Club Meeting – May 30th, 2013

Full meeting today.  The Club  recognized its 2013 Service Above Self Award winner Regina Devinney and Dr. John Pendleton spoke to the Club about the Symptoms and Treatment of Lyme Disease.

Regina Devinney is a Workforce Investment Act Case Manager with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.  Regina works with adult clients who are unemployed, or under-employed, to place them in jobs that will lead to the individual’s self-sufficiency.  A majority of Regina’s clients also have barriers to employment, such as ex-offenders.  Serving this population is not an easy task; Regina does not let this deter her from delivering the best results possible for everyone she serves.  She comes to work every day with a smile on her face and hope in her heart.  She knows her work is not just a job, but that her work is truly making a difference in people’s lives. 

Dr. John Pendleton of Carilion Clinic spoke on the symptoms and treatment of Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of the blacklegged tick.  Adult blacklegged ticks are only the size of a sesame seed so they often go undetected on the skin.  Dr. Pendleton noted that it can take the tick up to 24 hours to attach itself to a host so it is important after being outdoors to check yourself for ticks.  A hot shower may also help prevent the tick from attaching itself.

One of the most telling early symptoms of Lyme disease is a “bulls-eye rash” around the site of a tick bite.  Flu like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache are also possible.  At its later stages, Lyme disease can cause severe joint pain and neurological problems.  Thankfully, antibiotics are effective to treat Lyme disease. In general, recovery will be quicker and more complete the sooner treatment begins.