S.L.A.M.
Sturbridge Lyme Awareness of Massachusetts
"Together we can make a difference"
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!
Lyme test negative? You may still have Lyme disease... People ask why is it so hard to be properly diagnosed and then treated for Lyme disease? It's because testing is poor and often testing turns out negative when in fact a patient is postive for Lyme. Without early treatment Lyme can become very serious and infect every part of the body. It will be through advocacy and legislation that our circumstances will change and with the advocacy of organizations on the front lines of tick-borne illnesses. Our primary care doctors are being told Lyme is hard to get and easy to treat. It is our hope physician education will be improved and through the work of the organizations listed below those suffering will have resources to finding better testing treatment options.
S.L.A.M. is located in central Massachusetts and is committed to raising awareness of Chronic Lyme Disease and supporting legislation for better testing and treatment available to those suffering. Chronic Lyme remains controversial in the medical community and until legislation is passed, Lyme sufferers struggle to get appropriate treatment covered by insurance.
According to the CDC over 300,000 people a year are now affected, in this country with Lyme disease and the co-infections that are associated with tick-borne diseases. An estimated 10% of actual cases are ever reported. Current testing is poor which means many go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for far too long. Poor testing leads to Chronic Lyme Disease which can effect every part of the body. Fibromyalgia, MS, ALS and Autism are just a few of the diseases linked to Lyme Disease and often being the misdiagnoses.
Currently our Lyme literate doctors are too few and far between. These doctors, however, are our key to being properly tested for Lyme and the co-infections that might be making you ill. They are our only hope for up to date treatment of Lyme and TBD's. We can help you find one.
ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society) is training doctors to become Lyme literate through their Physician Training Program, and are key to fighting for research and a cure for Chronic Lyme disease. Contact ILADS for great information. www.ILADS.org
Working with ILADS and helping to fund the program, is the The Tick Borne Disease Alliance Visit their website for great information to educate and to donate. www.TBDAlliance.org.
The Lyme Disease Association has worked tirelessly to raise funds and has helped in opening the Lyme Disease Research Center at Columbia University in New York. Both sites have great Lyme information to educate yourself and information on how you can help in the fight for a cure!
www.columbia-lyme.org and www.lymediseaseassociation.org
The Lyme Research Alliance www.LymeResearchAlliance.org, is a CT base organization which offers a Lyme curriculum available to all schools at a small cost. They also offer great information and support. Do what you can to make your school Lyme Literate!
Lyme Induced Autism Foundation www.LIAFoundation.org will help you learn if your childs autism could be Lyme related and how to treat.
S.L.A.M. works to raise awareness of Chronic Lyme and works in support of State and Federal Lyme legislation that is supported by the Lyme community. We ask that you contact your state legislators to tell you story. Every voice counts!
S.L.A.M. is host to a monthly support group, "Tick Talk", which is open to lyme sufferers and their family members. Please see our calendar page for dates and times or contact S.L.A.M@msn.com
Together we can make a difference!
S.L.A.M@msn.com
Governor Deval Patrick has signed a Proclamation declaring the month of May as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts! 2012 is the 2nd year S.L.A.M. has received this on behalf of their awareness efforts. Thank you Governor!
S.L.A.M. has received citations from both the Senate and House of Representatives for their work in Lyme disease awareness! Thank you to Senator Brewer and Rep. Todd Smola for your support and recognition!
Chronic Lyme Awareness and Support
