Re: McSweegan admits we're a strong force

[Guest guest]

quakery...they should talk....this whole article is bullshit.....livwe with

lyme or a lymie and then write this crap........

Reid

[Guest guest]

Wow. I find it amazing that we are already a big enough threat to these

people to motivate McSweegan to write an article like this. We are on the

way. Now comes the really tough part. Who will be listened to? McSweegan and

Steere? Or us?

(Michigan)

[Guest guest]

This article made me so ANGRY. What he said about us and support groups about

wanting antibiotic treatment, and how much it costs was awful. We need to start

making it clear, that that's not what we are looking for, we WANT A CURE! He

live in land,and I plan to find out where and write him a long letter. He is

just as bad as Dr. Steere. He mentioned The Lyme Foundation in one of the

Reliable sources for providing newsletters and medical research, doesn't he

realize, half the information we receive is from that site? And it supports our

claim. He mentions only a few of the symptoms, and forget all the pain we are

in, we all have fatigue, fevers, headaches, but he conveniently forgets or

ignores, we also have muscle twitches, muscle pain, nerve pain, tingling, carpal

tunnel, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, dizziness, etc. What does he think we

have??? He says an immune reaction from our own bodies, or something like that.

If doctor's like him and Dr. Steere would start listening to us, maybe they

could figure out what we do have, if not LYME, and if it is Lyme, which I have a

hard time not believing due of all our similar complaints, and proof that ticks

carry it, then find us a cure, and we'll happily go off of antibiotics!!

OOOOOOOOOOH I'm so mad. Can't wait to find out where he is. Hopefully I'll be a

little less angry so I can write a letter he will at least read. Maybe I'll just

make an appointment with him and start from scratch and see what he says I have,

probably psychosomatic. The pain is all in my head, yeah right! I don't know

what to do, but I'm going to do something, he just gave me more incentive.

Vicki

BTW - thanks anyway for the report - what an eye opener!

[Lyme-aid] McSweegan admits we're a strong force

This is from McSweegan's website. Those of you new to Lyme will quickly

realize that McSweegan is no friend to us! What I found interesting though, is

that he acknowledges our presence in causing problems for his " Lyme is easy to

cure " theory. This is great!!!

-Robynn

http://www.familyinternet.com/quackwatch/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/lyme.html

Political Aspects

The fact that Lyme disease is usually curable has not discouraged the

formation of over a hundred support groups and nonprofit foundations, some with

financial backing from intravenous services hoping to promote further long-term

antibiotic therapies [18]. These groups and their ardent followers have used the

Internet and other media to barrage politicians and the general public with

misinformation, dire personal stories, rumors, and exaggerated claims about

thousands of people being maimed, killed and bankrupted each year by Lyme

disease. The core message is that Lyme is a deadly chronic disease that requires

long-term antibiotic therapy paid for by insurance companies. Despite its

alleged frequency, NIH-funded clinical trials in Boston and Bethesda are being

seriously undermined by a lack of patients who meet science-based criteria for

chronic Lyme disease.

Support groups and individual patients have created many Web sites that

contain unsubstantiated assertions, inaccurate medical information, and personal

testimonies for the dubious treatments described above. Indeed, the Internet has

provided a powerful mechanism for organizing patients and presenting poorly

documented information to the public and the press.

Internet newsgroups regularly post nasty criticisms of physicians and

researchers who disagree with their claims and concerns. Research reports that

run counter to the claims of Lyme activists are denounced and their authors

accused of incompetence and financial conflicts of interest. Magazines and news

organizations whose stories on Lyme disease are not sufficiently hysterical are

barraged with e-mail complaints and urged to contact certain organizations for

" the truth. " Protests have been organized to denounce Yale University's research

meetings and Lyme clinic because, according to the protesters, Yale " ridicules

people with Lyme disease, presents misleading information, minimizes the

severity of the illness, endorses inadequate, outdated treatment protocols,

excludes opposing viewpoints, and ignores conflicts of interest. " A petition

circulating on the Web is calling for changes in the way the disease is

routinely treated and the way insurance companies cover those treatments. Less

radical groups have had their meetings invaded and disrupted by militant Lyme

protesters. CDC and NIH officials have been steadily criticized through the

Internet.

