Reader Rakes Me Over the Coals for Talking About Lyme Disease, Not Sugar! (Follow-Up Show Anyhow)

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Yesterday — as I was a month-plus into horrific headaches, frequent bouts of cognitive confusion such as forgetting what I’m in the middle of saying or doing, sleep woes galore (too much or too little), and feeling incredibly wiped out (chronic fatigue sufferers, move over) due to the case of Lyme disease I got from a nasty, little tick — I opened what has to be one the most ferociously, angry e-mails I’ve ever received from a subscriber to my free e-zine.

As my body was flooded with antibiotics to kill the bacteria making me feel so cruddy, I read the reader’s nasty missive to me.

The writer — a woman from Canada whose name begins with “M” — blasts and berates me for NOT talking about kicking sugar and for dashing off a quick e-mail to my rather large e-mail list (in the thousands), inviting all of them to listen to my radio show (earlier this week) about Lyme disease.

(On the show, I interviewed seven amazing experts to shed light on this fast-spreading infectious disease from which I’m now suffering. My goal is to educate you so you, too, don’t have to suffer because of a tiny tick!) Anyhow, Lady “M” takes me to task for going off the sugar-educating topic. Here’s what she says:

“Please take me off your list. I am not interested in Lime [she meant “Lyme”] disease and am very surprised and disappointed that you would use this email for anything other than what you said you would when I signed up.

“So once again, please remove me from this list right away.

“I will stop recommending your book [Sugar Shock] immediately.”

– See more at: http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2008/08/reader-rakes-me.html#sthash.Pc0q9GHS.dpuf

Ouch! OK, I confess, I was hurt, amazed and baffled.

Given that yesterday, I was beset by particularly intense, Lyme-induced fuzzy thinking and awful headaches, I didn’t fully digest her furious remark.

Even so, hiding my tail between my legs, so to speak, I quickly dashed off an apology and immediately removed her from my list, per her request (something she could have done herself).

I even offered to send a copy of my book, Sugar Shock!, to her local library in Canada, if it didn’t have one. (Her city and name are being withheld for her protection.)

Now, I’ve a little time to mull over this.

So was she right? Am I completely wrong to talk about another important health topic to my Sugar Shock mailing list?

I think not. Besides, I really didn’t owe her an apology, right? (Golly, I was a wimp!)

After all, I’m in the trenches here, suffering from Lyme disease myself, and despite feeling awful, I’m still trying to help others throughout the world prevent getting these horrible ailments by doing some educating on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show. What’s so bad about that?

In fact, many of you have written to wish me a speedy recovery. Thank you all so much!

A few folks even said that it was cool that despite my health woes, I’m now trying to help others.

And nobody other than Lady “M” from Canada wrote to complain that I was going in a different, non-kick-sugar direction.

But, here’s my dilemma these days: To be honest with you, I do NOT want to talk about sugar all the time anymore! After seven years of educating people about its dangers and giving tips to break free (about five of which were spent researching and writing my book Sugar Shock!), I’d like to discuss other things, too! It’s fine to share kick-sugar advice a lot of the time, but not ALL of the time! (In fact, I’m doing another interview shortly with a major magazine.)

FYI, that’s why I’m changing the name of this blog, because the topic of sugar is too limiting. I also want to give you valuable information about fitness, personal empowerment, life coaching, social networking, etc.

But one thing is clear: I need to make sure all my information reflects my broader focus. When I feel better, I definitely need to rewrite this subscriber order form, making it clear that, in addition to sugar awareness, you’ll also get other valuable information, too, about a variety of topics, including health, positive thinking, meditation, exercising, blogging, etc.

Anyhow, I wouldn’t even wish Lyme disease on the Canadian woman who unleashed her fury on me. But, she really best be careful when she goes outdoors, though, because I hear the Lyme disease threat up north is very real. (I’m in the U.S.)

After all, just check out the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation and Public Health Agency of Canada websites, as well as the flurry of stories there about the disease’s dangers.

FYI, despite that one livid e-mail, people have been thanking me for talking about this new topic. They’ve been sharing their tragic, Lyme disease stories. They’ve been asking lots of questions.

In fact, interest has been so high that I’m doing a follow-up show — when I get better, of course — with other experts (and some of the same maybe) educating us more about this horrible danger. (You’ll even have a chance to send your questions to me ahead of time.)

But back to the nasty correspondence I received. Full disclosure here — here’s the short e-mail I wrote (in its entirety), which provoked such an angry response:

“Just a quick e-mail to invite you to listen to what
I consider one of my best radio shows yet in my year
on the air!

“Learn about the risks you take when you go outdoors!

“Listen to 7 experts talk about Lyme disease, one of
the most infectious diseases today.

“It’s caused by a tick which you can OR cannot see!

==============================
http://www.GabWithTheGurus.com
==============================

“I need to go nap, due to my Lyme disease, but I urge
you to listen to this compelling show!

“What happened to me could happen to you!

“Listen now:

http://www.GabWithTheGurus.com

Warmly, Connie”

So, now that you know what I said and what she said, what do you think? Feel free to be honest. Sling more angry words at me, if you like.

Trust me, no furious comments from you can rival the Lyme agony that I’ve been experiencing!

Now, back to bed.

Darn, I just awoke up from a nap and had more evidence of my Lyme-triggered nitwittedness. I messed up on my amoxicillin count. I have five instead of six pills left of the antiobiotics today. What did I do? How did I forget? I’ve been so careful, I thought, in keeping good track. I seem to have taken only one, not two pills, at breakfast. Is it safe to double up now and then again at midnight? I sure hope so!

Remember, dear readers, share yoint of view about the angry reader’s remark. And, while you’re at it, send questions for my next Lyme-disease related radio show.

FYI, on my next radio show on Sept. 9 (assuming I’m well by then), my guest will be the renowned psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, founder of “Living the Truth.” Feel free to send e-mail questions for Dr. Ablow for that show, too.