Thank you for writing this article. It is so refreshing to hear the voice of truth, reason and intelligence, where something actually makes sense. Our medical and political world are certainly deficient in this right now. I agree with everything you wrote about in this article. Having battled Lyme disease and experienced disregard and judgement by the medical community in my past, and now choosing a path to navigate Covid differently than the general population, makes me feel very alone often. So - thank you for not only your fabulous articles, but your leadership and courage to speak in this world climate.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to send such a nice comment! It's been incredibly rewarding to share my perspective with folks and have them share it with their friends. Your feedback, knowing that it strikes a chord, is immensely encouraging. I'm sorry that Lyme and Covid have been marginalizing experiences. It's just yet more evidence of how the medical system has failed so many of us and motivates me to keep doing whatever I can do to change things.
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Steven Phillips, MD
Soo..........I've read this several times - or should I say "listened" with audio option. I am oftentimes (ok, always) left speechless these days and once again Dr Phillips, you nailed it. Wrote the words my brain cannot comprehend or put together in a cohesive sentence or thoughts as it's not reasonable, logical or understandable, never mind so unethical and corrupt. Thank you for making such sense "in a world gone mad" and speaking the truth. ZeroSpin. Yes, perfect name. Strong, Cry, Laugh - rinse, repeat and now.............there's another one to add, but can't figure it yet and hesitant to want to ever add to the above line up of how my brain and emotions are handling............so so grateful for these Dr Phillips....making sense in a world gone mad and terribly tangled. Incredibly well done on a topic that is so............sigh. Yep, this.
Thank you, I so appreciate your kind and well-crafted comments.
Is the word to add to the list "Cringe?" Cry, Laugh, Cringe--rinse, repeat :)
I cringed quite a bit when I was doing research for this series. I'm still cringing, but I remain hopeful that reason will return to the land...eventually.
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Steven Phillips, MD
Yes! That will work! Yep - that's it! It fits perfectly in the line up......I had a photo I was going to share - it's of the bravest of all animals in the kingdom, a Lion. He has his big paw across his eyes and I've always thought when I'm looking at it, he is either thinking, oh my gosh, how can be people be so.............like the SMH emoji, or he is covering his eyes, like when I watch a scary movie (or the news these days) and I just can't watch and need to cover my eyes. Can't figure out how to post it here. This word will be SO helpful for my brain. And yes, I too remain hopeful, just what YOU said.......... Thank you again Dr Phillips! And for being willing to cringe through - I dare say you are the Lion w/out his paw across his eyes! Thank you!!
Totally alarming but not surprising. As schools are restarting, will monkey pox, Covid and whatever the newest virus behind door #3 really not spread and mutate (again)? Right, you answered that. Many of us screaming into voids here in nyc as we go about stamping on the invasive lantern fly that will kill the trees and crops (oh, but they’re so pretty!😳). A friend in Costa Rica says food is beginning to be rationed and she’s secretly stocking up on rice and beans. Meanwhile people are taking yoga retreats there because life is just so stressful. So after screaming into the void here as well, dodging the sociopaths and psychopaths, what can we do constructively? What’s our rice and beans? Several friends are leaving for good to Mexico, portugal, Italy…maybe that’s just burying their head in the sand. Going to rewatch Planet of the Apes for pointers. Looking forward to Part 2—I think.
I can't believe you just guessed one of the other ingredients in the "recipe"--To be discussed in the next part: Famine!
In answer to your question, I think I know what should be done, but I don't see how it could be done: Psychopathy and sociopathy are spectrums, just like anything else. A little bit of those traits can make for effective leaders, but those who are heavily on that spectrum can literally destroy the world without losing a bit of sleep.
I've always said that testing for these disorders should be done before anyone is allowed to hold public office. But in order for that to be passed into law, it would have to go through the legislature--The same one that won't pass term limits or any material or enforceable penalties on profits from insider trading because it affects them, so I doubt that they would pass this type of legislation as well.
Sorry this series is a bit dark. Didn't want to turn away from it though.
Self regulation only works when everyone is being altruistic and working for the public good. Our elected representatives prefer to be seen as team members when it comes to health and fear challenging medical dogma from such a powerful establishment as medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. In the 14th century Chaucer wrote Canterbury of the pharmique and physic travelling together 'each living off the guile of the other'.
