disease (reference The ILADS Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease).
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Lyme Info, Coinfections: A Synopsis
"Babesiosis
Explanation: Protozoa that invade, infect, and kill the red blood cells
Symptoms: Fatigue, night sweats, fever, chills, weakness, weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath, headache, neck and back stiffness, dark urine or blood in urine
Treatment: Atovaquone (Mepron) plus Azithromycin (Zithromax), Clindamycin and oral Quinine
Other: Alternative treatment may include Riamet or Artemisinin

Bartonella
Explanation: Bartonella spp. bacterium
Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache and severe pain in the tibia, weight loss, sore throat, papular or angiomatous rash
Treatment: Erythromycin, plus a Fluoroquinolone or Rifampin

Ehrlichiosis (HGE and HME)
Explanation: Rickettsiae that infect the white blood cells
Symptoms: Anemia, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rigors, gastrointestinal symptoms, anorexia, fatigue
Treatment: Doxycycline, Rifampin"


Here is another list, with a bit of variance in symptom description, of the same coinfections. Source: Anapsid.org

Babesia(Babesiosis)
Babesia is a protozoan spread by ticks, blood transfusion, and in utero. Despite there being 13 known forms to date, current testing only looks for two of them.

Air hunger
Cough
Fatigue
Fevers
Headache
Hemolysis
Imbalance without true vertigo
Mild encephalopathy
Shaking chills
Sweats

Bartonella (Bartonellosis, also known as cat scratch fever)
Spread by bites from infected ticks and in utero

abnormal liver enzymes
encephalopathy
endocarditis
flu-like malaise
headache
hemolysis with anemia
hepatomegaly
high fever
immune deficiency
jaundice
lymphadenopathy
myalgias
myocarditis
papular or angiomatous rash
somnolence
sore throat
splenomegaly
weakened immune response

Ehrlichia (Ehrlichiosis)
Bites from infected ticks

elevated liver enzymes
headaches
myalgias
ongoing fatigue
persistent leukopenia
thrombocytopenia


As therapy for these coinfections is changing rapidly as research and recognition is increasing, the above mentioned treatments should be discussed with your healthcare provider and should be researched prior to instigation.

In doing research regarding Lyme disease coinfections I found there to be an overwhelming amount of information available. Again, this should all be reviewed by you and your physician.

Sources:
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society
www.lymeinfo.net
Anapsid.org

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word? Spread the Stupidity

Spread the Stupidity

Only in America
......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America
......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America
......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America
......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America
......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

Only in America
......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

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EVER WONDER...
....Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

....Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

....Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

....Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?

....Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?

....Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

....Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

....Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

....Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

....Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

....Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

....You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes?
Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

....Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

....Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

....If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

....If flying is so safe,why do they call the airport the terminal?

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread the stupidity and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle)...in other words, send it to everyone. We all need to smile every once in a while.

Source:
Dr.Orval L.Petersen
stanfordalumni.org

Monday, February 18, 2008

Presidential Facts. Fun and Interesting.

Here are some fun and interesting presidential facts for this President's Day.

George Washington
1st President
Popular legend says that he had false teeth made of wood. Untrue. However, he did try different pairs made from ivory, silver, and even cow teeth. Mmmm, yummy to chew with cows teeth...yuck!...gotta go brush now!

John Adams
2nd President
"Adams died on the 50th anniversary of the approval of the Declaration of Independence (July 4) -- the same exact day as Thomas Jefferson, the only other signer of the Declaration to become President." Coincidence?

Thomas Jefferson
3rd President
Organized the Lewis and Clark expedition. Meriwether Lewis was Thomas Jefferson's personal secretary. Sending his secretary to do his bidding.

James Madison
4th President
The smallest President in history at 5 feet 4 inches tall and only 100 pounds. Little man.

James Monroe
5th President
The last President to die on the Fourth of July, following Jefferson and Adams by 5 years. Coincidence?

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John Quincy Adams
6th President
"John Quincy Adams often favored swimming nude in the Potomac River. Once, after his clothes were stolen, he had to ask a passerby to retrieve new clothes for him from the White House." His mother must have been proud!

Andrew Jackson
7th President
"Jackson was the target of a failed assassination: He beat the gunman with his cane in the Capitol rotunda after neither of the man's weapons fired properly." Awesome!

Martin Van Buren
8th President
"...born in Kinderhook, New York, and later became known as "Old Kinderhook." In 1840, Democrats formed the "O.K. Club", named after Van Buren's nickname. The term "OK" eventually came to mean "all right"." I always thought that it was "okay".

William Henry Harrison
9th President
The oldest President to ever take office until Ronald Reagan gave the longest inaugural address at 1 hour and 40 minutes long, held the shortest term in office because he died of pneumonia one month later. I guess, based on his inaugural address, he wanted to make the most of his Presidency.

John Tyler
10th President
Nickname: His Accidency, had more children than any other President in history: 15 children by two wives. Was his nickname because of the 15 "oops" children?

