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Watch highlights from our events here!

The Red Wellies
June 13, 2010
A performance from their new self-titled CD The Red Wellies

Resources & Information from our:
Lyme Disease Day of Awareness
February 20, 2010

Our Lyme Disease Day of Awareness took place on February 20th to a full theater of people, which included a screening of Under Our Skin (link to Under Our Skin Website is here) followed by a Q&A session by the Lyme Disease Association's Kimberlee Pappa. A few were just curious, but an overwhelming majority were there because they or or their families have been affected by Lyme disease, some with debilitating effects of untreated, previously misdiagnosed, and late-stage recurring Lyme disease.

We explored advances and obstacles in Lyme disease treatment, and presented issues particularly affecting CT residents. Discussions highlighted the difficulties in diagnosis, and testing which is often not accurate, with false positives and negatives. After diagnosis patients may not receive adequate treatment, and may continue to suffer for years, all the while losing quality of life. Audience members who shared their personal stories of illness, anguish and enjoyable and healthful life lost confirmed this.

CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wrote to us, after we invited him to participate in our Day of Awareness. An existing obligation prevented him from attending, however he wrote: "I will be with you in spirit for this important educational event. I applaud your efforts and advocacy in educating the public about Lyme disease and your dedication to the ongoing discussion and scientific research for its treatment."

• State Senator Andrew Maynard outlined steps the CT legislature has taken to help those suffering with Lyme disease, CT Attorney General Blumenthal’s landmark antitrust investigation into the Lyme treatment guidelines of the IDSA & House Bill 6200, recently signed by Governor Rell, which shields doctors who treat patients with chronic Lyme.

State Senator Maynard graciously invited all who are concerned about legislative issues to contact him at: www.senatedems.ct.gov/Maynard.html

The antitrust investigation, which states that “the IDSA guidelines have sweeping and significant impacts on Lyme disease medical care” is ongoing. House Bill 6200 which was vigorously fought by the IDSA, was necessary legislation because doctors who treat people with late-stage or chronic Lyme are losing their licenses, and people are often denied health insurance coverage.

The IDSA says: “no convincing biologic evidence exists for symptomatic chronic B. burgdorferi infection in patients after recommended treatments for Lyme disease.” The IDSA recommended treatment for Lyme disease is about two weeks of antibiotics. In simple language, they do not believe that chronic Lyme disease exists, and that everybody who is infected is cured in two weeks.

• Pamela Weintraub shared her personal story, how her family was misdiagnosed with Lyme disease, how they are still affected by it, and how she came to research and write her amazing book about Lyme disease after many years of meticulous research.

Pamela is senior editor at Discover magazine and the author of Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic, published by St. Martin’s Press and 2009 winner of the prestigious American Medical Writers Association award for the best medical book for the public. Cure Unknown is in part a memoir, but mostly, a journalistic investigation into the medical history, patient experience, and brutal political war over Lyme disease.

Previously, Pam was editor in chief of OMNI magazine, consulting editor for Psychology Today, and executive editor of MAMM, a national magazine for women with breast and gynecological cancers. Her articles have appeared everywhere from Redbook to Audubon to Health. She has worked as a journalist covering health and biomedicine for national media since 1981, and is the author of 16 prior books on topics from the infant brain to bioterrorism to emergency medicine.She left the hyperendemic hamlet of Chappaqua, New York, where her family got so sick, in 2004, and today lives amid brownstones and cobblestones in downtown Brooklyn, NY. About Cure Unknown: www.cureunknown.com

To buy Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic:

www.amazon.com/Cure-Inside-Epidemic-Pamela-Weintraub/dp/0312378122

• Kimberlee Pappa, is Chapter Chair, Eastern CT Chapter, Lyme Disease Association, LDAECC.

Kimberlee shared information about The Lyme Disease Association, which is an all-volunteer national nonprofit dedicated to Lyme disease education, prevention, raising monies for research, and patient support. If you have Lyme disease, or think you may, the LDA is a great place to find doctor referrals and more.

