I know that chronic lyme disease is a rather unreliable diagnosis, (please read my comments at the end of this post. Chronic lyme disease is not the same as lyme disease as there is no evidence of tick bite even occurring) and Yolanda’s failure to respond to longterm antibiotics has me concerned that she still doesn’t have the right diagnosis. In her most recent blog, she begins with this:
Hello my friends, sorry for the delay. It has been a struggle the past couple of months to focus on writing this blog due to the Lyme disease that has so severely affected my brain function. Most days I stare at a blank page for hours and won’t be able to put my thoughts into words. At home, David would sometimes help me write these, but here in Florida, I have been on my own.
It’s so frustrating, because I love writing and putting my thoughts on paper, as it has always been my way of digesting my thoughts and feelings. The good thing is I am starting to have good days with clarity, so my future is looking bright. I will continue to pave the way and share my health journey with the world until I find a cure and proper diagnostic testing for this silent killer called Lyme disease.
I always look forward to reading your comments and I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read my blog and getting to know me more intimately.
After 85 days of heavy IV antibiotics (that right there is enough to make someone feel terrible) she has shown no improvement to her condition. So mid-February she went to a holistic treatment facility in Florida. She has been there ever since except for a trip home to film the reunion. Bless her heart, I bet the mean girls were still mean to her despite her illness. She is still tweeting from Florida, and seems so homesick for her husband and the girls. She has also tweeted that she will come back to RHOBH if she regains her health in time. I hope she feels better soon. I love Yolanda!
Every time she blogs, I read her thoughts in her sing-songy Dutch lady voice. She reminds me so much of my mother.
Ha ha!! I do the same thing! Poor Yolanda. I love her too and I think she is the best HW on the show. How frightening to not be sure what will work or not for such a debilitating condition. And to be such a bright and articulate woman who literally can feel her brain not working. Even more frightening. Hopeing she will get better soon. I would love to see her on HW next season.
I hope to see her next year too! I adore her! She is a great addition to the show! I actually just met her recently in Florida! I was getting blood work done at a facility and saw her walk in. I thought maybe a sister? After watching her for a while I noticed she was wearing her “running” clothes, the same type she wears on the show and I thought this must be her so I went over and asked, I didn’t really want to but kind of HAD TO! She was really very nice. I was kind of “star struck” which isn’t really me, however, in person, she is “larger than life”…She actually looks much smaller and younger in person. Fun day!!! I wish her well also. My mother had that disease and thank God she is doing very well.
Haha! Me too!
Yolanda has chronic Lyme which has turned into Epstein Barr or is Epstein Barr misdiagnosed. Point is, she’s very ill. At the reunion she was attacked by Richard sisters & Brandi came to her defense. Yo had just come from treatment & wasn’t thinking straight. I blame Andy for not putting a stop to the attacks. I’m beginning to see him in a different light–will step on anyone to get to the top. In other words, a typical douche bag.
I love that you wrote this Tamra. This was completely kind. Thank you for being such a decent person…..and, I do hope Yolanda is really ok. She is a sincere breath of fresh air on this show. I tend to really believe she is pretty much the real deal.
I am hoping it balances out my Karma for the Faye picture…. 🙂 #compassion2013 just hasn’t quite made it to Faye yet… I’m a work in progress. 🙂
I have tons of compassion. Even for the asshats of the world. I find it doubtful I can ever find even a speck of compassion for such a compassionless POS as this Faye woman/hag. Cross out woman. She gives women a bad name. Andy Cohen if he brings her on full time i will quit watching him on WWHL and will know for positive sure he is a misogynist.
Hi all
I hope we are all on the same page and are praying for Yolanda. Sometimes even the best of Docs out there don’t always do the best for the patient. We love you Yolanda and are praying for a speedy recovery for you. You are a breath of fresh air and I like it that you are friends with Lisa and Brandi. Love you and GOD bless you.
I agree and honestly don’t know how I missed the fact that she had the disease! I feel really bad about that! I wouldn’t have bothered her had I known. I think she is the real deal also. God Bless you Yolanda!!!
I hope for her recovery soon also o luv you yol
As someone with a chronic disease, I know what she is going through. I though MS was hard to diagnose, but it seems Lyme disease has the same trouble. Hopefully she will feel better soon; hopefully it is something that’s curable. Living with an uncurrable disease is not fun no matter how much money you have! Best wishes!!
I too feel her pain. I have the extremely painful chronic autoimmune disease known as Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it is another one that doctors often misdiagnose for years. As a matter of fact, I was treated for lymes disease THREE TIMES before they finally gave me the correct test (Anti-CCP), which I tested positive for, meaning that it can be nothing other than RA. If they had just tested me in the first place, I would not have gone through all the lymes treatments (which of course I have never even had). I would HOPE that they have given her every test available for RA as well, although it wouldn’t surprise me if they haven’t, unfortunately, since there just isn’t enough education about this disease, including in the medical field. I wish Yolanda all the best and I hope that they can find what is wrong so they can start the correct treatment ASAP. I love Yolanda!
I feel badly for poor Yolanda. I bet this illness plays into why she is so over bs and trash talkin. When you feel real illness, you don’t have time for crap. I hope she shuts Kyle and Flayke DOWN at the reunion.
when you are suffering like she is you do tend to focus on what is truly important in life. She seems to be holding up very well under the stress. I don’t think I would do as well as she is.
I LOVE her…and hope she continues to get well. Thanks for the update Tamara!
Yolanda is the only real women on the show. I like her honesty and compassion; get well soon.
There is a test for Lyme disease and it usually responds to antibiotics. There is controversy over the characterization over the term “chronic” lyme disease.
I’m wondering if she doesn’t actually suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, epstein barr, fybromyalgia, ms or some other auto immune disease. Often these types of illnesses follow a severe infection and unfortunately there really is no cure although there are lifestyle changes and treatments that can alleviate symptoms.
She is a wonderful person, She is on our prayer list. Thanks tamara.
I love Yolanda and really hope she finds a treatment that works soon. I also want to see her on the next season of BH, she’s a nice breath of fresh air imho.
She should try hypnotherapy the human mind is very powerful.