After talking to an acquaintance who was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and hearing of all the physicians she had to go to to finally receive a proper diagnosis...am seeking a physician who is able to diagnose without jerking me around. My acquaintance had to go to Cincinnati, Ohio to receive proper testing and pay out of pocket. I do not have the available funds for this. Is it possible to go to local physician and get the direct attention needed? Am plagued by muscle aches, joint aches, stabbing pains, fatigue, vertigo, nausea, etc. All started when I had several insect bites on skin about six months ago. Never had bullseye effect so I never thought Lyme Disease until spoke with acquaintance. She wouldn't give me name of any of her physicians and after research I realize the physicians don't want their names bantered about for various reasons. HELP!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Unfortunately, very few doctors know enough about lyme disease to be called a lyme specialist. There are no such doctors in Kentucky. See this recent post:
Sorry, but south of Washington, D.C. there are few to no good lyme doctors. So, folks in that area of the country are forced to travel out of state.
Many states have no lyme doctors.
I suggest you contact all of the lyme support groups in Kentucky and other nearby states. See Support Groups on the left side of this page.
These groups can tell you where folks in your area are going for diagnosis and treatment of lyme disease.
I can send you the name of a good lyme doctor right outside of D.C. Let me know if you want the name. After the first in-person appointment, you can do monthly telephone appointments with him. So, you won't have to travel more than twice per year.
You are describing lyme symptoms for sure. The stabbing pains are so common as are all of the other symptoms you name. Every singe one.
I suggest you review the list of common lyme symptoms on pages 9-10 of the following document:
This document was written by the best lyme doctor in the world--Dr. Joseph Burrascano--who is now retired. He was the lyme disease pioneer. They came from all over the globe to be treated by him.
Once you read about lyme and its coinfections, you may then see the necessity of doing everything possible to get to a lyme doctor.
When I had lyme, I also had babesiosis and bartonella. I went undiagnosed for 10 years. Believe me, things will just get progressively worse. These diseases just attack more and more bodily systems over time.
I had nausea 24/7 for the last 3 months of my illness prior to getting to a lyme doctor. The fatigue is so horrible that the word "fatigue" just isn't good enough to describe it.
Vertigo and nausea are common symptoms of babesiosis. So, you likely have both lyme and babesiosis.
Believe me, you will not get good help until you go to a doctor whose practice is strictly lyme disease. These diseases are so complex and serious that it takes a doctor who is specializing in them to know how to get you well.
And, many folks never get the bulls eye. You will read that in Burrascano, page 7:
"ERYTHEMA MIGRANS
Erythema migrans (EM) is diagnostic of Bb infection, but is present in fewer than half."
I also never had a bulls eye. That is one reason why I went undiagnosed for so long. It is the lack of correct information about lyme disease that keeps American doctors in the dark.
Generally, it takes a doctor getting lyme disease himself for him to learn the truth about this disease. All of the good lyme doctors became lyme doctors after they and their family members got the disease.
Good for you for finding LymeNet and asking for help here. We will help you all we can.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Info sent
Posted by Rene (Member # 4870) on :
Will send you some info later today. There is a Support Group in Louisville. We would love to meet you. It meets this Thurs. at 7 pm at Hurstbourne Christian Church. There are some lyme literate docs nearby. Look for a pm later today.