I just got this update from the ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) this morning, and I’m PSYCHED for it. I’m running to my big Wednesday morning marketing meeting, so I’m going to paste their words instead of paraphrasing:

We want to keep you informed about everything ILADS is doing to spotlight the historic Infectious Diseases Society of American (IDSA) hearings this week, Thursday, July 30th. We’re hearing from so many people who want to get involved. We thank you!

The hearings are in response to a lawsuit against the IDSA, brought by Connecticut’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. In his groundbreaking lawsuit, AG Blumenthal charged that the IDSA guidelines for Lyme disease prevent many seriously ill patients from getting necessary treatment. A 2008 settlement resulted in the IDSA agreeing to create a new panel to review its guidelines.

ILADS supporters and other Lyme advocates will gather at our Lyme Watch Media Center, in the Congressional Room on the lobby level at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from 8am to 5pm. The Marriott is just a few blocks from the hearing.

At the Lyme Watch Center, ILADS will be hosting a live chat on Twitter as we follow the hearings all day. We look forward to your participation! You can find out more about this live chat below.

And they set up a live Twitter chat to follow the hearings all day tomorrow. More info here.

If Blumenthal “wins,” then hopefully the Infectious Disease Society will not only have to use accurate tests (seriously, I can’t tell you how many false negatives I had over the years that cost me so much in time, money, and health), but our insurance companies would have to pay for our treatment. Phew!

Seriously, the ILADS is awesome. And Blumenthal is a real hero for doing this. I’ll be moving all day tomorrow and Friday, but I can’t wait to check in with the Twitter chat and see how things are going!

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P.S. Just found out about Twibbon and added a green ribbon to my Twitter avatar to support Lyme Disease research. Get one here!