interesting
Question:
Randall, you have very good points (duh). I missed the latest Ally McBeal segment (Monday – because of all the extraneous excitement in my life right now), but I’ve seen the rest, including the scene you mention. Now I get the feel of the show … and I *was* back in Lucille Ball territory, because I had no idea how dumb TV was these days … still think it’s S-T-U-P-I-D, but I see what it’s about now. But, in the final analysis, they’re even complaining about how irritating the Anne Heche character’s screaming and squealing is on the McBeal message boards, so I’m not sure how effective the whole thing was. I wish you had been around when we were first discussing this, and I wish I had more time to go through your post point by point, but I’ve got to prioritize my time this week … and JP has gotten the lion’s share of my time, since he’s insulting my friends 
) One clarification below … Randall Bart wrote:
<lots of snippage> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ‘Twas Thu, 11 Jan 2001 12:45:48 GMT when the wise and venerated > TSNowWhat? <tourettenoww…@home.com> enlightened alt.support.tourette > with these thought provoking words: > >I have written many critical letters to salon.com in the past (as have > >others here, I believe?). Perhaps they’ve heard us? I will write them > >again — thanking them for sticking up for us — once I’m over the flu. > >http://www.salon.com:80/ent/tv/glow/2001/01/08/glow/index.html > >QUOTE > >… Also, on Ally McBeal (9 p.m., Fox), David E. Kelley returns to one > >of his favorite plot devices — using Tourette’s syndrome to get laughs. > >He’s done it before on "L.A. Law" and "Chicago Hope," but that doesn’t > >make it any more palatable. Anne Heche begins a multiepisode stint as a > >cursing, tic-ing murder defendant. > >UNQUOTE > Now WAITAMINUTE! Write a letter to Salon explaining the difference > between Tourette Syndrome and coprolalia. And she not a murder > defendant for her whole stint, just the first episode. And why are > you quoting something that implies the use of TS in L A Law and > Chicago Hope was unpalatable? Those were great episodes.
I just quoted their entire passage about this segment … wasn’t saying that I agreed with all of it. I didn’t see the L.A. Law show — what *is* L.A. Law and when was that segment? — I saw The Practice. The Chicago Hope episode was good. My letter didn’t complain about these things … I only thanked them for pointing out the problems with using a ticcing murder defendant for getting laughs. <more snippage> — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
>Even though most fans know Ally bears >little relation to reality
Just to elaborate on Randall’s point a bit, I will tell you a true story. Before I tell the story, I have to say that the individual I was having this conversation with is a bit of a ditz by nature <meaning that in a loving way, LOL> and is also an avid Alley Fan: One of my reps came into my office shortly after the first airing of the Alley show w/ Anne Heche. I’ve know this person for several years and we often chit chat a bit here and there. She was asking how my son was doing, since I hadn’t seen her in several months. The conversation went as follows: <I hope you all will see the humor in this….I certainly did> Rep: Hey, how is your son doing? me: He is doing really well. He still has his struggles, but he’s really come along way and is doing great in school. Rep: Oh wow, that is terrific. I remember you told me he had some struggles, but I forgot what you told me he had. me: Ohhh, he has Tourette Syndrome. Rep: Uhhhhh…you mean "that Alley McBeal thing? me: <stiffling my laughter> Yeah, he has "that Alley McBeal thing", Tourette Syndrome Rep: You mean that’s real? me: <really trying not to laugh at her> Yes, its real. I have TS also. Rep: <please see the humor in this, this woman is NOT a rocket scientist>. I thought they just made up that disorder for the show, I mean, you know how wacky that show is. I didn’t know it was a real disorder. me: < polite chuckle> Yep, its a real disorder Rep: I didn’t know you had TS…I mean, I just always thought you had a lot of energy and had some quirkly habits, but I’ve always loved that about you. I just always thought you were a lot of fun. me: See that, people with TS are a lot of fun, huh? Rep: Well, what is TS? the rest of the conversation was all about TS, facts about TS. Although she started out thinking TS was ficticious, she walked away understanding TS and having new found respect for individuals with TS. Yes, I am sure she is probably not the typical Alley fan <laughing>, but the good part is, this opened up a chance for dialouge about TS. She walked away understanding TS, she walked away respecting TS, she walked away not being afraid of TS. And, I bet ya dollars to donuts she told allllll her friends about TS that night LOL. Hmmm, I just hope she called it TS and not "That Alley McBeal Thing" LOL. Kathy Laffin *I am not a Doctor, but I play one on T.V.
