I was so thankful for the help I received from you all for last month's column -- I thought I'd come back for more. I know you like to be involved!
As you all know -- I'm basically a lazy person and I don't want to have to look stuff up or Google if you guys and dolls already know this stuff. Besides, my computer is currently misbehaving and sometimes when I go to a new link...my whole computer freezes up and I end up having to reboot! I don't have time for such nonsense.
Like always - I have waited until the last minute to start because today is the 11th and my column is due on the 15th. I think I like my adrenal glands to be involved in the writing process....and that's kinda sad & pathetic because they're basically pooped out.
OK - here's what I need to know this time:
Which are diseases and which are syndromes:
CFS, FMS (I know those are syndromes), and that ALS is a disease because we call is Lou Gehrig's disease. But what about: Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, and all those other misdiagnoses of Lyme that I can't seem to recall right now; I know the list is outrageous! Help me remember them.
I need a list of various things that Lyme is misdiagnosed as - and then tell me if each is considered a disease or a syndrome.
And just to double check: A syndrome is basically a collection of symptoms for which docs have not determined the causitive agent? Is that correct? If not -- correct me.
I'd rather look stupid in front of you folks (my Lymenet FAMILY....ah, don't you feel practically obliged to help me now?) than the thousands receiving the hardcopy of the PHA or reading online. (Incidentally, the PHA has had like 20,000 hits this last month. AMAZING!)
OK, so I anxiously await your wisdom.
Hugs & Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
DR:
LymeInfo.net is a wonderful resource for information.
The search function is on the home page.
Carol
Posted by DR. Wiseass (Member # 6777) on :
Ok DUH. I knew that....just didn't think about it. Sometimes I think it takes 3 lymebrains to make one regular one!
Thanks Carol. Of course, I'd much rather be spoonfed....but Okaaaaay. (Just kidding.)
I'll see if my computer will cooperate. Maybe I can get to the home page.
the 300 other illnesses mimicking lyme by ART DOUGHERTY, CALIF.
This will help you tremendously wisebutt! Bettyg Posted by strongerangel (Member # 10037) on :
I'm fairly sure lupus is a virus...
Posted by DR. Wiseass (Member # 6777) on :
Thanks y'all!
That DOES help. But I have a question about Art's page...what happened to most of those links? Most of those links say 'not found' now or something like that.
That's sad, because I know it was an amazing resource!
But I just like the list - that helps enough. My next column can't be very long...editor has put me on length restriction. Kinda like putting duct tape over my mouth!
Hugs & Kisses,
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Art took down apparently a lot of info.
I'm sure he probably is paying a lot to have it up, etc. I noticed many pages are gone. they were a wonderful resource.
Art still has a lot of other stuff here & there.
GULF WAR SYNDROME; all over today's news.
Hey, that's another story for you/others to write about. Bettyg Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
MS, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis are considered autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself - theories about but exact cause unknown.
You are right that CFS, Fibromyalgia, Gulf War are syndromes - a constellation of syndromes. Again various theories of causitive agents (virus, mycoplasma, environmental toxins, genetic) but again, no consensus among the mainstream medical community.
ALS (Lou Gehrig's) is called a disease. I recently saw an article on a patient with ALS who was fundraising for the Jerry Lewis telethon because he considered it a muscular disorder like muscular dystrophy - had never heard it spoken about in that grouping, but who knows.
Frankly, he lives up the coast from me and when I have a chance I'll write him and ask him to consider being checked for Lyme, and I was bitten here.
Jill
Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
One of the problems with having your resources as links is that as the websites go away, no more link.
One of the reasons I'm working on a digital library, where we will own as much of the documents as we can.
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