Guest Post: Humorous Relationship-Related Songs for Lyme Warriors

Humor February 14, 2016 Comments: 2

Brilliant! I’m gonna love this newly discovered blog!

It’s the end of January and February is almost upon us. That means the stores have been filled with Valentines crap since December 26th. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, those chocolates and frilly cards are EVERYWHERE.

(Funny story…when I worked at a supermarket in the 90’s, there were several people, not me of course, who would smash all the heart shaped lollipops then eat the smashed pieces. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.)

On February 14th, I always find myself scrolling through my Facebook feed, rolling my eyes at all the happy, sappy, lovey dovey posts and being forced to respond by posting all the “love sucks” songs I can find.

(Which, trust me isn’t hard. I estimate about 85%…no 90% of my music collection consists of “love sucks” songs. I don’t know how it happened. One day I took inventory and realized I owned an…

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Portrait of a Love Triangle

Lyme and the Brain, Lyme Basics, Mental Health, Tips for Family and Friends February 13, 2016 Comments: 7
Made by Courtney, age 2.

Made by Courtney, age 2.

 

 

 

I lost a relationship to Lyme. As I’ve learned since, Lyme has ruined many relationships and marriages.

The year we met was wonderful. He was smart, funny, sweet, and kind. Best of all, he said “yes” to everything, from new foods to foreign films to travel. He taught me about sailing; I shared my love of cycling. Over a couple of years we grew close.

Then came the beginning of the end of us. When he won tickets to Paris and we arrived full of plans to explore La Ville Lumière, suddenly I was so tired that I didn’t couldn’t keep up. My customary joi de vivre was flagging along with my body. We thought it was jet lag or flu.  Continue reading →

One Step Closer to Protection for Physicians in VA

Uncategorized February 11, 2016 1 Comment

 

 

Here’s the news release from National Capital Lyme Association:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Monte L. Skall
Telephone: 703-821-8833
Email: NatCapLyme@natcaplyme.org
Website: http://www.natcaplyme.org

Virginia Senate Passes Landmark Lyme Disease Bill

NatCapLyme Urges the House of Delegates to Follow Suit

(McLean, VA) – February 11, 2016 – The National Capital Lyme Disease Association (NatCapLyme) today announced that the Virginia Senate passed landmark legislation relating to a patient’s right to treatment under guidelines listed in the National Guidelines Clearinghouse (the “NGC”).

Lyme can be tremendously debilitating, leading to loss of livelihood and even normal daily functioning. Lyme patients are desperate for treatment options. Increasingly, however, Virginia doctors are refusing new patients who present with the symptoms of Lyme or other tick-borne diseases. Where it appears that a patient may require extended antibiotic treatment beyond the standard 28 days, many Virginia doctors believe that reporting and treating these cases can lead to sanctions from the Virginia Board of Medicine.  Continue reading →

20-Something Asks: “Will a U.S. President Stand with Us?”

Lyme Basics February 10, 2016 Leave a comment

 

Check out this email I just got:

Hello,

My name is Daniel. I am 21 years old and I have chronic Lyme with multiple co-infections.

I am writing to you today asking for your support. As you may know this is election year for us here in the States. Many issues are discussed by the candidates but one issue is missing from their platforms. The controversy of chronic Lyme. The fact that hundreds of thousands are sick and go without healthcare coverage is sickening and needs to change. That is why I put this petition together. I am hoping that this gains enough signatures to bring awareness to this topic. I mean how awesome would it be for a candidate to finally stand with us and have Lyme be apart of their platform? This is a big opportunity. So, the time has come to make a decision. Are we in this thing alone or are we in it together?

Sign here:
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/bernie-stand-with-the?source=s.icn.fb&fb_test=49&r_by=15105909

In health,
Daniel Alegria

The list of signatures is growing fast. See what one person can get started when they have an idea and put it in motion? Love it!

Bernie’s not your candidate? You know what I am going to say next: What about creating a petition to reach your choice for President?

Protection for Docs Treating Lyme

Uncategorized February 8, 2016 Comments: 2
Virginia State Flag

Virginia State Flag

 

Tomorrow, the state Senate in Virginia will vote on the language below proposed in a new bill:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-2963.3 as follows:

§54.1-2963.3. Treatment of Lyme disease.

