I amnot a fellow Lyme sufferer, but my friend is, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the disease without calling her a million times a day since I know she sleeps a lot.
What should I know so that I can be a better friend to her? And I'm in the process of making her a gift basket just because I think she deserves it, so from y'alls perscpective, what would be the best things to include? I want to put items that will be useful when she has flare ups.
TIA!
[ 02. March 2007, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: nxdgirl ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Low carb snack bars magazines scented lotion [unless she is hypersensitive to smells] shields for the eyes?? [for sleeping] comfy pillow [small cozy one]
SHEESH>.. I'm blank on this. Maybe someone else can help more than I can!!!
Welcome to lymenet!!
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
What a wonderful friend!
A couple of bottles of good water.
Someone sent me a daily devotional book that really helps me out.
A little pad and pen to keep notes on for questions or symptoms to report to LLMD.
My Lyme brain is just not coming up with much now.
Anyone else?
Geneal
Posted by nxdgirl (Member # 11283) on :
Thanks to the both of you for your suggestions! My friend is so isolated, and she won't drive because she's so dizzy all the time, and she doesn't want to go out since she feels so awful all the time. I wish I could just take away her pain for one day, but since I can't, I thought it would be nice to give her something to take her mind OFF her pain.
Keep the suggestions coming, please!! I want to make this really special for her!
Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
-A good book or two...and bookmarks
-Mint tea bags or other herbal teas
-Certificate for free help with ? from you
-Peppermint oil to rub into joints for aches and pains
-DVD's or Tapes
-Something that smells wonderful if she's not sensitive to that
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Soothing tapes or CD's.
Posted by Karenelee (Member # 11044) on :
I like to rug Tiger Balm on my sore neck. I get it in the drugstore in the first aid section.
But if she's not driving, you might just go basic and get her some easy to prepare food.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
welcome to an OUTSTANDING FRIEND PLUS with a heart full of gold ... the kind only a friend can give! you bring tears to my eyes for what you want to do for your friend. we've never had this question/comment in the 2.5 yrs. i've been here!
my suggestions:
we have 3M FROZEN ICE BAGS that really help my worst pain! i use them on my neck/hump area, left thigh/femur, and lower back changing them every 45-60 minutes. if you know of anyone working for 3-M, they can buy them for $1 each!
MOISTENED HEATING PAD helps too but that's bigger and more expensive than what you are describing, but you can suggest that to her if she doesn't know already.
BELLY LAUGHING MOVIES! helps release the stress.
dizziness, do she have a LYME LITERATE MD, LLMD, she's seeing for treatment? she should talk to llmd SOON to see if this is a reaction to meds she's on.
tell her too that the pharmacy needs to know ALL MEDS: PRESCRIPTIONS, OVER THE COUNTER, HERBS, SUPPLEMENTS, etc. they are our best friends on saving our lives.
you want to learn more about lyme, i'm going to overwhelm you with my 45 pages of newbie links/adevise, symptoms, SSDI..SS disability insurance benefits, etc. which includes TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS archive of 1000+ links!
in what i'm sending you, look for the bettyg link of LDA's/my brochure i typed which includes the names of GOOD LYME BOOKS! see if your library or hers carry these or could order for library!
LDA'S 2 recent books are good! 1 for kids, and adults: lyme disease: science, politics, and laws.
wished i had YOU as my caring friend! with our chronic lyme disease, people drop us left and right! you 2 have a special bonding relationship we'd die to maintain with past fair-weather friends.
now i'll send you a PM, private message, with these 45 pages. SKIM it looking for certain things for YOUR FRIEND.
if she has internet, forward it to her as well.
i wish her god's blessings to take away the dizziness and pain! pain is the worst for us all.
so glad you found us! Posted by nxdgirl (Member # 11283) on :
Thanks to everyone who has responded!
I do know that she has a wonderful doctor, but her insurance has stopped paying for her care- go military insurance! So, she and her husband are thinking about switching to a doctor on base, but I know how happy she is with the doc she's seeing now. For Christmas, I gave her a pure silver coin since it will gain value over time. That brought her to tears when I told her that it's for her medical bills. I didn't mean to make her cry! I felt so bad! But she said they were tears of joy... Even if they were, I still felt bad that I made her cry, KWIM?!?
She's such a wonderful person, and I wish that more people could know her!
I saw a bowl that says "You are wonderful" on it- is that something maybe to include? I am so bad at gift giving- I'm a "here's a gift certificate" kind of gal! LOL!
I know that she gets a little peeved when her husband does everything for her, so I thought that maybe I'd give her some craft supplies so she can do that on her own??? She's into making jewelry already, but I was thinking maybe some painting supplies??
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Massage oil, scented candles, a hot epsom salt bath! A LLMD in a cute little box! Tiger balm! Herbal teas Books Soothing music ILADS info (printed out) patient stories (printed out) chicken soup
Posted by nxdgirl (Member # 11283) on :
quote:Originally posted by WildCondor: A LLMD in a cute little box!
I need to study up on my Lyme knowledge, but what is this?!?
[ 02. March 2007, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: nxdgirl ]
Posted by bubbear (Member # 8976) on :
Dear nxd YOU are great at gift giving....and I do not mean the basket....what a special person u are....Ideas for the basket...Manicure set,clip on book light,puzzle books(helps with the fog)Wanna be my friend? I'll take ya!
Posted by nxdgirl (Member # 11283) on :
I'm a friend to everyone! Well, excluding my ex-husband! LOL!
Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
WC hinted at this.....print out the success stories here on Lymenet. Those should be inspiring for her. You're a wonderful friend!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
quote:Originally posted by nxdgirl:
KWIM? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? bettyg wants to know! ' I know that she gets a little peeved when her husband does everything for her, so I thought that maybe I'd give her some craft supplies so she can do that on her own???
She's into making jewelry already, but I was thinking maybe some painting supplies??
you asked about LLMD, LYME LITERATE MD, the good docs who save our lives and try to get us into remission or cured!
i'd buy more jewelry supplies since she enjoys that now! we are so fatigued; fog brain; hard to learn new things.
you're one sweetie-pie for a close friend; good thing her hubby is willing to share her with you! Posted by nxdgirl (Member # 11283) on :
quote:Originally posted by bettyg: [QUOTE]Originally posted by nxdgirl:
KWIM? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? bettyg wants to know! '
KWIM: know what I mean
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
What a neat friend you are!
Important things:
1. Learn everything about the disease that you can so you can talk with her about it knowledgeably, and can listen!!
2. Tell her you're coming over to clean her house on such-and-such a day. She's to rest, and you'll just jump in! She'll refuse, of course, but you'll tell her you're not asking permission, you're just doing it! And that until she feels better you intend to come help her out as often as possible.
Most people with lyme are completely overwhelmed with the things that used to be just 'a day in the life..' It looks to be insurmountable and if sick enough, it surely IS insurmountable.
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