Re: California Lymies and the fallacy of numbers

April 16, 2004

and Morningsong,

It's good to meet you. I agree, , that it would be great to have

some sort of contact for the Lyme patients in the West. I have a reporter

friend who very much wants to do a story on Lyme and our daughter here on

the Central Coast, but of course, her editor says we don't have Lyme here!

It's in my mind to start a support group in our area. It would be great to

have, and might ferret out local sufferers. Our Llmd has given me the name

of a man in Lompoc who supposedly was in touch with many. Finding time to

do these things is always the problem.

When I recently asked my daughter's Llmd if he had reported her case to the

CDC, his reply was that he could not because we don't know when and where

she contracted the disease. When I called our county's vector control

department to see how many cases of Lyme there were here I was told zero,

yet when I talk to doctors we come in contact with, and our pharmacist,

there are people out there. This leads me to believe that few if any cases

are reported. No wonder " There is no Lyme on the Central Coast " !

I am wondering how many unreported cases of Lyme there are in California,

and even in this group. Just making sure that all cases are reported so the

numbers go up could help the public understand that this is a very real

threat.

Have your two cases been reported? How many Lyme sufferers do you know of

in your areas?

All my best to you both! Carol

April 16, 2004

In a message dated 4/16/04 3:39:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

suelymer97@... writes:

When I recently asked my daughter's Llmd if he had reported her case to the

CDC, his reply was that he could not because we don't know when and where

she contracted the disease. When I called our county's vector control

department to see how many cases of Lyme there were here I was told zero,

yet when I talk to doctors we come in contact with, and our pharmacist,

there are people out there. This leads me to believe that few if any cases

are reported. No wonder " There is no Lyme on the Central Coast " !

I have had the same experience when contacting people regarding the matter of

reporting and testing.

I was told by vector control that I live in a no lyme zone so to speak. I

followed the statement by asking if they had tested this are. The response was

no

the area where you live has never been tested.

Which set off another chain of events. CAll this person, who then says to

call this person....etc. with me ending up back to the original person who says

he doesn't have the authority to test in this area and that those other numbers

do. I gave up.

April 16, 2004

In a message dated 4/16/04 11:04:26 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

cf@... writes:

and Morningsong,

It's good to meet you. I agree, , that it would be great to have

some sort of contact for the Lyme patients in the West. I have a reporter

friend who very much wants to do a story on Lyme and our daughter here on

the Central Coast, but of course, her editor says we don't have Lyme here!

I have had the same problem with the local paper. I continue to send them

articles in hope that they will print one sooner or later.

It's in my mind to start a support group in our area. It would be great to

have, and might ferret out local sufferers. Our Llmd has given me the name

of a man in Lompoc who supposedly was in touch with many. Finding time to

do these things is always the problem.

I wonder if it is the man who died of lyme...I think last year.

I have started a support group for this area. I advertised on the local cable

channel and in the paper.

The meetings are the first MOnday of the month at a local coffee shop. So

far, it has been me and the coffee. I am very low functioning so it is great to

know that I have been able to make it to all two meetings so far. I am easing

into this. HA!