0
C
A friend, Dr. Robert Kelman, called
Dr. Joseph Burrascano Jr., a noted
Lyme disease doctor in New York,
who suggested Betsy take the
Lyme/urine antigen test. On Jan. 26,
1996, after more than one year and
nearly $70,000 in medical bills (most
covered by insurance), that and two
standard blood tests came up positive.
"It was such a relief to finally know
what I was fighting," Betsy says. Armed
with a firm diagnosis, Betsy now had to
gear up for serious warfare if she were
to reclaim her life. And Joel was on the
front line right beside her.
"I decided early on that I'd stick
with her through thick and thin," Joel
says. "I think this ordeal has made our
C. relationship stronger, closer."
"The greatest
therapy can be to
recognize the
- tremendous
strength of the
soul that lies
within us despite
the weakness of
our extremities."
Joel became the rock, the founda-
tion. Luckily, his employer has been
very accommodating. There have been
trips for experimental treatments,
hyperbaric oxygen treatment and,
most recently, pain management in
Oregon. There have been countless
" doctors' appointments.
Now that she's on intravenous
painkillers, things are more mellow.
Both feel blessed to have found Dr.
Michael Ledtke, a Saginaw physician.
On Jan. 1, Dr. Ledtke closed his fami-
ly practice to concentrate on treat-
ment of chronic diseases, especially
Lyme disease. He's working with Betsy
to . find the proper antibiotic. Joel calls
him an angel.
Dr. Ledtke faces difficulty on two
fronts: the Michigan Department of
Public Health doesn't think Lyme is
much of a problem in the Lower
Peninsula and there's sentiment that
some physicians are over-reporting
and over-treating Lyme disease.
"There's a real fear in Michigan to
even look for it," says Dr. Ledtke.
"I've been treating this for 10 years.
There's always a concern to treat
something so many people in
Michigan say doesn't exist. You ques-
tion yourself a lot, but you see
results."
Dr. Ledtke is used to seeing
patients with medical charts inches
thick, who've been shuttled from spe-
cialist to specialist to find a cure for
their baffling symptoms. He says
about two-thirds have been diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis or a related dis-
ease.
"During that first visit, there's a lot
of anger and bitterness toward the
medical profession," Dr. Ledtke says.
"I let them vent for a while, then I
have to win their trust."
Joel, who works in a medical facili-
ty, experienced this shattered faith.
"What I think of doctors has changed
a lot," Joel says. "I never thought they
were God, but that they cared about
their patients. Most are really just
pushing people through the system. I
think they have trouble admitting
they're wrong or that they don't know
all they need to know.
"There was a lot of frustration with
the whole process. What I did learn is
that you have to do your own advoca-
cy. 3,
Betsy is passionate on the topic.
"People have to know themselves well
enough to believe in themselves," she
says. "Don't put 100 percent faith in
doctors. Question, research, be an
active, well-informed person."
This ordeal that's still not over also
has tested the couple's faith in God.
"For close to a year, I didn't go to
shul a whole lot; " Joel says. "I didn't
feel I was getting a whole lot out of
going. I did before, but this illness has
made me question some things. I've
adjusted my beliefs."
Betsy says she isolated herself from
the shul and its members. She used to
invite people over for holidays or
Sabbath meals, but now has no energy.
And it's too painful for her to be
around so many children.
"In the Orthodox community, we
were the only ones in our age group
without children," Betsy says. "Life is
centered around that. I avoid it now.
But we haven't given up on having a
baby; we haven't closed the door.
"But it's hard to keep faith. I have
prayed and prayed and this doesn't go
away. I haven't lost faith, but I have
faith in myself. I still have a lot going
for me."
She says she's found special solace
in visits from Rabbi Elimelech
Goldberg of Young Israel of
Southfield.
"He's been very compassionate and
supportive," she says. "He helped me
understand the Jewish concept of vis-
iting the sick."
Rabbi Goldberg, who runs a sum-
mer camp for children with cancer,
also did meditation with Betsy. "The
greatest therapy can be to recognize
the tremendous strength of the soul
that lies within us despite the weak-
ness of our extremities," he says.
Betsy vows never to give up. "I have
to keep trying things. I have to live for
the moment and enjoy what I have.
And I have to think of getting better. I
can't think it'll always be like this." 0
For More Information
Lyme Disease F
Michigan Lyrae Disease :lac'.
information on support-roetps,'.
ad vocacy.
• Atherica On Line .Lyme Disease Chat Room: 8-9 p.m., Local AccesS Cafe,
key word: "Better Health". and "Pen."
• Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease by Karen Vanderhoof- s
Forschner, founder of the Lyme Disease Foundation. (John Wiley & Son ,
1997)
• Coping with Lyme Disease by Denise Lang (Holt, 1997)
Protect Yourself
• Avoid tick- infested areas. Avoid sitting directly on the ground. Stay in the
center of paths.
• Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves so you can see the dark-col-
ored ticks more easily. Tuck your shirt into your pants and pants into
socks to thwart a tick's effort to crawl onto your skin.
• Use EPA-approved repellents. Wash off the repellent after going back
inside.
• Do frequent tick checks, including a visual inspection and a naked, full
body exam upon returning inside. Be sure to check die hairline and scalp.
Ch.eck your pets, too.
To safely remove a tick:
• Use a fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick at the place of attachment, as
close to the skin as possible.
• Carefully pull the tick out with steady pressure. Don't twist or squeeze the
tick. Do not smother the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish and do
not burn it.
• Have the live tick tested free by the Michigan Department of Public
Health; contact your doctor to see about treatment.
• Wash your hands, disinfect the tweezers and the bite site.
What Is Lyme?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete, a corkscrew-
shaped bacterium, of which there are 100 strains in the United States and
300 worldwide. In this country, the infection can be transmitted by the bite
of certain ticks.
Initial symptoms may be flu-like (headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches
or fatigue), with or without a "bull's-eye" rash that's often red with a clear
center.
Early symptoms usually disappear and serious rnultisyternic problems may
start later, including joint swelling and pain, loss of reflexes, cranial nerve
paralysis, cognitive or behavioral changes, nerve disturbances, heart prob-
lems, stoke and inflammation of various parts of the eye.
Michigan state officials list only Menominee County in the Upper
Peninsula as endemic.
11/14
1997
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