Options.

4 months into this thing and it's apparent that there's a desperate need for more Lyme literate providers.

I've been reading Stephen Buhner articles lately and this spoke to me:

"Coming from a family of physicians that began practice in 1911 and also powerful political physicians including a surgeon general of the U.S. I have seen how the medical system has changed the past century. It is not good. The patient is quite often treated as a cog in a medical machine with little consideration of their essential dignity or the necessity for human contact between them and their physicians. They are often charged what I consider to be fraudulent amounts of money for treatment, so much so that medical costs are either the first or second cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. (depending on the source of the data). A great many of the medical interventions do not work all that well, if the outcomes are really examined. And finally, the insistence of the technological medical establishment that no other approaches to healing can or should be used for diseases such as lyme . . . well, it is just too much to bear. I dislike the misuse of power by the powerful, especially when it causes as much sorrow and damage as that by the current medical paradigm, so, yes, I am passionate about it. Any look at the lyme community shows that most of the medical community don’t really care whether or not those with lyme are actually healed, they primarily care that their paradigm is the only thing used to treat it. The horror stories of misdiagnosis and bankruptcies and lost lives and years are heartbreaking. If someone is not passionate on this issue, they aren’t paying attention."

I've been on-line a good deal in the past 24 hours (facebook mostly) answering questions about tick bites and treatment...I've become a go-to person in my community for this issue...perhaps because I'm posting so many articles and such about Lyme disease and my own experience.

I've done 6 Igenex WB tests since I learned about Lyme and 6/6 have been positive.

So many of these folks are looking for answers...and so many can't afford the price of a LLMD.

I sent one couple to see their PCP today after the wife found an engorged tick in her husband's axilla last evening. I sent them ILADS information and Burascanno's recommendation for tick bite prophylaxis...Doxy 200mg twice a day for 28 days. This was her FB message to me today:

"The dr is taking blood work and doing a Lyme titer. She wants to do the 2 pill dose and that's it. I'm basically begging her to give the 28 day dose and she says "research shows blah blah blah" and there's more harm than good and only a matter of time until it becomes resistant to doxy. He's in back getting blood she prob wanted to quarantine him away from me so they can talk him into something different. If we don't leave here with the correct dosage I'll try first stop next. It's so infuriating how they treat you like a dummy and dismiss you."

She got Doxy 100mg twice daily for 21 days. She plans to go to another clinic later in the week to get more doxy.

Anyway, I wrote to ILADS today and asked about how to become a LL provider (It's not very clear on the website.) The answer:...all one has to do is have prescriptive privileges (I do) and take the Lyme Fundamentals course and then do a preceptorship.
http://ilads.org/ilads_media/washingtondc-videos-fundamentals/

Of course, I know it won't be easy...it will be years before I know half of what many of you on this forum already know...but I might be able to help some desperate people at least get started on diagnosis and treatment.

It really feels like this might be my path...I've been struggling with the stress of on-call 24/7 attending home births. I've been dreaming of sleeping in my own bed every night for many years...Night shifts get old fast and I've been working them for 37 years. (babies always come at night).

Plus, the issue of women with Lyme disease and pregnancy...!!!

k07, That's been my experience, too. Maybe they haven't suffered enough yet? It seems to be a money issue for many people...They keep going back to the MD because insurance covers it, even though it's not helping.

Somebody said that the people who are working with Lyme have had it themselves or have had family members who had it. It seems to be true.

Kathie - this is wonderful news!

You are already doing wonderful things...and we certainly could use someone like you working as a LL Practitioner.

Good for you!!!

Thanks, everybody! I thought midwifery was my calling, but a calling can change, right? PeteZa, that is a generous offer...I may take you up on it!

So many things have led me to this place. I feel overwhelmed when I think about doing this. There's so much to learn! At the same time, I've learned a lot already and it's only been a few months.
I'll chip away at it in the same way I'm chipping away at Lyme and co...slow and steady.

I am trusting that things are unfolding just as they're meant to. When I look back at my life I realize that when I'm open to it, incredible things happen. I experience amazing opportunities for growth and change.
Stephen Buhner says Lyme is our teacher...I believe it!

Kathie~
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you - I'll stop there, but I could seriously never say it enough!!! I've been involved with this forum for the last 9 years and have wished I could do so much more than I have done - but I'm not capable of going back to school and becoming a doctor. Here in Arkansas I'd have to be a MD in order to write prescriptions.

I agree with everything that has been said up to this point - you have no idea how much people will be grateful and just how deeply you will touch people's lives.

Please be sure to send me your contact details so we can get you on our lists!! YAY!!

And again, if I can ever be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Don't feel bad, Kathie! That level of denial has had me baffled for a long while now too!! I always thought that "first do no harm" would include not turning away deathly ill people!!

It truly is a daunting job to try to reach as many as you can, so concentrate on those that you can help, be sure to not overload yourself (if you're sick, you can't be as effective!) and pace yourself, even if you have to refer someone to another person that can be of help to them. Remember that you are saving a life (in one way or another) with each person you help.

I may not be able to change the world, but I can be part of a world of change for those that I help!