Thank you for writing this article and speaking the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
As a patient with Chronic Lyme who transmitted it unwittingly in utero to my only child ( who has incurred 5 years of hell), I am so tired of the marginalization of Lyme patients and long COVId patients. My son and I were dismissed and judged by dozens of doctors before finding help. For me the help is too little too late as I have permanent nerve damage. I was u diagnosed/ misdiagnosed for 25 years. Fortunately I was able to get my son to experienced LLMDs within a year and he is doing better. ( I actually called your office for my son but at the time he was under 13).
I regularly speak out about the truth of Chronic Lyme on my social media networks and I’m a patient advocate for several non- profit organizations. I read your book Chronic in 2 days and appreciate all you have done for the community. Despite your efforts and those of so many it all seems so insufficient given the massive uphill battle with the many powers that be.
Will it ever change? What will it take to really move the needle? Will it be in my lifetime?
These are the questions I ponder ever day as I continue to fight to be well.
I look forward to the second part of this article. Thank you for continuing to ask the hard questions and for the quest to uncover the truth.
So sorry to just be seeing this generous comment! I somehow missed it last month!
And I'm very sorry to hear of your, and your son's, struggles. I wish you both the best.
I'm not sure what it will take to move the needle in a material way. I just keep pushing the boulder uphill, trying my best to change things. I do think that things have gotten a bit better, but it's not nearly enough and it's taken decades of effort. But still, some progress.
I applaud your efforts. I really think that the paradigm shift that's necessary in this field will take a village. Knowledgeable patients have been such an inspiration for many.
Yes, I do. In my mind, it was part of the "you can't make this stuff up" news. Herpes B virus is a big concern when interacting with monkeys, as it can be fatal to humans.
Dr. Phillips, I have weird symptoms that came on - swelling and flushing in face, followed by severe headache that lasted for 6 months, nausea vertigo, brain fog. Then I got covid on top of it. After acute covid infection I developed numbness and tingling in hands and feet a lot of bladder pain. Hands go numb when I sleep. Went to 15 doctors through lots of struggle got blood tests done and few scans everything is normal. Did Lyme tests twice through Western Blot and was negative. Ended up going to alternative practitioner and did another test with Vibrant Wellness lab. It came back positive for Lyme. Took this test to my infectious disease doc and neurologist both laughed in my face and told me I don’t have it. How can I make sure? To me it feels like I have an infection and I don’t think it’s fully covid because some symptoms I had prior. Is there another test that I can do ? Should I demand a blood smear? Please advice.
I'm sorry but I'm unable to provide patient-specific advice in this capacity.
What I can say generally however, is that there are many different labs that test for Lyme and other vector-borne infections, and studies have shown immense variability of test results between labs. I can also say that if I went to a doctor who laughed in my face, that person would no longer be my doctor.
Partly due to the poor status of lab testing, the field is highly controversial and patients looking for answers find themselves marginalized all too often like you've described.
Other aspects of the field that blur the lines are the high prevalence of treatment failures/chronic illness and the lack of a single-best treatment that works for all patients.
I hope this general info helps a bit. If you'd like to provide medical information to your doctors so that they take this field seriously, my written testimony at the IDSA hearing in 2009 has persuaded many:
Thank you for taking the time to weild the "mighty pen"! You are a talented writer.
Always the optimist, or at least much of the time, I feel part of the solution is education and the more of us who speak out in this clear, educated and organized fashion (as well as entertaining) the more progress will be made toward restoring sanity to this nation. Yes, we are in the proverbial "deep doo doo" at present. Fortunately, there are solutions. Our government is still structured so that progress can be made on the local level. We live in a deep Blue state so it is not always obvious what is being done to restore sanity, but there are people all over the country working on a grass roots level to get involved in their local school boards (most important) and in their local governing bodies. There are also more and more people like yourself who are taking the time to speak out (risking social media jail) and who are reaching people with solid factual information and enlightening them.
James Michner's "The Covenant" is a long but good read on how the Boers of South Africa retook their nation form the British. Albeit they were on the wrong side when it came to racial relations but it is a good example of a small group of determined people retaking their society.
Thanks for this much-appreciated comment! (Somehow I missed it or I would have responded sooner!) I write these articles and hope that they resonate with folks, realizing that it's an uphill battle to impact public awareness about important topics in the midst of near-constant gaslighting.
Truth wins in the fullness of time. I'd like to accelerate that process.
Thanks for the tip--I'll have to read "The Covenant."
