Do you sometimes wonder if anyone out there is examining the growing problem of tick-borne illnesses in this country? If you do, you are not alone. I went to the recent ILADS (the international Lyme and associated disease society) conference in Boston to check-in on the state of expert Lyme treatment and support.
Many people search endlessly for help. I was just grateful to find a doctor who didn’t dismiss my symptoms out of hand and knew the difference between an Elisa test( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and a Western Blot for Lyme test. If you are facing these problems, ILADS may be an important resource for you.
ILADS is an organization working on Lyme advocacy, care, and treatment. I had the chance to visit the 2019 Boston ILADS conference this past weekend. This meeting is filled with expert Lyme help, doctors naturopaths, herbalists and other specialists from all over the world. While I was there I got a chance to check out the vendors, so I took it.
Heading into Boston for the day was a fun mini-adventure, learning about new options to help people was a great motivator. Connecting into the supportive energy of the conference reminds me that it is not just me fighting for my health. The power of people working together to study, learn, and help others is healing.
What Expert Lyme Help Does ILADS Offer Patients
ILADS hosts multiple conferences internationally. Most of their meetings feature studies by medical professionals for other medical professionals and interested parties. New successful treatment protocols are shared. Each conference has multiple tracks to maximize learning at all levels. Also, ILADS offers training for doctors in Lyme literacy through a US Lyme Fundamentals course and ILADEF physician training program.
You, as a patient, can suggest this resource to your doctor and check for this training when vetting a doctor. Training and expertise is essential to help you manage and treat tick-borne illness. ILADS also hosts a search function to find local Lyme literate physicians on their site. ILADS advocates for recognition and insurance benefits for long term consequences of Lyme disease.
Exhibitor Trends
As I wandered the exhibit hall, I noticed some trends in who had a booth. There were companies focused on testing improvement, tools, herbs, and supplements to help patients. Lyme literate doctors and facilities with full support programs also came to share their offerings. Testing and treatment were the primary areas of vendor support. Here are some examples of companies represented at the ILADS Boston, 2019.
Newer First Tier Testing
There is an active ongoing search for accurate testing with a fast turn around. The standard of Elisa, followed by confirmatory Western Blot, often does not result in precise diagnosis or help people. Testing confusion and false negatives are part of the reason that Lyme still eludes effective early treatment.
Lyme Help & Healing
What I call help and healing companies covered the gamut from herbal supplements, doctors, healing centers, and even IR sauna
- Relax Saunas Far Infrared Sauna is an adjunct treatment therapy. Heat is used as a treatment to kill and to promote detoxification through sweat therapy.
- Sanoviv Sanoviv is a destination center for a combination of testing and treatment. In two weeks, they run a lot of tests and start to treat you.
- Hopkinton Drug Compounding & Wellness Hopkinton Drug Compounding & Wellness is more than your average drug store because they offer specialty products used in Lyme treatment as well as select compounded products. I love to find local places that can help supply tools to support healing from Lyme disease.
The purpose of this article is to share and educate on Lyme disease recovery strategies. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.