Newly diagnosed with lyme😞

Hi all! I'm new to this so I hope I'm doing this correctly. I was diagnosed with Lyme last Friday. I am on day five of Amoxi, taking three times daily (1500) mg. My husband and I were trying to get pregnant when I was diagnosed so my family doctor could not use first choice doxy. Still too early to confirm pregnancy. My symptoms started 5 wks ago with mental foggyness and fatigue. I have an appt at penn next week with an Infectious Disease physician but I'm hearing I should see an LLMD. Any advice?? I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Thanks!
Angela B

Madamebee,

Ditto to the above: you absolutely must find an LLMD. I would bypass the infectious disease doc completely, to be honest. Most docs know next to nothing about lyme and can send you down a wrong path, unknowingly..they do their best, but they don't know. I have had that experience, and many many others....it is common with docs that are not lyme literate.

LLMDs or LLND's ...Lyme Literate MDs and NDs are trained in lyme's disease and can help you with healing from this complex illness. Lyme is still not well understood and you must find someone who has education and training.

Ask on this forum for recommendations for LLMD's in your area and you can also google.

Do read the intro material for newbies..you will get a lot of info.

Do educate yourself! It really is imperative. Well worthwhile.

Best to you! Good luck, and you and your baby can both get/be healthy!
N

Thanks everyone! Wow..I'm actually really scared right now after all these comments 😔 I've looked online for an LLMD and only found one in my area and he doesn't take my insurance (Aetna). Not sure what to do at this point re my appt next week at Penn.

Ok, well for now I'm sticking with the ID physician at the University of Penn. I feel like its better than nothing at this point and time is of the essence. Ive been having symptoms for 5 weeks. I do feel like I am going to be ok and im trying to keep positive. My CBC and other organ screenings look great and my Lyme is "acute" according to my pcp. I'm feelig better already on my 6th day of antibiotics. Some positive thoughts anyone? I don't want to be naive but I also want to see a light at the end of the tunnel and not let this consume me. I'm only 29 😞

madambee,

Welcome to the Forum!!!! You came to the right place for encouragement and support. You will find some friendly and caring people here. We understand.

I would like to stress the point that some others have already stated. It is important that you decisively deal with your illness in the early weeks and months. After that, it may turn into a completely different and difficult situation. You need the proper antibiotics at the proper dosage. Despite their title, the overwhelming majority of ID doctors are totally clueless about LD and coinfections. Please let us know how the appt. goes.

In the mean time, you might want to peruse the information in the "New to Lyme....Start Here" topic at the top of the "Topic" column on the left hand side of your screen. It has a lot of useful information- especially the importance and methods of detoxing.

We are here to serve you. Please feel free to ask questions and to post about your experiences.

Don

madam bee please pray and research everything you can on the disease. You will have to be your own best friend/doctor in the treatment because everyone is different and probably have different co-infections. Antibiotics can cause the Lyme to morph and they create biofilm forts for protection. They can emerge later on stronger than ever so you need more than antibiotics.

Vitamin Grama,

I feel as strongly as you do, but I feel that you have misstated the reality of the situation.

Antibiotics are effective for many people. That is a fact. It is also a fact that antibiotics may become more of a hindrance than a help for many people. Many of the second group of people have discovered that there are cures beyond antibiotics.

Vitamin Grama, please don't misunderstand what I am saying. I personally agree with your cautions. However, the fact is that some people are able to become acceptably well with antibiotics alone.

You seem to be implying that there are often other issues that antibiotics alone cannot address- and I agree with you!

Don

Madambee,

A note on insurance. I have seen LL docs who code my bill and labwork with codes OTHER than lyme. E.g. codes for adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue, back pain, etc. And my insurance has covered the labwork and the appointments. They were savvy to insurance and how to code the bills.


Good luck!

And it is definitely in your favor that you are getting some treatment right away, in the acute stage!

N