Just looking for some funny stories about an unfunny topic-- how undereducated people are about Lyme.
I'll get the ball rolling: my dog's veterinarian remarked that you can only get Lyme in or very near Lyme, Connecticut.
Sigh.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
cardiac rehab RN nurse says "Oh lyme, thats nothing,,,it goes away on its own,,dont have to treat"
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
My last doc visit was with an Infectious Disease doctor. I only went to make my family doctor happy...anyway- here's what happened.
I told him everything I've have been going through!!! He then logged on to the internet to research my symptoms...right in front of me...
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i spent months with an infec doc and the last appt she said "well i never thought you were sick anyway."...
gggrrrrrr
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
"There is no lyme disease in Montana". six times, six different doctors.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Before I knew better... I took my 11 year old son to an "pediatric infectious disease specialist" who promptly told us that three weeks of antibiotics were adequate treatment for lyme... any further treatment is unnecessary and that if he still has symptoms, they are all in his head.
A month later I got a bill in the mail for the co-pay... $30 ... but I had paid it before the appointment.
My girlfriend called when I was frantically searching for the receipt and I explained what was going on. She said, "Why don't you tell them it's all in their head -- we were never there!"
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Hey momlyme, I love that one----its all in your head!
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Thanks Steve. Glad you liked that too.
I went from hopping mad to laughing hysterically.
It's all in YOUR head...
WE WERE NEVER THERE!!!!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Lymes disease? Isn't that what sailors used to get?
Posted by NancyJ2 (Member # 25084) on :
Neurologist reports, "your Igm is positive but your Igg is negative so you must not have had Lyme 2 years ago when you had the bullseye rash and other symptoms". I say, "my western blot was positive 2 years ago and primary care dr diagnosed and treated Lyme for 3 weeks." Neurologist says, "oh, then this is a false positive and I don't know what is wrong with you"
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
My rheumatologist commented on my constant neck pain as a "virus." And was mad when I didn't immediately go to physical therapy.
Then I asked him why when my PCP gave me doxy months ago I felt more horrible than ever, more symptoms came out (I guess I was herxing but I did not know about all that yet)... the rheumie goes, "oh that is all just a coincidence."
Then the most infuriating comment from him - especially with all that I have learned to this point now - "lyme is just an over exaggerated disease... but if you do have lyme then I can refer you to an excellent Infectious Disease doctor."
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
I had day surgery a couple of months ago. The doc asked me why I can't take steroids.
I told him I had lyme disease, "what a mistake"... He got MAD and told me thats crazy. He went on the computer and printed out a bunch of crap from the internet.
I waited till AFTER my surgery~~~ and told him to go fry his ass...
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
"...excellent Infectious Disease doctor..."
Isn't that an oxymoron?
And isn't the toad that said it someone who prescribes a lack of dOXY Moron?
Posted by SEREN J WEED (Member # 7280) on :
Rhumey doc that I have had for over 10 years. I use him for my meds only.
Just thought I would ask, expecting something stupid, what he thought about Lyme disease.
As he was rolling his stool over to me, he said "Oh, you've never had Lyme disease. Mind you, he has never given me a test.
He proceeded to draw a circle on my upper leg and stated that I would have had a bulll's eye circle.
As I looked down on the hair plugs on his head. It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
Posted by bashibazouks (Member # 28286) on :
Oh man, all of these are making me laugh.
I have a good one that's actually from my LLMD-- I do think he's a very competent, open-minded person and he is giving me all the right meds-- but occasionally he says something kinda crazy.
"Are you of Native American descent?"
"Yeah, I'm a quarter Cherokee."
"I'm not surprised. We frequently find Lyme in Native Americans because they are very close to the earth."
hahaha. guess that explains it?
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
my daughter's pediatrician(not anymore) took a glance, and I mean a very quick glance, at our CDC positive Igenex test and told me that she doesn't have lyme because their is no lyme in Tennessee.
That's strange because even the CDC thinks she has it. Not to mention that we have an over population of deer in Tennessee.
Oh and BTW, my daughter has Cherokee blood on her Dad's side so that must explain why she has it. Good one, Bash. Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
After studying Clinical Microbiology a little bit, I can understand why physicians have such a difficult time diagnosing Lyme Disease. Hundreds of infections can mimic systemic symptoms, especially the non-specific ones.
Either way, I've heard it all. I've been called a hypochondriac, anorexic, a liar, malingering, a drug addict, and more.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
"If you think of a pain, you can make it happen."
A@@hole!
I'd like to see him say that to a guy with a knife in his back.