Some Lyme organizations have tried to raise funds for their own research on

hyperbaric oxygen treatments, pregnancy-related Lyme, and a clinical trial of

chronic Lyme patients. Some lyme activists have organized " scientific " meetings

that include anecdotal reports by physicians friendly to their cause, and one

group has launched a journal that reflects its leaders' beliefs.

The Lyme Disease Buyers Club markets vitamin and nutrient supplements (e.g.,

flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, coenzyme Q10, garlic, B-complex) to Lyme

patients. Its web site states that these nutrients are not a cure but " provide

daily support for the body's natural metabolic activities. " The club offers " a

10 percent discount off Pro Health's already low, every day catalog prices. " and

states that " 10 percent of each sale will go to Lyme disease research and

advocacy projects. " However, the initial proceeds went to the Lyme Alliance, of

Concord, Michigan, an advocacy group that filed an amicus brief supporting a

court appeal by a ph Natole, Jr., M.D., whose state medical board had

sanctioned him for inappropriately managing patients with actual or suspected

Lyme disease. According to a report on the Alliance's Web site: the court ruled

against the doctor; his license was suspended for three months; he was fined

$50,000; and he was subsequently indicted on federal charges of overbilling

insurance companies. The Alliance is now circulating a petition stating that,

" Lyme disease can and does exist as a chronic illness with persisting infection,

and that the disease is greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated " and insisting

that that, " Physicians who are on the front lines of Lyme disease patient care

not be harassed, persecuted or made to fear for their medical practices because

they do not adhere to the conservative " short term " care for Lyme disease. " Its

goal is to collect 50,000 signatures to " take our concerns to Washington. "

Lyme patients may also be the first group of disease-specific activists to

be openly dismayed at the development and approval of a vaccine intended to

prevent further cases of the disease. Some have denounced Kline Beecham's

new LIMErix vaccine, because they claim it is ineffective and may exacerbate

preexisting cases. A $1.2 billion lawsuit has been filed against New York

Medical College, four of its doctors, and Connaught Labs over an ongoing Lyme

vaccine trial. The attorney, Ira Maurer, who provides advice on the Web site of

the Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, alleges that his 73-year-old client was

permanently crippled because researchers failed to screen him out of the trial.

Maurer reportedly has said: " I think the evidence strongly suggests intentional

conduct motivated by greed, money, and the desire to get FDA approval for a

vaccine. " [19] Lawsuits can have a chilling effect on vaccine research and might

discourage other academic researchers from becoming involved in vaccine research

or clinical trials.

LYMErix, which the FDA licensed on December 21, 1998, is made from the OspA

lipoprotein of Borrelia burgdorphi. Currently, it is intended to immunize

individuals between the ages of 15 and 70 who live or work in grassy or wooded

areas where ticks bearing Lyme disease are present. People who have already been

infected may still benefit from the vaccine because infection through a tick

bite may not confer protective immunity. LYMErix is given in three separate

injections several weeks or months before the beginning of the " tick season. "

More complete information about the benefits and side effects of LIMErix can be

obtained by calling (888) 596-3749 , extension 700, or by visiting the LYMErix

Web site.

The Bottom Line

a.. Lyme disease, when diagnosed early, is easily cured with oral

antibiotics.

b.. Positive antibody tests, by themselves, do not provide sufficient

basis for diagnosing Lyme disease. The diagnosis should be based on the overall

picture, including history and physical findings [4,20].

c.. Negative antibody testing after the first few weeks strongly

suggests that the patient does not have Lyme disease [4].

d.. Many patients with chronic nonspecific symptoms (such as headaches,

fatigue, achiness, mental confusion, or sleep distrubances) mistakenly believe

that they have Lyme disease.

e.. Intravenous antibiotic therapy, when given appropriately, should not

last more than a month. It should not be given unless oral antibiotic therapy

has failed and persistent active infection has been demonstrated by culture,

biopsy, or other bacteriologic technique [21].

f.. Malariotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, colloidal silver, dietary

supplements, and herbs are not appropriate measures for treating Lyme disease.

