Lyme disease. What's the big deal?

Plum Island. Do you know what they do there?

LAB: 257 Plum Island

The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory 

by Michael C Carroll 

Nestled near the Hamptons, the fashionable summer playground of America's rich and famous, and in the shadow of New York City, lies an unimposing 840-acre island unidentified on most maps. On the few on which it can be found, Plum Island is marked red or yellow, and stamped U.S. government—restricted or dangerous animal diseases. Though many people live the good life within a scant mile or two from its shores, few know the name of this pork chop–shaped island. Even fewer can say whether it is inhabited, or why it doesn't exist on the map. That's all about to change. 

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory blows the lid off the stunning true nature and checkered history of Plum Island. It shows that the seemingly bucolic island on the edge of the largest population center in the United States is a ticking biological time bomb that none of us can safely ignore. 

Based on innumerable declassified government documents, scores of in- depth interviews, and access to Plum Island itself, this is an eye- opening, suspenseful account of a federal government germ laboratory gone terribly wrong. For the first time, Lab 257 takes you deep inside this secret world and presents startling revelations including virus outbreaks, biological meltdowns, infected workers who were denied assistance in diagnosis by Plum Island brass, the periodic flushing of contaminated raw sewage into area waters, and the insidious connections between Plum Island, Lyme disease, and the deadly 1999 West Nile virus outbreak. 

An exploration of the complex world of microbiology, viruses, and bacteria, Lab 257 also shows how the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which ran Plum Island for the last half century, is far more than wholesome grade-A eggs and the food pyramid. The book probes what's in store for Plum Island's new owner, the Department of Homeland Security, in this age of bioterrorism. And for those interested in questions of national security and safety, it is a call to action for those concerned with protecting present and future generations from preventable biological catastrophes. 

Lab 257 will change forever our current understanding of Plum Island - - a place that is, in the words of one insider, "a biological Three Mile Island."


http://www.canlyme.com/lab257.html

Trying New Treatment for Lyme Disease

Colfax man tries new treatment for Lyme disease
Gloria Beverage, Colfax Record editor

Colfax Record file photo
Jeremiah “Jimmy” Katches, who began showing signs of Lyme disease in 2004, recently received a port, which pumps antibiotics directly into his body. With Katches is his wife, Kristy and their two daughters, Kayle and Kameron.
By Gloria Beverage

Colfax Record Editor

Colfax resident Jeremiah “Jimmy” Katches is cautiously optimistic about winning his battle against Lyme disease.

Last year a group of residents hosted a fundraiser for the 27-year-old former soldier, who began showing signs of the tick-borne infection while in basic training in 2004.

The goal was to fund an IV antibiotic therapy that Katches hoped would help rid his body of the debilitating disease.

While enough money was raised to enable him to start the therapy, it didn’t help.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I have been getting a lot worse,” he said last week. “In October, I got a port put in my chest.”

The new treatment feeds the antibiotics directly into his heart and chest, he explained.

“It’s too early to tell how it’s doing so far,” he said. “I have a good day every once in a while. For the most part, it’s getting a lot worse.”

Unable to keep food down, Katches has dropped from 150 pounds to 128.

“My whole body is in pain and I get really bad headaches every day,” he said.

Still, he’s hopeful the latest treatment is beginning to have an impact.

“For the last week or so I’ve been able to keep down a little bit more,” Katches said. “I’m really hopeful about this port. I know a lot of other people with Lyme that it has really helped. I hope it will do the same for me.”

For Katches, then, a really good day means he’s able to get out of the house for a length of time.

Usually it’s a short drive into Colfax to pick out a couple of videos at Pick A Flick. Two weeks ago, however, he went to the movies.

Katches believes his battle with Lyme disease started during basic training for the U.S. Army in Missouri.

After a day in the field doing simulated combat, Katches found three ticks on his body. He pulled them off, but a week later found a bulls-eye rash on his forearm. It wasn’t long before he began having flu-like symptoms.