Thank you for all you do. God bless.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Thank you for writing this article. It is so refreshing to hear the voice of truth, reason and intelligence, where something actually makes sense. Our medical and political world are certainly deficient in this right now. I agree with everything you wrote about in this article. Having battled Lyme disease and experienced disregard and judgement by the medical community in my past, and now choosing a path to navigate Covid differently than the general population, makes me feel very alone often. So - thank you for not only your fabulous articles, but your leadership and courage to speak in this world climate.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to send such a nice comment! It's been incredibly rewarding to share my perspective with folks and have them share it with their friends. Your feedback, knowing that it strikes a chord, is immensely encouraging. I'm sorry that Lyme and Covid have been marginalizing experiences. It's just yet more evidence of how the medical system has failed so many of us and motivates me to keep doing whatever I can do to change things.
Soo..........I've read this several times - or should I say "listened" with audio option. I am oftentimes (ok, always) left speechless these days and once again Dr Phillips, you nailed it. Wrote the words my brain cannot comprehend or put together in a cohesive sentence or thoughts as it's not reasonable, logical or understandable, never mind so unethical and corrupt. Thank you for making such sense "in a world gone mad" and speaking the truth. ZeroSpin. Yes, perfect name. Strong, Cry, Laugh - rinse, repeat and now.............there's another one to add, but can't figure it yet and hesitant to want to ever add to the above line up of how my brain and emotions are handling............so so grateful for these Dr Phillips....making sense in a world gone mad and terribly tangled. Incredibly well done on a topic that is so............sigh. Yep, this.
Thank you, I so appreciate your kind and well-crafted comments.
Is the word to add to the list "Cringe?" Cry, Laugh, Cringe--rinse, repeat :)
I cringed quite a bit when I was doing research for this series. I'm still cringing, but I remain hopeful that reason will return to the land...eventually.
Yes! That will work! Yep - that's it! It fits perfectly in the line up......I had a photo I was going to share - it's of the bravest of all animals in the kingdom, a Lion. He has his big paw across his eyes and I've always thought when I'm looking at it, he is either thinking, oh my gosh, how can be people be so.............like the SMH emoji, or he is covering his eyes, like when I watch a scary movie (or the news these days) and I just can't watch and need to cover my eyes. Can't figure out how to post it here. This word will be SO helpful for my brain. And yes, I too remain hopeful, just what YOU said.......... Thank you again Dr Phillips! And for being willing to cringe through - I dare say you are the Lion w/out his paw across his eyes! Thank you!!
Totally alarming but not surprising. As schools are restarting, will monkey pox, Covid and whatever the newest virus behind door #3 really not spread and mutate (again)? Right, you answered that. Many of us screaming into voids here in nyc as we go about stamping on the invasive lantern fly that will kill the trees and crops (oh, but they’re so pretty!😳). A friend in Costa Rica says food is beginning to be rationed and she’s secretly stocking up on rice and beans. Meanwhile people are taking yoga retreats there because life is just so stressful. So after screaming into the void here as well, dodging the sociopaths and psychopaths, what can we do constructively? What’s our rice and beans? Several friends are leaving for good to Mexico, portugal, Italy…maybe that’s just burying their head in the sand. Going to rewatch Planet of the Apes for pointers. Looking forward to Part 2—I think.
I can't believe you just guessed one of the other ingredients in the "recipe"--To be discussed in the next part: Famine!
In answer to your question, I think I know what should be done, but I don't see how it could be done: Psychopathy and sociopathy are spectrums, just like anything else. A little bit of those traits can make for effective leaders, but those who are heavily on that spectrum can literally destroy the world without losing a bit of sleep.
I've always said that testing for these disorders should be done before anyone is allowed to hold public office. But in order for that to be passed into law, it would have to go through the legislature--The same one that won't pass term limits or any material or enforceable penalties on profits from insider trading because it affects them, so I doubt that they would pass this type of legislation as well.
Sorry this series is a bit dark. Didn't want to turn away from it though.
Best,
SP
Seems like those days when people married their cousins and ruled a nation are looking pretty good.
Self regulation only works when everyone is being altruistic and working for the public good. Our elected representatives prefer to be seen as team members when it comes to health and fear challenging medical dogma from such a powerful establishment as medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. In the 14th century Chaucer wrote Canterbury of the pharmique and physic travelling together 'each living off the guile of the other'.
Thank you for writing this article and speaking the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
As a patient with Chronic Lyme who transmitted it unwittingly in utero to my only child ( who has incurred 5 years of hell), I am so tired of the marginalization of Lyme patients and long COVId patients. My son and I were dismissed and judged by dozens of doctors before finding help. For me the help is too little too late as I have permanent nerve damage. I was u diagnosed/ misdiagnosed for 25 years. Fortunately I was able to get my son to experienced LLMDs within a year and he is doing better. ( I actually called your office for my son but at the time he was under 13).
