Pjb - you can send Numbhead an email if you wish.
Hi Numbhead!
Welcome to the community!
I'm glad you told us you have read through the 'new to Lyme' thread so we won't bug you to do this! LOL!
For information on finding an ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) trained Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area (thank you for enabling your email option in your profile!) - members may email you with referrals, and/or:
You can send me or Girlie an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well. Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get to your
location.
You can 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 can email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at:
[email protected]
ILADS has their own referral system as well:
http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/
And
www.LymeDoc.orgYou will want to find an ILADS trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) as well as many others, believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your healing journey:
www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf I'm very happy to hear that the month of Doxy is helping! Now, you need to be sure that you eat healthy (no sugar is the minimum to help protect you from Candida), detox and help support your body functions as needed. You can find some really good detoxing suggestions in the "New to Lyme?" thread that sits at the top of the forum. And this is another really good resource for detoxing ideas for Lyme patients:
www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html As for your test results, Band 23 is Lyme specific. A "Lyme specific band" means specific for Borrelia Burgdorferi, sensu stricto - Lyme disease in the strictest sense. There are only
two on the over 300 known strains of Lyme that is considered Bb, ss. Nothing else will turn a Lyme specific band positive other than Lyme disease.
Bands 18 & 41 (whether in IgM or IgG) are indicative of the tail of the bacteria, which can cross react with other Spirochetal bacteria such as Relapsing Fever, Pintas and Yaws, and Syphilis.
So, as you can see, there's little doubt that the testing and the symptoms are showing that you do have Lyme and need treatments. Also, remember that Lyme rarely travels alone - it's quite common for Lyme to not be the only infection we have because the Lyme bacteria lowers our immune system, so we have a '
open playing field' for whatever microb/virus or fungus to come to.
Keep reading, and keep asking questions!!! That's how we can be the most help to you!