HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lyme Possible? Need LLMD in Charlotte, NC area

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/9/2013 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I recently tested positive for Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) during my annual physical. The test was performed due to the arthritis problems I have had for the past 16 years. Further tests by a rheumatologist showed my titer as 1:80 with a homogenous pattern. She has been running tons of blood tests trying to figure out what autoimmune disease I have. She keeps mentioning Lupus, but I really don't think that is it. Other than the arthritis issues I don't have any of the typical symptoms. Since she was testing for everything else under the sun, I asked her to check for Lyme Disease. We have a terrible problem with ticks every year. If we don't treat our yard we reguarly find them crawling up our walls inside our house. My neighbor 3 houses down was bitten by a tick in her yard a few years back and became deathly ill with Lyme Disease. She had previously had Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever so her Lyme was especially bad.

Someone from the rheumatologist's office called to tell me that all of my blood results were normal in this last round of testing. I asked them to mail a copy of the results to me so I could review them and have them for my records. I am glad I did because in looking over them, I noticed that IGM P23 AB were present. All other bands were absent. From what I have been reading, I need to see a LLMD because the IGM P23 AB is specific to Lyme Disease. Nothing else can cause it. I need a recommendation for a LLMD in my area. I live about 20 minutes north of Charlotte, NC.

Is it common or possible that Lyme Disease could cause the positive ANA? The rheumatologist recommended Plaquenil, which I agreed to take since it has relatively few side effects. Does this drug cause any problems if it turns out that my issue is really Lyme Disease? Any help/advice you can share would be very helpful.

Thanks so much,

Elizabeth 

Posted 2/10/2013 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Elizabeth!
Welcome to our little community!! I'm so glad you found us!

If you haven't already, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists (as Lyme rarely occurs by itself), helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, and a list of questions that you can ask any doctor that you are seeking treatment from!


We also have a pretty good search function on this forum to help you narrow down your search for information from past posts. We must be our own health advocates now and the best thing to arm yourself with is knowledge about our infections and the different ways to treat them!

For information on finding a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, you can start a new thread titled something like:"Looking for LLMD in the _______ area." Although you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

You can also email our long time member, Dan's Mother at:[email protected]

You can also email Stephanie at: [email protected] You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/ 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) trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. The ILADS site is another great place to read to get you started on your Lyme journey. www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html


To answer one of your questions, yes many here have had a positive ANA and had these infections. Here is a link to an article written by John Bleiweiss, MD and at the bottom of the article is a case description of a Lady who was diagnosed with Lyme and had a positive ANA result as well. cassia.org/essay.htm

Your question about Plaquenil will have to wait for one of our other members though (blush) I don't know much about all the different abx and abx combos to treat these infections as I have had to use natural means to heal.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply