I am getting a little better, but not making great progress. He also stated that these patients seem to get a little better and then a little worse, going back and forth.

What a can a worms this might be. Oh, well.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

IMHO, it sounds like your LLMD is groping for an explanation that is "not his fault" for why you're not as well as you'd like to be at this point.

I absolutely do believe that our emotional state has a direct effect on our response to illness, but there are so many other factors that need to be considered: coinfections, tendency toward heavy metal problems, other health problems, allergies, glandular imbalance, parasites, mineral imbalances...the list goes on.

I think it's a cop-out for a doctor to suggest that you may not respond well to treatment because of your emotional history. That places the burden on you and may result in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Wishing you well,

I know that in my life the more I am inspired by music, art, life, the healthier I feel and the better I get.

For some reason though I have severe mental blocks to my insparation. I feel that it is wrong to be happy and creative all the time.

I was a lonelly child , became sick when I was 13 with CFIDS/LYME? and I have struggled with imense feelings of loss and despair.

My biggest challenge is feeling loved.
I have always felt unloved by my parents and mostlly everyone in the world.

I am not ugly by any standards I think this is just a self esteem issue and is something that is have to work on in this life.

I still have my doubts. Especially when I feel that people or situations have wronged me.

I dont just give into the fact of a chemical imbalence..

Theres so many factors. The infection, years of feeling infected,tired ill. Feelings of regret and unworthyness. And this damn mental fog which at time is just a prison.

The worst is seing other people enjoy life or enjoy a cigarete or a hug,, and myself feeling like if only i could be happy like them..

That said, I have found craniosacral therapy and other therapies like it to be useful for emotional release work. Also, read the bible of post traumatic stress, "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Herman. That way, you will know the real symptoms of PTSD backwards and forwards, and no one will be able to push you around.

You know what you have dealt with and what you haven't. Therapy is not always needed for personal exploration. It may just be going over issues that are painful with yourself and crying it out and allowing it to surface and to deal with it and put it in it's place.

Probably one of the biggest problems with having a bad past, and I speak from experience is "self destruction". We can have a position of internalizing everything kinda of like blaming ourselves for all our problems.

For example, even though I realise now my many symptoms have been from lyme for many years, food allergies etc, I blamed myself for having no energy, thought must be depressed and never seeked an answer to my problems for a long time, due to the emotional abuse I endured as a child.

I really think people can move forward from this. Falling into old self destructive thinking patterns would be detrimental to any illness. Positive coping techniques are something abuse surviviors don't have and need to learn and practise in daily life and unlearn old coping styles and view the world as a safer place.

Therapy can really help when you feel like you are getting off track. I find I can get into ruts and for some reason it can take forever for me to get out of it. When I do I feel so much better, and wonder why it took me so long to get there again. Some friends are good people to talk to if positive feelings come out of sharing deep personal thoughts.

Another thing with this is survivors often seem to handle anything without problems. This is not always a true reflection of what is going on with the person, because they have spent their lives hiding their true feelings from the abusers and often carry that habit into adulthood.

So do I think it is an important factor in getting well, definitly, but not impossible to deal with. Just have more issues to address then the lyme itself.

Good to see you!

You asked for comments?

Did you mean meeeeeeeeee too? hehehe

Let's say... before you had Lyme-

1. A 6 foot black snake wrapped itself around your ankle while you were sleeping at
your Grandma's house.

2. You fell through the ice while skating across a pond when you were 13 years old.. on
Christmas day.

3. You ate some cajun gumbo and got food poison while visiting an aunt and uncle in
New Orleans during the Mardi Gras.

Now Lyme enters the picture and you get sick.

If while you are sick...

You go into a friends barn to help them gather some belonging that have been stored..
and you walk past a snake shed laying over in the corner.

OR... you come across a picture of your Grandma out in her garden in front of the house.

OR... Your kids want to go ice skating with their friends.

OR... You drive down the road and look out and see a farm pond frozen over.

OR.. You are reminicing about Christmas past and remember the fall through the ice.

OR... You go to the local BBQ drive thru and they ask if you would like some fried okra
which reminds you of the gumbo.

OR... You watch tv and see a news report on the Mardi Gras Parade.

Each of these follow up events can cause you stress.

Healthy people can go down hill from stress.

People who are sick can have an even harder time with stress.