No health care provider who provides treatment for Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease in accordance with a clinical practice guideline maintained by the National Guideline Clearinghouse after obtaining informed consent, which shall include an explanation of the risks and benefits of such treatment, from the patient to whom treatment is provided shall be the subject of any disciplinary proceeding by the Board of Medicine for following such clinical practice guideline, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

First of all, let me say how shameful it is that we even need to ask for such a law. Really? When we are in the midst of a growing global health crisis?  Continue reading →

10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Lyme Disease

Co-infections, Lyme and the Brain, Lyme Basics, Prevention Tips, Symptoms: How Do You Feel?, Testing, Ticks: Where It all Starts, Tips for Family and Friends January 23, 2016 Leave a comment
IV treatment. Pills. More pills. I can't believe I made it through all that. When it could have been avoided...

That’s the little portable pump for my IV drugs. Then there were the pills. More pills. Harsh meds that made me sicker so I could get better. I can’t believe I made it through all that. When it could have been avoided…

 

 

It’s 2016, and I’m finally climbing out of the Lyme hell I fell into blindly four-and-a-half years ago. If only I’d known more, sooner.

Maybe I can help someone, somewhere, by offering a few things I was shocked to learn. Frankly, it is damned hard to pick just 10 things. But here goes:  Continue reading →

Re-blogged: Lyme Patient Wins Powerball – Has No Idea

Uncategorized January 15, 2016 Leave a comment

Had to repost this, it made me laugh! Only a Lyme patient will “get” this humor, for sure. I wanna be one her of her 4,000 closest pals—not for Powerball money, but for the gift of laughter!

ihaslymesdotcom

On Monday, January 11, 2016 a Lyme patient by the name of Amy made the difficult decision to spend her $36.00 on Powerball tickets. She needed more Vitamin C supplements but felt taking the risk to win big was worth the immune system crash.

download (1)

After announcing on Facebook that she plans to open a Lyme retreat free of charge to all of her Lyme friends, paying for their medical needs and lodging expenses, Amy put on her driving helmet, took her life in her hands and drove to the gas station to purchase her tickets. Upon returning home, Amy put those tickets someplace safe for fear a family member might steal them, even though she lives alone.

Watching the news early Thursday morning, around 11:45 am to be precise, Amy suddenly remembered she had purchased lotto tickets and she actually resides in Florida. Florida! One of the winning states!!

Four…

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Cutting-edge Test Sets a Trap for Lyme

Co-infections, Lyme Basics, Testing January 7, 2016 Leave a comment
Click here to download and play a cool Powerpoint animation of the nano trap at work: Nanotrap animation. Courtesy Dr. Lance Liotta, George Mason University.

Don’t be put off by the science lingo—click on the image to download and play a Powerpoint of the nanotrap at work. Cool, right?
Courtesy of Dr. Lance Liotta, George Mason University.

 

Several years ago after gardening in my suburban backyard, I found a deer tick attached to my hip. Then came a rash. And then I started hurting all over like I was getting the flu.

I wasn’t surprised when my nurse practitioner examined me, diagnosed Lyme, and prescribed antibiotics. I should have been lucky. I had the bite with the beast still attached, in the middle of the classic target rash. I felt like I was dying of flu-like aches and pains.

But as it turned out, I wasn’t lucky after all.  Continue reading →

O Canada

Lyme Basics January 3, 2016 Comments: 3

canadian-flag-medium

 

 

I’m always a little stunned when I track this blog and am reminded that people from all over the world visit. So many of us are on the lookout for information.

Today I’m thinking about Canadians because lots of my traffic at the moment is coming from my neighbors to the north, who’ve been checking out my post from several years ago on how Lyme was affecting my brain at the time.  Looks like some of you are sharing the link on Facebook. Thank you!

Like others around the globe, many Canadians are having a tough time getting good treatment. Health officials just don’t get it (sound familiar?).

The nonprofit Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation says:  Continue reading →

“Ostriches” in Australia – and the US – and Your Country?

Lyme Basics July 25, 2015 Leave a comment
Credit: Zappy's flickr stream

Credit: Zappy’s flickr stream

I just saw a Facebook posting by the Lyme Disease Association of Australia that got my Lyme-infected blood boiling:

“Antibiotic treatment for Lyme can often be hard to access in Australia due to our government and health officials opposition and as a result, this can leave patients having to source alternative treatment options…”

At the very least, everyone deserves the chance to see a compassionate, respectful doctor for help with Lyme and other infections from ticks. A doctor who listens and understands and offers medical help — not one who says, “Lyme doesn’t exist here, you don’t have it.” A doctor who offers science-based treatment options.  Continue reading →