affects are already in place, such as severe arthritis and memory problems. According to the CDC, new and better ways to test for tick diseases are being researched. Specifically, instead of testing to see if we are starting to produce antibodies to the bacteria (sometimes the bacteria is there but our antibodies haven’t shown up yet), they are trying to isolate the signature of small molecules in the blood. The CDC says that if it is caught early, it is easy to get rid of with antibiotics but the problem is diagnosing it early. Doctors are reluctant to start aggressive, long term antibiotics (like a 6 week regimen with the right antibiotic instead of a 2 week regimen which is not enough). In fact this has been such a problem, two states (Maryland and VA) have passed laws stat- ing that physicians MUST inform their patients of the risks of false negatives. (Huge thank you for this information from Dr. Renee Lamm, from a STAT article she shared with us by Catherine Ca- ruso, June 28, 2017.) The REALLY heartening news from the STAT article is that the CDC is focusing on a new approach to testing, called metabolomics, which, instead of testing for the immune response itself, they are creating tests that focuses on signatures that are normally in the blood that get altered when Lyme disease is present. Lyme changes the levels of sugars, peptides, lipids etc. and these tests can measure in a predictable way any changes. The exciting news is compared to traditional tests, effectiveness percentages of 29%-40% of the time being positive, now with these preliminary tests, results are 88% percent accurate early on AND they can differentiate between Lyme and other tick diseases (and also specifically STARI, which before now, had no method of diagnosing) 93% of the time. This is indeed great news. There are logistical hurdles to work through, like the machinery
used for these tests but the technology is there, the results are really great and it is coming, although none too soon. Stated in the article by Microbiologist, Elli Theel, who directs the Infectious Disease Serology Laborartory at Mayo Clinic, calls the study “incredibly promising.”
We spoke with several victims of tick borne diseases and their stories are something to worry about. Our very own pub- lisher/editor Julie Milunic, herself, is just finishing up her round of treatment for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Julie wants read- ers to know this, and I quote: “I've known it, but since I just went through it, I REALLY know it now: many, if not most, conven- tional doctors don't believe that Lyme is prevalent in North Carolina. In fact, they believe it to be rare, unless the patient came into contact with a tick in another state. So the most im- portant thing, in my opinion, is to get to an integrative physician who will take your symptoms seriously and consider tick-borne illness to be a very real possibility from the onset. Integrative doctors KNOW the seriousness of this problem in NC and start treating immediately. My experience could have been so much worse had I not been treated agressively immediately. When speaking with other tick disease victims, the sentiment
is very much the same. Doctors are very very reluctant in our area to start the aggressive treatment that is needed. Valerie Wil- son, Travel Writer with Trusted Travel Girl, LLC, was sick for nine and a half years and she says her life is forever changed (and almost ruined) by the tick borne illness, Lyme. Her treatment was delayed and she still has lasting physical effects to this day. She wants you the reader to know that you need to take control of
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