Uneducated

Lyme disease is an epidemic.  Let me say that again.  Lyme disease is an epidemic.

It blows my mind that so many people in my life know how much I have suffered with lyme disease, but most people have never taken the time to read about what lyme disease is.  I guess it isn't fair that I expect people to do that, but it sure would be nice.  Not only would it show that they care and support me, but it would also show that they wanted to educate themselves simply so they would be able to better protect themselves from this nightmare of a disease. 

Tonight I was asked about my symptoms.  When I answered, I didn't feel like I was being heard.  I'm sure that most people with lyme have experienced this at least once.  I think I expect people to somehow understand how difficult living with lyme diesease is and how important it is that they learn as much as they can about the disease.

Tonight I mentioned that I am approaching seven months of treatment.  I was looked at as if I should be cured by now.  It's almost as if I could read their mind.  "How can she still be sick after seven months of treatment?"  Well, if they took the time to educate themselves, they could have reacted much different when I mentioned it had been seven months.  

I often post educational pieces on Facebook. I often feel that people are a little annoyed with the posts, or just don't feel it's important.  It's rare I even get a single "like" when I post lyme info on facebook.  However, if I posted something about the flu virus, I'm certain I would get many "likes".

If lyme disease was an STD, I guarantee my friends would take the time to read about it.  Why?  Because they would believe they had a chance of catching it.  Why do people think they are safe from lyme?  I guess the answer is easy. According to the CDC, lyme isn't really an issue. 

CDC and their inaccurate numbers

About six weeks after my official diagnosis, I received a call from a nurse.  I can't remember exactly where she was calling from, but I'm pretty certain she was from the state health department.   She called to interview me about my case.

She had many questions.  We covered all my test results and exactly what they meant.  She told me that my case is NOT reportable to the CDC.   She mentioned that the CDC requires specific numbers to line up before they consider a case of Lyme to be reportable.  I was about one number off from what they wanted.

I mentioned that I had found a tick on me, and she then thought it was a possibility that it could be reportable.  She then looked up a few more of CDC standards, and came back telling me once again she couldn't report it.

So, per the CDC, even though I had a tick on me, I had symptoms that followed lyme disease, they still wouldn't accept my case.  Apparently, that isn't enough.

With that said, CDC numbers ARE NOT accurate.   Oregon is infested with Lyme Disease along with many other states that appear to not be affected.  Don't let any doctor tell you differently.