Help - I need to find an attorney in NH or New England experienced in Medical Malpractice for Lyme. I need to protect my future and the future of my children. If you have any advice whatsoever, please share.
I have been rejected by one attorney because of the lack of Lyme specialists willing to testify.
I am a 33 year old mother of two young children and last May 2005, I became ill with flu like symptoms and a rash on my outer hip. Symptoms developed into stroke-like episodes, severe headaches and cognitive dysfunction.
My PCP failed to diagnose Lyme disease because my rash wasn't the typical "bullseye rash," despite several statements that I live in the woods surrounded by deer and that my cats often bring ticks in the house.
One Neurologist diagnosed me with a stroke due to some MRI changes. Several specialists later, and a lot of pain, difficulty walking, speaking, unable to drive and care for my kids on my own, etc.
I finally followed my insincts and decided to get answers about my persistent rash. 7 months after the initial rash, I found a dermatologist who took a 2 second look at my rash with a magnifying glass and could see the deer tick bite marks. He diagnosed me with Lyme disease.
I was subsequently treated and referred to an Infectious Disease doctor who dx'd me with Chronic Neuro Lyme and put me on 1 month of IV antibiotics.
My condition improved, but it deteriotated again a few months later when I became ill with similar symptoms with the addition of seizure like episodes with periods of paralysis. My doctors denied additional treatment for Lyme because "I was sufficiently treated" and said it must be anxiety.
I found a Lyme Specialist in Boston (Dr. D - great man!) who clarified that this was a recurrence of Chronic Lyme. I am now on long term antibiotics but suffer arthritis, congitive impairment, complex migraines and variety of other symptoms despite treatment.
Although I had stopped working to care for my two young children (3,1), I intended to go back to my career of high tech sales. This is now unlikely given my mental and physical capacity, and of course, the chronic nature of my illness and the likelihood that severe episodes such as these will recur indefinitely.
Any advice related to this topic is welcome.
thank you! Erin
[ 20. December 2006, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: erinbaba ]
Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :
First of all, PLEASE edit your post to remove Dr. D's name! We do not post good Lyme doctors' names here in order to protect them as best we can from prosecution!
Also, many of us here on the board cannot read large blocks of text. More than 2 or 3 sentences in a paragraph become too confusing for our Lymie eyeballs to read, so it would be helpful if you could break up your long paragraph there in your post.
You can easily edit your post by clicking on the little ``pencil and paper'' icon up at the top of your post. Just put ``Dr. D. in Boston'' instead of the doctor's name please. You can still say that he is a great man - certainly nothing wrong with that!
Now, back to your original topic - I'm very sorry you have Lyme and were misdiagnosed like most of us here. Good for you in wanting to take a stand and find some justice.
I know that there have been some individual lawsuits, but I'm afraid I don't know much more than that. The topic of lawsuits does come up here on a regular basis, though, so I'll get out of the way so others can post!
Good luck!
Tracy
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
welcome! i'll send you by private message, pm, my 21 pages of newbie links/advise
i suggest you use SEARCH found at top under NEW POST.
type in medical malpractice MEDICAL topic only ANY DATE....you'll need to EDIT MY PROFILE to change it to any date vs. default 30-60 days
leave membership blank, and you'll get 3 posts including yours.
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