James K. Polk
11th President
Pursued the Manifest Destiny, increasing the size of the nation by two-thirds. Imagination is not such a bad thing!

Zachary Taylor
12th President
"Taylor had very short legs. He often needed help mounting a horse, and liked to ride sidesaddle." I wonder if he had to use a stool during his inauguration address.

Millard Fillmore
13th President
Saw his first U.S. map at age 19. He had a lot of catching up to do before becoming President!

Franklin Pierce
14th President
"Franklin Pierce is the great-great-great-uncle of former First Lady Barbara Bush." Interesting...a Democrat!

James Buchanan
15th President
"...always insisted on adhering to the law. His nickname "Ten-Cent Jimmy" recalls his insistence on precise bookkeeping." Too bad he can't be resurrected!

Abraham Lincoln
16th President
The tallest President at 6 feet and 4 inches tall. I'm sure this helped him during his speeches!

Andrew Johnson
17th President
"...once opened a tailor's shop, and continued to make his own clothes even after being elected to public office." Way to make use of your public office time!

Ulysses S. Grant
18th President
"...was once stopped for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage, and had to walk back to the White House after the officer confiscated his vehicle." I had no idea there were speed-limits for horse-drawn carriages!

Rutherford B. Hayes
19th President
"While Hayes was President, Alexander Graham Bell personally installed the first White House telephone, and Thomas Edison visited to demonstrate his new phonograph." Did they have anyone else that had a phone that they could call?

James Garfield
20th President
The first President to be able to write left-handed. "...in fact he was ambidextrous, which means he was able to write with either hand." Gifted! Could he think with both sides of his brain as well?

Chester Arthur
21st President
Known for changing his clothes for each occasion of the day, it was rumored that he owned 80 pairs of pants. Did the tax-payers pay for all of those pants?

Grover Cleveland
22nd and 24th President
"Grover's daughter Ruth was nicknamed "Baby Ruth", and eventually had a candy bar named after her." Yummy!

Benjamin Harrison
23rd President
His grandfather was William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the U.S. and they are the only grandfather-grandson pair of Presidents. Runs in the family.

William McKinley
25th President
The only President between Andrew Johnson and Woodrow Wilson not to have facial hair. Finally, a man who doesn't have to prove it through facial hair!

Theodore Roosevelt
26th President
He had the "teddy bear" named for him after sparing the life of a bear cub during a hunting trip. Awh, how sweet!

William Howard Taft
27th President
He got stuck in the standard-size tub in the White House, so he had an oversize tub installed. He once fell asleep during his own parade. The invention of the Garden Tub?

Woodrow Wilson
28th President
"In support for a nationwide rationing program during the war, the Wilsons let sheep roam the White House lawn for a natural "mow" to save gas and labor." I guess that included free fertlizer...including the labor.

Warren G. Harding
29th President
The election in which he won by a landslide was the first election in which women were allowed to vote nationwide. You were the man!

Calvin Coolidge
30th President
As a child, his favorite chore was making maple syrup. Pretty Cool.

Herbert Hoover
31st President
"Although Hoover refused to be paid for his public service, he became a multimillionaire during his earlier years as a geologist." Didn't clean-up the economy though.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
32nd President
"Franklin Roosevelt married his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt. At their wedding, she was given away by her uncle, Theodore Roosevelt." OK?

Harry S. Truman
33rd President
"The S in Harry S. Truman doesn't stand for a middle name. It's actually a letter chosen by his parents to honor both of their fathers, whose names started with an S." What were their father's names?

Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th President
The presidential retreat in Maryland, originally named Shangri-La, was changed to Camp David. The Eisenhowers changed the name in honor of their grandson. Changed from Shangri-La?

John F. Kennedy
35th President
"Kennedy's funeral was modeled after that of Abraham Lincoln." Assassination=conspiracy believer's heaven.

Lyndon B. Johnson
36th President
"President and First Lady Johnson, the Johnson daughters, their Texas ranch, and even their family dog bore names that yielded the initials L.B.J." Easy to put the initials on the linens.

Richard M. Nixon
37th President
Nicknamed "Tricky Dick" because of the dirty tricks he used like illegal campaign funding and character attacks on opponents to get elected, etc. His nickname says it all.

Gerald Ford
38th President
Had offers to play professional football but chose to attend law school instead. What team would he have played on? Who would have become President if he had gone a different direction?

Jimmy Carter
39th President
Nicknamed "Jimmy Cardigan" after wearing a sweater instead of a suit during a televised address. Nuts, huh?

Ronald Reagan
40th President
"Before his political career, Reagan was best known as an actor. He moved to Hollywood in 1937, and made 53 movies in the three decades that followed." Remember "Reaganomics"?