When the symptoms didn’t clear up, Katches was given a medical discharge.

Back in Colfax, Katches tested positive for Lyme disease and began seeing a specialist in October 2005.

By 2008, the Veterans Administration declared him disabled. Although they offered health care, they still will not acknowledge nor treat him for Lyme disease, Katches said.

Unable to work, Katches was finally able to begin receiving disability pay two months ago.

“My wife has been awesome,” he said. “She’s helping me get through everything. She takes care of me. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

Kristy only works two days a week at a Colfax church and home-schools their two daughters: Kayley, 7 and Kameron, 3.

“I’m very thankful for everybody in the community who has encouraged me,” he said, adding he’s received countless words of support from Don Cunningham, co-owner of Pick A Flick.

“Whenever I go in there, he tells me how much he thinks about me and is praying for me,” Katches said.

Cunningham, who bought the Main Street business in April, said he likes visiting with Katches.

“I feel just horrible about what he’s going through. I think what I can do to boost his spirits is remind him that life is worth living,” Cunningham said.

As for Katches, all he asks is that “people to pray for me, for Kristy and the kids.”

http://colfaxrecord.com/detail/167947.html

Lyme Disease. Late-Stage Lyme. Much Ignorance!

This is one of my articles posted on various locations on the web.  This is something that needs revisiting.

Ignorance of a Plaque. Conclusion.

