I have just made an appointment with a naturopath who has extensive experience with many of the issues I am dealing with and when she spoke on the telephone with me she said-"yes I know Lymes can be tough."
I felt uncomfortable that someone who sees many patients with this could make this kind of mistake and am having second thoughts. I still have an LLMD whose treating but she deals with neurotoxicity and other issues. Am I overreacting?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Nope! .. but in her case, maybe!! Since she's not a real LLMD, I might consider it!
Posted by Itsy_bitsyone (Member # 12635) on :
amk,
I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I know it irks some people, but the truth is, Lyme was named after a town. Like some diseases are names after a person. "Lyme" has nothing to do with anything but being a town where a couple of kids popped up with it at once and someone finally noticed a disease that had always been around. In all actuality...it probably SHOULD be a possessive Proper noun!
For years...through the 80's...everyone I had ever met...including vets (who, in NJ knew more about it than docs), called it Lyme's.
The way you would say Alhzheimer's or Parkinson's or Lou Gerhig's.
Its foregin to many people. Would you say "Hashimoto Disease"? Of course not. For most people, NOT adding the S seems odd!
It's just a possessive..many people use it...while not technically correct...in the whole big sceme of things...not many people outside of here sweat whether it is a possessive proper noun or not.
I know a girl who's sister died of it...she calls is "Lyme's"...she asks me how my "Lyme's" is...and you know what? That's cool. My GP calls it Lyme's...but does believe I have it.
As long as I get treated and someone actually cares, don't sweat the small stuff.
Nancy
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Funny you should ask. The naturopath who works with my LLMD says Lymes, and it bothered me so much. Honestly, it doesn't make sense to not see her just because of that. But I would keep it in mind in case there are other red flags.
Posted by AP (Member # 8430) on :
Absolutely not. Usage of the term "Lymes" is my number one pet peeve.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
My pet peeve too! Once when I was trying to get my IV Rocephin funded by Blue SHIELD their rep said,
"Your request was denied because there is no Lymes disease in California."
and I said,
"I absolutely agree with you- that's true- there IS NO LYMES DISEASE in California."
She was very confused.
"Then why-"
"Because I have LYME disease- no S!"
(No wonder I didn't get IV with those manners, eh? but not just to get denied- but to get denied for a disease that doesn't even EXIST! HEY, wait a second, that's kind of like chronic Lyme itself now- amazinG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blue SHIELD was prescient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
IF it was someone that I was considering as my primary lyme doc, then NO. If it is a doctor that you don't have to rely on to be knowledgable enough to direct your treatment, then maybe.
Personally, I'd be a little cautious but if she is good and can help you with your issues AND you have a good LLMD then it might be worth a try.
Terry
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
If she's working with your LLMD to supplement your treatment, then I'd work with her ... but I would probably not trust her for my primary Lyme treatment.
I would also mention it to her or to the LLMD so he can correct her. It's unprofessional. It doesn't bother me when a lay person uses the term "Lymes" because they don't know better ... but anyone in the industry (even insurance) should not be so ignorant.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I have to admit that in my first post I made the same
Unforgiveable mistake and wrote "Lymes".
Somebody gently corrected my error and I am pretty sure I never did that again.
I think grammatically as I am a Speech Therapist and I stuck the "s" on.
Maybe the new doctor has never been gently corrected.
It can't hurt to mention it.
It has become my pet peeve also, but I remember my initial error and my
Embarassment over it.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by clairenotes (Member # 10392) on :
Do you need to have an LLND (someone with comprehensive knowledge of lyme)? Or do you just need to have someone help you with some of your symptoms from a naturopathic standpoint to fill in the gaps of what your LLMD does not deal with?
If you need an LLND could you ask her more directly about her experience with lyme, various treatment methods, etc?
How did you feel about your phone conversation with this person, otherwise? Was she a good listener? Kind? Respectful? Maybe there was something else that wasn't quite right in the conversation?
Claire
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Let's see -- there's North Lyme, East Lyme, Old Lyme and Lyme -- they must mean the whole area... Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
My naturopath called it lymes too. From my experience you could use the naturopath to do all your detox, supplements, alternative stuff while still doing protocols with your LLMD.
