Thank you for this board and for your attention. In case the following is too much info, I've included headings, so feel free to skim.
MY BACKGROUND:
I am a 24-year-old male. In late May 2009 in southeastern PA I discovered and removed a tick from my hip; within a few days, a circular rash appeared, followed by symptoms including a severe headache and pain in my neck and shoulders.
A doctor diagnosed it as Lyme based on the symptoms, and at his prescription I took doxycycline for 21 days. At first this reduced the symptoms (while creating others, such as fatigue and mental fog), but gradually the original symptoms returned (though less severthan the first few days), and with varying degrees of intensity have persisted ever since (along with several other classic Lyme symptoms, including mental fog, random joint pains, and light sensitivity).
Then and since I've tried a few complementary and alternative treatments, but with limited success. Although I am trying to educate myself from books, particularly The Lyme Disease Solution by Kenneth B. Singleton and Healing Lyme by Stephen Harrod Buhner, I believe I would benefit most from seeing a Lyme-aware physician.
Other complicating issues I am trying to understand include:
* Sensitivity to wheat/gluten and dairy -- not new, but I'm paying it more attention now, because of its ostensible relationship to immune strength and intenstinal health/gut flora (currently I'm reading Gut and Psychology Syndrome on this topic)
* Somewhat weak/unpredictable digestion -- this is new (and not limited to above food sensitivities -- may indicate some gut flora imbalance, perhaps related to Lyme/coinfections). This despite ongoing supplements of probiotics and enzymes.
* Some challenges with detoxification, maybe a weak liver
Ideally I would meet and work with a doctor who ccould guide me to address all of these related issues. I would prefer an emphasis on nutritional/lifestyle/natural treatments, but am open to conventional approaches (e.g. antibiotics) if/as necessary.
LOCATION:
I live in Rockland County, NY, very near the NJ border and the train line to NYC.
LDA REFERRALS/QUESTION:
I tried the LDA doctor referral service, but that only gave me three names -- two are 30 miles away, and the third is in NYC. I imagine there might be a long list of Lyme-aware doctors in or near NYC.
Besides that, there are many other filtering criteria, such as whether they're an ILADS member, and whether they're a specialist (e.g. allergist) or alternative doctor (e.g. integrative physician). I have no idea which of these might be fruitful. (E.g., should I use ILADS membership as a litmus test?)
With LDA's limit of 3 searches (and 3 names per search) within a 30-day period, I'm not sure it will allow me to make a well-informed choice.
INSURANCE/COST:
I don't currently have health insurance (I had a short-term policy when I got the tick bite), but I may sign up soon if necessary/helpful. My income is limited, so it would be important to find a very good and/or very affordable doctor, since I can't afford to pay for a large number of expensive visits.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Welcome to Lymenet
Please check your Private Messages for the Lyme Literate Medical Doctor list that you have requested, along with Dr. B's guidelines and other on-line referral links and information that will offer you a starting off point to guide you through the process of selecting an LLMD.
Your local support group can be found on the left hand side of this web page, as well as on the top of the LLMD list that you have been provided. Your local support group is an excellent resource for information and we encourage you to contact them for additional input.
Also, please feel free to join in on the discussion in our medical section, where we have many members ready to share their experience and knowledge about this illness with you.
Posted by op132 (Member # 23514) on :
Abxnomore,
Thanks for your very helpful reply. I've sorted through the NY & NJ doctor lists and narrowed them down to a dozen or so to explore further. I've also located the nearest support groups -- four of them, each about 25-40 miles from me in various directions. I hope to attend one or more of the upcoming meetings.
It occurs to me that much of Connecticut is geographically closer to where I now live, than much of NY and NJ. Already, many of the doctors on my short list are more than an hour's commute. I wonder if you would be willing to send the doctor's list for Connecticut, in case there are nearer doctors I should include in my search.
Anyway, I much appreciate your help.
Posted by Siciliano (Member # 15920) on :
Hi, op132, I sent you a private message.
And also would like to welcome you to our site. We're glad you came to us.
You really need to check out our great "Medical Questions" forum. Feel free to ask any and all questions you have and our wonderful members will be happy and eager to share their experiences and knowledge with you. Just read some of the postings, threads and you will see how informative it really is!
Posted by op132 (Member # 23514) on :
Thanks for the suggestion, Siciliano - I will look for the "Medical Questions" section. I am just getting acquainted with this whole forum.
And thanks to all for the helpful PMs.
Posted by Gianna (Member # 18513) on :
Hi, I was just wondering if you could share the doctors names with me? I am looking for a dr. in NY & NJ as well.
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