Seeking a LLMD in the Howard County Maryland area (or surrounding counties - need a good LLMD)
Removed several embedded ticks in late April/Early May (have had symptoms ever since - some have stayed, some come and go) - very frustrated with my PCP - have had 4 visits - finally referred to see an infectious disease doctor (have to wait several weeks for appointment).
After reading here, I wish to seek out an LLMD to get proper and faster potential treatment versus the continual run-around.
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Welcome to Lymenet! PM sent for MD.
You need to be evaluated and treated by a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD). Non LLMDs have no clue about this horrible disease or its complex treatment!
They are far and few between, unfortunately! You need to go where they are.
Most LLMDs do not accept insurance due to the politics surrounding this horrible disease. Read poster TF's explanation, "Why Lyme Doctors Don't Take Insurance":
Here is part of a post from Lymenet that will explain about Infectious Disease doctors:
"All doctors recommend Infectious disease specialists to people who have Lyme disease. That is because this is the specialty that is SUPPOSED to treat Lyme disease.
Unfortunately, Infectious disease specialists must follow the guidance of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The IDSA gives them their orders.
The IDSA has put out Lyme treatment guidelines which say that Lyme is easily cured with up to 30 days of low-dose Doxycycline and that chronic Lyme (meaning, getting Lyme disease years ago and still having it because it was never treated) does not exist.
So, now you know why it is extremely rare for an Infectious disease specialist to help a Lyme patient."
When calling for an appointment, ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list. Patients have been able to get in sooner to see a LLMD by doing this.
The top LLMD, Dr. H, has written a new book entitled, "Why Can't I Get Better?". It is an excellent source of information.
Read "Cure Unknown" by Pamela Weintraub. Get it at your local library or buy it used on Amazon.
View "Under Our Skin" for free on www.hulu.com Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Welcome to LymeNet, and good for you for asking for a doctor here. Once you go to a lyme specialist, the run-around will stop.
Forget the ID doc.
I sent you a name and some info. Make a very complete list of your symptoms and take that to your first appointment.
Use the Burrascano Lyme Treatment Guidelines, pages 9-10 to help you create your list.
List the symptoms that come and go also, as this is very characteristic of lyme, especially in the early stage.
Wish you the best! We will help you here all that we can.
Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
I contacted one of the docs provided in the PM. He is not able to even look at my info I sent until a week or two, then it may be Nov. before he could potentially see me. Meanwhile my symptoms are getting much worse and more frequent. This started 4 1/2 months ago with ticks I removed, then flu-like symptoms a couple of weeks later with very unusual symptoms (travelling aches, joint pain, fatigue). Every day I am getting new symptoms - the head, neck, throat ones and sleeplessness/night sweats are starting to get bad ....
Back to my question - should I be insisting on getting fast treatment or wait until I can see one of the best LLMDs? I am concerned I am getting much worse (I have NOT been treated by ANYONE yet).
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I sent you the name of a very good doctor who can see you right away.
That is who I recommend you see as soon as possible.
Is there a problem with seeing this doctor?
Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
TF - I am calling him tomorrow - thanks! I needed to quickly learn more .... I erroneously thought that things would not progress this quickly and I could wait for an appointment.
Posted by lymie_in_md (Member # 14197) on :
There is a lyme support group still meeting out of Germantown Maryland if you are interested. PM me I'll fill in the location and the person running the meeting -- it is sponsored by natcap lyme. They meet the third Monday of every month. I believe it is 6:30 to 8:30. Natcap lyme meets the first sunday of the month from 2 to 4.
to pm is an ICON with two people holding hands over a letter.
Posted by vacationaddict (Member # 44658) on :
Hello all..I too am looking for a Lyme doctor in the Howard County Maryland area. Can someone send me some information? Thanks in advance.
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
vacationaddict - Welcome to Lymenet! PM sent for MD.
You should write a new post instead of adding on to an existing one. That way more people will see it and respond.
You need to be evaluated and treated by a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD). Non LLMDs have no clue about this horrible disease or its complex treatment!
They are far and few between, unfortunately. You need to go where they are.
Also, most LLMDs do not accept insurance due to the politics surrounding this horrible disease. Read poster TF's explanation, "Why Lyme Doctors Don't Take Insurance":
When calling for an appointment, ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list. Patients have been able to get in sooner to see a LLMD by doing this.
The top LLMD, Dr. H, has written a new book entitled, "Why Can't I Get Better?". It is an excellent source of information.
Read "Cure Unknown" by Pamela Weintraub. Get it at your local library or buy it used on Amazon.
View "Under Our Skin" for free on www.hulu.com Posted by vacationaddict (Member # 44658) on :
Thank you so very much for this information. Very helpful!
Posted by lymie_in_md (Member # 14197) on :
Howard county maryland is where I live. It is becoming the most endemic area in the country for lyme disease. Below is a support group meeting on Sunday. It might be helpful to talk to other lymies about their experiences.
Next Lyme Support Group Meeting – Sunday, 9/21 Posted September 2, 2014 by hclyme in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
We will have an informal gathering of anyone who wishes to join us for some information sharing and discussion with others suffering from Lyme and associated disease, their treatment and recovery.
We will meet at my home in Columbia near the Howard County Hospital (directions will be given when you email me your interest).
Date: Sunday, 9/21
Time: 3:00-4:30pm
Contact me at [email protected] Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
TF - I am now 3 days in treatment with the doc you sent me info on. I am really impressed. Learning about herx (and detoxing) as I type ....
You are a life saver in more ways than you can imagine. I had more going on than I thought with Lyme and co-infections.
Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
I am now 11 days into treatment. My Lyme aches/pains are about gone. I do have Babesia (confirmed) to deal with, and that has been unleashed now, so I will probably start that treatment next week.
Dr. J is very knowledgable about Babesia.
I saw online some pictures of small red dots on the skin that can be Babasia marker signs - funny thing I pointed them out to my PCP after I was first bitten by a tick and he said they were nothing ...