For newcomers: How to find a lyme doctor

[PacificMama]

Lyme and other tick borne diseases are usually a clinical diagnosis -- that is, the diagnosis is not reliant on blood tests because the current blood tests are often inconclusive. Therefore, it's extremely important to find a doctor who is very skilled and experienced in treating tbd's (tick borne diseases). These initial exams are very thorough, often 2-4 hours in lenghth. They include a full review of patient history, lab work, and an extremely extenisve physical exam.

 

These doctors are often called LLMD's (lyme literate medical doctors). They follow the treatment protocol as outlined by ILADS -- International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.

 

***These doctors are VERY SKILLED at treating the multi-infectious patient. Rarely is a patient dealing with simply one infection. Often, there are multiple infections transmitted by ticks. But also, once the immune system is compromised by the initial infection, the patient often becomes susceptible to additional viral and bacterial infections. These doctors know how to peel back the layers of the onion in giving complete treatment. They know the best combination of abx to treat these infections, along with non-abx treatment to add to the mix (supps, naturopathic, etc).

 

Resources for finding a doctor:

 

1. Contact ILADS.org and ask for listing of doctors in your area.

http://ilads.org/

 

2. Go to www.lymnet.org Flash Discussions / Seeking a Doctor

Post a message titled such as "need llmd in Texas". You will receive personal message with names of doctors. This can be very helpful, as they will sometimes give you more detailed information, or have personal insights to offer about the docs.

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php

 

3. Contact the lyme support organization for your state / county / town. They can help you find doctors in your area.

http://www.lymenet.org/SupportGroups/

[PacificMama]

Up...

[philamom]

Can we make this a pinned thread that remains at the top?

Also, maybe a pinned thread on recommendations of lyme books?

[PacificMama]

Looks like several new lyme inquiries lately... so I'm bumping this up for newcomers.

 

For anyone who is trying to sort through a possible lyme diagnosis, I can not strongly enough recommend that you seek the qualified opinion of a LLMD (a doctor who follows ILADS protocols for diagnosing and treatment). These doctors will NOT automatically give you a lyme diagnosis if they do not think that is the case.

 

The primary reason for seeing one of these doctors is that they are very, very skilled in understanding the MANY varied infectious pathogens that can cause these symptoms. And perhaps most importantly, the fact that many times there are multiple infections present (not just borrelia/lyme). They, better than any other doctors, know the correct combination and rotation of abx to slowly erradicate these infections (along with possible other non-abx treatments).

 

See also the pinned "helpful threads" folder above.

 

Best to all,

Mary

[texascatholic]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!