I was bit by a tick April 28, 2010. Had rash. About a month later started noticing arthritis in my hands. Then a few weeks later started getting daily headaches and numbness/tingling/pin prick sensations. Started taking doxycycline (and still am) but my symptoms don't really seem to be improving.
I tested negative on my first ELISA (7/27/10)test but tested POSITIVE on western blot (9/1/10) for bands 23 and 41.
I'm looking for a LLMD in GA. I've been to 2 different general practitioners but they aren't very knowledgeable about lyme.
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
I am from Atlanta and can tell you...they deny it exist in Georgia. It is a big problem. Both my daughter and I got it there and were denied treatment...even with a positive lyme test.
First, go to the Georgia Lyme Disease website. Email them and let them know what happened. The president of the ga lyme site is tracking cases and complaints...Please.
second of all, I found no one in GA to be of any help whatsoever. Most of us travel out of the state for treatment.
Posted by scsavages (Member # 27310) on :
I'm in SC and traveled to NC to see Dr F for treatment. I saw 2 ID docs locally who blew me off with a positive test in hand!
Go out of state...get help quickly!
Posted by wgshuckers (Member # 27869) on :
I did the find a doctor thing on here and it came back one in Ashville, NC and one in Hodges, SC. Dr B (Ashville) and Dr R (Hodges). Are either of these known or recommended? With the Dr. I have been seeing in middle GA, I pretty much feel like I'm treating myself. I just go to him to get meds. I have been on doxy for 7 or 8 weeks and flagyl for a week now. I only got the flagyl because I asked for it, he didn't recommend it.
I'm in GA and I can tell you I found no llmd here and most doctors I come across haven't a clue what an epidemic lyme is here.
I was initially treated by an infectious disease doctor in Cumming, a name I got from a fellow GA sufferer on a yahoo group. Within 5 mins of being in the office, I was set for a picc line the next day. This doctor was going against their own guidelines (IDSA), but within 10 weeks of treatment, the doctor started to pull back because other doctors were starting to report. Needless to say, an attempt to convince me to get my picc pulled happened, but I quickly switched to the east coast doctor. I am happy to say after close to 1-1/2 years of rocephin, I am in remission.
I did see the doctor again about 1 year into treatment as the doctor was called in by another doctor for some tummy problems I was having, and the doctor was dead set against me even ever having lyme. Complete 360 from the year prior where the doctor was so open minded and wanting to help and acknowledged what a problem lyme here is.
Absolutely get in touch with the GA lyme disease association, it's a great resource and start looking for an out of state doctor.
Posted by tickedinGA (Member # 22446) on :
Oh, and to add, I was in the ICU for heart problems (related to the lyme) in the summer of 09, and another infectious disease doctor was brought in to see me. After the first 5 mins of the doctor blowing smoke, I then unleashed with all my knowledge. This prompted him to lean over my bed, with my spouse sitting right there next to me, and say "I don't treat lyme because I don't want to loose my license".
To say I was floored is an understatement. But, that's the thinking of GA doctors