Posted Aug 24 2008 10:06pm

Concluding from the past two Fridays, the following is information regarding a report written by Dr. Scott Taylor called "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis), A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague". The more research I do, the more I come into contact with interesting bits of information that I can relate to my own experiences with Lyme. One such piece of information was this. " Lingering Lyme: The Chronic Persistent Infection  Some symptoms and signs of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite. This stage typically involves intermittent episodes of joint pain or numerous neurological symptoms such as: meningitis, Bell's palsy, dysfunction of cardiac rhythm, and migratory pain to joints, tendons, muscle and bone. Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees. In some patients, the first and only sign of Lyme disease is arthritis. In others, nervous system problems are the only evidence of Lyme disease. However, any combination of symptoms can be present. ... The course of the disease can best be described as persistent, with periods of worsening symptoms, often cyclical every few weeks or monthly. Especially disconcerting are persistent symptoms such as pain, headaches and fatigue. Some patients are more symptomatic than are others, which may reflect gender and genetically-determined differences in response to infection. The disease is progressive, destructive, and debilitating, and in severe untreated cases, it can be fatal. ... Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead to weight loss or commonly chronic weight gain. Generally, women struggle with chronic Lyme disease more severely than men do. It is not known for sure why." In the past, I have written posts that have included lists with Lyme disease symptoms. However, my lists have not been as inclusive as the following from this report. Lyme Disease Symptoms  "As I mentioned before, every organ and organ system can be affected, here’s a list of some of the LD symptoms as they relate to specific areas of the body: Head – headache, neck pain, facial pain and paralysis, difficulty chewing, pain in teeth, dry mouth, loss of taste/smell, numb tongue/mouth. Peculiar metallic or salty taste is also common in LD. This is likely due to the BLPs present in the system. Bladder -- frequent or painful urination, repeated urinary tract infections, irritable bladder, interstitial cystitis. Lung -- respiratory infection, cough, asthma, pneumonia, pleurisy, chest pains Ear -- pain, hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus), sensitivity to noise, dizziness & equilibrium disorders. Eyes -- pain due to inflammation (scleritis, uveitis, optic neuritis), dry eyes, sensitivity to light, drooping of eyelid (ptosis), conjunctivitis, blurry or double vision, swelling around eyes / bags below the eyes. Throat -- sore throat, swollen glands, cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing Neurological -- headaches, facial paralysis, seizures, meningitis, stiff neck, burning, tingling, or prickling sensations (parathesia), loss of reflexes, loss of coordination, equilibrium problems/dizziness (these symptoms mimic an MS, ALS, or Parkinson’s like syndrome) Stomach -- pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, anorexia Heart -- weakness, dizziness, irregular heart-beat, myocarditis, pericarditis, palpitations, heart block, enlarged heart, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, mitral valve prolapse. Muscle & skeletal system -- arthralgias (joint pain), fibromyalgia (muscle inflammation and pain) Other Organs -- liver infection / hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes, enlarged spleen, swollen testicles, and irregular or ceased menses. Neuropsychiatric -- mood swings, irritability, anxiety, rage (Lyme rage), poor concentration, cognitive loss, memory loss, loss of appetite, mental deterioration, depression, disorientation, insomnia Pregnancy -- miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects, stillbirth Skin – EM, single or multiple rash, hives, ACA Another interesting symptom often noticed is an increased susceptibility to electrostatic shock . This is likely due to the BLPs causing a change in the electro-potential in our cells/nervous system. Some of these toxins are likely sodium channel agonists and can change the electrical potential of our body. Thus, the likelihood of electro-static shock." During his section regarding the diagnoses of Lyme, Taylor states the frustrating issues with the tests, such as ELISA and Western Blot, which often have false negative results. Clearly, Western Blot has fewer false positives. However, many doctors will stop at the ELISA test when that proves negative, not following up with the Western Blot. Again, an emphasis needs to be placed on the percentage of false negatives and re-testing should always be the clear consideration upon a negative result. Taylor suggests that treatment be multifaceted. "The best approach to therapy is a multifaceted and comprehensive treatment regimen that includes conventional antibiotics, numerous complimentary and alternative therapies, and a nutritional regimen specifically designed to reduce inflammation, aid the liver in detoxifying the BLPs, decrease the risk of yeast infections, repair damage caused by the disease and strengthen the immune system." One source he sites for better treatment than the basic course of antibiotics as offered as the conventional treatment is protocol for sarcoidosis found at www.sarcinfo.com . Sources for therapy that are listed as "Papers for Physicians" at the www.sarcinfo.com site are the following. "Antibacterial Therapy induces Remission Implications for Autoimmune Disease (Here is Fulltext preprint) Antibacterial mechanisms for ARBs Antibiotics in Sarcoidosis- The 1st Year Rationale for abx in Sarcoidosis 1,25-D and Angiotensin II "New Treatments Emerge.." Jarisch-Herxheimer in Sarcoidosis Vit.D and Calcium in Sarcoidosis Protocol Phase 1-First 3 months" If you are familiar with the conventional treatment plan, these plans listed are much more multifaceted and comprehensive. One treatment, often used with Doxycycline is Metronidazole (Flagyl). "Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a very effective antimicrobial for treating chronic Lyme disease. It distributes well throughout the body and is able to penetrate tissue and cells. This ability allows metronidazole to reach the cryptic borrelia throughout the body and kill it. Metronidazole is also effective at attacking the cyst form of borrelia. This may be the single most effective antimicrobial pharmaceutical for treating Lyme disease. The disadvantage of metronidazole is it’s toxicity to the liver and neurological system. It can raise liver enzymes and cause peripheral neuropathies similar to LD itself. These side-effects must be prudently monitored." ... "Several antibiotics work together synergistically to improve the therapeutic effect against borreliosis. Examples of antibiotics that work well together when combined include: amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin or zithromycin, and co-trimoxazole. Co-trimoxazole works well in late stage Lyme disease, especially when given in combination with other antibiotics like amoxcilliln and/or a macrolide such as azithromycin. Earlier, one exception to antibiotic combinations was the use of metronidazole and the tetracyclines together. It is now believed that these two antibiotics do work well when combined. For example, there are reports of good result when doxycycline is used with flagyl." Additional therapies recommended in Taylor's report are "Hyperthermia", or hot baths, showers, or saunas that raise the body temperature, "Pulse Electro-Magnetic Fields" (pemfs), "Rife Machine", "Beck Electrification", "Lauricidin", "Colloidal Silver", "Cat's Claw/Samento/Saventero", "Artemisinin", "Goldenseal root", "Teasel", "Olive Leaf Extract", "Garlic", European (or Hungarian Mistletoe", "Peroxide", and "Ozone". This report is amazingly detailed. Taylor has remedy recommendations for controlling inflammation and the immune dysfunction, protection of the nervous system from neurotoxins, detoxifying, etc. Additionally in his report, Dr. Taylor explains and emphasizes tick protection and prevention. I conclude with his conclusion, as I have no way of wording my feelings any more concisely or clearly. "As the word spreads about the complex nature of this disease, the hope is that more doctors will begin to learn about Lyme, and will take the actions necessary to fight this disease. It is critical that the public and the medical community are made aware of the true prevalence and dangers of borreliosis. Until this gap of ignorance is filled, many unfortunate individuals will suffer needlessly with Lyme disease." Sources: www.autoimmunityresearch.org www.sarcinfo.com

