Lyme Disease/Expert Profile

Expertise

I can answer questions about Lyme disease and recommend websites where one can find good, up-to-date information. I can also tell you how to find a Lyme specialist which is critical if you or anyone you know suspects that he or she may have Lyme disease. I can, also, provide you with a symptoms list.

Experience in the area

I suffered for 2 years with a bad case of neurological Lyme disease & finished a 37-month course of antibiotics in March, 2007. I went undiagnosed for 2 years, & saw a total of 14 various doctors and 'ologists. I attended a two-day Lyme conference in the spring of 2005 and I keep myself current on the topic of Lyme disease. I quickly learned that YOU CAN HAVE A FLAMING CASE OF LYME DISEASE AND STILL HAVE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS! It is essential for anyone who suspects that he/she may have Lyme disease to be tested for the co-infections that can occur with it. Only a Lyme specialist can perform these tests and make these diagnoses.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

The thing about Lyme disease that most people & doctors don't know is that it can evade detection in BOTH blood & spinal fluid. Less than 50% of people recall a bite or get the rash. A mosquito, spider, flea, fly or any bloodsucking insect can carry the bacteria. It can be transmitted among people living in the same household.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

There are 2 controversies surrounding Lyme disease. #1 is diagnosis. The tests are so unreliable, diagnosis is made by a history of symptoms & exclusion of other diseases which is a clinical diagnosis. #2 is its treatment with long-term antibiotics. If Lyme is not caught in its initial stages and is left untreated, antibiotics are necessary on a long-term basis.