Dr Doom and Gloom

I have been in treatment since July and have a LLMD 3 hours away, who I see once a month. I have been searching for a local doctor in NE PA that is knowledgeable in Lyme and could support me in between visits to NY Dr. I heard about a Dr nearby who had had lyme himself and was now treating others. Long story short he scared me to death. He told me that I probably would never get well, and that IV therapy is sometimes followed by all the symptoms returning and he told me I should go to California for Hyperbolic chamber therapy. Then before I left Dr. Doom, he prayed over me, which I am all for prayer, but he made me think I am doomed. I have been responding to ABX (Mepron/Zithromax) and reduced symptoms to muscle twitching in my legs, occasionally elsewhere, but he headaches are gone, the flu symptoms are gone, arm pain, fatigue etc. While I am not healed, I am feeling better still able to get to work with a bad day here and there. Has anyone else had a doctor take away hope of improvement?

I have been on antibiotics since July, amoxicillian, Doxy (only 9 days), Cipro, now mepron and zithromax. So 6 months total, just started second month of Mepron. I like my NY Dr. but would like a local Dr. too, my family Dr. knows nothing about Lyme and showed no interest in learning about it.

I wish for you a speedy recovery, and thanks for responding to my post. One thing about this disease is it is very lonely with no one to talk to about it who understands.

Take care

Run - don't walk - from that "doctor"!!!!! We most certainly don't need doc's like that in our lives!!! Find another one to try - surely there are as many docs there as there are here, and there's a ton of them here!

Even if you don't find one that is especially happy to learn about Lyme, one that doesn't work against you would be preferable over the one you just left!

Wow, IMO the praying and hyperbolic suggestion is kind of extreme. I also think his attitude is quite negative especially after only 6 months or so of treatment with some improvement!

I think that sometimes a LLMD who has had Lyme is beneficial to the patient because they are able to understand and offer suggestions. Other times it can turn out like what you described.

I find that I get along best with doctors that are honest and upfront. I don't want a LLMD to make promises about complete improvement in X amount of time if it isn't realistic, but I also don't want them to tell me that I have no chance to improve or give up if I don't respond to their treatments in a short amount of time.

That is terrible. I remember in the initial stages of my treatment my doctor telling me over and over again that I would get well. I would lay in bed at night trying to figure out if she just tells me that to keep me coming or if she really meant it. I put my trust in her and thank goodness she was right. You have to have faith in your doctor and if he is not giving you anything to hope for, you need a new dr.

I have a feeling like anything else, that this field will be expanding and unfortunately that means some will jump on the bandwagon for the wrong intentions.

Getting well requires positive thinking and patience. You will get well. It just takes time..

Today I went to a neurologist in the hope he will test my optic nerves with something called "electric potentials evoker". Instead of getting that I got the next message: Oh, you have taken 10 weeks of abx treatment and you don't feel any improvement? Then it means you do not have Lyme.
I told him I know I have Lyme because I got my blood tested in the dark field microscopy. He answered back that probably 80% of the population gets positive at that test, that we are all carrying the bacteria.
In the end he strongly recommended me that I go see a psychiatrist!!! Now what am I to believe after hearing such things?
I am supposed to start my next abx round in a few days and I am badly shaken after seeing this doctor today.

I am taking natural remedies right now as my LLMD said I should take them for two weeks before starting the next round of antibiotics. I have spoken with other patients too and they confirmed that they felt a certain improvement after at least 3 rounds of antibiotics. The reason why this neurologist scared me the most was sending me to psychiatry. Before I discovered that I have Lyme I went a few times through panic attacks that came from nowhere. So, this neurologist hit me right where it hurts the most.
Oh, and this neurologist said to my sister in private (they were colleagues in highschool) that he thinks my LLMD is a FRAUD and that the hyperbaric chamber is just an invention to take people's money and it does not work in Lyme.

@flowergirl: I think that some people do use natural alternatives alone. I know a few people on this board have decided to focus mainly on alternative treatments. Most of the LLMD's in my area prefer antibiotics at least at first. Some of them are open to alternatives during antibiotic use or to replace it eventually.

Post Edited (Summer3) : 1/27/2012 7:37:28 PM (GMT-7)

Flowergal, we have the same Dr. I am surprised because for me he is the most encouraging and open Dr I have ever met.. I found him through a friend who was treated by him successfully for lyme disease. (Meaning she no longer requires treatment.) I'm sorry that you had a bad experience I hope you find the treatment you need.

Since your in NEPA if you would like to chat sometime send me a message or if your on facebook I have a group called Lyme Disease Support.
God bless