SHANNON, 7, SEKÄ ROXANNE JA JOANNE/IMMUUNIPUOLUSTUS

[soijuv]

"Shannon, 7, sairastui borrelioosiin 5-vuotiaana. Äiti epäilee lapsen saaneen tartunnan mahdollisesti kuitenkin jo 2-vuotiaana. Tällöin lapsella oli ollut ihossaan muutos jota lääkäri oli hoitanut kortisonivoiteella. Hei eivät nähneet punkkia lapsessa. Borrelioosi voi aiheuttaa ongelmia keskushermostossa, sydämessä, nivelissä jne. Shannonin oireet alkoivat kivuilla. Hän alkoi ontua ja huusi kivusta. Hänelle tehtiin septisen niveltulehdusepäilyn vuoksi leikkaus. Borrelioosi onkin yksi yleisimmin väärin diagnosoiduista sairauksista. Tauti diagnosoidaaan usein virheellisesti esim. MS-taudiksi, artriitiksi ALS-taudiksi, krooniseksi väsymysoireyhtymäksi jne. Taudin oireet, kuten, kuume, vilutus, lihaskivut, väsymys jne. muistuttavat myös virusperäsiä infektioita kuten influenssaa ja mononukleoosia.

"Shannonin oireet alkoivat maaliskuussa 2008. Lääkärit sanoivat ettei siihen vuodenaikaan ole punkkeja. Shannonille annettiin kuitenkin antibioottihoito. Tauti ei parantunut vaan jatkoi etenemistään. Lääkäreiden mukaan Shannonin oireet johtuivat borrelioosin jälkeisestä autoimmuunitilasta nivelissä. Borrelioositestit olivat kuitenkin toistuvasti positiiviset. Onnekseen perhe näki borrelioosielokuvan "Under Our Skin" ja siellä lastenlääkäri Ray Jonesin (New Haven, Connecticut). Perhe lähti hänen luokseen. Elokusssa 2008 Jones aloitti Shannonille pitkäaikaisen antibioottihoidon ja lapsen tila alkoi vähitellen parantua. Nyt hän on hyvässä kunnossa ja pystyi aloittamaan koulunkäynnin normaalisti.

Roxanne Adams huomasi jonkin olevan vialla 3 1/2 v. sitten. Eräänä aamuna hänellä oli vaikeuksia nousta sängystä. Hän paleli ja hänellä oli särkyjä. "Olin todella sairas ja perheeni luuli minun kuolevan. Epäilin sairastuneeni borrelioosiin ja testien jälkeen aloitettiin antibioottihoito." Hänen tilansa alkoi parantua vasta sen jälkeen kun hän alkoi vahvistaa immuunijärjestelmäänsä luonnonmukaisin menetelmin.

Joanne Beadle sai punkinpureman 14 v. sitten ja oli vähällä kuolla tautiin. Useiden virhediagnoosien jälkeen lopulta yksi ensiavun lääkäreistä kykeni diagnosoimaan taudin oikein. Joanne oli itse koko ajan epäillyt sairastavansa borrelioosia. Joanne ja Roxanne ovat kumpikin käyttäneet menestyksellisesti erilaisia luontaislääkkeitä tautinsa hoidossa. Antibiootit eivät ole olleet heidän kohdallaan kovin tehokkaita.

Mikä on paras suoja borrelioosia vastaan?

TIETO. Etsi tietoa laajasti, pidä immuunipuolustuksesi kunnossa ja tee punkkitarkastus päivittäin."

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=262898
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"Shannon was treated with antibiotics, but still the disease persisted.
He kept on going down, and going down," Valerie recalled.

The couple conferred with specialists in both Wisconsin and Iowa.

"I was told that he must have rheumatoid arthritis and was in an auto-immune response to Lyme disease, though he tested positive twice for Lyme disease," Valerie said. "We kept on seeing our son get sicker and sicker."

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=262898

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Post a Comment
Family unravels Lyme disease
A movie helps a couple finally discover what is afflicting their young son.
BY CRAIG D. REBER TH STAFF WRITER
<< Prev 1 of 4 Next >>



Photo by: Jessica Reilly
Valerie Gill-Mast holds her son, Shannon, 7, at their home in rural Platteville, Wis. Shannon was diagnosed with Lyme disease at age 5. His mother believes he might have been exposed to the disease at age 2.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- Leonard Mast and Valerie Gill-Mast estimate they've spent at least $70,000 in out-of-pocket expenses -- with insurance -- to treat their 7-year-old son, Shannon, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

"We've spent all of our savings, our investments and his college fund," Valerie said.

Now the rural Platteville couple and two other southwest Wisconsin women suffering from the disease have become advocates to help people better understand Lyme disease.

Caused by the bite of an infected deer tick, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that features a skin rash, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms. Lyme disease can cause problems with the joints, heart and the nervous system if not treated by antibiotics at an early stage.

Shannon came down with the disease when he was 5.

At first, the couple thought their son was suffering from growing pains, but when Shannon limped and screamed with pain, they knew it was something more. Shannon initially underwent surgery for septic arthritis. After his joints started swelling, the It's called "Under Our Skin," and it focuses on one of the most misdiagnosed diseases of our time, one that mimics many other ailments.