Two Lyme Videos Regarding Diagnosis and Treatment

Ticks - One of the Most Deadly Animals in the UK.

TINY TERRORS

When it comes to identifying the UK's deadliest, it is the tiny invertebrates that may lay most claim to the title.

One of the UK's top man-killers can only be seen with a microscope.

Around 20% of the UK's population is allergic to the droppings of dust mites, according to the National Health Service, triggering conditions such as asthma.

For the 90% of UK asthma sufferers that identify dust mites as a trigger for their attacks, these microscopic creatures are potentially a big problem.

The charity Asthma UK reports 1,204 deaths from asthma in the UK in 2008, though it is difficult to directly attribute these to dust mites because attacks can be triggered by a number of irritants.

Tick safety Visit the BADA-UK for tips on avoiding ticks and how to remove them if you are bitten

Another tiny harbinger of death is the tick.

Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, birds and even reptiles and can spread diseases between their hosts.

For humans, one of the most serious is Lyme disease.

There were 1472 cases of Lyme disease last year in the UK with up to a further 2000 thought to go unnoticed, due to difficulties diagnosing the disease.

Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause permanent disability. In recent years two suicides have been associated with the disease."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9167000/9167371.stm

Chronic Lyme...Treatment, or No Treatment?

Information for those with Lyme or who know someone who has it...

"Chronic Lyme Disease: How Often Is It Diagnosed and Treated?

ScienceDaily (Sep. 7, 2010) — The existence of chronic Lyme disease is an issue of sharp debate within the medical community. Some health care workers who call themselves "Lyme literate" insist that chronic Lyme disease is frequently diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians. Others, however, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, state that there is no convincing biological evidence that chronic Lyme disease exists. Many doctors are concerned with the potential dangers associated with the prolonged and intensive use of oral and intravenous antibiotics (the recommended treatment for chronic Lyme disease), such as blood clots and life threatening infections."

A study soon to be published in TheJournal of Pediatrics attempts to determine how often chronic Lyme disease is actually being diagnosed and treated.

Named for a community in Connecticut where it was first diagnosed, Lyme disease is a multi-system infection caused by the bacteria B. burgdoferi. Treatment typically includes a 10-28 day course of oral antibiotics. "Lyme literate" groups, such as the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), define chronic Lyme disease as a debilitating illness caused by a persistent infection of B. burgdoferi; symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and irritability. Treatment requires oral and/or intravenous antibiotic therapy that can last from several months to several years.

Dr. Michael Johnson, now at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, and Dr. Henry Feder, of the University of Connecticut Health Center, attempted to determine how frequently Connecticut doctors were diagnosing and treating chronic Lyme disease. Of the 285 primary care physicians who responded to the survey, nearly one-half did not believe that chronic Lyme disease is a legitimate diagnosis, and 48% were undecided. Only 6 physicians -- or 2.1% -- diagnosed and treated patients for chronic Lyme disease. These 6 physicians treated patients for an average of 20 weeks with oral antibiotics; however, because these six physicians did not treat their patients with months to years of oral and/or intravenous antibiotics, they do not fit into the "Lyme literate" category.

