Age: 52.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: LYME
Symptoms: Depression, Fatigue, Oesophageal spasm
Clinical narrative: Arthritic symptoms in both legs, ankles and feet and chest pain. Digestive-Esophageal spasm, exhaustion, fatigue, mental confusion, anxiety, depression. Letter attached to follow up: Letter stating - Dear Sir: I am writing to you concerning the DENIAL of payment for the provider LYME Disease Treatment Center (00602486). You have covered the first half of the treatment for Lyme ( a28 day IV therapy), but you have denied the additional half of the 56-day plan. Perhaps a bit of history will help you to reconsider this decision. I was first infected in July 1994. When the symptoms of Lyme Disease appeared following a tock bite in my scalp, I saw my family physician who ordered a Western Blot blood test. It returned negative, as is sometimes the case with Lyme Disease therefore he refused to give me a script for any antibiotic. When the extreme fatigue, head fog, mental exhaustion, and flu like symptoms abated somewhat, he told me that I never had Lyme Disease. The symptoms never fully went away, and I developed three major urinary tract infections within the next 2 years(a symptoms of Lyme). He denied any connection. In June of 1998, I changed physicians, and again complained of extreme fatigue, bladder infection, etc. Blood tests were repeated, again a negative result. He suggested that I am working too hard. Then in 6/99, my place of employmwnt offered the lyme vaccine-LYMErix. I spoke to both the physician and the employee health nurse concerning my current symptoms, but I was assured that the vaccine would not effect me in any way. Within days of the 2nd injection, the head fog and extreme fatigue returned. This time my feet were also affected, i began having difficulty walking. i developed balance problems and my heels felt as if I was walking on shards of glass. Eventually, both lower extremities were effected to the point that by evening. I would fall to the left when I rose from a sitting position, and I had to be helped up the stairs to my room. I would be asleep on the sofa by 6:30pm each night and wake in the morning feeling as if I had never slept. A return visit to the physician produced scripts for an MRI of the brain and L.S.Spine. Again all negative, blood test were negative, and fasting blood sugar test-normal. About this time, I happened to see a news blur on Lyme Disease and a physician in the area who treats only Lyme pts. i scheduled a visit in July 2000. On the initial visit, I discovered that I had 60% of all the symptoms possible for a lyme pt. This time a blood test came back positive and urine tests came back positive. i began a 6 month antibiotic schedule of Ceftan, Doxy, and Mepron. I began to improve while on the antibiotics, but within two months after the treatment concluded, the symptoms came flooding back. I then followed with two more 6 month, treatment cycles, but each time after I concluded the cycle, symptoms returned. You have not been billed for any of these visits or treatments, partially because I was not covered with you until April 2001 and partially because I was in mid-treatment when I did get coverage and felt that I would finish on my own. Finally in spring of 2002- my Lyme physician, sent to medical center. This ordered multiple test (which you have paid) including a spinal tap. This came back positive for Lyme. I chose to have my IV treatment atthe Lyme Disease Treatment Center. I have been dealing with Lyme since 1995 (over 7 years) and the disease has been complicated with the Lymerix Vaccine. An initial IV of Ceftriazone for 28 days would not have been effective. The Lyme Disease Center began with a 56 day IV therapy which I have completed (October 2002). I will be having blood tests monthl for 1 year (perhaps a repeat spinal tap) to assure that the Lyme is in check. Please reconsider your decision not to have to reimburse past the standard 28-da IV Therapy and cover the entire 56 day therapy as well as the follow up visit for the blood test. Incidently, I am filing legal suits against manufact for the complications, which developed from the LYMErix Vaccine. For me, the disease is now in a chronic stage, and will be present for the rest of my life.