She doesn't have internet so I can't bring her here. Who are the Missouri patients whom I could correspond with? What LLMD is out there?
Please write. She is elderly and I'm worried. She had 6 ticks on her, rash starting.
Thank you so much
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Have you looked for support groups in MO? They usually have a phone contact, if not local to attend meetings.
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
Where does your friend live? Dr.C is a great LLMD in Springfield and there are also support group meetings the first thursday of every month. If you'd like more info feel free to email me.We are here to help in any way we can.
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
If there is a rash it is very important to get treatment NOW. Photograph the rash with a ruler in the photo. Print out the ILADS guidelines and her her to a doctor and make sure adequate treatment is prescribed. Generally this is doxycycline for 6-8 weeks at 300-400 mg/ day in divided doses. Take doxy with food in the stomach and with a full glass of liquid.
It may take some time to get an appt with a LLMD and the opportunity to treat early and possibly effectively is NOW, not next week. A LLMD should definately be consulted ASAP.
I am not a doctor and this is my opinion only and not medical advice.
Posted by henson2 (Member # 463) on :
Hi,
thank you!!!!!
She lives in Jefferson City, not too far from Springfield.
She's going to her regular doc this morning, but I warned her about all the resistance to Lyme and denial about it she'll prob. get. I told her to demand a Western Blot w. all the bands printed.
More before I'm timed out
Posted by henson2 (Member # 463) on :
Sorry if that last comment was cryptic. I took someone's advice and started composing in my word processing program, but am unable to do that where I am now.
Then it times me out and I lose the message.
So.... I'm at my library job now but will be getting in touch w. you. I gave her Dr. C's contact info. THANK YOU.
I expect an update this evening.
She has felt so bad so FAST that I worry about co-infections. Plus, she is elderly and not great immune system.
thank you all for writing! I'll look up Dr C's site, too!
Does he do alternative? She may not be open to that, will want western science (even as I work on her about that). But I'm sure if you all are happy w. him he is a medical dr and good LLMD, too.
I told her to take a picture of any rash, with ruler next to it.
I'm at work now but will check back later.
Can't thank you enough!!!!!! Thank you
[ 08. December 2005, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: henson2 ]
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Good thing she has your help.
I might point out that antibody tests done too soon may come up negative because no antibodies have developed yet. So, don't want to wait until she gets a positive WB before treating!
If she wants chapter and verse, you could print out the FDA advisory that says this (think it is on the www.lymeinfo.net site somewhere.
Bullseye rashes are diagnostic, no test supposed to be required in these cases. But lots of docs don't know this. And they don't know what the rash looks like. Lots of lyme rashes do not look like a bullseye. This was documented in a published paper in a scientific journal (with Steere, of all people, as one of the authors).
oops! 
I took someone's advice and started composing in my word processing program, but am unable to do that where I am now.