Article on Lyme Disease on the MSN Home Page

Unfortunately it is a tear-jerker.... as it talks about a woman's struggle with lyme disease and how she ended her life because of her illness.  = (     But at least this article draws much needed attention for the sufferers of this disease.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30725967

[SOONERMOM]

Wow, how sad!!  Did you notice what her brother does for a living?  

By John Baiata
NBC News producer

[wonko]

I saw the article earlier but didn't see that part, you have a keen eye.

I wish this wouldn't spread, but as more become affected, perhaps awareness will spread as well.

The story makes it sound as though she grew hopeless over her situation.  In addition to that, I know that many (self included) have difficult mood swing and psychiatric symptoms and/orHerx reactions.  I have previously told those close to me to be on "high alert" for my well-being, especially after I started Bactrim which caused me a lot of emotional turmoil.  

It is important to build as strong of a support system as you can.

[Amyloo]

I saw this this morning too.   But I didn't notice who wrote it.  Good catch, very sad story.  Amy

[cindy903]

How awful! May she rest in peace.

Cannot believe no one could help her.

A quote from Johns Hopkins -- now that is ironic. They have a page on their Web site called "Lyme Controversy" and we all know they are err on the side of caution -- extreme CDC caution when it comes to Lyme. Why did they interview him?

I wonder if she saw an LLMD and if she was by chance on IV.  

May she rest in peace -- away from all of this crazy illness.

[Hope75]

This makes me nauseous.  It is so horrible, but even worse, it is so possible and not that surprising.  I can't believe the pain I put up with on a chronic basis, coupled with fatigue.  Lyme or not, if you are in pain, constantly, any honest person will admit that the thought has at least fleetingly crossed their mind: if I were hit by a bus today, at least I wouldn't be in pain anymore.  

I used to be sooo scared of death.  Now, I would rather stay on this earth, but some days I am really not scared of things that could bring my death.  Cancer, car wreck, whatever....at least I wouldn't be in pain anymore.  So, if it is in the cards for me, so be it.  That is freeing in some way, but also scary, because there is a slippery slope toward what happened to this lady.  She decided that the bad outweighed the good in her life.  I think it's incredibly judgemental of people when they say that people who commit suicide are selfish, crazy, or both.  They don't know what was going through their mind and what it was like to live in their body.  

These symptoms are bad, but the silver lining is that treatments can help and you will have good days.  When a bad day comes, hopefully you can keep your focus on the good days and that there will be more.  I am not a religious person, per se, but I do consider myself a Christian - perhaps spiritual?  I was not exposed to organized religion as a child, but grew up in a small town steeped in the tradition of baptisms in the river and southern Baptist values.  I have great respect for these people's beliefs and faith.  I just don't go to church.  On that note, people often bring up suicide as a sin and you are going to hell.  I'm sorry, but I can't imagine some of the people, and even family, that have committed suicide as being so unforgiven that they did not earn a peaceful rest in the afterlife.  Suicide hits home for me, as my uncle took his life two years ago.  These people are hurting and not able to be objective or positive when they are trapped in an ailing/painful body.  If you could step out and get some clarity, your thought process would completely change.

It's just a shame.  It takes things like this to get Lyme attention in the press.  We suffer in silence.  This includes CFS and Fibromyalgia patients.  I wish others could step into our bodies for a day.

I know she is at peace - you can just look at her picture and see that she was a good spirit.  I hope her family can celebrate her life and do not remember her in her illness and in her death.  It is difficult to separate the illness and suicide from the person that they were all those years before all of that.  It was one moment in her life that took her life.  I could go on, but will give it a rest.  

[Chatterbox58]

Yes, that is just so sad.....
I am new at this forum...does anyone know how I should go about dealing with Lyme.  I was tested positive for it a couple of years ago.  Went on Doxy...and that was the end of that.  Do I need to be concerned?  I am experiencing way to many odd aches and pains. Even after I was diagnosed I had a new rash thought maybe I was bit again.  I went to a rheumi lady since I was experiencing the bad neck pain.  Went through therapy, that finally went away.  Now I am having stomach problems.  This is just way to weird for me.  I would love to know anyone thoughts.
Thanks again

[PlateletGal]

Welcome aboard !  You came in just in time, as Prof. Garth Nicolson will be answering questions about lyme disease (and other illnesses). You may want to consider copying and pasting your questions for him in this forum. The forum is now open for questions and he will be on tomorrow answering them:


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Lyme-Disease/Prof-Garth-Nicolson-Answering-Questions-for-MedHelp-Members/show/954561

[Stephen898]

Feel fortunate to have not had ringing in your ears as a symptom. This poor woman endured a lot of mental anguish. This was my first symptom along with a stiff neck that appeared 1-1/2 years ago. It will drive you to the edge of insanity. It is very wearing and will emotionally break you. ABX's are very slow on improving this symptom but after 9mos of treatment it is beginning to subside. The hyperacusis has gone. The ringing is there every day but there are times that I don't notice it.

[SOONERMOM]

I was really glad when those symptoms went away.  My neuro was nice enough to inform me that "everyone has that" & "stop saying that" during my initial search for a diagnosis.  Apparently not everyone has the same intensity or duration of it.  Sometimes I couldn't hear over it.  It finally turned into a stabbing pain that went on for months.  I feel very fortunate not to have to endure that anymore.

[Stephen898]

I was told it was stress and anxiety during my search for a diagnosis. I also told my neuro he was right in the fact that it was stressing me and making me anxious. When my balance started to go and the facial palsy set in he knew something else was going on. How long did your ringing last?

[Chatterbox58]

I wouldn't want the ringing in the ears...that's awful.  I did have the stiff neck several months ago, that was terrible.  I thought something was wrong with my brain, had MRI's and cat scans.  Went away with therapy.  My question is, does lyme ever go away.  I am so confused, never went to a special Dr.  Am I suppose to?  Just had doxy for a few weeks and that was the end of that.

[wonko]

Hi there,

Glad you found us!  Note, you may want to start a new post to get attention for your specific questions.  (There is a green box "Post a Question" neat the top of the page, below the advertisements.)

It sounds like you had a case of Lyme that was partially, but perhaps not fully, treated.  Mainstream medicine following the IDSA guidelines has a very narrow point of view that ALL Lyme is cured in <1 month of antibiotics.  However, a separate organization (that is currently the minority) called ILADS supports treating longer as necessary, until all symptoms are resolved.

Patients refer to doctors who follow the ILADS guideline as "Lyme literate" physicians, or "LLMDs."  Since standard treatment did not resolve your illness, you may benefit from seeking out an LLMD.  

A good way to start is to google the name of your city and LLMD, and see if anything comes up.  If that doesn't work for you, let us know what part of the country you are in (if you are comfortable doing so) and we can try and help.

Also, look up online the book "Cure Unknown" by P. Weintraub and the documentary "Under Our Skin."  Both have websites with a lot of info that may help you understand how you may still be suffering from Lyme disease even though you were treated years ago.  

My case is different, I went undiagnosed for a long time.  But persistent Lyme can also happen in your situation, when the initial treatment is insufficient.  

Good luck.

[Chatterbox58]

Thank you so much for the info. I will definitely look in to the book.  Yes, I don't think I was treated to the fullest.  I did have the blood test afterwards however I think once you have lyme it will always test positive, is this true?
Thank you again.  I am also looking in to the LLMD.

[patsy10]

Very sad story....