Chronic Disease Group discussion
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Why Can't I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease
Dr. Horowitz's Wisdom
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Chapter 1: Discussion and Summary
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The Taking and Sending exchange is such a wonderful meditation for those who want to be a healer to a loved one. I am not suffering from a tick-borne disorder, but this helps me feel that I can help my daughter who is. Aside from listening and researching alongside her, I can use this strategy to help.I was amazed to read Mrs. Q's consultation record. Such a wide range of symptoms. This disease has so many tentacles.
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I also really liked the meditation of Taking and Sending. As the patient I have been doing a lot of breathing in health and healing and breathing out what I don't want in my body. What a refreshing way to look at spiritual healing that builds a community of healing.
My questionnaire score made me feel very confident that I am on the right track! 86, wow.
I also found myself forwarding the quiz onto my friends who have been living in chronic disease limbo and are not yet diagnosed. I am hoping they see it as tool and perhaps some motivation to get help. I liked the following link because it does most of the math for you, even providing an on screen calculator for your total. :)
http://www.tiredoflyme.com/horowitz-l...
Oh yes, this disease can cause so many other things! I wish more psychiatrists knew about all the psychological issues it can cause. They might order IGeneX tests before throwing meds at patients. There have been people placed in psychiatric hospitals who actually had undiagnosed Lyme. Just read about this somewhere, but I can't seem to find the link.
thank you for posting this calculator! I have the audio version so this was extra helpful. I have a score of 98. it is such a great tool.My current health provider is going a great job looking at all the factors of my health. She used a similar tool in her in take, but I tend to down play all this issues I have had over the years when I meet new drs. I think this comes from not being believed all these years (probably my whole life) that something was wrong with me.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you experienced a difficult time finding compassionate care with a “differential diagnosis?”
2. How is your current medical treatment similar to Dr. Horowitz’s MSIDS approach?”
3. Dr. Horowitz describes a meditative tradition called Taking and Sending as a way “to exchange yourself with others and develop the important qualities of loving kindness and compassion that are necessary not only to be a healer but also to be healed.” Is this something you will incorporate into your recovery or the recovery of a loved one?
4. How did it feel to read the record of Mrs. Q’s consultation?
5. What was your Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire score? Does it correlate with your current diagnosis?
Summary:
• The book begins with a short history of medicine examining the role of medical pioneers who “pushed the boundaries” of medicine, without support from their peers, and eventually changed the treatment of disease.
• Dr. Horowitz presents the history of Lyme disease, which dates back to the 1800s when symptoms were identified one by one. In 1970, in Lyme, Connecticut, Dr. Burgdorfer identified a microscopic spirochete: Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). The related disease was called Lyme, after the town. Unfortunately, no one put all the symptoms together, nor did they know how to treat it.
• Dr. Horowitz is trained as an internist, which he defines as “a medical detective with a wide diagnostic perspective.” He graciously explains the diagnostic short comings of a doctor who specializes in one area. They often see disease through a narrow view that may cloud diagnosis. In 1977 we saw this happen with Lyme disease when Dr. Steere, a rheumatologist, tried to define Lyme diagnosis and treatment within his narrow perspective.
• MSIDS stands for Multiple Systemic Infection Disease Syndrome. Each person’s list of symptoms needs to be considered individually to create a list of possible diseases. This process is called “the differential diagnosis.”
• Dr. Horowitz talks about his role as medical detective who sorts through the complexity of each individual case. “[He] believes the best medical strategy is developing a strong and unwavering compassion for others” along with undivided attention to the patient.
• Horowitz’s Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire is an essential tool in determining the probability of Lyme disease and MSIDS. You can take the test yourself on pages 34-37 to determine your probability of having a tick-borne disorder.
• The remainder of the chapter follows a sample consultation using the Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire with fifty-nine-year-old Mrs. Q.