Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic by Pamela Weintraub
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Book Reviews of Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic
Book Review: Historically compelling but practically skewed
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is to lyme disease what Osler's Web is to CFS, and yes the two diseases not only share physical similarities but are historically interwoven like fornicating worms. If you don't have lyme disease or haven't heard of it, it'll read kooky, cultish, and conspiratorial. If you have had any personal experience with lyme disease, you might catch yourself wishing this were an elaborately-contrived conspiracy to stave off the sobering realization that lyme patients never stood a chance.
Pamela Weintrub is a meticulous scientific journalist who leaves no big name un-interviewed on either side of the polarizing lyme debate and no stone unturned to give an evidence-based lashing of big pharma, academic medicine, gov't research, and managed care: the Big Four responsible for spinning and stifling unbiased research results to keep patents alive, pockets full, and egos way up high.
Lyme disease sufferers should not add this book to their arsenal of treatment books because incredulously, all the patients in this book had amazing results with monotherapy--antibiotics alone. No no, readers shouldn't read this book for any kind of therapy--including hope. Cure Unknown is the truth and nothing but the truth: The Bible of How We Got Shat On. But for the policy wonks out, this book is 20 years of pressing evidence that our healthcare system is equal parts egomaniacal and inefficient. Let's read and weep (I did twice)...and change.
Book Review: insightful, frightening and shocking
Summary: 5 Stars
The four Weintraub's left New York City to live in a dream home in Chappaqua in Westchester County as they thought this would be better for the kids. The parents thought the open woods with deer would prove healthier than the smog city. However, within a very short time from when they relocated, one of the sons becomes ill followed by the other boy. Soon afterward the father and finally the mother became ill also. Each had similar aches and pains that were progressively getting worse. The local physicians considered Lyme disease infection, but decides that was not the cause. The family turned to the best medical facilities in New York and received similar no help responses as the cures were making the disease worse. Desperate, Pamela Weintraub decided to use her skill as a science writer to research the symptoms. What she reports in this insightful frightening book is shocking as she affirms the widening spread of Lyme disease with the medical field in her opinion buried in the sand or ignorant. Ms. Weintraub, whose sons remain very ill, exposes the health system's failure to react to a growing epidemic that could turn pandemic rather shortly. Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic is a well written shocker that makes the case act now before it is too late.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Excellent Book----Prevention?
Summary: 5 Stars
As a Lyme disease survivor who gradually became aware of the ongoing controversy about chronic Lyme disease, I found this book to be extremely informative. I highly recommend it.
Living in a rural area where Lyme disease is becoming a silent epidemic, the best defense for the future is prevention-- appropriate covering and daily tick checks, especially of children (if it looks like a small black scab or mole, but has legs, get the tweezers.) Nymphs can be especially hard to spot. Summer camp counselors and caregivers should be adequately trained.
Don't rely on a bulls eye or rash to diagnose; I had neither. When you go to a doctor with undiagnosed pain or other mysterious symptoms, demand a Lyme disease titer test as part of the doctor's workup (my daughter, not the M.D. requested mine.) My Lyme disease was confirmed by two tests. The nurse who inserted my PICC line told me I was very lucky to be diagnosed early; her merchant marine husband has become mentally and physically disabled and is searching for doctors who can help with his chronic situation.
I thought I was one of the fortunate people with few problems, but after reading Pam Weintraub's research on spirochetes and cysts, I'm not so sure.
Book Review: A tragedy
Summary: 5 Stars
I came down with Lyme disease in July 08. I had 4 weeks of antibiotics. I still had shocking sensations and a buzzing ear when I saw an infectious disease doctor. He told me to ignore it. One month later the joint pain started. My ear began to constantly ring and my muscles twitched. I found it hard to concentrate at my job as an engineer.
I visited numerous doctors and found them to be exactly as explained in this book. In living this nightmare I have seen the truth in what Weintraub portrays in her pages first hand. This disease and the co-infections that can accompany it have been pushed under the carpet by mainstream medicine and those that are afflicted are left with the diagnosis of an unproven "immunological response."
I for one believe that unless they can prove their point unequivocally that antibioitics are of no further use that those that want to try the treatment should be able to, especially since many have found that they are helped by them.
It is disgusting how we can waste so many billions of dollars, but research dollars for this disease remains paltry. Sadly with the current economy the future will probably be worse.
Book Review: Pamela Weintraub is a hero
Summary: 5 Stars
Pamela Weintraub is a hero for those who suffer from Lyme disease and it's co-infections. Her and her family fought this disease and we are all lucky that she is well enough to be able to write about it.
Her writing is eloquent, fair and well researched on this controversial topic. For someone who is new to the topic of Lyme disease, this is a thourough and REAL piece of journalism which does address both sides of the debate. She uncloaks the PG rated news reports, and gets to the real horror of this political debacle, and how people have had their lives ruined or taken due to lack of medical treatment.
She is something that the Lyme community desperately needs right now: a fair and well researched medical journalist to bring the human side of Lyme disease to the forefront in a credible way.
If you want to know more about or are new to the Lyme debate, this book is for you. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, this book is for you. It is not one sided, it is fair, it is journalism.
You just wouldn't believe that this could happen in America, and you never think it could happen to you but it can.