The Lyme Disease Association's Website: www.lymediseaseassociation.org

• Dr. Megan Marco & Dr. Stephanie Bethune from Stonington Natural Health Center, Stonington, CT both discussed their work:

Megan Marco is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture. Megan has been in practice for 9 years and created Stonington Natural Health Center (also at Quiambaug Cove) four years ago in order to bring a collaboration of healers together to help people.

At the event, Dr. Marco spoke about how Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Herbs, and Massage can all be helpful for sufferers of Lyme disease. From Dr Marco: "These modalities help to relieve pain and stress, soothe sore muscles and joints, aid with digestion and sleep, and most importantly improve the immune system. As an Acupuncturist, she has helped people with chronic Lyme disease to improve their quality of life. Each of the Practitioners at Stonington Natural Health Center has empathy and healing to share."

Dr. Stephanie Bethune is a licensed and board-certified primary care Naturopathic Doctor. Dr. Bethune spoke about intensive hour-long sessions and individualized treatment that she offers. Dr. Bethune: "can order the labwork to have you tested for Lyme Disease, and she can analyze the results with a fine-toothed comb. In addition, Dr. Bethune has tests kits for hormones, neurotransmitters, and allergies, to name a few. She prescribes Homeopathic Remedies, Herbs, and Nutritional Support and Programs to help you be strong and heal." www.snhc.com

• Daniel F. Hartman, MD from Natura Medica, Mystic, CT offered valuable information about holistic care in addition to traditional medicine that is available to Lyme patients that boost the immune system and can aid in recovery from Lyme disease. From Dr. Hartman: "In my practice of Classical Homeopathy, I treat a wide variety of chronic physical and emotional complaints of adults and children. I have found Homeopathy to be gentle yet very powerful healing tool for many of the chronic conditions that have become so prevalent, and I have a special interest in treating emotional disorders of adolescents. I maintain a respect for conventional "western" medicine, and often prescribe homeopathy in conjunction with conventional medicines, if needed, although usually the goal of my patients is to become well enough to stop their prescription medicines."

Dr. Hartman can be found at: www.naturamedicamystic.com

• Connecticut Tick Control had a presence at our tables, and is conversant in all practices of Lyme disease prevention, taking pride in being a major advocate for Lyme disease awareness. They offer an integrated approach to tick prevention and control, and are available at: www.nixticks.com

Connecticut Tick Control had a presence at our tables, and is conversant in all practices of Lyme disease prevention, and is an advocate for Lyme disease awareness. Connecticut Tick Control has worked with the CDC, and are leaders in research projects that have benefited Connecticut residents. They conducted a five-year study on Mason’s Island that greatly reduced the tick population using its Maxforce Tick Management System. This system uses black boxes that attract and treat mice that can carry up to 150 ticks each at peak season. While the deer population has gotten a bad rap for tick infestation, mice play a big role. The mice are not killed, but the ticks are, and they stop spreading ticks to the deer. The system interrupts the Lyme disease cycle without harming wildlife or damaging the environment.

Cases of Lyme disease have been reported in 48 of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, as reported from OSHA. It has spread to Canada and Europe. Rates of Lyme disease in Europe may be similar to those in the US. In 1997, Connecticut had the highest reported rate of Lyme disease in the US.

Under Our Skin can be found here: http://www.underourskin.com/

November 28, 2009

Linda Lee's Laughs On Us: a big hit with the kids (and parents too!)

What could be more fun for kids than having a day off from school on the Friday after Thanksgiving? Turning a cake into a frog, transforming a horse into a zebra, and watching your parents turn peanut butter into jelly. That is, after Linda Lee, the loveable clown and magician have them suit up in full clown attire including fluorescent wigs, big rubber noses and hats that double as plungers.

Linda Lee mixes up a great show by soliciting young helpers from the audience to create magic and helps parents get silly, by dressing them up and having them recite “abracadabra alakazam!” as they shimmy and twirl, much to the delight of their on-looking children.

Mystic Independent Theater would like to thank everyone who came to celebrate our grand opening. We enjoyed meeting everyone!

The theater will host more kids shows in the coming months. Meanwhile, stay tuned for great films including In Search of Memory, The Silence Before Bach and Warsaw Bridge by Pere Portabella, and Oscar hopeful Under Our Skin.