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Originally posted by justag:
Gee, can anyone talk me out of trying to save $$$ by sticking with my BCBS HMO routine?!

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I've been here 6 yrs and I don't recall anyone ever getting a referral from an HMO to see an LLMD.

They don't recognize LLMD's and most LLMD's don't take insurance. Do please don't hold your breath waiting for them to do something to help you.

Save your $$$$$ for the real deal.

Choose an LLMD now and make that appointment. Some take several months to get in to see.

PS.... IF you had a PPO, you may have a chance....as tree said.
 

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Posted by justag (Member # 11145) on :
 
I happen to know one LLMD in my area who accepts PPO, but so bad I don't have PPO and it doesn't seem possible to switch to PPO either!!!

I'm more than willing to pay higher premiums for PPO, but that's not an option for me

Gosh!!
 

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Posted by psano (Member # 7785) on :
 
justag,

Print this abstract out and give it to your PCP...

Microbes & Infection 2006 Sep 22; [Epub ahead of print]

Invasion of human neuronal and glial cells by an infectious strain of Borrelia burgdorferi.

* Livengood JA,
* Gilmore RD Jr.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, 3150 Rampart Road, CSU Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.

Human infection by Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent for Lyme disease, can result in serious acute and late-term disorders including neuroborreliosis, a degenerative condition of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

To examine the mechanisms involved in the cellular pathogenesis of neuroborreliosis, we investigated the ability of B. burgdorferi to attach to and/or invade a panel of human neuroglial and cortical neuronal cells.

In all neural cells tested, we observed B. burgdorferi in association with the cell by confocal microscopy.

Further analysis by differential immunofluorescent staining of external and internal organisms, and a gentamicin protection assay demonstrated an intracellular localization of B. burgdorferi.

A non-infectious strain of B. burgdorferi was attenuated in its ability to associate with these neural cells, suggesting that a specific borrelial factor related to cellular infectivity was responsible for the association.

Cytopathic effects were not observed following infection of these cell lines with B. burgdorferi, and internalized spirochetes were found to be viable.

Invasion of neural cells by B. burgdorferi provides a putative mechanism for the organism to avoid the host's immune response while potentially causing functional damage to neural cells during infection of the CNS.

PMID: 17045505


The bottom line is that one of the CDC's own research groups now has evidence that Bb can infect the host without the host's immune system recognizing it's there...i.e., the typical markers that go up when we have an infection, such as WBC count, antibodies on the Western Blot, etc, DON'T happen in patients w/Bb.

This study has huge implications, and because it's so new, the typical doc out there isn't aware.

I hope it will help open her eyes.

Also, you should educate her about the CD57. Have you had a CD57 drawn? If not, look it up here or on the Washington State Lyme Disease website. If it's low, that would help support your diagnosis. Dr. Stricker developed this test, and it's found to be low only in pts w/Lyme disease.

Good luck,

Patti
 

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Posted by justag (Member # 11145) on :
 
Patti, thanks so much!

A quick question: is CD57 test useful to diagnose lyme patients with relatively short history, say a couple of years?

I won't give up, and at this point, I wish I hadn't transferred any infections to my husband

[ 21. February 2007, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: justag ]
 

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Posted by psano (Member # 7785) on :
 
The CD57 isn't considered "diagnostic", but is used to monitor treatment success. According to studies done, it is low in pts w/chronic Lyme disease who have not been treated w/abx. In Chronic Lyme pts who have been treated w/abx, some have a low CD57 but some have normal levels.

So, like the Western Blot, it isn't an absolute either. But if you've been sick for 2 years, there's a good chance that it will be low if you have Lyme disease.

I'm not an expert on this. You should really check out the Washington state Lyme disease site I mentioned earlier. There's a lengthy discussion of the CD57 there.
 

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Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
 
You know what I would do>? I would ask around to try and find a Lyme friendly physician who would be under another specialty than ID doc- and would then ask for a referral for something that has nothing to do with Lyme!!!! Example- find out there is a Rheumie who is Lyme or at least abx friendly- or a gastro doc- or anyone- and THEN ask regarding whatever that is-!! If your doc is anti-Lyme they don't tend to change.

Sorry!!!
 

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Posted by justag (Member # 11145) on :
 
Hi, you all, thanks so much for the information and advice!

My PCP just called me and agreed to refer me to a specialist. She said she read the stuff I gave her and would want to see me cured...

Some of my prayers are already answered, keep faith!!
 

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Posted by BOEJR (Member # 1734) on :
 
Good for you Just!

I am sending you a Blessing so you will find a great the help you need on your next visit.

Blessings,

Julia
 

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Posted by stella marie (Member # 7216) on :
 
sent you a pm
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
So where did she get the name of this "specialist"? I'd bet lots of $$$$ that this dr is a duck....just call me a skeptic!!

Hope I'm wrong!!
 

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