what do you do when a llmd won't help?

I live in Missouri and have seen many doctors since my initial tick bite a couple of weeks ago. In which every doctor has said "Lyme isn't in Missouri!" without really assessing my situation. I finally got a list of llmds (there's only a few around me) and just got off the phone with one 5 hours away that I could have seen tomorrow. He wouldn't answer my questions and said he didn't think he could help me because I'm across the state line (Illinois doctor). Told me to do everything I've already done and even though my Doxycycline dose that I'm taking isn't sufficient (an urgent care doctor called it in just to give me "piece of mind"...) I should be fine if I tell the doctor I still feel bad and get more when I'm done with my two week course of 100mg twice a day. "It shouldn't be a problem to get another two weeks when you're done". But that STILL isn't good enough. I've been advised by a big Lyme advocate in New York that the minimum recommended is 100mg in the morning, 200 in the evening, taken with food, for at least 30 days. Then I would need to be reevaluated for other diseases/parasites/whatever and from there may end up on doxy longer or something else...
How is this guy even on the list of people to call? I mentioned the CDC guidelines along with ILADS and he said "Yeah, I know some ILAD doctors and they do things differently than CDC..." but didn't actually address a darn thing I said. I've already called all the other offices and am getting nowhere...quick..
What do you do when there isn't help...

I ordered Buhner's book just last night, I plan on starting natural regimens immediately.
I genuinely feel hopeless, and I know that this is the beginning of a long journey... I feel like I'm being punished for catching this early. I actually had a nurse refuse to draw blood for a Bartonella screening because "that's from cats". I'm just as concerned of the co infections this will likely bring...
One doctor can get me in next week, for $900 (not including testing prices) and his nurse wouldn't even tell me if he treats by CDC or ILADS guidelines, so I might end up being told the same thing. And I'll be over a thousand dollars poorer.

Consider a Buhner herbalist to help guide you with the protocol. There is a list here:

http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/resources/herbalists/

They are much less expensive than LLMD's and many do phone/email consults.

We also went to ILADS doc and it was a huge waste of money.

Great you ordered the book.

Lots of good advice here, in this thread. Take your time, read, and decide.

One thing you got to be aware: money.

Never EVER spend all your financial resources in ONE single treatment or one MD BECAUSE you may need the resources for your treatment, if this lasts long.

Unless you have a lot of resources, financial help, I mean, spend thinking that maybe this guy or that treatment will not work, and you'll need to look for further treatments.

I would set a limit budget, that would not endanger that long term plan of treatment.

Many people spend all their economies on the first doctor, who was said to be a wonder doctor, or on a single treatment, said to be wonderful, only to realize they did a big mistake because no doctor, no treatment works for EVERYBODY equally.

Lyme usually kills more people through suicide, and finances usually play a main role in that.

If you need drugs, there are other ways of getting those, as you saw here in your thread.

I'd rather go herbs though, but that's my own decision.

How many people have done doxy and the herbs at the same time? If you're on, say 300 mg of doxy a day? Is it too much? I'm still waiting for the book, I'm sure there's more answers there.
I couldn't help but feel like 900 for a first visit was insane. I wish he wasn't the ONLY doctor willing to book me something soon. I will look into the recommended herbs, thank you.
I haven't even looked into typical Bartonella and babesia treatments, I have a feeling that's going to be even harder to convince a doctor (around here). But I will do whatever's in Buhners book for it.
I know I have Lyme and up until this, I never thought I'd have to try to convince doctors I'm not fine. Sorry, most of my posts include a rant.
Thanks

Hey traveler,
Girlie gave me the names she had and I've called everyone. That's Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. I'm sorry to hear of the doctor that helped you because that may have been my only"local" outlet. Traveling 5 hours regularly wouldn't be a problem if I didn't have two babies to contend with.
I may end up seeing the one, but if he does things the same way as everyone I've seen here, it's going to be a huge waste. I won't know until after the visit

Hi raspberry, what a crap deal for you! I'm sorry you have to deal with the same type of medical professionals! How long did it take to get help? How long did it take before you did get help? Doctors have no interest in what I have to say right now. As I currently sit in another's doctors office with anxiety through the roof.
I live about an hour south of St Louis. I googled everyone on the (slightly outdated) ilads list, waiting for a current one, and that dude had raving reviews! Only one didn't, so that was the only one I didn't bother calling. I'm still waiting to hear back from the last one on the list.
I may have a couple of doxy perceptions but I'm being directed to take it CDC guidelines, which sounds like just isn't enough. Sigh

Hi hopeless!
How did it go yesterday? I totally understand that feeling of sitting in yet another doctor's office feeling like I'm about to have a panic attack. I think it's somewhat normal when you've been brushed off by doctors....it's like a PTSD. Let us know how yesterday went!

So let's see....it took me a few hospital stays, a lot of misdiagnosis, and tons of uneducated doctors. I was covered in nymph deer ticks in early July 2016 and had my first LLMD appointment on June 30 2017... so right at a year. But I did have to wait 6 months to get into see my LLMD (grief! But he's totally worth it). I probably saw at least 15 other doctors before him.

How far can you travel, luv? I'm thinking and praying for your today. The advice above is rock solid.

So sorry you're having to deal with this! HUGS!!!

My doctor was on board for treating me for lyme. He gave me the most he was comfortable with, which was 200 mg of doxy for 30 days. At this point, I have enough for a month of 400 mg plus some. I'm sure if I'm still not feeling well after the 30 days, I could aquire more.
I found a couple natural doctors I would be able to see at the end of the antibiotics. One does a Western blot and zyto scan and the others receptionist was able to tell me he does a blood test that shows a graph. That was the most I got from that. And that he typically ends up doing some sort of IV.
Yesterday was a really bad day, and today has been pretty good. I've gotten some helpful detoxing tips that I'll be doing every day.
I just attempted reading Buhners book but I'm too tired to focus on much. I'll give it a whirl after a nap.
At this point, I'm not trying to freak out so much about this along with co infections..
Thanks everyone