Doctors who recommend them should be avoided

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/25/99 2:10:58 PM Central Daylight Time,

nebneb@... writes:

<< This is from McSweegan's website. Those of you new to Lyme will quickly

realize that McSweegan is no friend to us! >>

Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses the

newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

little research has found him out.

The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does not

lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup who

seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just scared.

Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can join,

there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and won't

quit.

There is no way that you would understand the complete and total disdain and

disregard he has for Lyme patients and advocacy groups unless you read some

of his comments. He is a very sick person and hates us with a venom I find

hard to believe.

Remember all of this when you read his " report " and read between the lines.

[Guest guest]

Can these guys be sued for anything that they are doing to us; some type of

class action suit?

<< << This is from McSweegan's website. Those of you new to Lyme will

quickly

realize that McSweegan is no friend to us! >>

Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

the

newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

little research has found him out.

The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

not

lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup who

seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just scared.

Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can join,

there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and won't

quit.

There is no way that you would understand the complete and total disdain and

disregard he has for Lyme patients and advocacy groups unless you read some

of his comments. He is a very sick person and hates us with a venom I find

hard to believe.

Remember all of this when you read his " report " and read between the lines.

>>

[Guest guest]

Not unless we can prove damages. With time, I think we'll be able to. And

then a class action suit sounds great!!!!! And I hope they lose their

medical practice, if they still have one. Its really hard for me to

comprehend that McSweegan might still practice. What a loony bin!

Vicki

Re: [Lyme-aid] McSweegan admits we're a strong force

>From: Memyo@...

>

>Can these guys be sued for anything that they are doing to us; some type of

>class action suit?

>

>

><< << This is from McSweegan's website. Those of you new to Lyme will

>quickly

> realize that McSweegan is no friend to us! >>

>

>

> Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

> suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

>the

> newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

> humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

> little research has found him out.

>

> The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

>not

> lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup

who

> seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just

scared.

>

> Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can

join,

> there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and

won't

> quit.

>

> There is no way that you would understand the complete and total disdain

and

> disregard he has for Lyme patients and advocacy groups unless you read

some

> of his comments. He is a very sick person and hates us with a venom I

find

> hard to believe.

>

> Remember all of this when you read his " report " and read between the

lines.

>>>

>

>>Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

>/archive/lyme-aid

>/archives.cgi/Lyme-Documents

>To unsubscribe, send email to -unsubscribeonelist

>You may substitute " subscribe " , or " digest " or " normal " for

>the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave blank

both the message and subject header.

>

[Guest guest]

Wonder if he is " " ?

Re: [Lyme-aid] McSweegan admits we're a strong force

>From: Memyo@...

>

>Can these guys be sued for anything that they are doing to us; some type of

>class action suit?

>

>

><< << This is from McSweegan's website. Those of you new to Lyme will

>quickly

> realize that McSweegan is no friend to us! >>

>

>

> Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

> suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

>the

> newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

> humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

> little research has found him out.

>

> The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

>not

> lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup

who

> seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just

scared.

>

> Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can

join,

> there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and

won't

> quit.

>

> There is no way that you would understand the complete and total disdain

and

> disregard he has for Lyme patients and advocacy groups unless you read

some

> of his comments. He is a very sick person and hates us with a venom I

find

> hard to believe.

>

> Remember all of this when you read his " report " and read between the

lines.

>>>

>

>>Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

>/archive/lyme-aid

>/archives.cgi/Lyme-Documents

>To unsubscribe, send email to -unsubscribeonelist

>You may substitute " subscribe " , or " digest " or " normal " for

>the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave blank

both the message and subject header.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Golfdawg,

Long time no see, hope you are doing well. Have to laugh, considering

the fact that McSweegan lost his job at the NIH due to harassment of the

LDF....and had an unsuccessful lawsuit against them...you would think this

jerk would get a life and give it up....I really think he is on the

newsgroup, but I could be wrong...I really think it is very sick to use an

alias on the newsgroup or any forum in order to infiltrate or cause harm,

but unfortunately, it happens quite a bit.

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: Golfdawg@...

>Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

>suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

the

>newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

>humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

>little research has found him out.

>

>The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

not

>lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup who

>seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just

scared.