George Bush
41st President
"During the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s, the U.S. led an international effort to liberate Kuwait, a small, oil rich country in the Middle East, from its neighbor Iraq, ruled by Saddam Hussein." Sound familiar?

William Jefferson Clinton
42nd President
1998-scandal..."Kenneth Star accused Clinton of breaking the law while he tried to conceal a romantic relationship he had with a White House intern." Remember the other issues with the law and the impeachment? Now...think...his wife is trying to enter the White House with him as first lady.

George W. Bush
43rd President
"Before he was elected governor of Texas, Bush became an owner and manager of the Texas Rangers baseball team." What else will there be to this history? Too much to write here.

What will the next President leave us with? It's up to us to decide. Look back at history and decide what you want for your future leader.

Source:
National Geographic: U.S. Presidents Flash Facts

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Sabbath Day, February 17, 2008

What a great country we live in, this great United States of America, that we have the freedom to practice our religion.

"Freedom of religion is a guarantee by a government for freedom of belief for individuals and freedom of worship for individuals and groups. It is generally recognized to also include the freedom not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many in many nations and people to be a fundamental human right."
-The freedom of religion as stated by Wikipedia

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sunday is a day of rest from our weekly schedule of work. Today is a day that we reserve for worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here is a description of one of our beliefs.

The following information comes from www.mormon.org

"The Restoration of Truth
The Restoration of the Priesthood

Throughout time, God has given His servants, the prophets, the authority to act in His name. This authority is called the priesthood. Jesus Christ gave the priesthood to His original Twelve Apostles, and they directed the work of His Church after Jesus ascended to heaven. After the Apostles were killed, the priesthood gradually disappeared from the earth.

In 1829, Joseph Smith received the restored priesthood authority to organize Christ’s Church. John the Baptist appeared and conferred upon Joseph Smith and his associate Oliver Cowdery the Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the authority to perform the ordinance of baptism. Later, Peter, James, and John (three of Christ’s original Apostles) appeared and conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, restoring the same authority given to Christ’s Apostles anciently. In 1830, with this priesthood authority, the same Church of Jesus Christ that existed centuries ago was organized and restored to the earth by Joseph Smith.

A living prophet—the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—is the authorized successor to Joseph Smith. He and the present Apostles trace their authority to Jesus Christ in an unbroken chain of ordinations through Joseph Smith.

All male members of the Church who are worthy and prepared may receive the priesthood to help lead the Church and serve Heavenly Father’s children. A man with the priesthood might serve by leading congregations of the Church, performing the ordinances of the Church (such as baptism), and blessing those who are sick. God expects those who hold this sacred priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ and serve with love, gentleness, and kindness."


This Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a blessing everyday in my life. I can see how living its principles everyday changes my views to positive instead of negative. There is peace at home, with my relationships, with my activities outside of home, and a better balance overall.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

An LDS President Funeral

A remake of the video developed following the funeral of LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley. This remake includes video that the first issue was unable to incorporate.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Great Expectations

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Great Expectations
by Natasha Call

Birth. Front seat on the roller coaster of life
Children’s innocence destroyed prematurely
Waking hours full of separation and strife
Parents away to make their existence pearly

Adult responsibilities no later than age three
Days filled with strangers tying their laces
No. For children the tremulous ride isn’t free
Expecting all the more of their parents’ faces

What do children unfortunately learn to expect?
A bumpy ride, no explanation and gifts to make up
What should children have confidence to expect?
Together time. Parents never give their seat up

Joy. A ride parents and children greatly appreciate
Enhancing positive success of the next generation
The miracle of creation. Parents it isn’t too late
Together you’re creating the outcome of a nation



Creative Commons License


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Open The Shades To "Windows Movie Maker"



This is a video that I created, following the funeral of President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As you may see, it is built from a slide-show of photos with transitions and effects and not any actual video. This production process was quite a frustrating one. In fact, this is the first video that I prepared on my "Windows Movie Maker" software with Windows Vista.

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If you have used this software, attempting to utilize your digital video files from your camera phone or from your digital camera, you are aware of the source of my frustration.

Attending a function, carefully documenting each detail with photos and digital video, is plenty of work on its own. Now you get the photos and the video home, download them to your computer, and attempt to utilize this exciting "Windows Movie Maker" software. Your mind is beaming with all of the possibilities of your masterpiece.

Importing photos is extremely easy. So you get excited for the next step of importing your video. You attempt to import one clip, finding the error...

.MOV cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again.


You think this particular clip is bad or is the cause of the error, so you attempt to import another. Again, you view the identical error.

Looking online for a fix is next to impossible, as I found that I was far from the only one with this issue. Since "Windows Movie Maker" takes pretty much any format besides the .MOV, you decide to look for a converter. Of course, there are a plethora of offers for free downloads for converting tools. Though they are free for a trial period, after you convert one of your video files, you realize why they are free. THE GIGANTIC LOGO OVER THE ENTIRE SCREEN OF THE VIDEO ADVERTISING THE SOFTWARE. Can you say...cheesy!?

www.cnet.com
My Windows Movie maker keeps freezing & its driving me insane! I noticed its also happening to a lot of other people. Is there any remedy to this problem??


