I am a family physician in the Ventura County area of Southern California. I need help with one of my patients who has a history of Lyme's Disease. She has been seen by one specialist in the area but I am looking for alternatives. Thanks.
Posted by Siciliano (Member # 15920) on :
Hi, mavix2 and WELCOME to our lyme site. We're glad you came to us for help.
I have sent you a private message (pm), click on the flashing envelope.
Also, check out our great "Medical Questions" forum where you can ask all the questions you might have and our wonderful, knowledgeable members will answer them. Just read some of the threads and you'll see just how informative they are! Posted by mavix2 (Member # 24579) on :
Does anyone know if there is any Medi-Cal coverage for lyme treatments?
Posted by mavix2 (Member # 24579) on :
Has anyone had any experience with a Dr. G in the Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park area?
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Jon,
You may want to post your last question as a new post on the board so more people will see it and hopefully you will get some responses.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by mavix2: [QB] Does anyone know if there is any Medi-Cal coverage for lyme treatments?
That would be rare. I sent you a PM about a Dr Y.
Yes, post the question on Dr G in a separate post. Hopefully one of our members here will know and see your post.
Thanks for being a GREAT doc! ( If you cared enough to come HERE, that makes you an open-minded and caring doc!! ) Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I agree. It is wonderful to see a doc here who cares enough to help a patient.
I talked to a lady yesterday who's doc had told her she was suffering from RA not Lyme because
she was treated for lyme 3 years ago-her test was neg. after 2 weeks of steroids-so it had to be
RA.
I know it is Lyme. And had to tell her the test was worthless that they ran and esp. in the presence of steroids.
Maybe you could consider contacting the LLMD to help spread the word on how to diagnose, test, and treat also. The people need more like you.
Thank You for being what a real doctor should be.
Posted by mavix2 (Member # 24579) on :
My patient has confirmed lyme's, probably had it since age 12, treated at age 20 for 8 months with antibiotics, better but seems to be relapsing now in her early 30s. She also had/has babesiosis and ehrlichiosis dx at the time. I am trying to rule out all other causes. Of course she is seeing tons of specialists with no diagnosis being made. In incredible amounts of pain. Gaining weight rapidly with what appears to be edema but labs always normal except for elevated ESR and CRP. I have been putting my money on Lupus or other autoimmune disorder. We thought maybe Cushing's at one point but can't find anything. Looking at nephrotic syndrome to explain swelling but doesn't really fit with other symptoms. I really am Lyme naive but looking at her constellation of symptoms I think that is what is going on here. She was seeing a Lyme doctor and he advised IV abx about 6 months ago. I have a few more tests and then I have to figure out how to get her into another Lyme doc, or the same one. Of course she is a cash patient. Any advice from the community would be helpful.
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
I do believe many patients have malabsorbtion of thyroid. It may be there, but because of the cell dysfunction(bugs in the cells). it is not utilized properly. The only cure is to get rid of the bugs.
Things to watch for on new treatment would be massive herxing. Some patients lose so many cells too fast they lose electrolyte conduction and a temp. pacemaker is required.
Sadly most lyme patients have been told they are not that sick for so long- when they are critical
they suffer alone, when if it were any other kind of disease they could get the critical care this deserves. But docs have been told this is easy to cure and a simple fix in 4 weeks.
So most start out low and slow to prevent hospitalization and death for something that could not possibly make them that sick...
Posted by nspiker (Member # 22824) on :
Dr. Y is in San Diego, so it would be at least a three hour drive each way. She is my doctor and very knowledgeable. She is a medicare approved doctor, but doesn't take other insurance.
If your patient was seeing an LLMD in the area, why doesn't she go back?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Regarding weight gain:
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections.
The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of high cortisol on a person with such infections.
You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
THE POTBELLY SYNDROME: How Common Germs Cause Obesity, Diabetes, And Heart Disease (Paperback) - 2005
by Russell Farris and Per Marin, MD, PhD
Lyme really messes up the HPA axis (Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal network). The pituitary has much to do with weight/growth. Mess up any part of the endocrine system and other parts suffer, too. Most tests will show nothing (and steroid challenge tests are dangerous with lyme) -- but in those who gained a lot of weight despite good eating habits, once lyme (or Cpn) was properly treated, the weight nearly disappeared.
. . . It seems likely that these bacterial species could serve as biological indicators of a developing overweight condition.
Of even greater interest, and the subject of future research, is the possibility that oral bacteria may participate in the pathology that leads to obesity. . . . -
[ 02-22-2010, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
CURE UNKNOWN: Inside the Lyme Epidemic (2008) - by Pamela Weintraub
This details what an entire family went through. Having this knowledge of their journey will help others to get better, faster treatment. The author details how she, and others, regained their lives.
You might be able to borrow this from the local lyme support group; rent from a video outlet, NetFlix, or the library . . . or purchase a copy for $35.
Until one sees this film, there really is no way they can understand. No way.
Also of major importance is the interview with Dr. Martz, who had been dx with "ALS" only to find it was really lyme and babesia. With treatment, we see him recover.
In addition to the usual coinfections from ticks (such as babesia, bartonella, ehrlichia, RMSF, etc.), there are some other chronic stealth infections that an excellent LLMD should know about:
Also, CALDA offers educational grants to physicians to attend the ILADS conference to learn more about treating Lyme. (The 2010 conference will be Oct. 15 in New Jersey.)
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mavix2 and WELCOME to our lyme site. We're glad you came to us for help.![[Smile]](smile.gif)