Posted by bashibazouks (Member # 28286) on :
I first went to the student health clinic at my university (my first mistake) when I realized I had Lyme. I told the doctor I'd done a lot of reading about it and was pretty sure I met many of the symptoms. She nodded knowingly and said, "Yeah, people tend to think they have whatever disease they happen to be reading about at the time, I saw that in med school. It's just psychological." Didn't stop to consider that maybe I'd been reading about it BECAUSE I have it, not the other way around...
Posted by Giapetto (Member # 34458) on :
In 1985 i was told, "You don't have LD. We don't have LD here in Upper Michigan. We DO have a very important tourist industry and having LD here would ruin that. You are 37 years old now, so you should expect that all your joints will hurt. "
NS.......I was told that........still suffering. I guess just scripting ten bucks worth of Abx would have ruined their perfect record or something.
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
When I was in HR I had to tell a man his wages were going to be garnished for a child living out of state. He says "I have never been to that state"
I held it together, trying no to laugh, and say===well there is a little person living in ____and the mother says it is yours.
But, he argued it couldn't be the father,he had never been to that state.
I explained to him that perhaps she had been in our state or he had met her in another state....OHHHHHHH, he says.
Moral: I was bit in Alaska. I live in California. I have been told many times there are no ticks in California.
Posted by skies (Member # 28064) on :
Comment from a PCP that I saw back before official diagnosis:
"You can't have lyme.. if you did, you'd be limping around and hobbling into the office with big, swollen knees.".. ???
He then proceeded to try and give me prozac and a sleep aid, as he thought I must be depressed. Meanwhile, I felt so dizzy, light headed, woozy, tired, etc. that I could barely stand it. What an a**. Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
"I really don't think you have Lyme. I think you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." (He thinks the CFS was acquired 2 days after getting bitten by a tick...). (Yes, that was an M.D.)
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
I took my son to the ER because he was having respiratory problems. The local GI doc was working some extra hours in the ER to help with her kid's college tuition.
I mentioned lyme; she became very hostile. Then she diagnosed him with a 'spastic esophogus.' I said, 'he can't breathe for heaven's sake; it has nothing to do with his esophagus.' She stuck by her diagnosis.
What an idiot.
We went to yet another ER, where they actually knew what a breathing problem looked like.
I have never mentioned lyme in another doctor's office or ER and never will.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Robin123: [QB] Lymes disease? Isn't that what sailors used to get?
- Now, THAT's STUPID. Posted by grtpyrlvr (Member # 34588) on :
From our pediatric infectious disease doctor.... "100.5 is not a fever..She is just depressed and does not want to go to school"....
Well alrighty then!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
there's no lyme in texas.
oh you'll get over it.
Posted by Jasmin (Member # 19959) on :
Great thread!
Mine just came yesterday... I wanted to post a separate thread
but I'm embarrassed to have paid this woman money.
"Lyme is not an infection but just a name that doctors have given a group of symptoms."
From the same WACKO I learned that my symptoms are from
NDM-1 which is a parasite that makes blood thick and kills you.
I didn't know what NDM-1 was...googled it... the woman is crazy.
My son's symptoms are from nanobots in his brain.
Yes, I'm serious.
What is sad... my husband wants to give this woman
3 months because she has helped some co-workers.
My recent flare scared him that bad... Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i'm sorry. wants to give her 3 months what? pay, time???
she's a duck, hon....
Posted by Jasmin (Member # 19959) on :
Oh yes... definitely a quack.
Three months of her treatment. She doesn't charge much... but the herbs do cost.
She says she doesn't make anything off of them. I doubt that now because
she charges the same as the same brand is online.
I doubt the online retailers are not making anything.
Maybe it will help even though the diagnosis is total
B.S.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i think you'd do better to just do buhner or cowden at least.
you'll find a wealth of information here too.
Posted by Shidove (Member # 24289) on :
Oh these sound familiar! I had an RN tell me (while I was in the office for IV meds) that she had Lyme disease a few years ago and all it took was 30 days of doxy and she was cured....
Meanwhile, she's telling me how she has CFS and arthritis. Then, she tells me that she doesn't understand why I need all these abx it's probably just CFS.
Un-huh.
Same doctor's office (I no longer go there) had four different doctor's come in and want to hear about how I got Lyme. After all, they had never even heard of a case of Lyme Disease in CA!!!
I was one of a very few that were going to be reported to the CDC.
(rolling eyes)
Oh, well, thank goodness for Lymenet and my LLMD!!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Amazing, re "no Lyme in CA" - you can let them know about a blog entry at www.LymeDisease.org -
It's the Touched by Lyme blog - scroll backwards to Mar 12, 2010 - the entry is called "No Lyme in California?" - it's a description of more than 150 responses about where folks got Lymed in CA -
AND, if they have never heard of folks getting here, then they are all sitting ducks for it when they and their pets roam around -
so I do hope you can speak up and warn folks about learning protective behavior -
I saw the most concern in a doctor when I mentioned that it could happen to him personally if he or his pets were exposed, including just engaging in walking the dog - so I suggest also making the message personal -
Posted by Shidove (Member # 24289) on :
Thanks for the link and the responses, Robin123!
