LymeNet Flash: Just Lost My LLMD after 8 months

This is topic Just Lost My LLMD after 8 months in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Catsmeow (Member # 9485) on :

Doctor H has been my primary specialist LLMD in Colorado Spgs since last Oct.

He had a catheter inserted to my heart and begain infusion therapy daily. I've been on ceftriaxone and azithromyacin all these many months, daily infusions and priase God....I've had a home visiting nurse to assist me, monitor my vitals and keep a good watch over me.

I sold my house in NM and bought a house in Colorado Spgs (in the process now of moving) and found out my doctors are abandoning the practice.

I've responding magnificently to the treatment. I've gone from wheelchair to normal walking and hardly use a cane. My mental clarity is returning and I'm feeling like I'm being restored to full health.

NOW WHAT????? Here I am, 2/3's through the program and making great success and they're quitting and I have nobody to continue the program and finish the treatment. I'm scared. I don't want to quit prematurely and just stop. I'm doing so well, I don't want to blow this. I'm getting WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to finish this program (a 1 year program).

What on earth do I do????? Anybody with advice? I'm pretty desperate. [cussing]

- Cats

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Hey there, good friend!! [hi]

Good to see you here....Wish I had some info for you! Maybe others will come along tomorrow with some LLMD leads.

Maybe there's someone closer to you than Missouri!

Don't give up yet! [Smile]

Posted by Health (Member # 6034) on :

Keep searching, I hope you find another LLMD,
maybe your LLMD can recommend someone for you, another LLMD?

I read one woman on here stopped the IV and then resumed and it was not as effective, but maybe others were ok.

Maybe your LLMD can let your own MD know what to do with you for awhile, so you dont have to stop treatment? and in the meantime search for a new LLMD.

[Smile]

Trish

Posted by Just Julie (Member # 1119) on :

In California, there is a law against "patient abandonment". I do not know if it is just in California, or other states, but worth trying to find out.

Not that you would want to threaten a lawsuit against your LLMD, but perhaps if you bring this issue up in question form to them, they may get their thoughts together enough before they dump you, or quit, and have a "Plan B" suggestion for those who are in the middle of treatment, or under their "doctor's care" so much so that the patients who will now be left without doctors care, will not have to go without.

Obviously, the choice would be to find another LLMD asap, but if you have no avenues to find one, then this LLMD's office is ethically obligated to provide you with the name of SOMEONE who you could get your treatment transferred to.

Hope this does not sound too harsh, but I have been in this position before. It was my son's pediatrician who brought up the subject of "patient abandonment" when I told him that my current LLMD at the time was refusing to offer treatment for my son for some reason (can't recall the specifics, it was some years ago).

Being in the middle of treatment, be it oral or IV meds, and then finding out your LLMD is not able to continue treatment thru no fault of your own is a VERY VERY frightening place to be. I'm so sorry.

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

cats; bummer plus!

yes, i'd expect my current LLMD to find someone else who has the SAME TREATMENT PLAN that you can finish up on.

i remember you moving there to be close! double darn; not right.

i'll send you pm with another thought ok! [Wink]

Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :

I sent you a PM, too. I'm so sorry this office in the Springs is closing.

Tracy

Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :

There used to be a doc in Steamboat Springs Co!

Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :

The Steamboat Springs doc isn't taking ANY new patients, let alone Lyme patients. I checked with him last year.

Tracy

Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :

I don't think patient abandonment applies to retirements of doctors.

Posted by Just Julie (Member # 1119) on :

hey ya Lou, I read "abandoning the practice" in Cats post . . .which lead me to believe they were hightailing it outta there.

No mention of retirement in her post that I can see. That is a different matter altogether, and in most cases (the duck world) when docs do retire, they give you a handout with other doctors in that particular speciality that are available to take on new patients.

I know this being the LLMD world, that maybe that would not be the case where the retiring LLMD would be able to refer current patients, undergoing therapy at the time of retirement, to other LLMD's who could continue on with the current therapy, but one can most certainly hope that if Cats LLMD is not "abandoning" their patients, and NOT retiring, then they could very well be able to make sure that their patients would be able to find a fit into another LLMD's practice, be it close, or not so close by.

Patient abandonment is probably a pretty highly charged subject, but I've been there, and it's pretty frightening if you are left with NO WAY OUT and in the middle of a treatment plan that is going well. Just because a doctor is a LLMD, does not give them license to simply up and dump their patient load because they are closing their practice for whatever reason.

And frankly, I don't give a rats *** what that reason may be, they are still doctors, they probably went to medical school and became a doctor before they became a LLMD, so the oaths they took, and the medical ethics that are ingrained into the medical profession still apply.

Putting all LLMD's on this god-like pedestal and forgiving them of acting like idiots does not make the Lyme community a safe place to be.
JMHO.
Julie

[ 29. May 2007, 05:04 PM: Message edited by: Just Julie ]

Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :

Mexico for meds if nessiary

Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :

I actually do know more about this situation than I said in my previous post, julie. And retirement for medical reasons is the cause. I think a list of referrals for doctors will be provided.

Posted by SouthernCO (Member # 11167) on :

Lou: The dr retiring for medical reasons is dr M whom I had just started with.

The dr discussed in this string is dr H. I haven't heard that his reasons are medical.

But it seems the whole office is closing.

Posted by hanginginthere (Member # 11685) on :

I, too, am a patient of Dr. H. I just flew back from my last visit with them.

At the end of my appointments, they assured me that they wouldn't abandon me...that they're trying to get a website up and would be providing me with a treatment plan and list of doctors who might be willing to take me.

I wish they were staying open! Hopefully it will work out well for all of us!! [Frown]

Posted by leogrl54 (Member # 10770) on :

I am a pt of Dr M in colorado springs.

He has been told by his docs that he will die if he continues to practice. He also has lyme/ALS.
this man has a heart of gold.

The plan is for him to see every patient by the end of July-they will leave with their charts and a 6 month treatment plan. Sometime this month, hopefully, they will be sending a list of LLMD's that are taking new pts.

Dr. H is in his late 60's. He is going to retire.

Nobody is being abandoned!! I'm sorry that some people feel that way. It is very scary to start over with a new duck.

please wish them well. This is not easy for them either

Posted by sickandtiredofbeingsandt (Member # 10189) on :

Hi,
I too, am a patient of Dr. M. He is a very nice man and doctor. He wouldn't do this unless there was a very good medical reason. He's not young either. It is his practice and they did try to find someone that could come in to take over his patient load. They could not find anyone interested in moving there.

Dr. M is working on a referral list for us. The really down side is they will probably not be in Colorado so we will have to travel a lot farther to see whoever we choose to go to.

I have one more phone consult and one more in person appointment before they close. I am just waiting it out in the meantime.

Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :

Sorry, meow, didn't mean to sound unsympathetic. It is rough that you have sold your house and are moving, very bad timing to have this happen.

If anyone wants to get mad, it should be at the situation we are in, and the people who have put us there: Dr. Death (Wormser, Steere, etc) and the NIH, CDC, state medical boards. Nothing like having the whole world against us. With the insurance companies raking in the cash and denying us treatment. And we can't get the major media to do a decent job of covering the story. What a world.