Self-treating vs. LLMDs

How are you going to get antibiotics without a doctor?

Personally, I would not feel comfortable trying to go it along with a doctor's input. Maybe it would be better to write up a plan for the natural remedies you are interested in using and see what your doctor thinks, suggest, etc.

Can you find a different doctor if you don't think the one you have is going to work with you. There are just so many things involved beyond the Lyme...like co-infections, adrenals, thyroid, six hormones, etc that come into play.

I would consider it carefully. I know someone going it along and she concerns me. She has gotten herself in trouble with other issues before by not working with a doctor.

Treating Lyme and co. is very expensive.

I'm sure you'll get great advice here.

Here's my two cents ;) With DS being a teen we allowed him to have input into his treatment plan - LLMD or alternative or a combo. His pediatrician group really knows squat about Lyme other than the standard CDC stuff and he was showing signs of co-infections while on the doxy they initially prescribed. Anyway, he chose an LLMD and the antibiotics route and because he hopefully has a long life ahead of him we agreed. We have no regrets whatsoever with the LLMD practice thus far.

While we were researching and waiting for his LLMD appt I took him to an alternative dr that we'd heard deals with Lyme frequently. He is an acupuncturist, herbalist and knows about homeopathy and was originally trained as a nurse. He is willing to work with DS while he is on antibiotics to help with any side effects/herxing etc. We can't really afford him right now but it's great knowing he's available at any time for help.

I can't stress enough how valuable a good, experienced LLMD is. Many of them, including our son's, incorporate supplements and herbs into the treatment. Having a great holistic person is also wonderful. Having to pick between the two because of finances is frustrating!

Thanks to you both. My current doctor seems to be the only one in Italy who deals with chronic Lyme patients, and so gets a lot of demand and I think does his best to do what he can. On the other hand, he's a bit "between" systems, doing tests and diagnoses that are a little outside the norm, but still sticking to certain protocols, mainly antibiotics. So I'm having trouble figuring out what is best for me...sticking to him and adding supplements myself, or having two doctors at the same time (my Italian one and a foreign ILADS-recommended LLMD)...

The list is so long. I've been taking Omega 3's, probiotics, and turmeric. Others have recommended many that range from Samento & Banderol, pinella & burbur, activated charcoal, SF722, collodial silver, liquid light for heavy metals, oil of oregano, etc.

But knowing which are best to me, when and how much to take thorughout the day, which I can pair with antibiotics is the part where I get confused!

Brendoni,

I have been treating myself for 7 months now. I am using Buhner's and refer to it frequently. I have also used this forum for advice whenever I have a question. There are some pretty knowledgable people here and many who self-treat. None self treat without guidance from experts however.

Good luck to you on your decision! It is a tough one. I just could not afford the LLMD at the time I needed it, but did not want to not treat. Through advice on this forum I have used the Buhner protocol and have had some success.

I had LLMD for abx for 4 weeks. I am treating myself at this point.
I also have lost total trust in doctors. I am ready (mentally) to be gone tomorrow.
So I figure I have nothing to loose.

I am basically doing what PeteZa did.

It takes a lot of work, and I wouldn't recommend it, if you can afford to see a literate doctor. You're basically playing doctor, patient, benefactor, etc. It's just too much, especially if you have responsibilities outside of just trying to get better (work, school, family, what have you).

There's educating, there's struggling to find the time in the day to take your medications, detox, etc. You have to go to work to pay for your medications. You have to go to school. You have to take care of your kids. Housework. The list goes on.

Of course, you'd want to remain somewhat independent in terms of educating yourself as well as making treatment decision, as it wouldn't be wise to leave your health entirely in their hands. There are simply too many windows to look through when it comes to Lyme/co that, regardless of how educated you believe your physician to be, there will always be angles that they aren't accustomed to viewing from.

That said, you don't want someone that you feel is gonna be a waste of money. You say your doctor is well-versed, but only when it comes to antibiotics. Well, as many have learned, healing is more than just throwing some prescription medications into your body and hoping for the best.

In a case like that, I'd recommend that you get all you feel you possibly can from the physician, then move onto another one. In a case like that, until you found a better option, I would recommend self-treating.

But, overall, no.. I feel we'd all be better off with someone who, by definition, is employed to help you get better. Like, it's their job.

Us, we treat it like our jobs, but.. that's just so hard, especially, again, when we have other responsibilities, not to mention our mental and physical capacities.

I don't expect to get to a real comfortable level of health, until I am able to see a doctor or two. I can't heal myself completely on my own. I don't have the time, resources, or brain power.

Thanks all, this is a nice and balanced set of viewpoints. I am going to have to reflect on this a bit and think about what decision seems the best!