LLMD in Virginia?

Hi all,

Some background history:  I was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia in Nov. 2011, have had a history of migraine headaches amd thunderclap headaches for about 5 years (I have on average two-three headaches a day), was diagnosed with hyperglycemia (143 on an A1c test) and have had serious bouts of sinusitus over the last few years.  I am currently being followed by my GP, OBGYN, Sleep Doctor (neurologist), and a hematologist.  I am extremely tired all of the time and need to nap often during the day. I can fall asleep in a waiting room due to the contsant fatigue.  I teach Pre-K all day and it requires every bit of strength to get through the day.  The thought of having to go anywhere after work can bring me to tears... I just want to go home and sit in my chair or sleep.  Weekends, I try to rest and recuperate, but I never feel refreshed and if I have any errands, I can only last for about 2 hours without the fatigue crashing in on me.  The sleep DR put me on Ritalin to help give me enough stamina to get through the days... it helps, but I am still exhausted.  I have been having all these symptoms for at least the past two years.  However, this past year has been the worst which led me to get a sleep study to try to give me a life back.  My husband and I are not convinced that "idiopathic hypersomnia" can be causing all of this.  The most alarming recent development has been the way my eyes look.  My eyes are sunken, dark circles and I look extremely tired... I don't even look like myslef anymore.  I am only 46 and I look like I am much older.  This change has been in the last four or five months.  I have not been tested for lyme, but have been reading about the chronic form and realize that my symptoms mimic a lot of the lyme symptoms.  I just want to feel well again and get my life back.  Could this be lyme and is there a doctor in the shenandoah valley area of Virginia who could test me?  Thanks so much for your help!

Hi there, Beach Girl - welcome to the forum! I'm so sorry to hear about all you've been going through - sleep is such a basic function and necessity and it's just awful when it doesn't work for us like it's supposed to!

Lyme disease can do lots of things - headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbance are definitely some of them! Co-infections that often come along with the Lyme infection, such as babesia and bartonella, can also cause those types of symptoms, as some of the viral infections - such as EBV or HHV6 - that are pretty common in those with Lyme disease and other chronic illnesses in general.

Unfortunately figuring out if it's Lyme causing your symptoms isn't all black and white. Testing is pretty unreliable as the bacteria can evade an immune response. Your best bet is to find a Lyme literate doctor, was most regular doctors don't know much about Lyme aside from old, inaccuraet information.

If you haven't already, you might want to take a look at the "New to Lyme?" thread - there's a lot of great information there about Lyme disease, symptom lists, and detoxing - which helps with a variety of symptoms.

For information on finding a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, please email our long time member, Dan's Mother at:
[email protected]

If you'd like more doctor suggestions, you can email stephanie at: [email protected] You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/bod.htm if you want to learn a little bit more about Lyme Disease.

You can also go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link: www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74

You will want to find an ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) doctor. The ILADS site is a great place to read to get you started on your Lyme journey.
www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html