posted
The Question is how funny is it know? I was so mad when my doctor told me he found a tick in my belly button. The first question I had was did you have it tested for lymes? He said no! I went back for an infection In the area where the tick was found. For a month I was sick with fever. He did give me a lymes test but I had been on antibiodics for a month. In some of my reading I saw that a person Has to be off medication for six months before you can test for lymes. Now two years later I am bearly able to walk,sort term memory lose,tremors,and in constant pain and still no dygosis. And a lot of sleepless nights. I am so angry as is my family. So who do you go after, The doctor,hospital,FDA? My daughter would like me to sew someone! Isn't that the way the world works you have to go to court before anyone is herd? If more doctors had to know about lymes,I may be ok.by now. I would like to make a difference,so that no more people get hurt by this disease. And no other child has to see their mother go down hill so fast. By the way does anyone know how long a male tick can live for on a human host? MY doctor said that that tick had been eating for a long time.I have had some of these symtems since 2002.Please help!
-------------------- Except the ones you love,be sure that you are also being excepted!!!! Posts: 16 | From Elkton,MD. | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
Here in TX, there is a 2 yr statute of limitations on sueing for medical malpractice. Time is always of the essence on these things. If you were originally treated with Abx for the recommended 30 days, I'm not sure what else a duck would know to do.
You can talk to a lawyer, but my bet is that it won't go far. I had the same issue with undx'd celiac's as well. And honestly, I have a friend that is a personal injury attorney, and he said that 1). You only get one chance to sue for something, so be sure it is worthwhile $$-wise, and 2). They will dig into EVERYTHING, and even talk to people you knew when you were 5, so be prepared to have everything in your entire life exposed.
I know how angry it can make us that there is so much ignorance surrounding this! I had to educate a Dr just the other day that wanted to give me steroid treatment, KNOWING I have Lyme!
Make Lyme-aid from Lyme, is my best advice. Educate everyone you meet, and use the energy for good. I have personally helped 3 people in the last year that I know get a correct Dx, and that feels pretty darn good. At least like I have done something with this handful of crap I have.
Also recognize that anger is part of the grieving process. You have lost some things, but time is still on your side.
My best, Bunny
-------------------- 4 strong winds that blow lonely, 7 seas that run high.
All those things that don't change Come what may. Posts: 103 | From Dallas/ Fort Worth. TX | Registered: Dec 2007
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I saw a couple of lawyers relatively promptly. I was told by one (who even saw what I looked like) that you have to be able to narrow it down to who is at fault, to maybe one or two, and he said I couldn't do that. Personally, I think that is BS.
Others just told me they wouldn't take my case - no reason at all.
I look at it this way - this doctor ruined 2 years of my life - that one 4 - another one 15 - or whatever. Sue them all for the amount of my life that they ruined and divide the cost accordingly between all 35. Sounds reasonable enough to me!
I have trouble accepting that because every one of them screwed up, even when I was screaming "GIVE ME ANTIBIOTICS!", nobody is to blame at all?
I'll remember to take some friends along next time I feel like committing a major crime that ruins a person's life and almost even takes it.
I'm not grieving - I'm still mad as hell. Lawyers won't take a Lyme case for one reason, and one reason only.
Their friends, relatives, kids are all doctors, and they don't want to take away their family fortunes. Doctors and lawyers are one big family - quite literally in many cases.
If I can sue McDonald's because I got fat, or sue my neighbor because I slipped on his ice, or sue my friend because his dog bit me when I grabbed its throat, sorry, that speaks volumes.
Don't you think it's strange that doctors and lawyers all golf together? Yeah. But if you step out of line? Heck no. Down girl.
Like I told one doctor - and this I DO remember clearly - "You have to live with yourself." I should've just said it outright - you lie!
And evidently he CAN live with himself, because he has done nothing to fix what he did or even to say he was sorry. Why? Because he thought I was dishonest.
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
The statute of limitations can sometimes be extended if you only became aware of the problem after the two year timeframe had run.
However, since your doctor was basically following protocol that's widely accepted (the IDSA Guidelines), I can't imagine a lawsuit would get you far. In fact, insurers hire Steere and his kind to testify as expert witnesses, claiming lyme is easily killed within 30 days.
