Hi Concerned about
dad -
I am so sorry your father is suffering like this. You are smart to be proactive and to explore and investigate and ask questions.
Kitty already provided very good info. I just wanted to welcome you and share a few more details about
your father's experience to help make sense of some of this.
As kitty suggested, your father needs to partner with a Lyme specialist and I would not wait for further tests to find someone. Your insurance company and/or the specialist may want to do more testing and that is OK. But from your post, most LLMDs would agree that his case looks classic for Lyme and would encourage you to proceed toward finding an LLMD.
Testing
If you wish to pursue additional testing, please find out which test the MD already administered - they should be able to tell you this over the phone and ask for a copy of the results to be sent to you. It's unlikely they administered an IGeneX Western Blot but that is the test he would need and the most likely test insurance might request.
You can also test on your own with DNA Connexions urine test - simple to do, cost is around $500, although insurance might not honor results it does include a nice grouping of about
20 different infection indicators for Lyme and babesia strains and one bartonella strain, I think - these are all common "co-infections" that are common w/ a Lyme disease diagnosis (rarely do ticks carry and infect people with only one microbe).
Erythema Migrans
First, there has yet to be another immune response to a bite that produces a bull-eye type rash other than the Borrelia microbe, which can cause Lyme disease. So, that's a sure-bet. Even the strictest of diagnostic guidelines (which we don't recommend relying upon due to their foundation upon antiquated science) suggests that upon development of the Erythema Migrans (bulls-eye) rash, abx should be administered.
Yes, there is Lyme in NE
No Lyme disease in Nebraska, huh? There have been 115 confirmed cases reported since 2000. Due to way the CDC skews the data, experts suggest that the number of cases is more like 994.
/www.tickchek.com/stats/state/nebraska/lymeThese MDs no longer have the viable excuse of being dangerously ill-informed on Lyme because their geographical area was once clear of Lyme. That was decades ago. There isn't one state that hasn't had confirmed Lyme cases reported.
Lyme and steroids do not mix
The MD made another dangerous and reckless decision by putting an immuno-compromised person battling an infectious disease(s) on a steroid. Please stop the steroids immediately if he is still taking them as they can allow the infection(s) to proliferate. THe fact that his joints started hurting after being placed on the Prednesone is a pretty good indicator of this.
Detox
While you're looking for an LLMD, there might be a few ways to give him some relief - there are natural anti-inflammatories that do not suppress the immune response like japanese knotweed and turmeric. You can find these at a health food store or online.
Congestion
Sounds like he has an upper respiratory infection? I strugged for 13 months with chronic sinusits and bronchitis that was fungal in nature. If the cipro isn't helping (should show relief in a matter of days) then demand that he gets cultured and a lab indicate what kind of infection this is. Keep in mind that not everything is bacterial ---any MD can do this so it is something your current MD has the responsibility to resolve but perhaps you have an Urgent Care type center close to you that can do the same.
Please read through the thread kitty mentions and please let us know if you have any other questions so we can more specifically respond to your concerns -
-p