I would like to know why it doesn’t let you open a previous saved project if it’s not in the same format. Does any1 know if this can be changed and how would you get it to burn on to a dvd disc.


Windows Movie Maker is the worst video editing software I have ever used. Its limitations are frustrating and it is prone to freezing up, resulting in lost work and time. The solution to the freeze-ups? Invest in a better program.


So, I decided to check out my YouTube account to see if there were any options there. After all, I had a lot of videos, a lot of photos, a lot of imagination, and not much I could do with it all.

I uploaded one of my video clips to their site and found there to be an option to use to YouTube Remixer (Engine by Adobe Premiere Express). I decide that I would upload all of my video and attempt to utilize this tool. Once I uploaded all of my video, I attempted to get into the "Remixer" which then posted a message that it was waiting for the server...for the next three hours.

Next, with my frustration at its height, I decided to improvise utilizing Microsoft Publisher with WordArt and my photos, along with "Windows Movie Maker" and some simple music. Thus, this video created for YouTube.

I am frustrated that "Windows Movie Maker" has no way to accept .MOV files and that there is not a fix by Vista without purchase (that I have been able to locate...anywhere).

Lessons learned regarding color and clarity…I put in a slide of a poem called "The Master Bridge Builder". The poem looked really clear (easy to read) on "Windows Movie Maker". However, on YouTube the poem is mostly a blur. The font for that length of a poem needs to be larger and needs to be white if there is that dark background ...definitely on multiple slides (or clips). Additionally, many of the photos that were clear on "Windows Movie Maker" were a blur on YouTube. These were taken of items from the event itself with a dark background. If they were done with a lighter background they would have, most likely, been clearer.

Going back to YouTube, I am having similar issues with my videos in the "Remixer" once I have been able to go back. The "Remixer" only shows the video I made through "Windows Movie Maker"...the slide-show. The others in the .MOV format will not show up in the "Remixer". At this point, I have stopped fumbling with them out of frustration.

Sources:
YouTube
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Vista
Microsoft Publisher
www.cnet.com

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Sabbath Day, February 10, 2008

What a great country we live in, this great United States of America, that we have the freedom to practice our religion.

"Freedom of religion is a guarantee by a government for freedom of belief for individuals and freedom of worship for individuals and groups. It is generally recognized to also include the freedom not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many in many nations and people to be a fundamental human right."
-The freedom of religion as stated by Wikipedia

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sunday is a day of rest from our weekly schedule of work. Today is a day that we reserve for worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here is a description of one of our beliefs

The Restoration of Truth
The Great Apostasy
Apostasy Following the death of Jesus Christ, wicked people persecuted and killed many Church members, and other Church members drifted from the principles taught by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. The Apostles were killed and the priesthood authority—including the keys to direct and receive revelation for the Church—was taken from the earth ( 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3). Because the Church was no longer led by priesthood authority and revelation, error crept into Church teachings. Good people and much truth remained, but the gospel as established by Jesus Christ was lost, resulting in a period called the Great Apostasy.

This apostasy led to the formation of many churches with conflicting teachings. Without the full gospel or the priesthood authority, people relied on human wisdom to interpret the scriptures and the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. False ideas were taught as truth, and much of the knowledge of the true character and nature of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost was lost. The doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost became distorted or forgotten. Each generation inherited a state of apostasy, as people were influenced by what previous generations passed on, including changes to Christ’s gospel. Some inspired people, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, recognized that practices and doctrines had been changed or lost and tried to reform the churches to which they belonged. Without the priesthood authority, however, Christ’s gospel could not be returned to its original form.

After centuries of spiritual darkness, a restoration of truth was needed. Under the Direction of our Heavenly Father, the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored on the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. God has promised it will never be taken from His children again.


For a video on this topic, please see the link here

For more information regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please see the following sources:

www.mormon.org
www.lds.org

Saturday, February 9, 2008

"Windows Movie Maker"...Frustration Alert!



This is a video that I created, following the funeral of President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As you may see, it is built from a slide-show of photos with transitions and effects and not any actual video. This production process was quite a frustrating one. In fact, this is the first video that I prepared on my "Windows Movie Maker" software with Windows Vista.

If you have used this software, attempting to utilize your digital video files from your camera phone or from your digital camera, you are aware of the source of my frustration.

Attending a function, carefully documenting each detail with photos and digital video, is plenty of work on its own. Now you get the photos and the video home, download them to your computer, and attempt to utilize this exciting "Windows Movie Maker" software. Your mind is beaming with all of the possibilities of your masterpiece.

Importing photos is extremely easy. So you get excited for the next step of importing your video. You attempt to import one clip, finding the error...