Response:
If there’s no brain abnormality or hemorrhaging > or aneurysm and if the lumbar fluid was clear, and if it could be Lyme > or viral meningitis, theoretically we expect it to be getting worse at > this point, so I don’t know what else I can do … everyone I have > talked to has said that we have run all of the right tests and we are on > track.
Oh I hate to insert a note of doubt into all this, after what you’ve been through. And please forgive me if I have done that. The odds are you have done everything there is to do, and this too, shall pass. I guess I’m a bit too cautious about these things. My own experiences with the medical profession have jaundiced my point of view to the point where I may be guilty of overkill. My "need" to ask for a second opinion is just that. MY need. IT shouldnt be yours just because its mine. ((()))) KAT in CT – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> <crying> … > KATHRYN A TAUBERT wrote: > > . Doctor is aware, and there’s not much else we can do but watch and > > > wait for now … > > TSNW..this bothers me greatly. Perhaps I’m paranoid about these things…but > > I’m a really big believer in second opinions, even when I’m confident in my > > primary care physician. > > Were I not, I shudder to think where Al and I would be today. > > Is it within your immediate purview to consider such a thing? > > KAT in CT > — > Tourette Syndrome – Now What? > http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
I have the same need, and I think I’ve already beaten it to death as much as I can. I just don’t have any one left to turn to, or any other tests left to run … sigh … so I wait … Maybe the emerging fever is a good thing … maybe that is an indication that it is viral meningitis rather than Lyme … but then I will have a very tough decision as to whether to continue on the very high antibiotic regimen for the full two months … sigh again … You haven’t inserted any doubts I don’t already have. I, too, am very mistrustful of most doctors. I would never have had children if I had trusted a ton of them who were wrong in the old endo days! And I would have lost my second son if I had believed in the tubal pregnancy diagnosis … I try to turn every stone, but I just can’t find any other stones to turn this time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -KATHRYN A TAUBERT wrote: > If there’s no brain abnormality or hemorrhaging > > or aneurysm and if the lumbar fluid was clear, and if it could be Lyme > > or viral meningitis, theoretically we expect it to be getting worse at > > this point, so I don’t know what else I can do … everyone I have > > talked to has said that we have run all of the right tests and we are on > > track. > Oh I hate to insert a note of doubt into all this, after what you’ve been > through. And please forgive me if I have done that. The odds are you have > done everything there is to do, and this too, shall pass. > I guess I’m a bit too cautious about these things. My own experiences with > the medical profession have jaundiced my point of view to the point where I > may be guilty of overkill. My "need" to ask for a second opinion is just > that. MY need. IT shouldnt be yours just because its mine. > ((()))) > KAT in CT > > <crying> … > > KATHRYN A TAUBERT wrote: > > > . Doctor is aware, and there’s not much else we can do but watch and > > > > wait for now … > > > TSNW..this bothers me greatly. Perhaps I’m paranoid about these > things…but > > > I’m a really big believer in second opinions, even when I’m confident in > my > > > primary care physician. > > > Were I not, I shudder to think where Al and I would be today. > > > Is it within your immediate purview to consider such a thing? > > > KAT in CT > > — > > Tourette Syndrome – Now What? > > http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
– Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
I don’t know who else to talk to or what else we can consider. As far as I know, we’ve looked at every possibility. If there were anyone else I trusted, I would turn to them, yes, but I don’t know what else to look into and I know I’ve seen good people. One of the ER physicians is one of my son’s best friend’s moms … I can always reach her, and she told me we had the best physicians in the ER. But remember, I went through something similar to this last year with him about this time of year, and he came through OK. My pediatrician reviewed everything very very thoroughly with me, including everything raised by everyone here after I checked everything I could and did extensive websearches. If there’s no brain abnormality or hemorrhaging or aneurysm and if the lumbar fluid was clear, and if it could be Lyme or viral meningitis, theoretically we expect it to be getting worse at this point, so I don’t know what else I can do … everyone I have talked to has said that we have run all of the right tests and we are on track. <crying> … KATHRYN A TAUBERT wrote: > . Doctor is aware, and there’s not much else we can do but watch and > > wait for now … > TSNW..this bothers me greatly. Perhaps I’m paranoid about these things…but > I’m a really big believer in second opinions, even when I’m confident in my > primary care physician. > Were I not, I shudder to think where Al and I would be today. > Is it within your immediate purview to consider such a thing? > KAT in CT
– Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
IM Laffin wrote: > Hope you are hanging in > there, BB2.
