I read it. Glad she decided to speak out. It was interesting how she managed to control symptoms and keep working.
It’s unfortunate how so many people have knowingly lived with Lyme and kept it private to avoid being labeled, misunderstood, discriminated against, or abused. If everyone with Lyme publicly spoke out and described life with Lyme would it make any positive difference?
There’s two sides to living with Lyme.
1. The Functional Side
Those who are in remission or have mild symptoms they are able to manage want to live normal lives and not be identified as a sick person. At the same time, they’re aware of the fragility of their normality and know they must protect themselves from immune insults, over-stress, trauma, environmental toxins, or whatever else triggers them. They want and need freedom to protect themselves and make choices about
their methods of treatments. Unless they have a supportive doctor backing them, they have no authority to be heard. In her case, even that didn’t work.
2. The Sick Side
Those who are sick want and need effective treatments that don’t make them sicker. They want to be understood and believed. They want doctors and others in authority to be their advocates instead of having to be their own advocates standing in truth against those in authority who will not believe them, help them, or get them well. It’s horrible to experience the symptoms we endure and have to stand against a sea of voices telling us it’s not so. It’s demoralizing and does nothing to find cures for all the tangled messes that ail our bodies and brains.
The sick also want freedom. Freedom to work and contribute however and whenever they’re able without being judged or thrown aside when they’re not able. They want their shortcomings to be understood and acknowledged and want to be accepted just like anyone else.
Unfortunately, most healthy people have no concept of pain, suffering, and debility unless they are a caretaker or family member of a sick or disabled person. Sometimes those people are observant, compassionate, and helpful and do not ostracize those with disabilities.
Well, I guess that was my ramble for the day . . . .
Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 7/19/2020 2:02:48 PM (GMT-6)