Dr. Gott: Lyme disease diagnosis dismissed

There is a well made documentary covering late-stage/chronic Lyme disease called Under Our Skin. It includes a lot of good information and recent science as well as real people's stories and explores the dichotomy of late-stage lyme and it's reception in mainstream medicine. It is worth seeing if it is in a theater near you or you can order the DVD.
http://underourskin.com/

This story is like the hundreds that I have read including my own story. It would be nice to know the actual cases of lyme disease really exist in the United States. It would be nice to know that all doctors become educated on this debilitating disease. If doctors were educated it would not be debilitating but rather a infection that would be cleared with just 3-4 weeks of antibiotics. Why the government doesnt see that this is one culprit of rising health care costs.

I too spent 4 years trying to find out what was wrong with me. My doctor ordered the lyme screening test and that came back negative. When I questioned the Western Blot test, she said that my lyme test was negative and I didn't have lyme. And they wern't going to test me any further for lyme. I had to go and find myself a doctor that would test me and treat me. I have been diagnosed with Chronic Lyme. I think it's sad...! I trusted my doctor to keep me healthy. And to refuse further testing is just down right wrong. Doctors need training in this area...! There's enough lyme disease out there now...! Come on now.... what the heck???

Such a sad story, and very common unfortunately. I live in Wisconsin, and doctor's in my area are just as ignorant of the symptoms, and how to treat. Unfortunately by the time many are diagnosed, after YEARS of going from doctor to doctor, they are not able to get rid of this disease. Insurance companies also fight long term treatment. It is difficult if not impossible to irradicate this disease once it has had years to infiltrate your whole body. I was never a typical case, as I did not present with joint pain as many others do. I have terrible neurological problems and even with treatment for two years, still struggle daily with many symptoms of this disease. My insurance company would no longer pay for my out of network physician, and I cannot afford to continue treatment. So now I just cope the best I can.

Barb - This is so unacceptable in America. The IDSA doctors want to tell patients there is no chronic lyme - If you been treated and you are not better than you have something else. I don't have something else. I have been tested for brain tumor, lupus, hep C, rheumotoid arthritis and etcetera. I have lyme and babesia. I challenge infectious disease doctors - If it is not this then what is it because it isnt the mystery disease fibromyalgia. Which by the way I think is lyme. Pure and Simple- Good luck to you.