Urgent: Military Lyme, Stories Needed

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ATTENTION ALL ACTIVE, RETIRED MILITARY AND DEPENDANTS WITH LYME DISEASE!

The following is from the Military Lyme Support Group. Please respond as

requested and note the rank of the recipient. Stay on message as requested –

please no grand standing or conspiracy theory. Note Ms. Nicholson's email below

for tone and style.

Write your story and send it off, then make sure you are on the distribution

list at Military Lyme Support. With your help important attention will be

focused on this issue.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Please address any questions to Colleen

Nicholson (Jcn4jc@...)

From the STAND UP FOR LYME Team

From: Jcn4jc@... [mailto:Jcn4jc@...]

Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:17 PM

Jcn4jc@...

Subject: Urgent: Military Lyme, Stories Needed

Hi everyone,

(friends and family, please send this to anyone you know that is military and

has lyme).

I've been trying to get the word out to our top medical officials about the

lack of care at the Military Treatment Facilities for Lyme and it's

co-infections. Please send your brief story and contact info ASAP to:

Elder.Granger@... MG, OASD(HA)/TMA

Focus on how many doctors you've gone through, whether or not you're chronic,

and if you've ever requested ILADS treatment and been refused by your military

doctors.

Please make it short and sweet....as I think they're wondering " how many " are

having/had problems. Also, be sure you are 100% respectful at all times, and

address him accordingly.

I've been assured that he is an honorable man, trustworthy, and wanting to

help us. Also, if you could, please CC me so I can keep track of who has

contacted MG Granger. I may need to assist with a meeting in DC in this

regards, so if I can use your story, please send it my way.

Take heart! Looks like some very good things are starting to happen. Have a

great day!

Colleen Nicholson

Research Assistant to Dr. Burrascano, MD

Founder, Military Lyme Support

Moderator, MT Lyme Support, AK Lyme Support

CALDA, ESLDA, ILADS, LDA, LDPR, TTC

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In a message dated 3/12/2008 10:37:12 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

Elder.Granger@... writes:

CSM Holland the MHS is standing by and ready to assist these great

Americans. Again give us the names or tell them to contact us or their local

MTF. Thanks. EG

Lyme in the Military

Sir,

I have lists upon lists of people who have come to me because the Military

physicians will only treat them according to the IDSA guidelines. Yes, they do

get medical care, but it's inadequate at best. The IDSA's guidelines exclude

all scientific data pointing to Lyme in it's Chronic stage. Because of this,

the IDSA is being investigated by Atty. Gen. Blumenthal of Connecticut for

violations of anti-trust law, and exclusionary conduct in forming their

guidelines.

Sadly, when our Military physicians are asked give further treatment based

on the very effective ILADS guidelines, the patients are refused based on the

IDSA's guidelines. They are often referred to an Infectious Disease MD who then

continues to give them the same inadequate treatment. Time and time again, this

is the story I hear from our Active Duty members, their families, and our

Veterans.

If it would be helpful, I can have every military member with Chronic Lyme

email their personal experiences to you, just advise me of who to send them

to........

..........This July will be the 10 year anniversary of my being bitten by a

tick. I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to get adequate

treatment at the onset, instead of a pat on the back, and some Zoloft? What's

disheartening is that so many others have experienced the same thing at Military

Treatment Facilities. How many of our Enlisted Troops can afford $400 for a

plane ticket every two months, let alone all the co-pays for Tricare Standard?

My sincere hope is that somehow we can actively start educating our Military

doctors on ILADS treatment guidelines. The Army has done numerous studies, is

very knowledgeable about tick-borne diseases, (i.e. CHPPM), and considers them a

serious matter. Back in 2003, I even went to DC with the LDA and Congr. Chris

to talk to Military Medical heads about this problem, and nothing was

done.

Our Military doctors need to be educated on the ILADS treatment guidelines

if they are going to effectively treat our Military Members, and prevent Chronic

Lyme. Please, let me know what I can do to make this happen. Whatever it

takes, I'm willing to do all the footwork, simply point me in the right

direction. Thank you for your assistance and input. I'm truly grateful that

you're taking the time to address this issue, and hopeful that we can work

together for a solution.

Sincerely,

Colleen Nicholson

Colleen Nicholson

Research Assistant to Dr. Burrascano, MD

Founder, Military Lyme Support

Moderator, MT Lyme Support, AK Lyme Support

CALDA, ESLDA, ILADS, LDA, LDPR, TTC

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