I'm now a huge proponent of telling everyone I meet that they can get Lyme. All of my friends are avid tick checkers after hikes and walks and picnics!
But, I do need to keep spreading the news!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I was told by more than one specialist (neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedists) that
"lyme burns itself out in a matter of weeks, with or without" a) "any drugs" or b) "any help from you." and, then, a couple added: "it is absolutely harmless"
"now, let's talk about why you are unhappy with your life." (This was used so often by so many different doctors that they must have been taught to say this phrase.)
Another said to me (when in my 40"'s): "young lady, you really need to start taking responsibility in your life. There is nothing wrong with you that a swift case of growing up won't fix." Adding, "there is no such thing as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."
At that time, I thought I "only" had CFS. I knew nothing about lyme. -
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
My records all said "undetermined amount of functional overlay." I didn't know what that meant at the time, as I carried them around with me to yet another health practitioner.
I later found out it meant I was presenting with symptom complaints to get out of functional living responsibilities - ie, that's how the complaints were functioning in my life.
Boy, did I let everyone have it when I found out, A, about Lyme, and B, about what the phrase meant. AND, got all records changed to reflect the new knowledge about an unrecognized illness.
Posted by momindeep (Member # 7618) on :
Doctor #1...she's 13...of course it is growing pains...I say, No, don't think so and why I didn't think so...doc says...you should stay off the internet.
ER doctor at a local hospital...my daughter's symptoms would flare terribly at night...still no LD dx yet...probably the third of fourth time we show up on his watch...Said he didn't know what was going on here, but was suspicious that I, her mother, was the cause for all of her discomfort! Right...
At the U of M (MN) cutting edge facility...doc walks in and takes one look at my daughter and says, Well, she LOOKS healthy...whaaaa?
At the U of M...different "specialist"...your daughter has CFS. I ask, what makes you think that? Well...her story...her story tells me she has CFS...I say, would you consider LD...no the doctor says...that just doesn't fit...my daughter had almost all of the symptoms listed for LD.
Orthopedic surgeon...had been taking my daughter to him for a few months because her shoulder was killing her...Doctor...what do you think is going on with her? He looks me in the eye and says...I don't know...I respected that.
You can't die from Lyme Disease said one doctor we saw...so don't worry about it.
It's in your head, little lady.
To my daughter...It's in your mother's head..there isn't anything wrong with you.
It's in your head, we have a good phychiatrist on staff.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by stillwater: [QB] Sometimes you just need to stop banging your head against the wall.
Whenever medical professionals say that, I love to say, "You're right!! Lyme bacteria ARE found early on in the brain!"
And then I proceed to discuss their affinity to nerves. Better yet if I have some great brochures with me.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Up for more fun. Posted by outerspace1226 (Member # 34274) on :
"2 positive Elisa's, 3 Positive W. blots, and a laundry list of coinfections? I'd like you to see a psychiatrist friend of mine."
Posted by Heleneh (Member # 21207) on :
My Igenex, Fry, and LabCorp blood tests were all false positives.
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
The first time my Lyme infection was properly diagnosed was by my orthopedist, who ran a WB on me that came back positive, both IGG and IGM.
This same orthopedist had recently treated my son for septic arthritis caused by Lyme.
Both me and my son were referred to an ID doctor for treatment. My son had been started on IV rocephin while hospitalized for emergency surgery and treatment for the septic arthritis. Meanwhile, I was put on oral doxy, 400 mg twice a day.
Three days into the doxy, I started herxing something awful, though at that time, I didn't know what a herx was.
When I reported back to the ID doctor for a recheck, I told her about my response to the antibiotics. Her reaction? "You must not have Lyme disease after all." Since I didn't immediately start to feel better on abx, I could not have Lyme!
I was in shock. What about the positive WBs, what about the EM rash surrounding a tick bite a year earlier, what about all the symptoms I had--a full page of them--suggestive of the disease?
This ID duck then tells me, "Hmm, the WBs must be false positives...though the EM rash does throw me for a loop. Still, you must not have Lyme. I think you're depressed."
And then she tells me, "I think you just WANT to have Lyme disease, because that is what your son has."
Aaaggghhhh!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Pathetic
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Your knuckles hurt due to impact arthritus from your job,you have Tennis elbo. But doc i never have played tennis. Just take this motrin and you will be better.MADDOG
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