NOT Recommended

The Following Sites and Information Contained Within

Are NOT Recommended

There are many articles and websites on the internet providing information about Lyme disease. Unfortunately, some are misleading, outdated, incomplete, questionable or inaccurate. Some were originally initiated or supported by those who have have ties to the infamous Lyme tests and kits, the short-lived Lyme vaccine that generated multiple law suits and was pulled from the market, those who have been involved with or promote questionable research findings based on inaccurate Lyme tests or the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) highly contested, "cost-effective", "insurance friendly" Lyme Treatment Guidelines which were determined by the Attorney General in Connecticut (Richard Blumenthal) to have been developed in a biased and unprofessional manner.

Therefore, for a number of reasons, the following articles, opinions and web sites are not generally recommended, especially by chronically ill Lyme patients and their physicians who are experienced in dealing with the devastation caused by improperly diagnosed or inadequately treated Lyme and tick borne diseases.

NOT Recommended:

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL- HOLD THE MAYO! Save your money, a lot of frustration and a lot of time. It is an extremely rare day when Lyme disease is diagnosed in Lyme patients by doctors at the Mayo Clinic. History has also shown that testing for Lyme through the Mayo Clinic is possibly the least favored of all ways to get accurate results,with its labs having possible the highest rates of false-negatives known in the patient community. If actually diagnosed with Lyme, patients are often given a pat on the head (if lucky) and are told to get more exercise, take OTC meds (such as ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.) for pain, and seek counseling for mental health issues because they are not "physically ill".

Keep in mind- If the HOLD THE MAYO Clinic states you don't have Lyme and don't require treatment, not many doctors will look further into the cause of your symptoms or question the HOLD THE MAYO conclusions, and insurance providers can and often will refuse to pay for additional testing and treatment.

The HOLD THE MAYO Clinic admits it doesn't know why people remain ill, relapse or their Lyme symptoms get worse after receiving its "cost-effective", insurance-friendly treatment protocol, however, they do feel confident in saying (without studies to back up their opinion) that it can't be chronic Lyme disease.

Mayo Clinic Quote- "After treatment, a small number of people still experience some symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue. The cause of these continuing symptoms is unknown, but extended antibiotic treatment doesn't make them go away."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lyme-disease/DS00116/DSECTION=treatments%2Dand%2Ddrugs

The HOLD THE MAYO Clinic is a leader when it comes to what chronically ill patients refer to as A.B.L.S. (Anything But Lyme Syndrome). They also are believers in the idea that any Lyme symptoms that remain after short-term treatment for Lyme disease are "no worse than the aches and pains of daily living". Chronically ill and disabled Lyme patients, and possibly those patients who have died (if they were still with us), strongly disagree.

HOLD THE MAYO may have a good reputation for some areas of medicine, but they get a very low grade for diagnosing or treating patients with Lyme and tick borne diseases. In Florida, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is more likely to be bestowed on a Lyme patient than in most areas across the country. Wrong diagnosis = Wrong Treatment = A Lifetime of Needless Suffering.

Infectious Diseases Society of America Lyme Disease Treatment Guidelines

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/508667

American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF)

http://www.aldf.com/about.shtml

A Critical Appraisal of Chronic Lyme Disease- Paul Auwaerter (Hopkins), Stephen Dumler (Hopkins), Gary Wormser (Previously from Hopkins), Edward McSweegan (Not from Hopkins but listed as such), et al.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/14/1422

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Below are some of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Advocacy Efforts opposing state and federal legislation that was designed to: increase research funding to develop more accurate tests, establish task forces and committees to enhance education and communication between agencies and help chronically ill patients and the health care professionals treating them.

To see the actual letters listed below, click here:

http://www.idsociety.org/lymedisease.htm#press

Advocacy Efforts of the IDSA- working against improving the Lyme disease situation

IDSA Sends Letter Opposing H.R. 1179 06/25/2009

IDSA Sends Letter Opposing Enactment of Connecticut House Bill No. 5625 02/03/2009

IDSA Sends Letter Opposing Lyme Disease Legislation in House and Senate 3/21/2008

IDSA Members Testify before the Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee on Appropriate Treatments for Lyme Disease 11/15/2007

IDSA Sends Letters to the NGA and NCSL Regarding Problematic Lyme Disease Legislation 08/07/2007

IDSA Urges the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health to Oppose House Bill 3768 07/12/2007

IDSA Sends Letter Urging Maine Legislators Urging to Invite Board-Certified ID Physicians to Testify at Lyme Disease Hearing 07/03/2007

IDSA Sends Letter Urging Rhode Island State Senators to Amend Joint Resolution 5676 06/19/2007

IDSA Urges Pennsylvania State Senators to Oppose Enactment of Lyme Disease Legislation 04/10/2007

IDSA Sends Letter to Educate Members of Congress on our Lyme Disease Guidelines 01/07/2007