The chart shows the incidence of Lyme Disease across the state.

Those dealing with Lyme disease and its devastating and mysterious symptoms do not have to suffer alone.

Karen Ruberto, of Forward Township, started the Butler County Lyme disease Support Group this spring for people with Lyme disease and others affected by the disease.

Ruberto said she was called to help others after her own experience with Lyme disease and chronic Lyme disease the past several years.

The problem with the disease is it's easy to contract and difficult to treat, Ruberto said.

Standard tests for diagnosing Lyme come back with false negatives 50 percent of the time, Ruberto said.

The Butler County support group held their first Butler chapter meeting in June. At the August meeting, they will be screening the documentary “Under Our Skin.”

At the monthly meetings, Ruberto hopes to bring in doctors and other health professionals to speak about Lyme and related topics. They may also spend time sharing stories and listening to each other about their journeys with the disease, she said.

The Butler County support group is under the umbrella of the PA Lyme Resource Network and meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mars Public Library, 107 Grand Ave.

There's also a private, online support group on Facebook for the organization.

The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 7.

For more information, contact Buterlyme@palyme.org or visit palyme.org.

Read the full story as part of the health section in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.