Victoria Lyme Support Group Agenda for June 24, 2012

1. Name introductions. Welcome message. (10 min)

Updates (20 min)

2. Help Fill A Dream (HFAD) www.helpfilladream.com/ is an immediately responsive charitable foundation based in Victoria, British Columbia. (Dave)

3. BC Lyme Clinic. (Dave)

4. Elizabeth May bill. Nicole and Chris’s presentation. (Dave)

5. Webpage for our Support Group. http://victorialymegroup.blogspot.ca/ (Lisa R)

6. Dr. David Patrick’s research study for the BC CDC. (Liisa J.)

Discussion (60 min)

7. Informal Discussion (information sharing, support, orientation for newcomers, questions, ideas for upcoming meetings)
8. Lyme Support Library. Should we start our own Library of informative books? Any donations of books, or suggestions of books to purchase?
For example:
No such thing as Chronic Lyme disease? Medical professionals may be interested in the new book, "Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease: Fifty-One Case Reports and Essays in Their Regard." Written by Founding member and Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, you may remember Dr. Burton Waisbren and his article, "The Emperor’ s New Clothes, Chronic Lyme Disease, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America", which you may read on Waisbren Clinic's website. Here's a link to the new book, also available for Kindle.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9221296.htm
There is wholesale pricing on this book if people are interested in us doing a bulk order to give copies to your GP…

Information
9. Dr. Murakami’s reasons for optimism in the medical community:
Ernie Murakami, June 3, 2012, Some reasons for optimism with the " Medical Divide "

The majority of medical doctors are still adamant about the Lyme situation and fearful to treat but there are things happening slowly but gradually:
The Brian Schmidt reportPeer reviewed animal studiesDr Pat McGeer’s post mortem report culturing of live spirochetesmany of the Naturopathic Physicians are on board in Canada with prescription priveleges in B.C. and hopefully soon in other provinces.The Manitoba Government recently had a Lyme disease Symposium with equal representation of LLMDs and non-LLMDs and I know some non-believers are opening their minds about chronic Lyme disease being an infection. This may have been the first meeting with equal representation from both sides of the Medical divide.There are 7 American States with laws protecting LLMDs from harrassment, investigations and suspension of licences with some States the doctors have voluntarily shelved the IDSA guidelines.In England one of my LLMD associates had a court case dropped due to inadequate evidence by the non Literate complainers.John Scott has done extensive studies of migratory birds carrying ticks which are spreading vector borne diseases on a continuous daily basis in North America.The Boucher Institute has and will continue with my teaching about Lyme disease to the graduating students on an annual basis.
10. In the news: The provincial government routinely fails its legal duty to promptly inform citizens of risks to public health and safety, warn legal scholars at the University of Victoria. Includes Lyme disease.
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Hume+taken+task+failure+inform+public/6735884/story.html

11. Lyme Disease Association of BC, LDABC has been formed by a Lyme sufferer in Vancouver.
Show newsletter.

12. . Dr. Garth Nicolson’s views on Mycoplasma infection:
http://www.immed.org/NewsReports/NewsReports03.2010update/PHA_Nicolson_0709_v4_07.pdf

13. Fermented Foods:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3tEBo8rJU&list=PLDD4048C9AD78EBBD&feature=plcp
This 6 part New Zealand youtube series is full of wonderful information about probiotics and fermented foods, and how to easily make your own in your own kitchen for pennies!

14. Oil of Oregano. http://curingherbs.com/wild_oregano_oil.htm
Has anyone tried this form of natural antibiotic?
Facebook comments:
Chris- great for sore throats and dental spirochetes
Sheri- Great for removing yeast off tongue too.
Cathy- Have a bottle and did the Massage into shoulders for my tendonitis and the scar and big toe where I had a bunion removed in 2004, (toes been feeling broken for weeks) & OMG...pain is virtually 90% gone!!!! So anyone with joint pain, this really does provide relief!!!

15. Next meeting: July 22, 2012 6:00-8:00pm Four Mile Pub Tea Room

Elizabeth May (MP-Green Party) to Introduce "National Lyme Strategy" Bill

On Wed. June 20th, 2012 in Ottawa, Elizabeth May is planning to introduce a private member's bill relating to Lyme disease. Look for a press conference that day and the reading of the bill by Elizabeth to our federally elected MP's later the same day.
Nicole and I saw a rough draft of the bill last week. It is still being worked on by Elizabeth and her team, including legal advisers in order to make sure there aren't any loop holes to be picked apart when it comes time to vote sometime between September 2012 - March 2013. Upon the passing of the bill, a conference will be convened to develop a National Lyme Disease Strategy with patient group representatives, medical and provincial health ministers in attendance. The conference would address the challenges of recognition, timely diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. 
The bill is multi-faceted, with detailed timelines that require adherence by the Federal Minister of Health at various stages, including when the conference must be convened, when the health minister would report back to MP's, timeline for posting new national strategy on the official gov't website, and many other critical details ensuring the job is done right.
In our meeting, Elizabeth May asked what other suggestions we would like to see. We stated if only the IDSA archaic guidelines were listed, the bill would not serve a purpose, unless it reflected the 'two standards of care', ILADS and IDSA. Canlyme has been consulted at length by Elizabeth to make sure patient's interests will be heard.
We also expressed the need for protection for doctors who wished to treat patients with Lyme disease using the standard of care they felt best benefited the patient.  
Elizabeth is allowed to introduce one private member's bill in her four year term. She has chosen to help Canadians with Lyme disease get their right to health care back.
  How can each one of us help Elizabeth pass this bill?
We ALL need to do the following and ask for friends, & family wherever they live in Canada to do the same to support you and get this National Lyme Strategy Bill passed.
1. Find out who your federal MP is. Click here.
2. Contact your federal MP and if at all humanly possible set up a face-to-face meeting.  
-Tell them your story as briefly as possible.  
-Tell them you know others across Canada in the same predicament.  
-Tell them you are being denied your right to health care.  
-Ask if you can count on their support to get this bill passed. 
-Make sure your MP knows this is not just a 'Green' party bill, it is a bill that could affect every single Canadian including themselves, or their loved ones.  
Remind your MP to vote with their conscience as this is a private member's bill; no party vote needed.   
3. Respond back to Chris Powell (Nicole Bottles' mom) with name of your MP after you have contacted them and if you feel you have their support or not. Either leave a comment here or contact me at cpowellworld@aol.com. 
Many thanks everyone for doing your part in getting this legislation passed. I believe it is possible with the vast lyme network across Canada. Elizabeth May has started the ball rolling. It's up to us to keep it rolling! 
 Contact friends, family, acquaintances, people in your local communities. Let them know how important support is. Ask them to contact their MP. 

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." 

~Archbishop Desmond Tutu