MY FATHERINLAW HAD LYMES @ 4 YRS AGO W/SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT.CURRENTLY HE HAS PRESENTED W/ THE SAME SYMPTOMS BUT NEGATIVE BLOOD WORK FOR LYMES THIS TIME. HE IS IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR DEPRESSION WITH NO RESULTS. HOW DO WE GET ADEQUATE TESTING? CAN A SPINAL TAP REVEAL ANY INFO? PLEASE HELP!!
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Lyme is diagnosed based on the clinical picture, not testing.
Posted by njlymemom (Member # 15088) on :
In my personal experience, I would say no to the spinal tap.
I have read different studies, anywhere from 20-40% accuracy. A false negative result will enable the insurance company to deny you coverage.
Also, inflammation along the spine from lyme makes this test extremely painful.
Read "Cure Unknown:Inside the Lyme Epidemic" by Pam Weintraub.
Thank God this man has you as an advocate. So many are too ill to find the answers for themselves. Bless you and good luck.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I agree, post in seeking doctors, get him out of the psych ward and get him proper treatment.
There's kind of a standing joke around here ... once you get a psych diagnosis when you have Lyme symptoms, you can be sure it's really Lyme. Many of us were diagnosed with some kind of mental problem .... no one believed we could possibly be this sick and that doctors couldn't find a problem .... therefore, we're making it up. Grrr.
Posted by tonyg (Member # 16223) on :
NO SPINAL TAP!!!!!
Posted by lymemommy (Member # 12495) on :
sfincher,
Your father-in-law is in a bit of a tough situation.
Is his hospitalization voluntary, or was he committed? If it was voluntary, than getting him out isn't so hard.
If he is committed, then it's a bit more of a challange, unless he is able to present as no longer being a danger to himself or others, and is then taken off of committed status.
I'm not familiar with commitment laws in your state, but I'm assuming that they are fairly similar to the laws where I live.
As long as he is in the hospital, getting him tested and treated is something that you would have to talk the hospital into doing, and I'm not all that confident that you would be successful.
If you really want to try, arm yourself with lots of literature on the neuropsych symptoms of lyme, and review the information with his treatment team, and explain that what you are seeing now is just like what you saw when he has had lyme in the past.
If that doesn't fly, than setting up treatment for when he gets out (with an LLMD) would be a good plan.
I wish you the best. kp
Posted by electrolite (Member # 16404) on :
quote:Originally posted by sixgoofykids: I agree, post in seeking doctors, get him out of the psych ward and get him proper treatment.
There's kind of a standing joke around here ... once you get a psych diagnosis when you have Lyme symptoms, you can be sure it's really Lyme. Many of us were diagnosed with some kind of mental problem .... no one believed we could possibly be this sick and that doctors couldn't find a problem .... therefore, we're making it up. Grrr.
I totally understand this! I was hospitalized in Europe two times and was very sick, and I was referred to the psychiatrist in both hospitals because they didn't know what was wrong with me and I was upset/emotional (of course I was upset, I was sick in a foreign country and on my own!)
I came home to the states thinking it was a psychological thing because of what people told me. I began going to counseling (which has actally been very good for me).
Anyway, I waited for a year before seeking a new doctor and actually being properly diagnosed.
When I have seen my regular doctor (M.D.), he ignored my problem with Lyme Disease and prescribed me anti-depressants.
Another doctor I see at our county hospital won't refer me for help to a specialist. It's as if there's nothing wrong.
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
Igenex for lyme testing and Fry Labs for co-inection testing.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
welcome fincher; so glad you found us and are an ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW!
please do not use all caps for entire posts; it's considered yelling on the internet; and also hard for us NEURO lyme patients to comprehend...we thank you!
Dr. Burrascano's most recent "Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses" @ ..print this off please!
use my table of contents and look for cognitive issues....i have 3-5 excellent links; print the one off from marian and another RECENT ONE THIS MONTH...excellent explanations!!
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)