Trying to stay calm … temp has gone from 96 to 99, absolutely no appetite and no food all day, so I’m pushing liquid, and the worst headache yet (he described it as a 7 1/2 out of 10 in the hospital, now he says it’s a 9 out of 10) … giving him all the percocet he’s allowed now. Doctor is aware, and there’s not much else we can do but watch and wait for now … — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
. Doctor is aware, and there’s not much else we can do but watch and > wait for now …
TSNW..this bothers me greatly. Perhaps I’m paranoid about these things…but I’m a really big believer in second opinions, even when I’m confident in my primary care physician. Were I not, I shudder to think where Al and I would be today. Is it within your immediate purview to consider such a thing? KAT in CT
Response:
> I just hope she called it TS and not "That >Alley McBeal Thing" LOL. >Kathy >Laffin
Great story Laffin! Marietta Who is now pondering the thought of having yet another "name" to use! LOL <a href=http://www.thecoffeechronicles.com>The Coffee Chronicles</a> Living with Tourettes – a different perspective.<br><a href=http://www.thecoffeechronicles.com/tccbe/default.htm>TCC – Book Exchange</a>
Response:
>Great story Laffin! >Marietta
Thanks Matietta, I was concerned some may take offense to it, that’s why I waited so long before I shared it publicly here. It was kind of funny, when I told my co-workers the story, THEY <who do not have TS> were very upset with what she said and seemed almost protective of TS, LOL. It was nice to see how well I have educated my own office, hee hee. >Who is now pondering the thought of having yet another "name" to use! LOL
Yes, perhaps we should write to TSA and request that the name be officially changed to "That Alley McBeal Thing", ROTF. Laffin *I am not a Doctor, but I play one on T.V.
Response:
IM Laffin wrote: > >Great story Laffin! > >Marietta > Thanks Matietta, I was concerned some may take offense to it, that’s why I > waited so long before I shared it publicly here.
I liked the story … even if I don’t want to be associated with that skinny, stringy-haired, whiney woman <grin> !!! — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
>I liked the story … even if I don’t want to be associated with that >skinny, stringy-haired, whiney woman <grin> !!!
I dunno….I think I’d take the skinny part, LOL. Hope you are hanging in there, BB2. Laffin *I am not a Doctor, but I play one on T.V.
Response:
> I know of someone who killed three people on bicycles when she leaned > over to get a cassette tape out of her glove compartment and > accidentally swerved into the bike lane. It happens, with or without > TS. > — > Tourette Syndrome – Now What? > http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
EXACTLY – and don’t you think people *realize* that? I bet there is not one person who is a driver who hasn’t had a close call..a really close call…. "Treat People as though they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being." -Goethe BB, I cannot quite understand why you would expect someone to be capable of comprehending something that you don’t give them credit for being able to comprehend? -Jo
Response:
Joanne Cohen wrote: > BB,
BB2 … reminding you again that BB is the handle used by a frequent poster to the MGH TS Chat Room and someone we all met at the conference in VA, and I hate it when she is confused with me … she might get a bad rap <Grin> !! >I cannot quite understand why you would expect someone to be capable of > comprehending something that you don’t give them credit for being able to > comprehend?
You assume a level of exposure to the concepts that I don’t assume. What *we* know and comprehend is different from what others may even have been *exposed* to. And even if people don’t take the comedy portrayal of TS seriously, I *still* don’t like it when tics are associated with manslaughter, even *if* it’s only a joke > -Jo
– Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
‘Twas Thu, 11 Jan 2001 23:33:12 GMT when the wise and venerated TSNowWhat? <tourettenoww…@home.com> enlightened alt.support.tourette with these thought provoking words: >>I cannot quite understand why you would expect someone to be capable of >> comprehending something that you don’t give them credit for being able to >> comprehend? >You assume a level of exposure to the concepts that I don’t assume. >What *we* know and comprehend is different from what others may even >have been *exposed* to. >And even if people don’t take the comedy portrayal of TS seriously, I >*still* don’t like it when tics are associated with manslaughter, even >*if* it’s only a joke
Blessed, you have lived in a few different countries and seen many cultures, from your mother-in-law’s jungle to the wilds of Connecticut. You can appreciate that when one enters an unfamiliar environment, unusual events can cause culture shock. — RB |
