Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 160 No. 16, September 11, 2000, American Medical Association
Loss of the Sense of Humor & Lyme Disease
In mid-May, my 94-year-old father and I were discussing the significance of 0 and its impact on theoretical mathematics. Four weeks later, he was totally demented. He was taking no medication, and all routine blood and urine studies, brain imaging, and a spinal tap yielded no diagnosis. One week later, a high titer of Lyme antibody was found in a cerebrospinal fluid specimen, and the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis was unequivocally substantiated by Western blot analysis. Eight weeks after a 28-day course of intravenous ceftriaxone sodium (1 g/d), his mental function returned to an estimated 90% of his premorbid intellect. That was when I gave him a short vignette written in a humorous vein, relating to the purchase of a ballpoint pen.
I awaited his response with interest. To my disappointment, all he said was, "Where is the pen? May I see it?" I was disappointed, but replied "I'll get you the pen, but what do you think of my article?" "It was a cheap pen" was his response. "Was there anything else that occurred to you about what I have written?" I persisted. "No," he replied, "it was a cheap pen." It seemed to me that a more direct approach was needed. "Did you think my article was humorous, was it funny?" I asked. "No," he said, "I didn't think it was funny." That was when I realized that he had lost his sense of humor. This did not make any sense to me, until I read an article on humor appreciation in Brain.1
Humor is not needed for day-to-day functioning, but its absence undoubtedly dampens social interaction. A person who does not appreciate humor may feel left out of the conversation. Most of us have read a joke or seen a cartoon the "point" of which escapes us. If realization does not dawn upon us or the humor remains unexplained, it can lead to frustration and irritation. I imagine that this may well be so with persons who have lost the ability to appreciate humor because of an illness. To speak of a "center for humor" may be an oversimplification of the psychopathology involved. Loss of humor as a sequel of illness is poorly recognized, and an appreciation of this impairment is needed in the treatment of such patients.
Ask anyone on Saturday night chat I've been saying it for years!
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
I wish some of these physicians and researchers could learn to write abstracts with, if not a sense of humor, at least a bit of interesting 'flow' to them.
Most of them just make me sleepy...
Charlie
Posted by frakktured1 (Member # 13028) on :
Yes indeed this phenom has waxed and waned in me as well.
It's really too bad, because that's all we have sometimes.
fxd
Posted by Itsy_bitsyone (Member # 12635) on :
30+ years of infection...
Never lost my sense of humor. It has changed over the years BUT I think everyone's changes as they grow up and mature.
I do see some people here are lacking...no offense to anyone, of course.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
I use to be a freekin clown !!! NOW Iam only freekin!!!
I use to see humor in almost every situation. robin williams like
Actually when I was younger way worse than him hahaha Stuff use to roll right off my tounge. I sure miss it Feel Like such a adult
I loved too party some jokes only certain people got the full extent of, you know theres always some slower ones in the crowd hehehe.
Even now when Iam drinking it dosent happen. But I just thought of something When I was taking Rhodiola rosea I strted to get that way again stuff came to me quicker. hum Iam taking one when I get home. Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
This is in my IV Rocephin Changed My Life file!!
You know what's weird? My whole younger life I was always told over & over & OVER, by friends & boyfriends & girlfriends & parents,
"You have NO sense of humor!"
I just DIDN'T think things were funny that other people did. I just didn't understand!!! People would EXPLAIN jokes to me and I would just be BLANK!
Now I get it. Since Rocephin my brain has been so much happier in general, better than it was pre-Lyme in many ways- and this is one of them!!! This is one reason I wonder if I had it my whole life-
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
quote:Originally posted by treepatrol:
I use to be a freekin clown !!! NOW I am only freekin!!!
:
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
I often wondered...what is Tincup's secret?
She is sooooooo blessed with a sense of humor even in difficult times.
And now...
In memory of the late Marcel Marceau, who passed away on September 22, readers have the following thoughts:
I wonder if he had any last words?
In memory of the late Marcel Marceau, a moment of silence...
Friend: "Marcel Marceau died yesterday." Me: "You don't say!"
We make fun of our politicians (safe targets) no matter what political party they represent. We had a blast with Clinton-Monica jokes . Here's one about Bush:
So George is doing yet another photo op at an elementary school, and this one's been going pretty well, so he offers to take questions. A little boy raises his hand.
