|
|
|
Welcome! Without the generous support of the Society's donors, Dr. Murakami would not be able to undertake the extensive Lyme disease education initiatives that you see listed here. A huge, heartfelt, THANK YOU goes out to each and every one of you!
NEW RADIO TALK SHOW FEATURING ... our very own Dr. Murakami The good doctor is reaching out using a new medium! Dr. Murakami is going to be hosting a radio talk every Sunday from 7-9 pm EST on the In Short Order radio show for health care professionals at BlogTalkRadio. In case you're wondering what, exactly, BlogTalkRadio is, here's some info taken directly from their website: BlogTalkRadio allows anyone, anywhere the ability to host a live talk radio show online... (It) empowers citizen broadcasters to create and share their original content, their voices and their opinions in a worldwide public forum. Today, BlogTalkRadio is the largest and fastest growing online talk radio network. A truly democratized medium, BlogTalkRadio has tens of thousands of hosts and millions of listeners tuning in and joining the conversation each month.
LECTURE VIDEO Check out Dr. Murakami's lecture video from the Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) Conference held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on October 21, 2011.
Schmidt Report on Chronic Lyme Disease in British Columbia This 56-page document, obtained through a Freedom of Information request to government by a long-time Lyme sufferer, received some well-deserved major coverage in the Vancouver Sun at the end of March 2011. Dr. Murakami was particularly encouraged by three of the eight recommendations put forward in this report as follows: (c) Chronic Lyme and related diseases present a significant burden on patients who are sometimes given few options or hope. A realistic but flexible approach is needed for each patient with their physician in determining the patient’s management of Lyme disease or other related infectious diseases. This should include a range of treatment options that have the potential for symptom relief and quality of life improvement. (d) The Province of BC should satisfy itself that that a doctor may prescribe therapy to a patient that departs from prevailing medical practice, unless it can be demonstrated that the therapy poses a greater risk to patient care or safety than does prevailing medical practice. (e) The Province of BC should satisfy itself that that a doctor will not be investigated solely on the grounds that the registrant practices complementary medicine or uses non-traditional therapies.
These particular recommendations were derived from page 44 of the report. If you want to read through the report in its entirety, click here for a pdf copy.
Public Health Agency of Canada in the News You've likely heard by now that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced on February 25, 2011 that, due to rigorous quality-control procedures, they had ascertained that 24 patients out of 1,557 samples tested by the National Microbiology Lab for Lyme disease had received false-negative test results. If you haven't heard and want to read more, the statement can be viewed here. While news of false-negatives is not particularly surprising to those of us dealing with Lyme on a regular basis, PHAC is to be applauded for making this information public. In addition, it was encouraging to see PHAC publicly reaffirming (not once, but twice in the same statement) that Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis, as in: "When someone shows symptoms of Lyme disease and might have been exposed to the ticks that carry it, guidelines recommend that physicians treat the illness, even if it has not been confirmed with laboratory testing." "All laboratory tests have a margin of error, which is why physicians are encouraged to follow the recommended treatment guidelines and treat patients they suspect may have Lyme disease with antibiotics, even without the results of lab tests."
Now, if we could just get the medical profession to start following the aforementioned guidelines!
A MIND-BOGGLING STORY (but sadly, not unfamiliar) We are honoured to share with you the fascinating journey of one young lady and her parents - from Africa to Canada and from health to Lyme and back again. From the outside (as told by J.'s parents) Having lived in Africa for 10 years, we were used to being alert for signs of illnesses like malaria and filaria; but in April 2008 when our 11-year old daughter, J., was having more and more difficulty finishing her homework assignments on time, we had no idea we were not looking at a behavioral issue, but rather the start of a long journey with Lyme disease. . . (continued) | Looking in (as told by J.S.) It was becoming more frustrating every day/week. I didn't want help, but otherwise I couldn't get places fast. I didn't want to tell my parents, because I didn't want to seem incapable. This was the situation: in the first half of May, 2008, I started repeating my steps, walking somewhere, then stopping and touching a place a few times. It didn't really bother me a lot, but it was frustrating that it was something I knew was wrong, but I didn't want to tell my parents about it, because it seemed so small and unexplainable . . . (continued) |
NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS, LYME DISEASE, AND YOU Dr. Murakami's presentation to the BC Naturopathic Physicians' annual conference this past fall continues to generate substantial interest from those in the profession who are keen to learn how to treat Lyme disease using antibiotic protocols, which is certainly heartening! In case you're not familiar with the difference between allopathic (conventional) MDs and naturopathic (alternative) NDs, the British Columbia Naturopathic Association explains it this way: "A difference between allopathic and naturopathic care may lie in the NDs emphasis on nutrition and diet, lifestyle change, and the importance for patients to manage their own long-term health" (http://www.bcna.ca/files_3/naturophatic.php).
This will be an important distinction to remember if you choose to go the ND route. Just because NDs now have the authority to write prescriptions doesn't mean that they will want to use antibiotics as their first-line treatment for Lyme disease. When meeting with your ND, keep an open mind and be upfront when discussing your treatment options, including the use of antibiotics. Also remember that Dr. Murakami continues to be available to consult with both MDs and NDs.
| |
| LATEST NEWS 
We've added an Archives section to capture all the information that is just too important to delete forever, but that is being replaced on the Home page by more current information. If you're looking for something that used to be on this page but is no longer, check out the Archives!
REMINDER: Dr. Murakami continues to be available to consult with physicians who are interested in learning more about Lyme disease. If you are a physician, or know of one who wants to develop a more in-depth understanding of Lyme and appropriate treatment protocols, please call 604-869-9922. Dr. Murakami will return the call as soon as possible. | | IN THE ARCHIVES . . . Quick Links LymeChat Forum  A popular forum for members wishing to discuss Lyme and issues surrounding Lyme with a support community or to ask Dr. M questions regarding the disease. Visit Our Facebook Page!  We're on Facebook! We've set up a regular page as well as a Causes page for all our members. | |
|