Helen's letter to Pataki

[Guest guest]

Helen sent this to our list via attachment, thus the digest folks miss out.

I recopied it here for any who missed it, great letter Helen.

Dear Governor Pataki:

I am an RN who has been seriously ill with Lyme disease. Treatment has

included IV antibiotics which always have helped me " get out of a coffin. "

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called a spirochete. It has no brain.

It

doesn't know to be " dead " at some ludicrous time schedule of 3 or 4 weeks

which many doctors adhere to despite a monumental amount of proven evidence

that Lyme can and is in many cases a chronic active disease requiring

prolonged treatment.

Our two beautiful daughters and my wonderful husband all have Lyme

disease and all have been treated with IV antibiotics when orals failed.

Today they are doing well, so far. The terrifying thing about Lyme is that

relapses do occur and one just hopes that a remission is going to last

forever. I have not been so lucky. Because I have been blessed by being a

patient of a well known Lyme literate MD in your state, I have achieved a

level of functioning that I never imagined. He is so caring and above all,

treats the symptoms, not relying on a test which at best does not exist in

this world today that can absolutely confirm or reject a case of Lyme

disease. Lyme disease is a " clinical " diagnosis. Old fashioned medicine.

Treat the patient. Listen to the patient. See if the patient improves. I am

living proof that because of my MDs care, I am not in bed all day anymore.

His treatment plain and simple has tremendously helped.

I am terrified right now. My MD is under investigation by the OPMC of

NY. Oddly, another very loved Lyme literate MD at age 72 just had his

license

taken away for allegations that are false. Where are his patients to go? Are

they to just die? The OPMC has a biased opinion regarding Lyme treatment.

Thousands upon thousands of Lyme patients are out here like myself traveling

unbelievable distances just to seek treatment from an experienced Lyme

literate doctor. Oddly, after being dismissed by hoards of other doctors who

did not diagnose Lyme disease as the culprit of illness, these same people

finally are finding improvement because they are being treated correctly.

Why

isn't success because of treatment enough proof? Many of these brave doctors

who understand Lyme disease are threatened every day because of a horrible

witchunt operating at full force as we speak. I understand 17 doctors in

your

state are under investigation. My own doctor is now at risk. I am beside

myself with worry because I refuse to return to such a level of " ICU " level

illness without his care. I, like so many others have suffered atrocities

you

would not believe but must. Why are Lyme literate doctors being

systematically eliminated? Antibiotics are given and not questioned for

years

in many cases for acne or TB just to mention a few cases. Our own doctors

must be allowed to treat as he or she sees fit if it helps a person regain

wellness. Most people do not want to be disabled and sink further into an

illness that robs them of their life as they once knew it.

Insurance companies hire their own " Lyme experts " even if the treating

doctor advises treatment. These hired guns are paid scandalous amounts of

money to review mounds of papers however, they never see or speak to or

examine the patient in question. Why is it that in the majority of cases

requiring extended and necessary treatment that these same doctors

suspiciously " reject " these claims??

If I were to submit questions to a doctor via the Internet about my

illness but that doctor never sees me yet is permitted to receive a great

deal of money anyway people would be horrified and absolutely cry,

" illegal. "

Why is that any different than what is occurring with the insurance company

doctors?

The OPMC of NY must be investigated before we lose any more of our

competent doctors. The trials need to be fair, not biased favoring the " 3

week miracle cure " that is false. Our plight is a travesty of justice. I

cannot tell you how many people I have listened to for 11 years who have

suffered terribly because of mismanagement or failure to treat their Lyme

disease. I lead a large Lyme disease support group in NW NJ and the turnouts

are amazing. I am sure you'd be moved to tears by the true stories you'd

hear

at our meetings.

Governor Pataki, be a hero and do the right thing. Please listen to us

who know the truth and have been helped when we were hopeless. Allow the

true

stories of Lyme disease to become public. I pray that you or your family

never has to experience the hell that we have been through. God help you if

you must.

Sincerely,

Helen Fasy

Fasy

Fasy

Fasy