Artemesinin for borrelia?

My pcp has been useless so far in this health crisis that only I discovered was TBD <3 weeks ago. I've been disabled from the fatigue since mid September. I'll spare the details of a common story of misdiagnosis by establishment md's.

So now I pay out of pocket for a ND who is okay though young and relatively inexpensive at $300/hr but he will respond to my email questions in due time without charging me. He does waste too much time on my dime getting off on tangents. I guess I can manage that better but don't feel I should have to at that price. His office is 5 minutes from home.

There's an ilads trained dr in the same office but he's $475/hr and $275 for a half hr. He doesn't use the portal or do email. I have to make an appointment to see him if I need help.

My pcp agreed to make referrals to 2 different neurologists in San rafael but thinks blue shield hmo will reject because the ilads trained neuro is not in the same blue shield medical group. The other one is in the right group and is supposedly llmd however blue shield has a rule that you must see a doc within 30 miles of your house. My pcp thinks BS will deny both but is willing to try.

I really want to see a doc for this who is covered by insurance. I'm not getting the best care from my ND because I'm reluctant to see him as often as I like because of the money. There appears to be no llmd's in Santa Rosa who are on my or any insurance plan. I would like to see the doc every 2 weeks at this stage. Is that unreasonable?

Any advice? Is there a chance in hell of finding an llmd who is at the very least, unbound by idsa dogma who is on a blue shield hmo plan?

In <3 weeks of tx, I'm making some good progress and feel optimistic about recovering. I'm semi retired and need to conserve the nest egg to the best of my ability. I realize that health is priceless and ultimately will shell out the cash if I must to take care of this.

How often did/do you see your llmd?

Also, if you have direct experience with Lyme neuros in San rafael please send me a private message to discuss. Or for that matter if you have direct experience with any Lyme docs in Sonoma County who take insurance please send me a pm to discuss.

I've got the list from Girlie, got names from ilads, and found another link for Lyme docs but the Pickens appear slim around here. Maybe it's all word of mouth?

Thanks.
Best Regards,
BJD

Post Edited (Black Jack Davey) : 2/14/2017 3:46:19 PM (GMT-7)

Black Jack-I've given the list of names I have to Girlie-The one in Larkspur I got from a video on Better Health Guy's Facebook page. BHG knows all or most of the Lyme doctors in the Bay Area. He lives in the South Bay. You could pm him on FB or message him on his website for other names he feels confident in. Worth a shot.

Very few true LLMD's are covered by insurance. It's not that they won't take insurance it's that insurance won't take them. You'd need to find a PCP who is knowledgeable about Lyme protocols. I'd look for a Functional Medicine practitioner or a Dr who practices Integrative medicine. I have a Blue Shield ppo and just looked through over ten pages of general practitioners and they don't distinguish unfortunately. In regards to the doctor that is more than 30 miles-your dr can do what's called a peer to peer with Blue Shield to try to get you approval to see that doctor.

Actually the Bay Area has quite a few good options for LLMD/ND's. There are a lot of area's that have one dr or no doctors within a reasonable distance.

I see my LLND every 4 to 6 weeks. He has a portal system and doesn't charge for contact through it.

Black Jack Davey said...
Girlie,

I guess I'm not that confident in his initial rx: doxycycline for Bart? a-bab and artemesinin for babesia? I would like to be reassured that he has a longer term strategy and know what it is. I'd like to get answers about drug reactions, herxing, and whether to stay the course or make changes without needless suffering for a month while I wait for the next appointment.

Otherwise, I'd be okay with every month. I've never had such a profound health crisis and my trust in the medical profession is at its low point now. I'd like to get well and get my life back ASAP.
Thanks.
BJD

I hear ya! I've had a very healthy life...only health crisis I had was when my water broke at 32 weeks and had to have an emergency c-section.

Artemisinin is known to be a Babesia treatment.

But, My LLND sent me some Artesunate - that was compounded at a pharmacy. (It is a derivative of Artemesia) and he said it was also useful for persisters.
If that is true, then I would think that Artemisinin would be, too.

All along when i reacted to the Artemisinin I thought I was having a Babesia herx..but maybe it is hitting lyme and or bart.

Thanks Girlie and grdnr,
I've been feeling a bit anxious & angry the past few days, maybe it's a herx reaction. I'm grateful to be improving and should just take it in and enjoy as I'm finally unbound from being confined to the couch all day. I just don't read anywhere that mono therapy for Bart is treated with doxy. Then his email said that the artemesinin also hits Bb, I became suspicious of his ability to treat Lyme & Co. but you say it's legit. Thanks for that reassurance.

As I understand it, Dr's in the know treat each bug with multiple drugs. Bart is treated with rifampin and something else, not sure what, but I'm afraid of Levaquin.

Atovaquone & zith seem to be the choice for babesia. I'm unclear on how doxy might be paired with another drug for Bb.

I made an appointment to see my ND tomorrow to see what his plan for me is. When he 1st gave me the dx, it was overwhelming and I wasn't prepared to ask him educated questions about his tx plan.

I just want to be sure I'm treated effectively and that I don't have to educate a doc I'm paying top $ out of pocket.
Best,
David

Post Edited (Black Jack Davey) : 2/14/2017 5:02:24 PM (GMT-7)