Writing an Article: what would you include?

Hi all!

I've been very busy and MIA here--but I hope you are all doing well on your healing journey.

I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary of my tick bite and, as a child provider, I would like to make other providers aware of the tick/Lyme issue in our area so that they are more cautious with the children they care for as it pertains to outdoor play.

I am thinking of asking our local resource and referral to include something I write up in their newsletter this spring.  I am wondering how I should go about it--to present the facts in a manner that is respectful to the medical profession--yet honest to our cause--while also protecting those involved.  Since the issue is contraversial, I am wondering if I should use any names, including my own, or keep in anonymous?  Should I quote facts as you and I know them--ones I can find from ILADS and so forth, or stick to just my story and add links to places to get more info?  I can reference recent articles from scientists in our area as well.

So I guess I am asking: how would you go about it?  What would you include/avoid?  What is the biggest message you would want people to take away from it as it pertains to child care providers providing the healthiest environment possible for their children?

TIA!

Thanks, Borderlyme.

Some things I've thought of from my own experience:

Regarding the bite:
I WAS NOT in the woods OR in TALL grass. I was in my own, fenced in yard. There were some dead perennials in my garden and some leaf litter on the ground.
It WAS NOT warm out--infact, there were still patches of snow on the ground.
I did not feel it or see it until the next morning.
I hadn't seen them in my yard prior to this.
I was told that they no longer TEST ticks for infection because even if they have it you are unlikely to get it. My LLMD says otherwise.

Regarding infection:
I was told that it was very unlikely that I would be infected since you need to have it on you at least (24, 48, 72 hours-depending on who you ask.) It was NOT attached very long. I estimate about 14 -16 hours.
I did not get a rash.
If was told that if the tick was infected, a person catching it is RARE--um yeah....
I was told that the tick needed to be on long enough to be bloated--it was not.
I was told that it wasn't worth doing a preventative round of abx however I now know that if a person gets tx right away it is very unlikely an infection takes hold.
I was told that if I needed abx, it would only be a couple weeks course

Regarding treatment:
I was tested by a local lab-it came back negative-surprise!! I didn't know about specialized testing.
I was given abx based on clinical symptoms, for 3 weeks. I was told it was standard treatment.
When I continued to have symptoms, I was told the ache in my leg was likely post-bite healing and that "3 weeks of doxy is enough to kill anything."
No one told me to see a special doctor.
When I went to see my primary with weird symptoms and told her about the tick bite, she just shook her head and shrugged as though that was irrevelant nor a big deal.
I had no idea treatment was contraversial.

I trust my LLMD because she gave a darn when I went to her. She actually LISTENED, CONSIDERED, and felt OBLIGATED to help me regardless of the CDC protocols.

Maybe I should do a Myth: Fact: type write up? Citing my own experience in each "Fact" answer?

Check out www.lymedisease.org website for lots of info you can use. They have posters you can print!!

Look at tabs:
resources, then handouts
states, then posters, then tick prevention poster
Lyme 101, then personal prevention and/or about ticks

This website has all the Lyme info you could ever need.

Good luck, have fun, and thank you for making the effort to inform people!!!
Lisa

LOL Worried!!! I know what you mean about wanting to share everything you know about a subject!! You should see some of my posts here!!! Talk about long winded! Just don't count my emails though - those are usually the length of short novellas!!