Because litigation is so expensive, plaintiff's lawyers generally only take cases they are pretty sure they will win, rather than something as controversial as lyme where the cards are stacked against a win.
Are you under the care of a lyme literate medical doctor (LLMD)? For the moment, until you regain your health, I'd make that my priority. In addition to lyme you could have various coinfections that are common in your area -- among them babesia and bartonella. Those can keep you from getting well.
Post in 'seeking a doctor' to find a good LLMD near you. Best of luck!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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Peacesoul
Unregistered
posted
Since there is no proof the tick that was in your belly button was the cause of the lyme, you probably would not have a case.
I'm not saying that tick was not the cause, but really, there is no proof. Sueing would harm you more than anyone else.
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lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
I called a lawyer when my son ended up positive for Lyme after I'd been bitten above the navel by a tick on my pregnant belly.
My ob-gyn saw the tick, refused to remove it, and, after the bull's-eye rash appeared, told me she would not deliver the baby.
I tried to tell the lawyer that it was her delays that caused my boy to get infected. He told me there was no way in the world I could ever prove it.
He said my baby may have been infected before I even saw the ob-gyn with the live tick attached to my belly. Or, he could have been infected after he was born and I just didn't see the tick or a rash.
So, it was futile. It's very hard to get justice here. I decided to just expend my energy getting my son and me better.
- Lymelady
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
It is unfortunate.....to say the least.
Please spend your time and energy in finding a LLMD and getting well.
I hope you get on the road to recovery soon.
BTW, my neighbor is a RN (She has Lyme).
She works in NICU in a hospital in NO.
She said she recently was talking to an OB-Gyn who said
They find engorged ticks doing vaginal examinations all the time.
Oh My Gosh!!!!!
Not that I wanted to share this picture with anyone, but......
I never thought of "that" place as a tick picnic.
I once was in my child's pediatrician's office when they were removing
A huge tick from some child. At the time, the pediatrician knew I had Lyme.
We didn't know my children were infected then.
I asked about antibiotics for the tick bite.
Not indicated without a bulls-eye rash was the response.
Ignorance is every where.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
How come hot coffe makes it to court, but things that are actually important, lawyers wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole?
Maybe you could tell them you slipped and fell on the tick in a fast food restaurant. Then they would definitely take the case
Posts: 102 | From ny | Registered: Feb 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Can you get a copy of the medical records if the tick removal is mentioned in a report?
Don't say why, just ask for that specific chart note - or all notes for that time period from that place.
You at least have documentation of possible exposure. It is rare that a doctor will take a patient's word for it, but if it's on a chart note, that may help. I'd not stress over getting the file notes nor put your relationship w/ your doctor at risk, but if he missed this you may no longer have a relationship with him anyway.
True, legal help is highly unlikely and very expensive and stressful. Even if the tick had been shown to have lyme (no "s" BTW) or other TBI (tick-borne infections) you can not prove, by the government experts, that it's a big deal.
However, prevention and education are key here. I've removed ticks form many places on my body. Never thought about the belly button.
Perhaps your experience will bring about a "Belly Button Law" -
"when a patient is sick, check for ticks . . . plain view or hiding out . . . ohhh, in the belly button? Get, then test, them out."
Ohhh. . . I am regressing . . . any poets out there ?
Seriously, I know that the anger, sadness and all other emotions around this much be very hard.
Good luck to you. I hope you find exactly what you need to get better. Take care.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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I tried to send this as a PM, but my computer got stuck.
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Hi.
Sorry to see you are here - but glad you found this site.
I hope you find the help you need.
I have two comments. 1. if you post again, could you please use only 2-3 sentences per paragraph? Most of us need lots of white space or it's just a big block of grey to our eyes.
2. I see you are a hairstylist. Sometimes, chemicals from that can cause all sorts of symptoms. Do you have proper ventilation? Have you always ? Can you limit exposure to certain chemicals by getting more natural products or other methods ?
Just a thought. It's important. And drink lots of water, which you may already do.
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