Arizonans’ stories and the Affordable Care Act

Arizona has been dangerously hot lately.  Speaking of hot air dangerously out of control, the Affordable Care Act is in the middle of a firestorm.

These Arizonans all depend on the Affordable Care Act in some way:

Phoenix residents Bryan and Jenny Masche were blessed with sextuplets.  They’ll need to be able to rely on Medicaid.  

Jeff Jeans, a small businessman in Sedona, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his vocal cords, and now says the ACA saved his life. 

The El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson serves Medicare patients with diabetes like Maria, and many Medicaid patients.  Deep cuts in the Affordable Care Act could greatly reduce the capabilities of Federally Qualified Health Centers like El Rio.

In Wickenburg, Dirk Almstedt and several members of his family struggle with chronic Lyme disease.  Their burdensome care has made him cut way back on his work hours, so they need to be sure Medicaid will be there to cover them. 

Advice:  Ask your Arizonan friends to call Sen. John McCain at (202) 224-2235 and Sen. Jeff Flake at 202-224-4521 to protect the ACA.

A Smart Bacteria: A Misdiagnosis Error

In 1992, Dirk Almstedt was bitten by a mouse, while in Germany. Shortly after, a tick bit his wife Sonja. But neither of the Almstedts showed symptoms of illness then.

Seven years ago, when they moved to Wickenburg, Arizona, Dirk built a small business, and they had children. Soon afterward, the couple started noticing symptoms of Lyme disease, but the symptoms went undiagnosed until June, when Sonja became so ill that they sought medical attention.

"Her pain started at June 22, and life went to hell after that. It’s destroyed her completely,”"said Dirk. A neurological institute diagnosed her with Multiple Sclerosis, but the treatments didn’t help. Dirk researched her symptoms on the Internet, and found symptoms of chronic Lyme disease. Both Dirk and Sonja, and their six-year old daughter, now have confirmed cases of Lyme disease. Sonja suffers from severe "cluster headaches" and body pain. Needing to care for his sick wife and child, and two younger children, Dirk has had to take time away from his business, and he makes only one-third of his earlier income.

Lyme disease is hard to diagnose for five reasons. Most doctors have little or no experience in diagnosing Lyme disease. The "smart" bacteria reacts with the victim’s unique DNA, so that no two infected people have the same set of symptoms. Less than half of victims have a distinctive "bulls-eye" rash. It is almost impossible to grow in a laboratory, and is extremely slow-growing. It can change forms.

Advice: Spray insect repellent on your ankles before walking in the woods. If you get sick with a disease that’s difficult to diagnose, research your symptoms.

Read another misdiagnosis story, or read Patti Jares’ source story.