.MOV cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again.


You think this particular clip is bad or is the cause of the error, so you attempt to import another. Again, you view the identical error.

Looking online for a fix is next to impossible, as I found that I was far from the only one with this issue. Since "Windows Movie Maker" takes pretty much any format besides the .MOV, you decide to look for a converter. Of course, there are a plethora of offers for free downloads for converting tools. Though they are free for a trial period, after you convert one of your video files, you realize why they are free. THE GIGANTIC LOGO OVER THE ENTIRE SCREEN OF THE VIDEO ADVERTISING THE SOFTWARE. Can you say...cheesy!?

www.cnet.com
My Windows Movie maker keeps freezing & its driving me insane! I noticed its also happening to a lot of other people. Is there any remedy to this problem??


I would like to know why it doesn’t let you open a previous saved project if it’s not in the same format. Does any1 know if this can be changed and how would you get it to burn on to a dvd disc.


Windows Movie Maker is the worst video editing software I have ever used. Its limitations are frustrating and it is prone to freezing up, resulting in lost work and time. The solution to the freeze-ups? Invest in a better program.


So, I decided to check out my YouTube account to see if there were any options there. After all, I had a lot of videos, a lot of photos, a lot of imagination, and not much I could do with it all.

I uploaded one of my video clips to their site and found there to be an option to use to YouTube Remixer (Engine by Adobe Premiere Express). I decide that I would upload all of my video and attempt to utilize this tool. Once I uploaded all of my video, I attempted to get into the "Remixer" which then posted a message that it was waiting for the server...for the next three hours.

Next, with my frustration at its height, I decided to improvise utilizing Microsoft Publisher with WordArt and my photos, along with "Windows Movie Maker" and some simple music. Thus, this video created for YouTube.

I am frustrated that "Windows Movie Maker" has no way to accept .MOV files and that there is not a fix by Vista without purchase (that I have been able to locate...anywhere).

Lessons learned regarding color and clarity…I put in a slide of a poem called "The Master Bridge Builder". The poem looked really clear (easy to read) on "Windows Movie Maker". However, on YouTube the poem is mostly a blur. The font for that length of a poem needs to be larger and needs to be white if there is that dark background ...definitely on multiple slides (or clips). Additionally, many of the photos that were clear on "Windows Movie Maker" were a blur on YouTube. These were taken of items from the event itself with a dark background. If they were done with a lighter background they would have, most likely, been clearer.

Going back to YouTube, I am having similar issues with my videos in the "Remixer" once I have been able to go back. The "Remixer" only shows the video I made through "Windows Movie Maker"...the slide-show. The others in the .MOV format will not show up in the "Remixer". At this point, I have stopped fumbling with them out of frustration.

Sources:
YouTube
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Vista
Microsoft Publisher
www.cnet.com

Friday, February 8, 2008

Chronic Fatigue and Lyme Disease

Interestingly, in my research regarding Lyme disease, I have made a discovery. This discovery may not be much to someone who is not fighting the battle of the disease. This discovery may not mean much to someone who is not fighting the battle to gain awareness for testing. However, with both of those battles in my lap, I feel the following linked article to be a great discovery.

www.chronicfatiguesupport.com

As you read the article, you begin to realize that someone is acknowledging factors that others are not willing to acknowledge.

First, this comes from Chronic Fatigue Support.com. They are acknowledging that Chronic Fatigue may actually be Lyme disease.

Second is a statement that I have not seen in print, but gathered from many locations and sources into one and this link seems to sum it up rather profoundly.

"The incidence of asymptomatic infection has not been adequately delineated. There appear to be substantial numbers of patients who remain asymptomatic, but reactivate their disease a number of months or years later, following trauma, pregnancy, a medical illness for which an antibiotic is prescribed, or other stresses, including psychological stresses. The Lyme OspA vaccine has appeared to reactivate Lyme disease in a number of individuals who knew, but some who did not know, they had prior Lyme disease. The mechanisms responsible for the reactivation of the disease have not been defined, but may include both molecular mimicry and underlying infection."


Third, that many in the medical field don't recognize that there is Chronic Lyme disease or Late-Lyme disease. In this article, they are refuting those claims.

"That chronic Lyme Disease actually exists, and is likely the most common form of the disease, is supported by epidemiologic studies demonstrating that 30-50-% of treated and untreated patients go on to develop a multisymptom disorder typical of, and indistinguishable from, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue (1, 28). As with other multisymptom disorders, chronic Lyme disease is a clinical syndrome consisting of fatigue, arthralgias and myalgias,and other nervous system dysfunction(7).

Furthermore, the results of treatment studies appear to support the hypothesis that persistent infection is responsible for the chronic symptoms. It is likely that Lyme disease will serve as a useful model for other chronic multisymptom disorders. Whether the pathogenesis of "late" Lyme Disease differs from that of the chronic form of the disease remains to be established."


