Husband doesn't believe me

My husband spent 10 minutes researching lyme and he is convinced I have self diagnosed myself due to reading so much on the internet. I'm ready to run away from my life because I believe I have this illness that is driving me crazy literally. Our family doc wants me on depression and anxiety meds. He sent me for an MRI and now wants an EKG. I left his office yesterday with a signature for an order to test at igenex for a complete lyme panel and complete co-infection as well as a 3 week prescription for doxycycline. He seemed disgusted with me but I don't care. 14 months ago I had a tick bite and bullseye rash. Got the doxy for three weeks and thought yay...A few months later I stopped sleeping and started having horrible anxiety. I have been on and off every psych med out there and get some relief from lorazepam at least to help me sleep. Last month during a routine eye exam we discovered my left eye sees letters in a wavy manner and the letters are crooked. Glasses help with fuzziness but the distortion is still there. After an opthamologist found nothing and an MRI also producing nothing I'm just supposed to accept that it's nothing? So I started researching and everything lead me to lyme, which I completely forgot about the rash for over a year ago. My husband says not to test for lyme. It's not the money at all. We have great insurance and plenty of hsa money. I'm venting because I just need to. I hate that the person I need most doesn't believe me. I'm so frustrated on top of anxious. I'm going crazy and want to take all the lorazepam and just hide. But I won't. I just keep going and now feel like I have to do this in silence because everyone thinks I'm just reaching. If that lab comes back negative I will be screwed for any support.

Have him watch under our skin on youtube. There are other videos to help educate but they have to be willing to not judge you.

Come bavk whenever you need. Share what you can, it helps others be comforted and learn from each others experience. Helps to take the scary out. Dont know if it gas been mentioned yet but the first thread has lots of goid info. Might help in effort to find doc. You can also activate your email and start new thread with title Need llmd in Maine. We dont lisg drs names in the forum but there maybe members in yiur area and they dan email doctor suggesyions yo uou.

That's awful!

My exbf didn't believe in it for years, but now that he's my ex, he believes it. Go figure.

You need educational materials. Try the movie, "Under our Skin," and the book, "Cure Unknown." Nicola McFazdean has a book out called, "A Beginner's Guide to Lyme," or something like that.

You can also go to the Lymedisease.org website.

I think most good hubbies believe in Chronic Lyme eventually. If he doesn't at least make an effort to see things from your point of view, you deserve better.

Margaret

I have found some good videos and radio programs, if you're interested.

One is from PBS.

Just let me know.

Margaret

Thanks Margaret, yes I would love to know about more videos. I watched Under Our Skin yesterday and cried through the whole thing. It was the loving support of the husbands that got me. When my husband got home from work I made him watch the movie and it helped. He is going with me to my first appt with the LLND. He understands well what is happening in our country's financial arena and how everything that happens goes back to decisionmakers who profit where others lose, so it was easy for him to grasp the concept.

Thanks Hopeful13, I'm glad I ordered the test. The form was on the IGeneX website and I brought it to my MD appt. He filled out the section under referring physician including the required ICD9 Codes 919.4 (insect bite) and 368.9 (visual disturbances). I'm surprised he didn't include the anxiety or crazy code because I wasn't leaving without the form or the antibiotics. The next day I called my local lab and spoke to the supervisor. I emailed the form to her and she said the form is an acutal order from the doc as well as what to include when returning the blood samples to IGeneX. Then I called IGeneX and ordered the kit, which is free and takes about a week to get here from CA. The woman I spoke to said the complete panel is $475 and the co-infection panel is $660 and payment is also required when returning the blood and form from the doc. She also said there would be the appropriate form and codes to submit to the insurance. Usually its a HCFA form and I'm assuming my insurance will cover the allowed portion after I've met my deductible, which I just about have...I guess one of the affects of the lyme has given me along with insomnia and anxiety is that I also developed OCD tendencies because I'm on this like a fly on poop. I'm treating every call like it's my job and documenting every single thing and putting it into a binder with tabs for each doc I've seen along with everything I've complained about since the bite. I did medical billing for a time before I became an accountant in the medical field, so it helps that my job is to cut through red tape all day long.

Mascoe1...please don't give up...if any knows your body...it is yourself...and I'm sure there are many Lyme fighters including myself that could defend the fact that 3 weeks is sooo not long enough antibiotic treatment...especially if you were never tested for Lyme coinfections

Before learning I had Lyme and babesia Duncani...I had no idea they were two separate things and how serious they were each separately...let alone together....and if both aren't treated individually than how could I possibly feel better ....

Its hard to make people believe you when its an invisible illness....believe me I understand you...and have been mostly bedridden for nearly 3 years...Finally found out it was Lyme and babesia about 6 months ago....doctors in denial...sending me all over the place...trying to convince me I was crazy in the head after two neck surgeries...that all of a sudden this full body pain...migraines..numbness in limbs and face....twitching...nausea...vomiting...joint pain...ect...the list goes on....but docs continued to tell me it was all in my head...get up and walk...the more I tried to get up and walk...the more often my "flares" came on....flares consisted of being completely debilitated in bed...migraine..feverish...flulike symptoms......it was hell... A living hell.....

Lately now on treatment of antibiotics has been like a full 2 month long flare....but...its one day at a time....and you will always get the people that doubt you....and yes...sometimes its the spouse...you have to be open with them and be calm....because stress and anxiety...at least for me....amps up my symptoms....they will see how sick this makes you....nobody in their wildest dreams would make this Lyme stuff up...its too much work...and a nightmare :/

Please feel free to lean on us....where about in Maine are you?

Here's one of the videos from the PBS newshour. I'm trying to remember the names of the radio programs, and will have to find them again.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health-july-dec13-lyme_08-20/

M