Some folks develop conditions like post-tramatic stress disorder from a stressful event. It can run them into the ground.. physically and mentally.

Your doctor kinda needs to know if there are conditions that can affect your recovery...

Just as they need to know what supplements you take.. what your diet is like.. etc.

If you are having specific trouble in one area... he may be able to recommend help... or offer suggestions. You have the right to take them or leave the help he offers.

I know from personal experience that stress kicks my butt.. and once I use to thrive on it.

And I think I am too ``tuff'' to have stress bother me. But it does.. and I see a decline in my condition when I am under stress.

Just like if you went out now to a store and tended to be colder than you normally would
be before Lyme.... and now you KNOW you need to take a sweater to keep comfortable.

You must also address other stressors so you don't have any additional things affecting
you and delaying your progress.

Sometimes however, it is VERY difficult to control your environment.. as well as your
thoughts.

Personally I feel we can't move forward until we first identify any problems that stand in our way.. and then make a plan to get around them.

I think you did the right thing.

I see it as a positive step in the right direction.

Good luck to you.

Childhood trauma has set up your body to a constant stage of fight or flight. When we're in fight or flight for way too long, in some case, years, the immune system will crumble.

As "religion" is taboo on the med boards, I will post an article by my CHurch's Pastor on the spirtual roots on Fibromaylgia OFFTOPIC. It's not about Lyme but the theory of how past hurts hurt our immune systems is right on.

Also other lyme drs have written that their patients who have depression before LYME have a harder time getting rid of LYME.

Their is a mind body connection;;; i am sure of it.

It would really be helpful to read those articles your physician friend has that he thinks "proves" that Fibro, and CfID are purely psychiatic in origin.

It wouldn't bother me if that was the true source because then you'd know how to deal with the symptoms. Sadly, I think there's too much negativity associated with having a mental disorder.

The brain and emotions can become just as ill as someone with diabetes or cancer or Lyme
I happened to be diagnosed with depression at age 42, was prescribed antidepressants which I know gave me back my joy for living.

Now some 12 years later and with better tests ie; western blot, a few others , we can often tell whether or not there's an infection for lyme.

I do have evidence of Lyme by several WB bands and positive antibodies to Borrelia B.

So, which came first the chicken or the egg?

All the evidence is NOT in yet on exactly what these illnesses are, and how we get them.

My personal thought is that I had a weakened immune system, was bitten by a tick (I do know that for sure) pulled one off of me after being attached for 24 hrs.

I'm betting that Fibro. and Cfid are probrobly Lyme disease. For this we must wait for confirmation. Meanwhile we do the best we can to get better, strengthen the immune system and work on any psycho/ spiritual pathways to healing.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as LYme and asthma and now high cholestoral. I have had a total hip replacemnt and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menapause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my suseptiability to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacemnt and early menapause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.

sorry I have not been able to respond more quickly, but sometimes I have to work at work.

I believe that my LLMD was glad that I finally shared this info with him so that he could understand how other factors were influencing the treatment. He in no way blamed me, gave up on me, or had anything negative to say. He shared from his experience that he saw survivors as being the patients who took a longer time to get well because of a weakened immune system, for one thing.

I think it will ultimately help me to beat Lyme and go on through my life's journey to have shared with this man. I just don't know what exactly to say to all of the responses except thank you. Some made me laugh, some made me sad, and others made me think that I am still unable to express myself as clearly as I once did - pre-Lyme.

I am in treatment for ptsd and on meds for this as well as Lyme and asthma and now high cholesterol. I have had a total hip replacement and very early menopause. Recently went to a uro-gynocologist and learned that early menopause, when I was thirty-six (now I'm 57) has contributed to my susceptibility to uti's. I am taking vagifem for that. I am convinced that the hip replacement and early menopause were a result of the trauma. The uti's and the asthma, too. so, chronic Lyme and my weakened immune system is probably connected, too. IMO.

I am not giving up or feeling sorry for myself. It's simply important for me, as a person who survived by not connecting the dots, to do an about face and connect them.

I am not my abuse. I have done a lot of psychological and spiritual healing which has brought me closer to knowing the child of God, I really am and always was.

It is always easier to hide my past, than to state it directly. Sometimes it's even appropriate to hide it. Sometimes, not.

Thanks for listening and contributing and sharing and being here to run this by y'all.