This last point is one that arguably could save the U.S. economy millions of dollars in healthcare costs, as well as saving lives and relieving stress of the individuals and families involved.

Sources:
Chronic Fatigue Support.com

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Mitt Romney Suspends Candidacy For Republican Party

As you all know by now, a well respected candidate has step out of the race for President of the United States of America. This man more concerned with the direction of his country, Mitt Romney decided he would rather that the Republican party proceed to the White House and sacrifice his own candidacy than see the U.S. fail in the hands of the Democratic Candidates.

Here is a link to his site which thanks those who voted for him, helped him in promoting and driving his candidacy forward, his staff, etc.

www.mittromney.com

Websites independently promoting Mitt Romney in other countries have produced harsh words of criticism, illuminating that he was railroaded from the beginning. Unfortunately, these comments will not help us now that the deed has been done. However, looking past these comments you see those who really cared for Mitt Romney, his campaign, and the greater good of our nation, as our actions affect every nation on a global scale.

"Here is what I wish for you now America, you proud arrogant nation, I hope you get a McCain Huckabee ticket, and I hope it goes all the way, I want you to taste the ramifications of your decisions. This may be a surprise to you, but this isn't a highschool popularity contest, well at least it should not have been, but you treated it as though it was, voting McCain most likely to succeed, Huckabee the most spiritual, and Romney got best eyes and hair. Well guess what, you are choosing a president of your country, actually you were supposed to, instead what you've found is a puppet. Either McCain, Obama, or Clinton will all be figureheads with a whole administrations agenda running their actions."
Canadians For Mitt

To know the history behind the man, Mitt Romney, here is a link that may tell his story in details you have probably never heard.
The Making of Mitt Romney

I could go on about my own opinions, that he would be the best President for the U.S. and than I don't know where we go from here. However, so many have expressed opinion and at this point opinion is only more words that you would read and wonder why I wrote them when there is no chance that he will be the next President.

The remainder of this Presidential Race for the White House shall be an interesting road. No one really knows the direction our country will take or the policies that may affect us once the new President resides in the White House.

One thing is certain. The path of the United States of America has never been this winding, this divided, this potentially nefarious in its history. I wonder what the Founding Fathers say as they are watching this from the other side. I'm sure they are shaking their heads in disgust because this country far from the path that will keep our Constitution intact.

Sources:

www.mittromney.com
canadiansformitt.blogspot.com
www.boston.com

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Westboro and Hinckley. Nearly a No Show.


Since my post, dated January 30, 2008, regarding the Westboro Baptist Church and their protests, I attended the funeral of the beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Upon arriving downtown Salt Lake City, by train, I expected to see numerous protesters spewing hatred across the city streets near the Conference Center where the funeral was being held. To my pleased surprise, there was merely a single protester and a single anti-protester (“peacemaker”).

Of course, the freezing weather could have played a factor. However, I'd like to think that it was the great management of the hate group by the city that broke apart their planned picketing before they arrived. There was numerous security personnel surrounding the site of the funeral, as well as those allocated directly to those protesting, keeping them a distance from the funeral site and the attendees.

In order for the single protester to be heard, he had to yell at the top of his lungs. Anticipating that his message from the WBC would resonate, all that could be heard was the yell of an angry soul, without any clear worded message attached.

This protester probably lost his voice or became too cold because, once we re-entered the city streets following the conclusion of the funeral, the protester was nowhere to be seen. Thus, the anti-protester was able to go about their daily life, having tried to do good for those who were attending the funeral and grieving.

The anti-protester was extremely quiet, holding a sign that stated that God loves everyone (or something to that extent), also holding a bundle of heart-shaped helium balloons, which enunciated their point. That lone person endorsed a sense of peace and calm. Thank you for your bravery and for standing in the cold next to the angry, yelling Westboro protestor, not knowing how many protesters you’d actually be up against.

The funeral became the honor that it was meant to be and all is well.

The Patriot Riders handled the Lauterbach funeral with gracefulness as usual. For their great site, please see this link -here-.

With the hate spewed by the Westboro Baptist Church, their mission is clear. What seems unclear is how they are able to continue spreading hate without legal intervention or prosecution according to hate crime laws.

Sources:

www.ksl.com
www.patriotguard.org
www.godhatesfags.com (Westboro Church)

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Sabbath Day, February 3, 2008

What a great country we live in, this great United States of America, that we have the freedom to practice our religion.

"Freedom of religion is a guarantee by a government for freedom of belief for individuals and freedom of worship for individuals and groups. It is generally recognized to also include the freedom not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many in many nations and people to be a fundamental human right."
-The freedom of religion as stated by Wikipedia

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sunday is a day of rest from our weekly schedule of work. Today is a day that we reserve for worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here is a description of one of our beliefs.

