Scary Truth

I have a friend named Makayla who has gone through a lot with this Lyme Disease and Chronic co-infections, etc. She recently posted on a Lyme Disease Support group through Yahoo Groups about an incident that occurred. I wanted to post it here so that many more will see the seriousness behind this illness. It makes me question why no one can believe us when it comes to our serious condition! What if her mother hadn't shown up right then? Yes, read on!
Makayla:

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to send you all an email, sharing an experience I had last night. I have Lyme/co-infections, as well as MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) . There for I wear sunglasses (light sensitive), earplugs (noise sensitive) and a mask (chemical/fragrance sensitive).

So last night around 9:15 p.m. my mom and I were coming back from a doctors appointment trip, and the car needed gas. With my MCS I can't be in the car when my mom is fueling up without getting a huge reaction which affects my airways. So my mom dropped me off at a park, which was down the street from the gas station....you can see the gas station and park from each other. She wanted me to take our pepper spray with me, since I am sick and for protection. So I had my sunglasses, earplugs and mask on. So I am waiting for my mom, and a police car drives up. 2 police men come out of the car, and ask me what I am doing. I told them that my mom was down the street getting gas and that I have MCS... I can't handle the fumes from the gas. One of the policemen says "Right" with the tone of "Yeah Right" didn't believe me. Then they pointed there flashlight at me and I flinched...light sensitivity. And then of course they have fragrance on them, so I was reacting and my lungs were burning and I was having a hard time breathing. So I told them, that I was about the step back, because I was reacting to their laundry soap. And the police man says again "Right" in the same tone as before...so I stepped back, and they stepped forward. Then I showed them the pepper spray that I had in my hand, like you can see it if you want. And he asked why I had it, I told him 1) that my over-protective mom told me to carry it and 2) because I am sick, I have Lyme and well to protect myself if something happened. He then say "Right" again. Then he asked if I was from around the area, and I said "No, I am traveling home from a doctors appointment, and my mom and I are on our way home." So then one of the men asked if I had ID, and I don't drive so I don't have one. So he asked me for all my information, gave it to him. And I see my mom pull up, and I say there's my mom. She runs out of the car yelling "If you have Cologne on, you are causing her damage." And telling them all that I had before. That I have MCS and can't be in the car while she gets gas, so that is why I was at the park. And everything else that I told them. Then they allowed me to go and say "Have a Goodnight", and I got in the car, put my oxygen trying to help me breathe better. And took all the detox agents that I had.

Let me just say my legs were trembling, and I was scared. Getting approached by police is scary, especially when you aren't doing anything wrong.

Anyway the point of this story, is that every Lymie or person with MCS should have a note from their doctor in their wallet/purse/ pocket that says that they're sick, and if you wear protective gear..the reason why you wear it. Something to protect yourself. Maybe get a MediAlert. It might help if you come into a situation like I did or something similar.

Later, Makayla

Me: What? As tears roll down my face, how come they didn't respect her serious condition? She is no lire, no one to be taken as a joke! No one should be disrespected in this way, by anybody else.