Lyme & Dating

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In a message dated 12/30/2000 11:29:36 AM Eastern Standard Time, bardenjanet37@... writes:

Has anyone considered a lyme dating club-I find myself withdrawing from relationships because people who are not educated on lyme think you are phsyco or a cronic complainer.Although I am doing very well I still have Lyme and get tired of trying to explain it to non-lyme people Janet

Dear Janet,

Interesting thought.

I, too, am dating, and find myself explaining Lyme to my dates.

Some men treat it like leprosy, but I find that those that listen take the whole picture into account and are quite reasonable. I think my PICC line scares them far more than the Lyme does.

In my case, Lyme's symptoms, before I was on IV antibiotics, probably ruined my relationships, not just with men, but with people in general, including my children and other friends.

My ex-husband had a field day in court during our divorce, telling his honor how I was a total hypochondriac & liar: "just look at her, the picture of health, and she allegedly has 3,000 ailments" (or some large number, lol). Unfortunately, my sons picked up on the words hypochondriac & liar, and, until they understand Lyme better (if ever), this is what they believe. It is so difficult being sick, but losing my family and having no support from them on top of losing former good friends makes it even worse.

I tried explaining to my sons "why would any healthy person spend hours each day hooked up to intravenous medications?" but they have heard their father's opinion, and this is what they believe.

I know that there are many others out there that share this problem, or similar versions of it, and my heart goes out to all of you.

Hugs,

a Aida/ NJ