Lucy Barnes
1. Tests are still missing 74.9% of Lyme disease cases. Independent researchers continue to try to develop better tests due to the high failure rate of the standard tests that are often promoted by patent holders and insurance companies.
2. People often acquire multiple infections when bitten by ticks.
3. Most tick borne diseases can lead to chronic illness, disability and death.
4. There are no studies proving Lyme disease can be cured with 2-3 weeks of any antibiotic and many studies proving it can not be.
5. Lyme disease is not “easy to diagnose and easy to cure”. When someone remains ill after treatment or relapses it is not due to a “post-Lyme syndrome” or “MUS” (multiple unexplained symptoms) or because they were originally misdiagnosed. It is because they still have an active infection and require additional treatment.
6. Researchers worldwide continue searching for safe treatments able kill the various forms of Lyme spirochetes that remain after short term antibiotic Lyme treatment.
7. Too many uninformed doctors are still following 12 year old treatment guidelines (2006 IDSA), which excludes the majority of new scientific evidence. These guidelines were removed from the National Guideline Clearinghouse and do not meet current standards.
8. Authors of 2006 IDSA Lyme disease guidelines have been investigated by the Attorney General of CT and were shown to have conflicts of interest and ties to patents, insurers and drug companies, yet the authors continue to fight to keep them in use. Currently many of the authors are being sued by three law firms on behalf of 28 patients including some who have since passed away.
9. Those who are responsible for and who have promoted the failed Lyme tests, failed Lyme vaccine and failed treatment guidelines can not admit they were wrong or admit to having conflicts of interest without fear of individual and class action law suits. As a result they continue insisting all is well while millions suffer.
10. If things were going well in the world of Lyme disease there wouldn't be so many chronically ill & disabled patients, so many people world wide speaking out and so many trying to find a better solution.
Lucy Barnes 11/22/17