Detecting
Lyme disease
KXAN News 36 
Austin’ TX
2 Sep 2004
KXAN's
video
The West Nile Virus
has certainly grabbed its fair share of the headlines. One local health
expert says Lyme Disease should be of greater concern to Texas residents.
A cell phone rings,
and you answer it. That simple task becomes painfully difficult for Lyman
Jones who’s recovering from Lyme Disease.
“I would have
to get the cell phone that’s hard to flip,” Jones said.
Jones was an instructor
for the National Outdoor Leadership School when he first got sick three
years ago. He was initially diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gerhig’s Disease.
“For about 18
months, I thought I had ALS, and I thought I was going to have a slow, crippling
decline, and I would have to say goodbye to everybody, but now it’s
like having a new lease on life,” Jones said.
Five months ago, Jones
met Family Nurse Practitioner Ginger Savely.
“He was an outdoorsy
guy. He led expeditions and hikes through the wilderness. Certainly had
a lot of exposure potential so certainly someone like that the red flag
goes up on my mind,” Lyme Disease expert Ginger Savely said.
Savely is considered
one of the top Lyme Disease experts in the country. She says while the West
Nile Virus gets most of media exposure, Lyme Disease should get the lion’s
share of the attention.
That’s because
the disease, which is caused by Borellia bacteria and transmitted
through deer ticks and now possibly even mosquitoes and horseflies, is more
likely to affect a lot more people than West Nile.
“It tricks you.
It’s called the new great imitator,” Savely said.
Savely says often Lyme
Disease patients are incorrectly diagnosed with everything from Lupus to
MS to Parkinson’s to ALS. All usually sporting a rash and complaining
of a stiff neck, head and body aches.
“The symptoms
are so flu-like which is confusing, but we don't normally see a lot of flu
in the summer so you have to be suspicious if it’s the spring or the
summer and you’re showing flu like symptoms,” Savely said.
Five months ago, Jones
could barely walk and talk. Even though he still faces perhaps two years
of treatment, he’s thankful.
“I would never
think I would say hooray I have Lyme disease, but when you go from ALS to
Lyme, it's really wonderful,” Jones said.
Savely has been named
the Texas Nurse Practitioner of the Year for her work with hundreds of Lyme
Disease patients from all over the country.
For more information,
call (301) 263–1080 or check out International Lyme and Associated
Diseases Society’s web site: www.ilads.org
For footage for this
story, please go to KXAN
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