posted
My wife has been exhibiting gradually worsening symptoms of lyme for about a year now. We had our family doc run a Western Blot test, which came back negative just today. Knowing how easily these tests can bring false negatives, we want to get a second opinion from someone who specializes in lyme. We live in Vancouver, WA (near Portland, OR), so info on any doctor in that general area, or even up in the Seattle area, would be appreciated.
Also, is there anything we can be doing in the meantime while we attempt to get an accurate test? Sitting around and waiting is just killing us, and we'd much rather be doing something helpful rather than sitting in limbo for weeks and months at a time. It certainly isn't helping her get any better!
Thank you.
Posts: 2 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Sadly, there are no LLMDs in Oregon. Lyme patients here are usually met by most doctors with great disdain.
The Oregon Medical Board is a very powerful, negative force and this is a very determined effort to stamp out anyone who properly treats lyme.
Once in a while someone with a brand new bulls eye rash will get nine days' of one single medicine but that is about it.
However, too many patients with a brand new rash are also still being told "there is no lyme in Oregon" and turned away at the most critical time. Doctors don't realize that many don't get a rash. They are also clueless to other tick-borne infections.
And, if you have to ever go to the E.R. for any reason, you dare not even mention lyme.
A few doctors who tried to properly treat lyme (or patients in the advance stages) were stripped of their ability to practice in this state. Or they were told they could only be E.R. doctors with instruction to NEVER, ever treat lyme again.
* However, there is a very active lyme support system and some LL NDs (naturopathic doctors), a couple of whom are ILADS-educated and very Lyme Literate, keeping up on all the research.
Naturopathic doctors are licensed by a different government agency. The great thing with NDs is that they have four years of medical college courses about herbal and nutritional medicine and are excellent with that aspect. And, in Oregon, they also have additional pharmaceutical education and can prescribe many of the same pharmaceuticals as MDs.
A few NDs do take some insurance but there is also the question of insurance paying for lyme treatment. Many of the necessary support measures do not fall under any insurance plans, though.
* There are also several support groups that meet regularly and are strong concerning patient education.
* However, for LLMDs, patients have to travel to either California or to Washington state (mostly the Seattle area).
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A WONDERFUL GROUP for information - be sure to call them for ILADS-educated LL NDs in the area.
Support Groups - find the ones for Washington State, particularly the Seattle Area.
Maybe someone will send you lists from CALIFORNIA and WASHINGTON STATE. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Siciliano
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15920
posted
Welcome! We are happy to have you. I sent you a private message (pm), click on the flashing envelope.
Also, check out our great "Medical Questions" forum where you can ask all the questions you might have and our wonderful, knowledgeable members will answer them. Just read some of the threads and you'll see just how informative they are!
-------------------- I'm sorry but I am no longer accepting any private messages due to my own battle with lyme. Posts: 3897 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
Thank you both for the information. I can already tell it will be very helpful!
Posts: 2 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2010
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