A documentary on Lyme disease will be shown at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Millenium Theater in Platteville. There is a $6 charge. Individuals who suffered from Lyme disease will talk after the movie. A doctor will be on hand to answer questions.

To learn more about tri-state efforts to combat Lyme disease, contact Valerie Gill-Mast at vagill@hotmail.com, or Roxanne Adams at rox@msadams.com or by calling 608-348-5095.

how to avoid the disease

Reduce your chances of receiving a tick bite by following these simple steps:

* Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves when you venture into grass, woods, garden or beach areas so you can more easily see ticks.

* Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to keep ticks from crawling onto skin.

* Avoid tick-infested areas, avoid sitting directly on the ground and stay in the center of paths.

* Use Environmental Protection Agency- approved tick repellents. Wash off repellents when returning inside.

* Perform frequent checks for ticks, including a visual inspection and a full body exam upon returning inside.

* Check pets for ticks. Lyme Disease Foundation

Lyme disease It's called "Under Our Skin," and it focuses on one of the most misdiagnosed diseases of our time, one that mimics many other ailments. A documentary on Lyme disease will be shown at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Millenium Theater in Platteville. There is a $6 charge. Individuals who suffered from Lyme disease will talk after the movie. A doctor will be on hand to answer questions. To learn more about tri-state efforts to combat Lyme disease, contact Valerie Gill-Mast at vagill@hotmail.com, or Roxanne Adams at rox@msadams.com or by calling 608-348-5095. how to avoid the disease Reduce your chances of receiving a tick bite by following these simple steps: ? Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves when you venture into grass, woods, garden or beach areas so you can more easily see ticks. ? Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to keep ticks from crawling onto skin. ? Avoid tick-infested areas, avoid sitting directly on the ground and stay in the center of paths. ? Use Environmental Protection Agency- approved tick repellents. Wash off repellents when returning inside. ? Perform frequent checks for ticks, including a visual inspection and a full body exam upon returning inside. ? Check pets for ticks. Lyme Disease Foundation
diagnosis was either rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever or Lyme disease.



"It was March 2008," Valerie said. "We were told the ticks couldn't be out at that time of the year."

Shannon was treated with antibiotics, but still the disease persisted.

"He kept on going down, and going down," Valerie recalled.

The couple conferred with specialists in both Wisconsin and Iowa.

"I was told that he must have rheumatoid arthritis and was in an auto-immune response to Lyme disease, though he tested positive twice for Lyme disease," Valerie said. "We kept on seeing our son get sicker and sicker."

Shannon suffered for five months during his kindergarten year.

"We weren't sure if he was going to make it to first grade," Valerie said.

How Shannon, now healthy and vibrant, made it to first grade was fortuitous. The couple saw the movie "Under Our Skin" that featured Dr. Charles Ray Jones, an 80-year old Connecticut pediatrician who has treated more than 10,000 children with Lyme disease over the course of his career. He is located in New Haven, and the Masts made the trek to Connecticut. Today, they cite Jones' efforts to help their son.


"It's my experience that many doctors don't know about Lyme disease or they are afraid to treat it," Valerie said. "Dr. Jones gave him long-term antibiotics (since August 2008). He gradually got better, so he was able to function and go to school. Now he's active and he's doing well."

The couple suspects Shannon might have initially contracted the disease when he was 2. Valerie recalled her son was playing along the edge of the woods and later developed a body rash. A physician treated the child with a steroid cream.

"Shannon never had the (telltale) bull's-eye rash, but it was dormant for a long time," Valerie said. "We never saw a tick."

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Roxanne Adams, of rural Platteville, noticed something was amiss about 3 1/2 years ago. She didn't realize she had been bitten by a tick. One day, she couldn't get out of bed. She had chills and aches, and she didn't know why.

"Because that's not me, because I'm like the Energizer Bunny, I just go," she said. "A voice inside my head kept telling me this is Lyme disease, this is Lyme disease."

Initially she was told it was probably the flu.

"I was really, really ill," Adams said. "My family thought I was dying."

After a test, Adams was treated for the disease with antibiotics. When she sought different ways to build up her immune system, she started getting better.

Joanne Beadle, of the Fairplay area, almost died of Lyme. She was bitten 14 years ago. An emergency room doctor finally diagnosed her -- all of her symptoms were typical -- with the disease after numerous visits.

"I, like Roxanne, had suspected I had the disease," she said. "It's a terrible, misunderstood disease. It can be debilitating and life-threatening."

Adams and Beadle both said they successfully used natural treatments to quell the disease.

Antibiotics have not been a successful long-term treatment, Valerie said.

"A lot of people can even go undiagnosed because the symptoms mimic MS (multiple sclerosis), arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)."

The fever, muscle aches and fatigue also can easily be mistaken for viral infections -- such as influenza or infectious mononucleosis.

What's the best defense against Lyme disease?

"Educate yourself," Adams said. "Keep the immune system built up. After you've been in the woods, check your body."

Leonard Mast believes there's hope.

"I think the medical establishment is learning about this," he said. "Not that they have all the answers, but they are learning. You also need to be educated."