Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I have held this in for a week.
My Dad called last week to "check" on me.
Actually think this was a smoke-screen aimed at giving
Him an opportunity to be critical of me.
Asked how I was doing. I replied honestly....alright given everything going on.
I had left him a message re: husband having Lyme (just got dx).
He wanted to know if I was having children tested.
Of course!....Blood work went to Igenex this week.
Then he went in to all the "research" he has done on Lyme.
He basically said there was nothing conclusive and
Most sites reported that these symptoms "may be" Lyme.
He said he checked to see how many cases had been reported in our state and area.
None for 2006.
I explained to him the Western Blot...
I explained CDC guidelines for reporting (that none of us have made due to no Elisa)
I explained that the bands that were positive on WB
could only be caused by Lyme.
His response was that we all had some type of "hypochondriac" syndrome
One gets dx with Lyme, then everybody else thinks they have it.
I know I felt the hair stand up on the back of my head.
I let go with both barrels....
Since I was the FIRST dx. with Lyme in our area,
He wouldn't be referring to me???!!!!Would he???!!!
Oh yeah, you educated yourself.
You saw what you wanted to...added in a few opinions of your own...and
voila! You are now an expert on Lyme and co-infections.
Give me a break!!!
I was then told that I was obsessive about this disease.
Okay...I will concur, however I did point out the following:
There is not one day that goes by that I am not in pain
Or dizzy, or having difficulty remembering things,
Or able to find the words to express myself (I am a Speech Therapist).
I am so fatigued that I can hardly function some days....
My feet hurt, my lymph nodes are swollen....
I know I don't need to go on....you all know the various multiple symptoms.
Knowledge is power I told him.. What if my kids end up positive?
I better know everything I can about this disease.
You can't let Lyme be your life....he said.
Dad, I said, unfortunately it is a huge part of my life right now.
If you don't want to know how I am doing...don't ask.
If you have nothing better to do than criticize me then call someone else.
Sheesh!!!
Then he said he wants to come and visit me.
Oh, please, please NO!
He wants to check with his cardiologist to "see" if there
are any specific signs of Lyme he should look for
in himself while here visiting.
AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!
Then he went on to talk about the chigger bites on his ankle
That he gets while golfing (won't wear pants)
Spent 30 minutes on the topic of his chigger bites.
And I am obsessive??????!!!!!!
I am sure I will get to a place where I feel better and am doing better
And other things will dominate my life...
That is if my kids are negative...
However, I believe that Lyme disease will always be
A part of my life...just hopefully not a daily part.
I know this is long.....
I do feel better for writing this down.
I suppose having a sister talk about her acne for a year
and the treatments, etc.. is okay...
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Hang in there Geneal it really hurts when family dosent believe in you or your disease and to try and tell people who are not family outside blood it gets even more worse.
Know that I as a person with lyme have been through it too!!! and still in it as far as that goes.
Try to focus on Gods word and not the disease. I know its hard real hard because this disease is inside the flesh we occupy.
But remember greater is he that is me than he that is in the world.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20,21
And May God bless and sustain you .
Something to ponder Geneal
This change in our bodies comes when we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:16-18
God does have a healing program for the Age of Grace. It is the removal of the Body of Christ from this earth and the changing of our terrestrial bodies into celestial bodies.
God Will Do What He Says
As we pointed out when we began this article, if there is no specific reason given by God for healing in this age, then we cannot claim that healing is from the Lord. Of each of the three reasons that we see presented in Scripture for healing, none of them apply to the Age of Grace and the Church, the Body of Christ. Our healing comes just when God says it will, at the rapture of the Body of Christ. Our responsibility is to patiently wait for that event (See Romans 8:18-25).
That was from a preacher I know I use to go to the church he teaches at God has sure blessed this guy with knowledge of the bible.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
Although my family thinks I use Lyme as an "excuse" not to do anything, I'm fortunate that most people in this area seem to know someone else who has had lyme.
The school system I was employed with has had several employees or spouses with lyme. It's REAL in these parts. A couple of top administers have been retired, before their time, due to Lyme.
Although friends believe in lyme-they don't seem to grasp the longevity of treatment."You're STILL being treated for Lyme?"
My husband is the worst offender, pays lip service to understanding, but gets stuck on depression being one of the symptoms. When I ask him what are the other symptoms he doesn't know, although I have printed out a ton of material for him.
He mistrusts Igenex, thinks it's a set up,(even though I tested positive at Quest also) has never offered to go to an appointment with me. Seems to have his head in the sand. My other daughter tested positive for LYme and both our dogs.
Anyway- I just go about my way in a new circle of friends who understand and appreciate the impact of having Lyme Disease.
