Think I have Lyme in Nor Cal

Hi AustinCreek,

Welcome! I'm sorry to say this, but you definitely could have Lyme and possibly co-infections. Lyme rarely travels alone. Way to go on finding this forum and ordering an IGENEX kit! You should be able to find a doctor to sign off on the test. Do you have a primary doctor?

In the meantime, please check out the "New to Lyme" thread at the top of the forum for lots of great info on symptoms, co-infections and detoxing. You can start detoxing now. While taking antibiotics and/or herbs, high quality probiotics are key-at least 50 Billion units per day.

With the Bulls Eye, can you get a doctor to prescribe antibiotics until you can get in to see an LLMD? Most doctors won't prescribe adequate antibiotics. So, getting to an LLMD is very important.

You have found a great place for support. Feel free to ask lots of questions!

Austin,
You need to find a GP or Internist that believes that Lyme disease exists to sign the Igenex order. Once you get that call Quest labs or Labcorp (which ever is covered by your insurance) and ask which of their locations by you will do an Igenex draw.

I'm in San Jose and when I called Quest they told me that one location in San Jose would do the draw. Luckily for me it was the closest one to my house.

I can email you the list of ILADS trained LLMD's and LLND's in the Bay Area. They all are practice in or near to San Francisco.

Hopefully this study from last month will help your GP agree to sign your Igenex test. news.stanford.edu/news/2015/august/ticks-lyme-risk-081815.html

BTW don't pay for the co infections tests. The tests just are good enough yet. You and your LLMD will determine if you have any co's as your treatment progress's.

hi there,
Enable your email. There is a great llmd and a Lyme natural path in your area.
If you had a bulls eye that does mean Lyme.
This is a great site, with lots of wonderful, knowledgable people to help.

😊

Welcome AustinCreek!

Sorry for the reason you're here but glad you found us.

And, being an easterner, I'm a little late to the unparty.

However, I can confirm to you that the bullseye rash is diagnostic for Lyme. No other infection causes such a rash.

And, as Lymie Girl already mentioned, Lyme rarely travels alone.

The fact that you've developed a significant number of symptoms means you'll need treatment for many months (sorry).

If you can get a GP to start you on antibiotics, that would be great. GP's are inclined to prescribe a couple of weeks of doxycycline at a dose low enough to only stop the bacteria from growing.

If you're able to convince the doctor to prescribe 200mg twice/day for at least 6 wks., that's a start.

Heck, if the first GP you sees does not prescribe an adequate dose, I'd still take the prescription and see yet another GP in the hopes of getting a "better" prescription....or perhaps filling both if they will eventually meet the 200mg twice/day that's needed.

In the meantime, I invite you to read the "New to Lyme" thread that sits at the top of the forum. There's lots of great information in there including symptoms lists, test interpretation information, detoxing suggestions and more.

And, "speaking" of detoxing....that's something you can do to help yourself right now. You see, as the bacteria move through their life cycles, they release toxins when they die. Well, those toxins are what drive our symptoms.

If you get started with a detox protocol now....and add to it moving forward, you can start to minimize your symptoms. This will only help once you start treatment so you'll then be able to add more detox methods to try and help you stay ahead of the killing.

Best of luck to you moving forward!

Please keep us posted and lean on us for any help you may need. We're all in this together.