Hello, I am new to this discussion board. I'm have reason to believe that I have Lyme's (or similar), but it has not been confirmed.
Given the notorious difficulty in conclusive testing, I'm looking for help finding a physician who specializes in tick-born illnesses (and one who cares, as the ones I've seen are dismissive and prescribe Ibuprofen and tell me everything is fine).
I went camping in a known Lyme's area of western Wisconsin in 2013. Upon returning home to Minneapolis, I woke up one morning with sudden and significant joint pain in several joints accompanied by ringing in both ears.
I immediately suspected Lyme's but my doctor was unable to diagnose. I went back for more testing but, again, no results. I was sent to rheumatology (where I was asked why I was going to the doctor so much). They also told me to take Ibuprofen. "Joints just act up sometimes." I was 37 at the time. Symptoms went away after a couple weeks and I figured that since I saw a doctor and they gave me the okay, I must be fine.
Fast forward to October 2016: The joint pain and ringing suddenly appeared again--this time, worse. Now, I'm having minor joint pains all over and I can barely use one of my fingers on my dominant hand. Sometimes the ringing in my ears is so bad that I get a gag reflex and bright lights seem to hurt. I've gone back to my general practitioner three times and each time with no result (only a topical anti-inflammatory instead of an ingestible one).
Now, I fear that I've had undiagnosed Lyme's this whole time and I'm seeking HELP!
Please share any tips or info that may be of assistance. A referral to a Lyme's literate doctor would be a great help.
Thanks!
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Welcome to Lymenet! PM sent for MN & WI.
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!
A LLMD is one who has treated Lyme disease and the co-infections which come with it for many years and has gotten patients well. A good one will follow Dr. B's Guidelines, the "gold standard" for Lyme treatment.
Unfortunately, LLMDs are far and few between. 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":
Read the books written by the top LLMD, Dr. H, titled, "Why Can't I Get Better?" and his new one, "How Can I Get Better?". They are an excellent source of information.
Read "Cure Unknown" by Pamela Weintraub. Check the local library or buy it used on Amazon.
You would have to contact the moderators to ask how to change your username.
Also, please break up your posts into 2-3 sentence paragraphs, as there are people on Lymenet who cannot read large blocks of text due to neurological problems from Lyme.
To do this click the pencil/paper icon, make your changes, then click "Edit Post". Thanks.