Both should know the other recommendations and be supportive of your choices. My LLMD was very supportive of me seeing a naturopath and doing alternative protocols also. But my ex-LLMD happens to be one that says alternative, life style changes, supps, colonics, saunas, rife etc might make a difference.
The only reason I called him my ex-LLMD is I haven't traveled 8 hrs one way to see him since 04, but I wouldn't hesitate to see him in the future if I felt I needed him again.
Pam
Posted by Parisa (Member # 10526) on :
If your reasons for disqualifying someone for saying "Lymes" is you think it shows an ignorance of Lyme disease and its treatment that might be a valid reason. However, some people just aren't good with language. So, it might make me pause and wonder if they knew what they were doing but I sure wouldn't eliminate someone on that basis.
There are probably plenty of doctors who say Lyme without the "s" but you might get horrible treatment from them. Base your decision on what you need, what they have to offer, their bedside manner, your gut feeling, etc. I'd take a "Lymes" doctor any day over a doctor who doesn't know how to treat.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
for me, it indicates that the person is not well educated in the matter.
True, some are just not good with language, but a doctor of any type who has done substantial reading in this should KNOW.
I truly wish we had a way to know just what the doctors have studied before we pay for the expertise.
do you have a support group in your area for anyone to share their experience with this doctor?
I would not go as I've gone to several ND's who even said they've treated lyme, but then clearly are so undereducated about it. They might have had a couple of lucky cases where someone got better fast or they did not return.
My advice is to schedule a 15 minute phone consult to see if it might be a good match. I've done this often and it helps tremendously.
Have the best author's names or protocols along with the top five questions all prepared. You basically are interviewing the doctor. Hope this helps.
I've also learned to ask about the philosophy regarding subconscious (sp?) effects. I worked with one ND who swore he knew all about lyme. After years of no progress he said that - on a deeper level - I had decided to take this illness and until I took the responsibility of it I'd never get well. Turns out he was not even giving me any anti-lyme herbs. Just herbs to help support my immune system. He said that I should have gotten better with just the immune support.
Since, I've learned to research and be more involved but mostly, ask that question up front now. I have worked hard on emotional health, but this idea that a person agrees to take on an illness before birth is a very harmful idea. Many NDs hold his thoughts, some don't.
I have seen many NDs and many have wonderful training. However, lyme is different from other infections. I really think that a ND needs special training to work with lyme patients even if just as a support.
This is just another world beyond their training. If they are willing to watch a DVD of the ILADS seminars first, if you can purchase it and even pay for their time to view it and it will save you a fortune in the long run.
Posted by kylymie (Member # 13420) on :
Greetings all! Been long time since I visited (Geek Squad murdered mt desktop & no $ to replace it) anyway, something has been BUGGING the dickens out of me: The show "Diagnisis X"..on TLC or Discovery..I dunno which, had these ducks (supposedly this is a "real" doc show)-who said LymeSSSSSS so many times, you'd think they would know the correct way to say a disease they say they are diagnosing! I would seriously question if anyone really "knows" about LD if they don't know how to pronounce it. Blessings!
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I do see a chiropractor/natural healer who said "Lymes", at first, but he listened to me and caught on quickly.
Then he got to the business of doing his own research and information gathering, and has helped me tremendously.
He's the one who set me up with the Deseret Biologicals remedies that I had not heard of before.
I think it depends on how much and how fast your naturopath is willing to learn.
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
That would bug me, too. I know I worked as a phlebotomist and used to call it Lymes myself.
My take on it is that, if you're still calling it Lymes, you probably have not done too much reading about it.
I would give her a chance even so, but this would be my first red flag - as long as there aren't any more of them.
Posted by Jellybelly (Member # 7142) on :
I might use this person just for stuff, but I don't think I would use as a "Lyme specialist". How specialized could they be if they don't know how to say it yet?? A beginner, yes, but not for a specialist.
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
That is a great question, and I don't think you're overreacting.
If you had a good feeling from talking to her, I think you should at least give her a try.
Posted by on :
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)
.. but in her case, maybe!! Since she's not a real LLMD, I might consider it!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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