I feel really fortunate in a backwards way that all my blood work was definitive, so I can cut the naysayers off at the pass.
lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
There is something wrong with any of us that aren't obsessive about these damn diseases. First, "we", or someone in the family or all of the family, are infected, so we deal daily. Life is no longer what it once was, so yeah, who would not have a reason to be obsessive..
We are obsessive about learning all there is to absorb, I am way past my saturation level unfortunately. Wish I could grasp all that Marnie and others have found.
We are obsessive when we tell others and try to warm them. We are doing them a life saving service but often they blow us off. Someday, if they have any memory left, they will realize someone tried to throw them a life line.
We are obsessive when we talk to all of the ducks because they have forced us to be that way and we are obsessive when talking to some friends and family members.
It is human to try to help others.(even if kicked in the teeth) So we will continue to try. Someday there may be a cure, I at least am holding out hope but until then, we need to be as obsessive as possible to help the cause and our family.
Your dad has not read posts on here or might be more understanding. And who knows, if HE also has IT...
Good luck. lymemomtooo
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by Geneal:
He wants to check with his cardiologist to "see" if there are any specific signs of Lyme he should look for in himself...
...Spent 30 minutes on the topic of his chigger bites.
Geneal, it sounds as if he might wonder if he has Lyme.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Thank you all for all the positive responses.
I do believe in God and divine protection...
I pray often during the day.
I have mentioned to my Dad that he get checked.
After all he lives in North Georgia....in the woods.
Picks ticks off of his dog all the time.
Thank you again for all of your comforting posts.
You have no idea how much they touch me, heal me and help me to grow.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Cobweb: Although friends believe in lyme-they don't seem to grasp the longevity of treatment."You're STILL being treated for Lyme?"
Arr Yes, that is very annoying.
Personally I prefer the term "hyperfocused" to "obsessed", with a lot of things I use my mind for.
-------------------- "You know, the worst, meanest, nastiest, ticks in the world are politicks," - Steve Nostrum Posts: 242 | From South NJ | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
Hang in there, Geneal. Why don't you gather some technical documents for him and mail them to him?
Chiggars?? He's at risk.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Sorry General Geneal. My hope is he will come around and be of a support.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Cobweb
Unregistered
posted
Hey- just a thought-but maybe your dad would agree to have his dog checked for Lyme Disease-it's an easy, almost routine test done by the vet. I'm sure the dog doesn't stray far from the master. Both our dogs tested positive-and they never left the backyard-in the city!
Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
All very good thoughts and ideas....Just hard to
Get someone who has "tunnel" vision to see outside the box, so to speak.
For the sake of just mentioning it, I had a full
Day of Continuing Ed today.
Saw one of my teachers from when I was a sophomore in college.
Started speaking with her. She says she has been ill forever.
Pain, heart palpatations, EBV, fatigue, etc.
Sound familiar?
Said she had just read a report about one of her clients who has Lyme disease....
She asked if I had ever heard of Lyme in our area.
You should have seen her face when I told her I have Lyme Disease and co-infections!
From there I gave her info re: where to find symptom lists, Igenex, etc.
The lady next to her said her daughter had a lot of the symptoms we were discussing.
Is going to have her daughter checked also.
Small world isn't it?
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Hi Geneal,
Hang in there!
Lyme disease, I have found, can be especially threatening for some men. That can be true of any serious health issue -- there is a type of man, often of an older generation (start of baby boomer or older), where being macho and denying one is ill or feeling any pain is common.
There are macho women too of course, but fewer of them!
I have found that the men (especially the older men) in my family are really in denial -- not only about me having a real disease (one thinks it is just a matter of willpower, I should "will" myself out of it), but their own symptoms.
I am convinced that one of them has lyme -- after a lifetime outdoors in an endemic area, he has joint pain, fatigue, bone pain, strange rashes, occassional cognitive issues and a shorter temper than years ago. but he refuses to get tested...
It is not you -- it is them! You have been trying to help. And rightfully focused on lyme while in your own recovery.
Since there are only a handful of doctors in the US who really seem knowledgable about tick borne illnesses (llmds), I am finding we really need to educate ourselves about lyme disease.
I guess I am trying to say:
I share your 'obsession' and think it will help us get better, in the long run.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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sizzled
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1357
posted
Oh, Geneal, that is so good you were able to help that mother and her daughter!
She being a teacher....perhaps she will be able to help someone else in turn.
You did good!
Posts: 4258 | From over there | Registered: Jul 2001
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Thanks so much again for all the kind words.
I feel that it is my "job" to share what I have experienced with Lyme and
What you all have taught me (I am still learning).
This gives a certain "purpose" if you will to having this horrible disease.
I hope that I am able to help many people, but will be completely satisfied with one.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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