The following information comes from www.mormon.org Click Here For Link

The Restoration of Truth
Jesus Christ established His Church

A few hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, people had fallen into apostasy. When the Savior began His mortal ministry, He restored His gospel and established His Church again on the earth. He built His Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, He himself being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

Jesus Christ called twelve men to be His Apostles—including Peter, James, and John—and laid His hands on their heads to give them priesthood authority ( Matthew 10:1; John 15:16; Matthew 28:19-20). Before the Savior’s death and Resurrection, He gave His Apostles priesthood authority to teach His gospel, perform the ordinances of salvation, and continue to establish His Church in the world.

The Savior's coming fulfilled prophecy. He set a godly example and showed men what Heavenly Father was like. Yet He was rejected of men and crucified. He made the Atonement by suffering for the sins of all men. After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ guided His Apostles through revelation, making the Church of Jesus Christ a church led by God and not by men ( Acts 10; Revelation 1:1).

In addition to the Twelve Apostles, Christ appointed other leaders to assist the Apostles in the work of His Church. These included:

Seventies (missionaries)
Evangelists (patriarchs)
Pastors (presiding leaders)
Elders
Bishops
Priests
Teachers
Deacons


These officers were given the authority (or priesthood) necessary to do the work of Christ’s Church. They did missionary work, performed ordinances such as baptism, presided over congregations, and instructed and inspired Church members. As long as those who had the priesthood were alive, the Church grew and prospered.

When His followers asked Jesus Christ what kind of people He wanted them to be, His answer was simple: “Even as I am” ( 3 Nephi 27:27).

Jesus showed you by His example and His teachings how you should live to be able to return to your Father in Heaven. Although you make mistakes, as you sincerely repent of your mistakes and try to follow the example of Jesus Christ, your life will be filled with peace and inner joy, regardless of the circumstances around you.

From the beginning, God has called special witnesses, known as prophets, and commanded them to keep records of His dealings with His children. Both the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon are such records. The Holy Bible contains a record of Jesus Christ’s dealings with and ministry to the people in the Holy Land. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a record of Christ’s dealings with and His appearance to the people of ancient America. Both books teach about our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and of Their love for us.


I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I feel of the spirit each day as I study my scriptures, pray, and ponder them in my heart. Those who came before us were given revelation to write those things that they wrote in the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible. I feel truly indebted to those great men for the work it took them to record the spiritual, emotional, and historical events of their times.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Lyme Testing

The CDC recommends certain protocols regarding testing for Lyme disease.

If you are one of the many patients suffering from the symptoms listed on my post from January 5, 2008 Link Here , or a medical practitioner who has a patient with these symptoms, please do not hesitate to test them for Lyme disease.

The following is the testing protocol recommended by the CDC for Lyme disease.

"CDC recommends a two-step process when testing blood for evidence of Lyme disease. Both steps can be done using the same blood sample.

1) The first step uses an ELISA or IFA test. These tests are designed to be very "sensitive," meaning that almost everyone with Lyme disease, and some people who don't have Lyme disease, will test positive. If the ELISA or IFA is negative, it is highly unlikely that the person has Lyme disease, and no further testing is recommended. If the ELISA or IFA is positive or indeterminate (sometimes called "equivocal"), a second step should be performed to confirm the results.

2) The second step uses a Western blot test. Used appropriately, this test is designed to be "specific," meaning that it will usually be positive only if a person has been truly infected. If the Western blot is negative, it suggests that the first test was a false positive, which can occur for several reasons. Sometimes two types of Western blot are performed, "IgM" and "IgG." Patients who are positive by IgM but not IgG should have the test repeated a few weeks later if they remain ill. If they are still positive only by IgM and have been ill longer than one month, this is likely a false positive.

CDC does not recommend testing blood by Western blot without first testing it by ELISA or IFA."


As stated in my post, dated January 19, 2008 Link Here , if you initially have a negative result from the ELISA test, re-test, as there are many instances when there are false negative results and many people actually find that they have Lyme disease.

Here are some general comments from others who have been through the testing and treatment ordeal. Disclaimer: These are strictly opinions and may contain information that individuals may state is factual. All stated as fact has not been verified as factual. Link Here

"The Infectious Disease doctors I've worked with are usually very reluctant to diagnose Lyme disease even with a positive test. It looks like a lot of other diseases as the summary states."

******
"More than any two week treatment of antibiotics that your average physician would prescribe for Lyme.
I improved moderately under their care – but I've seen people whose lives were completely turned around. They went from being completely debilitated to living on their own, getting jobs, and just being healthy. I've seen autistic children treated by these doctors who had previously been unable to function around people - and after weeks and months of treatment, it became obvious that they were doing much better.
Such medical journals that dispute the existence chronic Lyme make a very compelling argument, but then again, I've been sick for 8 years and continue to improve under the guise of being treated for chronic Lyme."

