Re: TM, the term

Aurore (aurore(AT)erols.com)
Thu, 19 Mar 1998 20:01:41 -0500

If the folks weren't coming to Washington to lobby, the whole thing would
never have come up. Unfortunately, though, DC is the land of the
abbreviation--MS, IRS, INS, GAO, GOP, etc. There are initials flying
everywhere. We will be abbreviated, so it becomes a question of choosing
ourselves rather than being stuck with initials that bring us the wrong kind
of attention.

If it applied to everyone, DTM would work, but not everyone has
demyelination. No one should be left out.

Aurore

>Just my 2 cents, but IMHO, the words *Transverse Myelitis* should be used
and
>that's it. The more it's read, the more it's said, it will sink in.
>
>I know if I talk about it to anyone, I always say "transverse myelitis." I
>only use TM on this list and when writing to friends that know me and what
it
>is and what I've been thru. I never *say* TM.
>
>Linda
>
>
>
>
>In a message dated 3/19/98 11:44:53 AM, aurore(AT)erols.com writes:
>
>>So what would you use instead of syndrome? As hard as it is to explain
>>our
>>
>>individual cases of TM, think how complicated it is to explain all of our
>>
>>cases and why NONE of us had identical onset, identical effects, or
>>
>>identical recoveries. The neurologists will leave no doubt that this is
>>a
>>
>>physical problem and not a thought up illness, if that's what you're
worried
>>
>>about. TM/transcendental meditation has a larger presence in D.C. because
>>
>>it and organizations like it lobby for stuff, too. If we use ATM, we
leave
>>
>>out too many people, me included, who had different onsets from yours.
>>
>>Besides, I don't want to be equated with an unfeeling machine--it's very
>>
>>important that these folks on Capital Hill understand our human suffering
>>
>>and not make a joke about us being cash dispensers (very far from the
truth
>>
>>for those of us unable to work). We need money for research and often
just
>>
>>to survive; we don't have all the money we need like an ATM.
>>
>>
>>
>>Aurore
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hello:
>>
>>>I'm not quite sure 'syndrome' would be a wise choice. Syndrome sounds to
>>
>>>wishy-washy, like a mental condition. For instance people that are or
>>
>>>believe themselves to be chemically intolerant. They too use the
>>
>>>syndrome sometimes in describing there, whatever?
>>
>>>
>>
>>>In d but a few had ever heard of it. And none have ever mentioned
>>
>>>Transcendental Meditation. On the other hand if I mention atm and I am
>>
>>>atm, they almost always mention a cash machine.
>>
>>>For what it's worth TM works just fine. .
>>
>>>
>>
>>>Best regards; Davej
>>
>
>