Monday, April 15, 2019

Why is Lyme Disease so Difficult to Diagnose & Treat?

So, the New Hampshire Senate's Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs has ignored the testimony of patients and apparently thumbed their noses at the NH House's HHSEA Committee's unanimous passing of HB 490. Instead of passing it, they have effectively pocketed the bill, apparently giving the state's Medical Association time to prepare additional arguments against it. However, they still have time to reverse this decision this week. Am hopeful they will.

The bill would establish a commission to study the role of clinical diagnosis and the limitations of serological diagnostic tests in determining the presence or absence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases...and available treatment protocols, plus appropriate methods for educating physicians and the public about the inconclusive nature of prevailing test methods and available treatment alternatives.

Attached is a brief history of my own timeline of my battle with Lyme disease and other tick-borne co-infections (more information is available on my website). I am hoping this illustrates just how difficult this journey was for me, and is for so many others. Our question is WHY? 

Why is it so complicated to diagnose and treat Lyme disease?

I implore any Granite Staters who are concerned about passing HB 490 now to contact senators of the HHSEA committee before April 18. Thank you!