I'm battling this just like you are. I've lately escaped into my favorite shows and paid money to get them on DVD.
Can I tell you that just in the passed 2 weeks, I've seen jokes made about Lyme on series I love and bought to watch when I can't do anything else.
--Letterman made a mockery of it as you have recently seen --So has an episode of Gilmore Girls --So has an episode of Sex in the City
Damn, I go to stupid shows to escape and find some reference to lyme disease that hurts me to the core..b/c the writers don't know how we all suffer. Why has lyme become a joke in the media? :cry:
Worse yet, I went to my doc on Monday who told me she is being inundated with folks with lyme and could I help some folks directly who are battling this? She is looking for answers so I share info that she passes on.
Went to my foot doctor today for cortisone shots (yes, lyme related) on my heels. It hurt like hell and I cried when he hit me with the needles.
Even he told me he was fearful as he found 3 ticks on him after going outside and putting behind the medical center. Then he told me he has seen so many people with foot pain and a potential lyme diagnosis.......HE ASKED ME IS LYME SO WIDESPREAD IN PA?? Yes..I told him. He asked me for this website to send his patients. He was kind, knew they were suffering and wanted to direct them to someplace that might help them. I hope they come.
BTW, I said this about 3 weeks ago..the pain management doc I was sent to asked me the same thing. Said he's finding more and more folks looking for help w/lyme and he has no idea how to help them. I gave him info about this site as well.
Oui vey! I wish I was getting paid for this.....
Poor
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
TTPH
You are doing one heck of a good job letting people know about lyme. Its is so sad/pathedic that even the doctors don't have a clue.
I rented a movie "yours, mine and ours" and there was a reference to lyme made when the family moves into a house in CT. Didn't think it was funny at all.
Just wanted to mention be careful with those cortisone shots. I have read even locally may cause problems in lyme patients. I understand though you have to weigh the pain vs the negative lyme effects.
I hope you can feel better soon
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Sorry about your lousy experience with those TV series..... ignorance makes people say some really stupid things.
Gosh, it sounds like you have been an inspiration to your practitioners there in PA - congratulations on helping to get the truth out there!
I'm sure you don't like the idea of cortisone either, but sometimes we find ourselves between a rock and hard spot.
Keep up the good work there in PA.
Tracy
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Poor,
You and I are from the same state, and I agree that ignorance about Lyme is rampant here, esp among doctors.
Like Dana, though, I was also concerned about your mention of the cortisone shots you are getting. If you do a search here for steroids and Lyme, you'll turn up a lot of good background information about steroids "feeding" the Lyme bacteria (I'm not a scientist, so sorry if that was just erroneous). Anyway, I do know the two are contraindicated.
I also know from personal experience that prior to my Lyme dx, a very well known sports doc (in your area) drained my knee twice and shot ot full of cortisone for what he was sure was early RA.
It wasn't RA; it was Lyme, but my health really began to deterioriate after those shots. I've also never been able to completely reduce the swelling and pain in that knee, even after a year of Lyme treatment.
Andie
Posted by karatelady (Member # 7854) on :
It is soooo encouraging to hear that doctors are asking you a patient (most of them don't think we know squat) about lyme.
You are doing a world of good just being able to spread the word to the medical community.
Maybe focus on that to keep your spirits up (since we all battle with that) and not on those stupid movies. Thankfully, I haven't seen any of that.
Keep up the good work - yea, it would be nice to be getting paid for it.
Sandy
Posted by duke77 (Member # 5051) on :
Take it with a grain of salt ignorance is bliss. You forgot the Seinfeld episode where Elaine said "apparently she has Epstein Barr with a twist of Lime." Not really making a mockery of Lyme but it was funny none the less.
Posted by nancyf723 (Member # 7505) on :
I was watching Millionare the other day, not sure if it was a rerun, and one fo the easy questions was what insect carries Lyme Disease. Unfortunetly I don'ts remember the other three choices Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by nancyf723: what insect carries Lyme Disease.
Hope it didn't really say what INSECT!
poorhouse....I agree those cortisone shots could be a bad deal and your dr needs to know that as well for his other Lyme patients.
Hope your pain lets up soon!
Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :
Hey Poor -
Add 'ER' to the list...I forget the guy's name but he is originally from MA and was a cousin to this guy I onced worked with...anyway he is the red head who also was in 'Band of Brothers' -
Anyway, one day he came in and he made some mistake on a chart and then chaulked it up to his Lyme Disease to which the other doctor just rolled his eyes and basically said get on with it...
The way they portrayed it was a disappointment to me too...
Your list really made me sad since those are three of my favourite shows....we should write some emails to their producers...
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