“MY LYME – MY VOICE” made its début in May 2016, during Lyme Disease Awareness Month, to increase awareness, and to allow those with Lyme disease to share their battles with the disease in a public forum with the intent to also educate the public. But also to debunk the many myths commonly heard throughout the medical community and media, for example:
- Lyme disease is not chronic so there is nothing to treat. Not True.
- Lyme disease can easily be cured when caught early. This simply is not the case. Lyme disease is one of the most difficult diseases to cure because Borrelia burgdorferi is a polymorphic bacteria, which means it changes forms when in contact with antibiotics among other things, and because of this unique defense mechanism, scientists have been able to kill the bacteria in a lab setting and in humans it is even more difficult because of the spirochetes shape shifting capabilities to avoid detection and eradication.
It is important for people who visit and live in endemic areas to learn the proper means to protect themselves from acquiring this horrific disease. I want our voices to be heard. So I am asking for your help, please. I would love to host guest blog posts on my website/blog.
Guest Posts for My Lyme-My Voice
I’m seeking assistance from those in the Lyme community who either have Lyme disease, co-infections, or LLNDs, LLMDs, and other physicians, nurses, or caregivers who work with these patients in some capacity. A few areas of interest include: how has this disease affected your life? How long have you lived with Lyme disease/co-infection? At what age were you infected? Were you born with the disease(s)? If yes, how was it determined? Did you have a bull’s-eye rash? How were you treated by doctors while you were trying to obtain a diagnosis? If a physician – What is your view of Chronic Lyme disease and why? What obstacles have you found as you attempt to treat an illness the CDC and other physicians in the medical community say does not exist? What are your views on this controversy, and Why? These are a few areas I am interested in more are found below under Topics of Discussion. Of course, there are so many in our community with journeys people would benefit from hearing, the CDC would benefit from reading and others in this community who would benefit from reading. What interests you? I invite you to find your voice and write what interests you and what would benefit those who know nothing about the seriousness of the disease. Lyme Kills.
The most provocative stories of courage and perseverance by a Lyme patient or physician will be chosen to be published.
Submission
I am reaching out to those in the Lyme community to step forward. I want to hear about you and your journey with Lyme disease. I want people to understand I am but one voice but there are many others whose Lyme journeys are compelling and I would like the opportunity for them to be heard. Which is why
The more people who send in their amazing stories about courage and perseverance the louder our voices become.
Eligibility
This is a call for guest blogs/articles from people whose lives have in some way been affected by Lyme disease. Originally written material only.
Who are eligible:
- Anyone with Lyme disease, co-infections or who have had their lives altered because of this insidious disease.
- Physicians and healthcare professionals with patients past or present, including Allopathic, Naturopathic, and Holistic medicine.
- Caregivers, friends of someone with Lyme, and Attorneys with experience in Lyme-related cases, etc.
You should have at least one Social Media account: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn, Tumblr, etc. unless okayed by me.
Include your Blog and Website address; if you don’t have a blog or Website, don’t panic. Include one of the above Social Media accounts.
Topics for Discussion
For those who work in the medical field, I’m interested in your perspectives on what it’s like to work with Lyme patients considering the extreme controversy, bias, and obstacles. Is this in your opinion a correct assessment controversy, bias, and obstacles? What are they and can you think, why this was the case?
For those with Lyme disease, co-infections, etc., can you try to answer some of the following or above questions? They can be woven into your story which can be woven into your story. However, if you feel it detracts simply copy the list below and provide answers that pertain to you. Thank you.
- Your age when you became infected, and your age now (I will not include your current age upon request. I am collecting data for a future project).
- How long have you had the disease?
- Were you bitten? or born with the disease?
- Did you find the embedded tick? Was it tested for Lyme disease?
- How many years have you had your disease?
- If you found the tick bite, did you develop a rash or bull’s-eye rash?
- How long did it take for a diagnosis of Lyme disease? (for those who didn’t know they were bitten)
- What obstacles have you faced with Lyme disease?
- What is your current treatment? Helping? Herxing? Side effects?
- How have these barriers hurt your treatment?
- Are you working, when did you have to quit?
- Are you going to school? When did you have to quit?
- Are you receiving SSI benefits
- Lyme disease is also one of the most expensive illnesses to have in part because of the number of doctors, tests, and scans often performed multiple times, along with various hospital visits before a diagnosis. How has this affected you?