I regularly speak out about the truth of Chronic Lyme on my social media networks and I’m a patient advocate for several non- profit organizations. I read your book Chronic in 2 days and appreciate all you have done for the community. Despite your efforts and those of so many it all seems so insufficient given the massive uphill battle with the many powers that be.
Will it ever change? What will it take to really move the needle? Will it be in my lifetime?
These are the questions I ponder ever day as I continue to fight to be well.
I look forward to the second part of this article. Thank you for continuing to ask the hard questions and for the quest to uncover the truth.
So sorry to just be seeing this generous comment! I somehow missed it last month!
And I'm very sorry to hear of your, and your son's, struggles. I wish you both the best.
I'm not sure what it will take to move the needle in a material way. I just keep pushing the boulder uphill, trying my best to change things. I do think that things have gotten a bit better, but it's not nearly enough and it's taken decades of effort. But still, some progress.
I applaud your efforts. I really think that the paradigm shift that's necessary in this field will take a village. Knowledgeable patients have been such an inspiration for many.
Best,
SP
I agree the paradigm shift will take a village. I’ll keep doing my part and I’m certain you will do yours. All the best.
Does anyone remember the monkey truck accident in Pennsylvania earlier this year?!!!???
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/01/23/monkeys-who-escaped-after-pennsylvania-truck-crash-all-accounted/6628838001/
https://www.phillyvoice.com/monkeys-pennsylvania-woman-sick-danville-truck-crash-cdc-research-peta/
Yes, I do. In my mind, it was part of the "you can't make this stuff up" news. Herpes B virus is a big concern when interacting with monkeys, as it can be fatal to humans.
Dr. Phillips, I have weird symptoms that came on - swelling and flushing in face, followed by severe headache that lasted for 6 months, nausea vertigo, brain fog. Then I got covid on top of it. After acute covid infection I developed numbness and tingling in hands and feet a lot of bladder pain. Hands go numb when I sleep. Went to 15 doctors through lots of struggle got blood tests done and few scans everything is normal. Did Lyme tests twice through Western Blot and was negative. Ended up going to alternative practitioner and did another test with Vibrant Wellness lab. It came back positive for Lyme. Took this test to my infectious disease doc and neurologist both laughed in my face and told me I don’t have it. How can I make sure? To me it feels like I have an infection and I don’t think it’s fully covid because some symptoms I had prior. Is there another test that I can do ? Should I demand a blood smear? Please advice.
Hello,
I'm sorry but I'm unable to provide patient-specific advice in this capacity.
What I can say generally however, is that there are many different labs that test for Lyme and other vector-borne infections, and studies have shown immense variability of test results between labs. I can also say that if I went to a doctor who laughed in my face, that person would no longer be my doctor.
Partly due to the poor status of lab testing, the field is highly controversial and patients looking for answers find themselves marginalized all too often like you've described.
Other aspects of the field that blur the lines are the high prevalence of treatment failures/chronic illness and the lack of a single-best treatment that works for all patients.
I hope this general info helps a bit. If you'd like to provide medical information to your doctors so that they take this field seriously, my written testimony at the IDSA hearing in 2009 has persuaded many:
https://stevenphillipsmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IDSA-written-testimony.pdf
Best,
SP
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to weild the "mighty pen"! You are a talented writer.
Always the optimist, or at least much of the time, I feel part of the solution is education and the more of us who speak out in this clear, educated and organized fashion (as well as entertaining) the more progress will be made toward restoring sanity to this nation. Yes, we are in the proverbial "deep doo doo" at present. Fortunately, there are solutions. Our government is still structured so that progress can be made on the local level. We live in a deep Blue state so it is not always obvious what is being done to restore sanity, but there are people all over the country working on a grass roots level to get involved in their local school boards (most important) and in their local governing bodies. There are also more and more people like yourself who are taking the time to speak out (risking social media jail) and who are reaching people with solid factual information and enlightening them.
James Michner's "The Covenant" is a long but good read on how the Boers of South Africa retook their nation form the British. Albeit they were on the wrong side when it came to racial relations but it is a good example of a small group of determined people retaking their society.
Thank you again for all you do.
Linda
Thanks for this much-appreciated comment! (Somehow I missed it or I would have responded sooner!) I write these articles and hope that they resonate with folks, realizing that it's an uphill battle to impact public awareness about important topics in the midst of near-constant gaslighting.
Truth wins in the fullness of time. I'd like to accelerate that process.
Thanks for the tip--I'll have to read "The Covenant."