******
"If you have the bullseye, you're lucky. Only approximately 30% do. It is true, that if you see it and catch it early, you can eradicate it before it gets into organs or the central nervous system. I however, was not so lucky and floundered around for 4 years worth of "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" "Chronic Mono" diagnoses that went nowhere."

******
"They have found that Lyme disease mimics many of the major symptoms of these diseases. I have Lyme and I have been taking both drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's to help alleviate my symptoms. Further there is more and more evidence showing that many of these diseases may have roots in Lyme disease. Since Lyme is still very hard to diagnose it makes studying this even harder, but I can tell you in the Lyme clinic I go to, there are people there that have been diagnosed with everything from schizophrenia to Alzheimer's and ALL have made a recovery."

******
"At the age of 10 I had chronic headaches and inflammation in my leg joints to a point where I couldn't walk without experiencing excruciating pain. Over 2 years, I saw many doctors and was told that I had juvenile arthritis, was a generally weak person and needed to exercise, that I was born with one longer leg, that I was experiencing growing pains, etc etc. It was only until I was referred to a specialist for an x-ray that he took a single look and knew immediately that I had Lyme disease. Two months of anti-biotics and anti-inflammatories later, I was free, (and very pissed at my previous physicians)."

******
"I'm 27 now, I've had symptoms since I was 14 years old. For the past 3 years I've been taking antibiotics. It’s a slow recovery but long term antibiotics do help, immensely. I'm now recovering. There are a few issues I still have but I am so much better then I was when I started treatment. Lyme Disease has taken 13 years away from my life and what scared me the most is that I didn't know what they hell was happening for the first 7. It wasn't until my mom found this research center and they matched my symptoms for a Lyme disease test. Even after that, most doctors I see are reluctant to even admit I've been sick. I got to my doctor every week for shots and the therapy is expensive. To make things worse the Infectious Disease Doctors Association just released new guidelines earlier this year that pretty much rule out most cases of chronic Lyme. The Lyme community is up in arms about this, and if you think you may have been suffering from Lyme do not go to one these quacks. They will simply tell you that Lyme doesn't exist and the most amount of antibiotics you will get out of them is 4 weeks. Now mind you there is no evidence showing that 4 weeks of antibiotics even helps. They know this and still will not back down. Its makes me mad but I know I am extremely lucky to have found a doctor who knows how to treat chronic Lyme. I am not where religious but I have to say it is a blessing."

******
"For Lyme Disease? There are tests, it's just that most of the commonly performed tests (ELISA) can be wildly inaccurate and false negatives are common. PCR testing is apparently more reliable and accurate, with a PCR test they actually can determine whether or not you have DNA from the Lyme Borrelia spirochete in your body. False negatives are much, much rarer with PCR testing.

The other problem is treatment of the disease. The standard medical procedure is to treat with antibiotics for a few weeks and that should kill the infection, and in many cases it can, but some sufferers develop a chronic condition which can last years. Many sufferers visit so-called "Lyme Literate MDs" who actually know a bit about the condition, and how to treat it more effectively.

See the problem with the Lyme spirochete is that it is a really, *really* stubborn pathogen that likes to stick around in your body and has a whole host of defense mechanisms to avoid being killed. It can hide beyond the blood-brain barrier where some antibiotics can not reach, it can invade other cells to "hide" from the immune system, it can also morph it's form into "spheroblasts" where it goes into a kind of stasis or hibernation, and while in it's little protective bubble it is unaffected by standard antibiotics and goes relatively unnoticed by the immune system. When it's in this form you need to use antiparasitic drugs like Flagyl to destroy it.

It really is a royal pain in the arse to treat and eradicate, it's the Houdini of the microbe world, it seems like no matter what you throw at it, it has another trick up it's sleeve. How do I know so much about it? I was bitten by ticks five years ago and I endured illness for three years after, with countless doctor visits, MRIs, months of antibiotics and huge medical expenses. Thankfully, I now appear to be on the mend.

All I can tell you is this: knowing what I know *now*, DO NOT get bitten by a tick. Even if they don't carry Lyme, they can inject you with all kinds of nasty toxins and microbes. If you are in a known Lyme Disease danger area, and you are bitten, seek treatment by a Lyme Literate doctor IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT accept "there is no bullseye rash (Erythema migrans), so it cannot be Lyme" from your doctor, because the rash generally appears in less than 30% of cases. The quicker you treat it, the better chance you have of full recovery."

******
As you can read from the above comments, there are many differing experiences regarding Lyme disease, diagnosing, and treatment. The important piece of information that I wish my readers to take from this is that testing may lead you to the answer you have been seeking. If the tests ultimately end up with a final negative, at least you will have found that Lyme disease is no longer on your list of optional diseases for your symptoms. If you find that Lyme disease is your culprit, you will find great relief in mind, body, soul, and pocket-book.

Sources:

http://issuesoncall.blogspot.com (previous posts with sources)
CDC
Digg