Well dear..I am bone tired but will post a few things before I drop. Sorry.. once my brain says "no more".. it usually means it.
You said...
1.Is there any way she can get her meds paid for if she qualifies for govt assistance? How would I find out?
Try the site here for free and/or reduced priced meds. It will take some effort on your part... but a number of folks have been helped.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004031.html
2. Is there a Lyme advocacy group that could help get her the two hours to the appointment, make sure she gets treated properly. She has never had treatment for Lyme.
I need to know where she is located to help with that. What town and state?
There is sometimes buses that are used by seniors and disabled folks that are provided by counties where folks live. This MAY help? Please check her local county senior center for help with that.. or the states transportation system.
A local church may have members that can help transport. The Salvation Army may have a list of available resources also... so call them if you can... or let me know where she is so I can.
3. Is there anyone who will help her figure out how to get on Lymenet so she at least can come her and see she is not alone?
Yes.. I am sure one of the members who is more computer literate than myself will offer to help. I will make a separate post and ask.
4. She cannot travel very far. Even the 2 hours to the clinic was hard on her sores. She went all that way to be seemingly brushed off. She is basically home bound so it is hard to get her any real help. Any suggestions?
Start by contacting the Salvation Army and/or Red Cross and ask for help... and if they don't help.. ask them who can. They should be able to provide some good leads.
There should also be a county mental health department in her area. Folks with low income and/or no insurance can NORMALLY have access to some help.
And don't think I send her there because she is crazy.
Hmmmmmm.. however... if she is YOUR friend.. maybe she IS a bit touched? HA! Just kidding!
The mental health professionals should be able to get her help with several things. NOW is the time to ASK for help. Don't worry what they think.. start getting ALL the help she can... ASAP. They will also be able to help her apply for any benefits she may be entitled to.
3. Is there anyone who will believe her that she has parasites?
Instead of approaching the fact by saying.. "I have parasites".. perhaps say.. "WHAT is this skin problem?"
Then show them.. and let THEM come up with an answer. You know how doctors ego's can be. Let THEM figure it out.
You said... "She says if the clinic will take her as a patient she will do their treatment, yet in the waiting time she is feeling like they gave her the brush off and don't want to touch her with a ten foot pole."
That is normal. When we are scared.. we feel a great deal of desperation. We wonder if anyone WILL help us.. or CAN help us. I have been through that.. and KNOW how horrible it feels.
Tell her not to worry. Worry never cured Lyme... and I am living proof. If it did.. I would have had enough "cure" saved up to help all of us.
If she went to the J Clinic.. they should help her no matter what kind of an impression she thinks she made.
If you have ANY problems with that.. let me know. I will do my best to rattle some cages and get her help without being offensive.
You said.. "How can she deal with this diplomatically so she gets treated?"
My bet is she has a 90 percent fear level going on and messing with her brain.. and 10 percent chance of it actually becoming a reality that they won't treat her.
Did that make sense? I'm sorry.. getting very tired.
In other words.. tell her to NOT worry. She is in the "final stages" of waiting. She has made it through the hardest part. DON'T GIVE UP NOW!
And.. if by chance.. all fails.. which I don't think it will.. but if it does...
Keep in mind.. I was totally bed bound for years. And I held on to the thinnest straw you could imagine. FINALLY I got help.
And I didn't have all these guys to help me back then. She has a MUCH better chance of getting help than many of us ever did.
And.. after getting help..
As Toby Keith says..
"How do you like me NOW?"
I will check in tomorrow night after my long day going to my doctor. YULK!
Let me know what help is still needed...
And let her know she now has LOTS of folks who have been through this before.. and they are on HER side.
I know some of these new friends here are pretty whacky.. like Lymetutu who goes around dropping her drawers for the whole world to see...
BUT.. if we can love HER.. your friend will be OUR friend too.. no problem.
Hang in there!
Both of you.
OK?