Seibertneurolyme said...
I am posting this under the same screen name I use on LymeNet which is where I usually hang out.
Hubby went to Dr J in Wichita in 2002. He had had no Lyme treatment at that time. We spent two months there. Hubby had been very sick and undiagnosed for 1 1/2 years prior to this.
Don't believe the no herxing. Hubby ended up in the hosptial 3 or 4 times and in the psych ward once. His seizure-like episodes started during this time and still continue. Probably antibiotics would have caused the same response.
The big disadvantage to seeing Dr J is that he is a chiropractor and not an M.D. -- none of the hosptial docs would consult with him. Dr J did suggest hubby go see the Scientologists for "stress reduction" -- took forever to get off their mailing list.
If I was you I would order a bottle of his overpriced Borrelogen and give that a try. If you herx on that then don't expect the ionic footbaths, massages, chiropractic, chi machine etc to totally stop all herxes. Detox is important, but unless you are killing something there won't be many toxins to remove.
The few patients we met who were being treated for Lyme mostly had arthritic presentations. The doc didn't seem to know much about neuro symptoms.
The homeopathic remedies backfired as well -- things like canabis and belladonna.
At the time we knew next to nothing about Lyme disease and didn't even know what a herx was. Went to the doc because hubby had spent several months treating for G.I. parasites and healing his gastritis. Didn't think he could tolerate antibiotics. If I had it to do over again I would go with the Buhner protocol first to get pathogen load down and then go with antibiotics and herbal combos. Of course the Buhner book hadn't been written then.
I did read the small paperback book Dr J wrote first and called him and even got the names of 2 patients to call and talk to. The larger hardback book came later. Hubby did most of the protocols in that book. The one tick-borne patient that the doc always brags about was on 27 meds when she went to him. Getting off that many meds would probably make anyone feel better.
Dr J wanted hubby to stop all his supplements including critical ones like CoQ10. We did do this but regretted it as we have every time we have let a doc talk us into this. The doc claimed hubby was allergic to his supplements. Sorry, but I don't think so.
As for the elevated ammonia theory -- the silphium didn't do anything for hubby. I don't buy this theory because hubby later had hepatic encephalopathy from elevated blood ammonia after treating with IV Rocephin. So I know what the symptoms of elevated ammonia are.
I guess the doc still uses thermography as one diagnostic tool. Hubby has had this done by other docs as well. Provides some useful info, but hubby obviously had no improvements in getting his organ systems etc back into balance while treating with this doc.
Knowing what we do now after dealing with these tick-borne illnesses for 8 years hubby said he would take Dr K in Washington State who also has some out-of-the-box treatments over Dr J anytime. No we haven't been to Dr K -- can't afford to fly to docs anymore.
Martha, good luck with whatever treatment you pursue, but please don't rush into making an expensive treatment decision.
Bea Seibert
Hi Bea,
First of all, I am truly sorry about your husband and all of his problems. Yet something doesn't sound right as Dr. J. would never recommend anyone to see Scientologists for "stress reduction", that's just not how Dr. J. thinks. He uses many different treatment plans to reduce stress. I am not saying you made this up, but after knowing so much about Dr. J., something just doesn't sit right with me.
Since I am posting, did you know it takes more college years to become a Chiro compared to an M.D.? Most people are not aware of this. I will post some links below. Not only that, but Dr. J. studied natural and anthroposophical medicine in Germany and Biological Medicine with the world-renowned Paracelsus Klinic of Switzerland, plus more. I would say his knowledge of lyme and chronic illnesses is remarkable!
Anyway, as far as degree's go, below are some interesting links, please correct me if I am misinformed:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_does_it_take_to_become_a_chiropractor
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm
http://www.drgrisanti.com/mddc.htm
Degree Requirements
These basic educational requirements for graduates of both chiropractic and medical schools show that although each has its own specialties, the hours of classroom instruction are about the same. (The class hours for basic science comparisons were compiled and averaged following a review of curricula of 18 chiropractic colleges and 22 medical schools.)
Minimum Required Hours
| Chiropractic College |
|
Medical School |
| 456 |
Anatomy/Embryology. |
215 |
| 243 |
Physiology |
174 |
| 296 |
Pathology |
507 |
| 161 |
Chemistry/Biochemistry |
100 |
| 145 |
Microbiology |
145 |
| 408 |
Diagnosis |
113 |
| 149 |
Neurology |
171 |
| 56 |
Psychology/Psychiatry |
323 |
| 66 |
Obstetrics & Gynecology |
284 |
| 271 |
X-ray |
13 |
| 168 |
Orthopedics |
2 |
| 2,419 |
Total Hours for Degree |
2,047 |
College Faculty
The U.S. Department of Education, through the separate accrediting agencies for chiropractic and medical schools, dictates the credentials of faculty members. In both chiropractic and medical schools, the classes for the first two academic years are usually basic sciences.
Faculty members in the basic sciences divisions are either Ph.D.s in each subject taught (such as microbiology or biochemistry), or D.C.s, M.D.s, or D.O.s who also have bachelors, masters, or Ph.D. degrees in the basic science subjects being taught. Classes in the clinical sciences division are usually taught by D.C.s, M.D.s, or D.O.s.
In many chiropractic colleges, M.D.s or D.O.s are permitted to teach certain courses, such as laboratory diagnosis. However, D.C.s must teach courses in which M.D.s or D.O.s don't have sufficient education or practical clinical experience.
Some chiropractic colleges have active research departments in which researchers conduct both basic science and clinical studies. The subjects of study range from biomechanics to biochemistry.
Traditionally, chiropractic colleges had only minuscule research funding compared to medical schools. I recall political medicine using this fact as evidence that chiropractic wasn't legitimate.
However, the medical critics failed confess that the minimal funding or lack of it was a result of political medicine doing everything in its power to block funding of studies in chiropractic college.
Obviously, political medicine used a circular and disingenuous argument to deceive the public. Today, chiropractic colleges are receiving more funding for research.
Some medical schools have D.C.s as full-time faculty members. The University of Colorado School of Medicine, for example, has a full-time chiropractic radiologist as a faculty member.
Dr. James P. Barassi, a chiropractor, is Research Fellow in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. D.C.s occasionally teach part-time or special classes through medical schools.
It's not unusual for D.C.s and M.D.s to co-teach both medical and chiropractic audiences. Most often, chiropractic physicians and medical neurologists or neurosurgeons co-teach.
Licensing and Postgraduate Education
The chiropractic physician must pass four levels of national board exams and a physical therapy exam to be eligible to sit for state board examinations. State board exams involve both written examination and oral practical exams involving clinical practice and x-ray interpretation.
After graduation, the DC may undergo postgraduate training to become board certified as a chiropractic radiologist, neurologist, orthopedist, internist, family practitioner, sports physician, rehabilitation specialists, clinical nutritionist, or pain management specialist. Medical physicians also may become board certified.
Options such as surgery are open to medical and osteopathic physicians. Board certification is not necessary for either type of physician to become licensed and to practice. Chiropractic physicians are required to obtain continuing education units each year for license renewal.
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http://www.drgrisanti.com/mddc.htm
Denise