Doctor Debate: please offer advice

Hi WestCoastBabe,

Welcome to the forum! It is extremely important for you to see a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor. If you see a doctor that follows the IDSA guidelines, you will NOT get better. They believe that 21 days of antibiotics are enough and this just isn't true. Everyone is different and we should all be treated different. For a NEW infection, the timeframe for taking antibiotics should be at least six weeks. That's just for a new infection, not a chronic one. Also, the IDSA does not believe in chronic Lyme.

Here is some information for you to read. Please get yourself educated about this disease. Read everything you can because you have to be your own advocate with this disease.

www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html

Also, read the post at the top of the Lyme Forum titled, "New To Lyme?....Start Here!" There is some very helpful information there for you to read.

For information on finding a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, please email our long time member, Ticker at:
[email protected] 

If you'd like more doctor suggestions, you can email stephanie at: [email protected] You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/bod.htm if you want to learn a little bit more about Lyme Disease.

Hay WestCoastBabe,

I live near Seattle...email me if you want recommendations for Seattle area Lyme-Literate docs.

Cheers,

Hi, I am from Oregon and have had a hard time finding close Drs. I have been to Connecticut and California. Would love to know what you find out. My email is in my personal info if you cllick on my name you can find it if you want to chat.

Westcoast girl -

you said - When I first started reading about lyme and the co-infections I thought FINALLY! THIS FITS! I was very excited at the prospect of getting a diagnosis... I actually wanted lyme. I know it sounds awful, but I just want a diagnosis so I can start treatment and get my life back. But then I kept reading, and reading, and reading. And now, to be honest, I'm just scared and confused. I want a diagnosis, but if lyme is as difficult to treat as I'm reading and is so stigmatized, I really don't want it!

That is exactly how I felt. Exactly. Thanks for putting it so well!

Rose

WestCoastBabe,
Wow, your above post "Thanks! I have read everything..." could have been written by me, word for word, 4 months ago! That is EXACTLY how I felt, after 4 years with no diagnosis (with the only thing they were monitoring me for was even worse) and having seen at least 10 doctors - my primary care actually told me not to come back for any of these symptoms unless I get new ones!

We're all in this together! This forum has been extremely helpful to me. The only person I know who had Lyme's got treated immediately and was cured, so I have no one (in person) to ask questions, discuss it, or even just complain about this to! The doctor who diagnosed me and is treating me is very good, but readily admits she is not a Lyme's expert.