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I can't figure out/brain fog you know, how to POST NEW TOPIC...can you help me? What I specifically want to find out is this.

Within last 1-2 wks., someone posted a web site about 300 MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT LYME MIMICS....could someone repost that? I was sure I bookmarked it but it's in the hundreds of things marked! I've gone thru 1 by 1 & can't see it.

Also, there is a long thread for new patients that has a lot of the answers you were requesting. Every now and then someone brings it forward for newbies. So, if you don't see it soon on page 1, just flip back thru the pages until you find it. It will be the one that has 200 plus posts. Currently on page 2 of medical questions. Click on this link to get there: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

The moderator a while back was going to put all this into a special section for newbies, but then that moderator left and it fell by the wayside. Maybe someone will pick it before too long.

[This message has been edited by lou (edited 06 September 2004).]

True, this fight makes David and Goliath look easier. But what choice do we have?

I was surprised that so many people are in desperate circumstances, but still don't want to fight back, in an effective coordinated way. Some who are asked to do things they are capable of doing, something specific, have no trouble saying no. Some are willing to help one person at a time, but slope off when they could do something that would help a lot of people at one whack. Why?

Back when RI got their legislation passed, I sounded out some folks in my state about going this route. They couldn't say no fast enough, were only willing to give me names of others to contact, or said they were too busy, overcommitted, this was not a good time, etc. Not one good solid enthusiastic reply in the bunch. This is an endemic state with a lousy LLMD situation. Why aren't they willing to even try? Especially since we have a few things going for us that might make it a little easier.

After several years of watching the go-getters failing to get the support they deserve, it rang a bell when I read the following quote:

"There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order."

Niccolo Machiavelli

However, chosing one thing that you CAN do, and then doing it has a very positive effect. Maybe it is just passing out a flier to someone who needs information. Or making a call when an action needs to be made.

One of the easiest is to join one of our already operating action groups, like LDA or CALDA. They need money, bodies, and minds to keep things going. Joining will keep you informed.

Taking action is one of the ways I think you can regain your sense of self. So many things are taken away when you suffer from Lyme, it is very satisfying when you see something you did had an effect.

Educate a patient.
Educate a doctor.
Donate to research.
Start a support group.
Write to your legislators.
Write to the media.

One of the local disability advocates attended, and got all fired up. The next month he gave a seminar on how people can get and keep SSDI with a Lyme diagnosis.

He became so passionate about how Lymies have to struggle that he has offered to train some of us to help others document their case with SSDI.

I would love to do more than what I do, one on one education about lyme, but I have herxs and the rest of it to deal with. Some days are really long by noon.

Forget evening meetings.