Crazy!
I am doing a ton better from my little sickness! It seems though, eveytime I think I'm totally over something sneaks up and reminds me to take things more easy. Even 2 weeks later! I was just reading this about my syndrome and didn't realize how crazy, rare and scary it really was. Thought I would share!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemierre%27s_syndrome
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I'm a single mom and nanny with a 4 year old living in UT and spending all my free time blogging. NOT! But hey I'll check in now and then, share some of my crazy thoughts.
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- maren out my laundry
- I'm an LDS single mom to a 5 year old girl. I live in UT, spend my time with friends and family enjoying being a mommy.
11 comments:
Glad to hear you are getting better-- hey, what is your myspace "address"? I tried to find you on there and there are THOUSANDS of Marens!!!!
Maren-
Hope your feeling better! We're thinking about you back here in the Quad Cities. Take care!
Dear Maren,
It's great to hear that you are recoverying. Lemierre's Syndrome is a very serious and deadly disease, once thought to have nearly disappeared with the advent of antibiotics. My daughter had it in September 2005 and had to undergo two emergency brain surgeries and a lengthy process toward near-full recovery. There is a helpful resource of people who have experienced Lemierre's at groups.yahoo.com/lemierres_syndrome
Also the Minneapolis-St. Paul ABC affiliate did a 2-part Lemierre's series that can be viewed at this link: http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S29864.shtml?cat=1
And, finally, Mystery Diagnosis, did an episode on Lemierre's called, "Deadly Sore Throat. It can be seen on the Discovery Health Channel at varying times and has also been shown on TLC. My daughter and I have been trying to increase awareness of this forgotten disease. We hope that we can help someone else from experiencing what she did or worse.
Good to hear that you're doing better . . . hope they can get the disease under good control for you so you can have a long happy healthy life! :)
Thank you everyone!
Kristie, thank you for all that info. I'm so sorry to hear your daughters got so serious. How long did she have it before they realized what was going on? I've assumed the brain, kidney, and other organ trouble comes from long term exposure? I was lucky to only have been sick a week before my doc did a search and found out about Lemierre's. I would love to help however I can to help others become aware.
I feel so lucky that my experience wasn't serious and at the time never realized how serious it really was.
how did you find my blog? I'm so glad you stopped by and made a comment!
Maren, so glad you are okay! Take care of yourself while you're recovering. Hope to see you soon.
I'm glad you are alright Maren,that sounds scary. I hope the doctors can get everything under control.
Dear Maren,
My daughter Meredith had been sick only a little over a week by the time that things got real serious. Not long at all is it? To think that it would have only taken a few more days and she may have not have lived and certainly never have resumed a near-normal life. And the same could have been true for you?
That's what is so frightening about Lemierre's. I found your blog in my regular web searches on the disease. Even about 23 months with this disease haunting my mind, I'm still convinced that more needs to be done to raise awareness. This disease was pretty much thought to be eradicated with the introduction of antibiotics. Now, it's made a comeback and it is once again, a dangerous and potentially deadly disease.
You were wondering how you can maybe help? Here's a suggestion: Pitch or share your story to a newspaper, tv station, even a healthcare blog. This disease mainly affects 18-24 year olds and you as a young mother, your experience is unique and you eloquently tell your experience.
The same night that I found your blog, I came across another young girl's experience with Lemierre's Disease at: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=22434158&blogID=288582976&Mytoken=EBABBEFC-3133-47B2-BDF08ABB26B52B6A8158459
I didn't have the courage to send a reply because I didn't think my voice was going to be at all relevant to her. But I think she may listen to you because you had the same disease and experienced it firsthand.
If Lemierre's Syndrome could be talked about on a national medical program (other than Mystery Diagnosis) or be referenced on a nationally syndicated program (maybe Oprah?); the public's interest and awareness of this disease would increase. And then maybe the disease could be more widely understood, accurately diagnosed and maybe FINALLY conquered.
thank you again kristie, I'm glad you found my blog. I'd have no clue where to even start with contacting people, but I was told by a friend how's husband is a resident he's suprise with how rare it is I haven't been contacted by medical professionals to document everything.
I will get some emails out, see where they go. I'm so glad to hear your daughter is ok and it scares me to death to think I could have been there.
Best wishes to you and please keep in contact! I would really like that!
Dear Maren,
Love the sound and music on your blog!
Thank you very much for your touching comment to Amy who also recently suffered from Lemierre's. I think your expression of caring will help make a difference for her, especially coming from you since you experienced this terrible disease yourself and are still in the recovery phase.
Okay, yesterday besides your very touching response to Amy, two more things made the importance of making Lemierre's more widely recognized (by the medical community and the public) continue to seem very important. I came across a newly published medical case of a pregnant Lemierre's patient. The article encourages more ob/gyn doctors to become familiar with Lemierre's. Having this disease inflict pain and devastation on two young victims simultaneously is so worrisome.
The third action prompter was in the Sunday comics column called "Rhymes with Orange" with three organ black market sellers standing by their coolers marked hearts, kidneys and livers, counting their piles of money for recent sales. The fourth, sits on a "tonsils" cooler, holding his head in disappointment because he hasn't sold a thing. It just made me think that tonsils (as the main culprit in Lemierre's Syndrome) can cause life threatening illnesses, too and maybe they just don't get the attention and respect they deserve.
So, if you want any help in approaching media with your story, let me know. I have info I can send to you. When you feel strong enough! Please don't rush it though. I'm at kristieestes@msn.com
Also, the Lemierre's segment on Mystery Diagnosis entitled, "Deadly Sore Throat" runs again in September on the Discovery Health Channel on Mon, Sept 17 at 10 pm, Tues, Sept 18 at 1 a.m. and Sun, Sept 23 at 6 pm (all Eastern Times indicated).
That is crazy! I am glad you are ok!
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