Contrary to the assertions of the "Lyme literate" community, Dr. Feder does not believe intravenous antibiotic treatment is common practice. "The 6 physicians in our study who treated patients with chronic Lyme disease do not fit into the 'Lyme literate' group," he explains, "because they treated their patients for an average of 20 weeks -- not months to years -- and it does not appear that intravenous therapy was used." According to Dr. Feder, "Physicians who diagnose patients with chronic Lyme disease, and put these patients in harm's way with months to years of potentially dangerous antibiotics, are outliers." These findings call into question the claims of "Lyme literate" advocacy groups, like ILADS, that chronic Lyme disease is frequently diagnosed and treated by many primary care physicians.

Although the number of physicians diagnosing and treating patients with chronic Lyme disease may be small, their influence seems to be growing. "The 'Lyme literate' network has been pivotal in advocating legislation in multiple states requiring insurance companies to cover the costs of intravenous therapy for presumed chronic Lyme disease," Dr. Feder notes. The debate over chronic Lyme disease is likely to continue as insurance companies and legislative bodies become more involved.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902073502.htm

Lyme and Lebers

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, or Fibromyalgia, watch this. Coming from me, a person who has been diagnosed after all of the above diagnoses, it is worth getting information on.

Give Time. Show Love.

I have not written a post in quite a few days. I have become quite busy with school beginning and my complete immersion in my community affairs. Quite a total difference from having been chronically ill with Lyme disease for at least 8 years. Life is truly amazing and I love everything I am now able to become involved in.

Since I have been gaining health stamina over the past few months, I have chosen a path which requires giving much of my time to community volunteerism. One lesson I have learned from this involvement is that it is therapy in and of itself. It takes you away from your small worries and allows you to become aware and helpful in solving the larger concerns. It takes you from the "cave" or small amount of living (on survival mode) while ill to seeing a grand picture in which you can make a difference and take part in the "thing" called "life".

"When you show love, you are showing God to the world." --Joel Osteen, "Become A Better You"

"Learn to be good to people. That's one of the best witnesses we can possibly have...The world does not need to hear another sermon nearly as much as it needs to see one. Learn to give your time, your money, and encouraging word; meet a need. When you show love, you are showing God to the world.

"Don't worry about if you don't get credit...When you let somebody in traffic in front of you, you many never see that person again. When you give somebody twenty dollars simply because you felt compassion in your heart, you may never hear back from them. That's okay; God is keeping the records. He sees every act of kindness you show. He sees every time you are good to somebody. He hears every encouraging word you speak. God has seen all the times you went out of your way to help somebody who never said thank you. Your good deeds do not go unnoticed by Almighty God."

Joel Osteen explains in his book that giving and being kind to others helps you. That is not being selfish. That is reaping the rewards of the seeds you have sown. Life is amazing and should never be taken for granted. We all live on this earth for such a short time. What will you do for someone today?

Lyme Disease Information Resources

The following is a list of links to provide you with pertinent information regarding Lyme disease, its symptoms, prevention, treatment, and more. As with most complicated diseases, no one treatment is perfect for everyone. Therefore, the more resources available to the public, those struggling with Lyme disease will have more options and opinions with regards to treatment.

Remember...It is NOT all in your head!

HealingWell.Com
CDC
Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc.
LymeNet
State of Maine
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Lyme Disease Association
Lyme Disease Resource.Com
The Lyme Guide
Lyme Info.Net
Lyme Disease Research Database
Confronting Lyme.Com
Wikipedia.Org
Chronic Lyme Disease.Com
Truth About Lyme Disease.Com

There are so many resources. Just reach inside these that I have provided. Read the information. Discuss it with your physician. It is never to late to become well again...become well.

Lyme. A Hidden Epidemic.

Become Lyme Literate. Educate Others About Lyme.

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 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