``Okay, you,'' says George, smiling. ``What's your name?''
``Billy.''
``Billy. And what's your question?''
``I have three questions,'' Billy says. ``First, why did you go to war without UN approval? Second, why are you president when Gore got more votes? Third, where's Osama bin Laden?''
George is taken aback. ``Uh, those are really hard questions,'' he says.
Just then the bell rings. ``Whoops, time for recess!'' George says.
``Guess I'll have to answer your questions when recess is over.''
After recess, when the kids have settled back down again, George says ``Okay, who's got a question?''
A little kid raises his hand, and George calls on him.
``What's your name?'' George asks.
``Steve.''
``Okay, Steve. What's your question?''
``I have five questions,'' Steve says. ``First, why did you go to war without UN approval? Second, why are you president when Gore got more votes? Third, where's Osama bin Laden? Fourth, why did the bell for recess ring twenty minutes early? And fifth, what happened to Billy?''
When I'm having a horrible day/herxing, I usually don't find many things, if anything, funny. Even when my husband is talking to me and saying something funny, I'll tell him to just stop because it hurts me to even think. And I wouldn't have the energy to laugh anyway.
With my sense of humor, it really just depends on how well I'm feeling that day. On good days, I can listen to jokes and laugh and think about things. When herxing, I can't do anything. Even just laying down and watching TV seems like too much.
It's hard to have a sense of humor when you've been sick for so long, though, and I understand why people do lose their humor. I know I was very depressed and had no sense of humor when I went 7 months trying to figure out what was making me so sick and doctors were not helpful. It's scary and very depressing when you go to a doctor (they are supposed to be able to dx you and help you through illness whatever it may be) and they turn you away telling you it's your spirit or to see a shrink, but deep down you know you're very sick because only YOU know your body. It's very scary and not fair for people that have to go through that sort of treatment from a doctor.
Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :
I think the point here is that a sense of humor is a function of cognition and alertness, and a measure of mental acuity.
Unfortunately, it is often seen ONLY in terms of "character" and, more specifically, in terms of "strength of character".
The hubby and I are both acutely aware that our senses of humor are indicators of mental (and therefore physical) health in each other. When he loses his sense of humor, I know that he is having die off, or a bad reaction to meds, or a relapse. Physiologically, his brain is not functioning correctly due, I assume, to a chemical imbalance or neurotoxins.
[ 27. September 2007, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: minoucat ]
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
I'd say lyme's probably detrimentally affected mine...
Posted by Pam S (Member # 13144) on :
For a very long time now - I haven't felt like going out to dinner, movie (like that happens a lot anyway) or to the bar - I just dont feel like it. I dont get a kick outta seeing a bunch of drunks slobbering all over each other telling stupid, nasty jokes. Hubby says I'm the "Fun Hater" and my girl friend says "Your fun meter has expired" (the nice way of putting it).
But...after working all day and joints are bad - all you want to do is lay down and do NOTHING. Yeah right!
Now daughter has become the "Fun Hater" more then I have and that is something that I have noticed more in her then in myself. She has lost her sense of humor.
We cant even joke with her at the dinner table, about school, friends, siblings, jokes.....nothing.
I do believe in Laughter Is The Best Medicine....But if they are not right upstairs or in their own bodies - How so you make someone smile, let alone, Laugh?
Posted by LocalMan (Member # 11648) on :
I have had several personality changes since all this slyme !@#$ started happening...but here's a side question
re: bar, parties, bbq's, etc, where alchohol is big part of social interaction, and "what's funny"...how do you handle it, if you're not drinking? I have always used beer as a prop and enabler at gatherings like that, but now that I have all but quit...will ANYthing be "funny"...at least in those settings?
LocalMan
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thank goodness I still have mine. I would really hate to lose my sense of humor. Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
I've been infected since I was 5 and I have had periods when I just didn't get jokes and like others was told that I have no sense of humor. I've been told for most of my life that I'm too serious.
I think it must be a combination of factors, not just that we don't feel well or at times are depressed but also some form of brain dysfunction.
I find that it helps to be with someone who understands your sense of humor, especially if it is not typical - AND it seems to help if you practice using your sense of humor by exposing yourself to jokes and joking around.
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