If you are submitting something previously submitted elsewhere, you must include written documentation that this piece may be used again for this purpose, keep in mind, the contents should be modified to fit the current scope.
Don’t be afraid to write and send your story. A good friend and colleague tell’s her readers to, “write what scares you.” Now is your time. The more people who take part, the more empowered we become.
Word Count and Format
- Word document using Times New Roman — 12 Font, the accepted script and font size within the publishing industry.
- Title “MY LYME – MY VOICE,” include references if warranted
- Minimum of 1200 to 3500 words but no longer than 3500 words (for inclusion in my book only).
- Save work as a .doc or .docx File.
Submit The Following
- Your article via email to Dr. LA Edwards (laedwardswriter@gmail.com)
- Include in the subject line — #MyLymeMyVoice
- Include in the email your full name, address, email address, your social media account information.
- Include a short bio and photo of yourself (if you wish to write as anonymous you can omit photo) However, your bio should be included for legal purposes. Your bio can be revised not to name yourself if you prefer.
- Color photo of the author (less than 2 MB only) to include with your story. For those submitting anonymously, I need some form of picture ID to keep in-house; Your photo will not be used with your story. The same is true for those who only want their first name included if specifically mentioned I will not have your photos shared with the public. JPEG image file to be included in your post.
- Please be sure to include how you wish to have your name shown as the Author of your article. Some may wish to be anonymous which is fine, but I still need to have your name included in your email for legal purposes. Options are to use your full name, first name, or if you are a doctor include your credentials and how you want them to appear.
Upon Receipt
When I receive your Guest posts, My publisher and I will sift through the articles and choose the most moving and/or captivating stories for inclusion in my book.
- Articles will be edited and formatted for WordPress, my blog, and titled “MY LYME – MY VOICE” by (your name).
- My blog is linked to my website “MY LYME MY VOICE.” This is the location where you will find your post.
- You will be notified if you have been selected as a guest post, book, or both.
- A number of articles will be featured on #MondayBlogs a meme created by author and social media marketing/branding consultant, Rachel Thompson. Placement of your blog on #MondayBlogs will make sure that your voices are heard by both those in the Lyme Community, but also by millions of people on Twitter.
- My Social Media accounts all link together so your articles will also be seen on all of my various accounts, including my Author Facebook site, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Random posts will also occur on my personal website as well.
- Your posts will stay on my website under the heading “MY LYME — MY VOICE” where I urge others to send me their articles in as well. Lyme can be a lonely place, but when you find even one person to connect to who understands you it is the most incredible sensation.
- It is my intent to expand the Lyme disease section of my site over time to help others cope with the exhaustive issues associated with Lyme disease.
“Gladiator in Pajamas: My Life With Lyme.”
My publisher and I will choose 10 to 15 of the most provocative papers for inclusion in my forthcoming book tentatively titled, “Gladiator in Pajamas: My Life With Lyme.” The articles selected to be a part of my book will be included as a chapter within as of yet, an unknown section of the book. This article, guest post or for book chapter becomes the sole property of LA Edwards © 2017.
Article’s chosen for publication will receive no royalties associated with book sales or other promotional materials. Period. No exceptions. Publication of my book should occur in late 2017. The date is dependent, is of course, dependent on my health, editor, and publisher’s schedule for a release date.
As a thank you for participating in this project, you will receive an autograph copy of “Gladiator in Pajamas: My Life With Lyme Disease,” as a thank you for contributing, before it drops into bookstores, online, Amazon, etc.
Lyme disease is one of the most expensive diseases to treat, far exceeding the cost of treating AIDS/HIV. The bulk of the book royalties will go into a trust to help Lyme disease patients who cannot afford to pay for their treatment. If at some date in the future, rules and regulations change and everyone can receive care, royalties will go into a fund for college students to conduct research that will benefit the Lyme community. They will be required to write a proposal and be selected by a committee to be determined at the time.
For this project, it is my goal to receive articles from around the world so our voices will be loud. Please help me show the world we may have a ‘silent illness’ but we refuse to remain silent any longer. It is my intent to help others by speaking out about Lyme disease. If you have any questions, please DM me on Facebook or Instagram shoot me a short message at my email address.
Thanks so much for your interest in the project and your time to read through this exhaustive list.
My sincerest regards,
Dr. L.A. Edwards, Ph.D.
Environmental Scientist