>

>Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can

join,

>there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and

won't

>quit.

[Guest guest]

To Marta, Golfdawg, and all,

Many on the NG have said that is McSweegan. All I can say is that

he is a really sick individual.

I have had private e-mail correspondence with him and some of his

suspected aliases. He tried to stay away from most Lyme issues (my

guess; because he couldn't win the argument), and resorted to

Anti-Semitic baiting and Pro-Animal Abuse and Anti-Peta attacks. One

time after a lengthy, heated exchange, he told me to stop e-mailing him

because he was " sick " (!)...and that " I needed help " .

From what I've seen, he relishes the exchanges we've had with him on the

NG (which we've stopped), but dislikes being privately e-mailed and

being called " Ed " .

The NG has taken the attitude of correcting his misinformation and not

actively engaging him. I think that this annoys him, and is a great

idea. We can do all Lymies a great service by keeping him down.

Joan

1st Known Deer Tick Bites & Sx: '85

1st (Neg): '89

Cont'd Sx, Neg. s & No LD Dx: '90-'99 1st WB: 4+ Specific Bands:

4/99

Late Neuro-LD Dx: 6/99

From: " J & M McCoy " <mlmccoy@...>

Hi Golfdawg,

Long time no see, hope you are doing well. Have to laugh, considering

the fact that McSweegan lost his job at the NIH due to harassment of the

LDF....and had an unsuccessful lawsuit against them...you would think this

jerk would get a life and give it up....I really think he is on the

newsgroup, but I could be wrong...I really think it is very sick to use an

alias on the newsgroup or any forum in order to infiltrate or cause harm,

but unfortunately, it happens quite a bit.

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: Golfdawg@...

>Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

>suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

the

>newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

>humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

>little research has found him out.

>

>The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

not

>lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup who

>seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just

scared.

>

>Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can

join,

>there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and

won't

>quit.

Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

/archive/lyme-aid

/archives.cgi/Lyme-Documents

To unsubscribe, send email to -unsubscribeonelist

You may substitute " subscribe " , or " digest " or " normal " for

the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave blank both

the message and subject header.

[Guest guest]

I think we are Ed's life. What would he do without us? I instantly suspected

him to be . Just from the tone in his report and posts. Its so funny

when I am always so worried that my email does not reflect my tone

correctly. His was so easy to detect. What a laugh. He know longer (Ed or

) bothers me, in fact I feel a little sorry for him. He must have had a

brain at one time, unless he paid for his medical degree. But a lot of

psychopants, are also very intelligent!

Vicki

Re: [Lyme-aid] McSweegan admits we're a strong force

>From: " J & M McCoy " <mlmccoy@...>

>

>Hi Golfdawg,

> Long time no see, hope you are doing well. Have to laugh, considering

>the fact that McSweegan lost his job at the NIH due to harassment of the

>LDF....and had an unsuccessful lawsuit against them...you would think this

>jerk would get a life and give it up....I really think he is on the

>newsgroup, but I could be wrong...I really think it is very sick to use an

>alias on the newsgroup or any forum in order to infiltrate or cause harm,

>but unfortunately, it happens quite a bit.

>Hugs,

>Marta NJ

>

>

>>From: Golfdawg@...

>>Those of you that are subscribed to the Lyme Disease newsgroup know (or

>>suspect) that our boy Mac is a regular on there that constantly harrasses

>the

>>newsgroup members and undermines any serious discussion with sarcastic and

>>humiliating responses. Of course, he uses an unknown screen name but a

>>little research has found him out.

>>

>>The man is a serious freak and needs more help than any of us. That does

>not

>>lessen to one degree the immense harm he does to those on the newsgroup

who

>>seek help and are already lonely, sick, misdiagnosed, and plain just

>scared.

>>

>>Being that it is an unmoderated group (unlike this one) and anyone can

>join,

>>there is no way that his comments can be stopped. He is a " troll " and

>won't

>>quit.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lea,

Doubtful, this is still a free company and we have first amendment rights

to free speech....I believe what comes around, goes around, he'll soon

suffer for his ways.

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: Memyo@...

>

>Can these guys be sued for anything that they are doing to us; some type of

>class action suit?

>