posted
I DON'T want to get my hopes up, but I was getting my blood drawn today (for my heparin) and the lady was asking me why I was on heparin....
So I told her that I had lyme disease. She started asking me all about what happened to me and I told her that I had to go out of state because none of my doctors believed that I could have lyme (with a CDC positive test) in Oklahoma.
She asked if I had seen any of the doctors in the building that we were in, I said no. She said well DR. D (a neurologist) tests people all the time for lyme and he believes in it. As a matter of fact there was a lady in last week going numb in her legs and he told she didn't have MS, but was testing her for LYME!!!
I only have 3 neuro's in my town, 2 are in practice together (1 is mine) and then this Dr.
I was dreading having to go back to my neuro for a follow up MRI...because of the lectures he likes to give about "lyme doesn't exist here"
I am probably getting my hopes up, but i will make an appointment sometime down the road (like a year from my last MRI) and see if he will follow me KNOWING that I am getting treatment for lyme disease, but wanting to keep an eye on any brain lesion changes.
The lab lady was freaking out because she lives out in the country like I do...ticks and all.
I REALLY don't mean to freak people out, but I just tell my story...that's enough, I guess..LOL
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Hey, it really does sound promising.
You might see if you can schedule an appointment now and get introduced. Why wait if he is a good doctor? A year from now he may have a closed practice and if you are established that would be helpful.
I'm sure there are some doctors out there who have been learning all along.
You might first ask around at both your support group and (quietly) at the MS support group about this doctor. Asking first for experiences rather than putting specific reasons for your asking. You don't necessarily want to draw attention to him but I hope you can find out more.
posted
I would probably call the office and either ask to speak to the new patient coordinator if they have one or the doc's nurse.
Some basic questions like which lab they use for Lyme testing and if they test for coinfections will give you a pretty good idea of how much they know. If the answers are Quest and LabCorp and what is babesia or bartonella then you will know to keep looking.
And of course it is always good to know if the doc takes your insurance.
Maybe you will get lucky and find someone that knows something.
Good luck.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Don't worry, I have a great LLMD and wouldn't even consider getting treated for lyme by a neuro!
I just wanted a neuro that could order follow up MRI's for me(that my insurance would pay for)...and not lecture me about how lyme doesn't exist in my state.
The lady at the lab (Lab One) said that he does sometimes send out tests to other labs...she didn't know the names of them...
I won't get my hopes up too high, I have already seen 4 neurologists in the last year.
It was also weird how the lady at the lab was telling me about the patient they were testing for lyme that went numb in her legs....since a friend of mine just had that happen last week(numb from the waist down).
I am beginning to believe conversations & chance meetings like this don't just happen by accident.
feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Amen Soonermom
Nothing happens by chance....i would make it a point to see this Neuro for your MRI needs.
Awesome news.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
congrats on hitting pay dirt!!!
i too encourage you to go and see/learn about this dr. BUT DO AS BEA SUGGESTS FIRST; call asking those questions. if you get good answers. make that appt.
then if you are satisfied, let me know ok and ask the dr. if it would be ok to list him as a lyme literate neurologist to help lyme folks in okla!!
here's info we would like to have for our list:
we need full name SPECIALTY street addy city, state
phone no. fax no. web site or email if possible
cost per hour for 1st visit cost for followups
do they take insurance? what kind? treat by IV or ORAL?
thanks for helping us add to our drs. of around 300 nationwide who are LLMD!
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Call the office and ask to speak to the doctor. Tell them "I'd like to speak to him so I can decide whether or not coming in for a consult would be a waste of my time and money, or whether he and I would be able to work together." They may tell you that he can't speak at the moment, so you can ask them if you could leave a message and have him return the call. They'll ask you "What is this regarding?" You can tell them you're considering becoming a new patient and that he's been recommended by someone else and you want to speak by phone first."
Tell them "I have questions that only he can answer."
If they say something along the lines of "We can't let you speak to him unless you're a patient" you can say "Well then, I won't become a patient unless I speak to him first by phone, so I hope you'll at least inform him of my concern and pass on my request."
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
I don't know very many doctors of any kind that will return a call from someone who is not a patient. Or even one who IS a patient, come to that.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Soonermom, we just saw my husband's Neurosurgeon yesterday.
Bill suffered a spontaneous carotid artery dissection last year.(inner lining of artery tore) so he is a patient of the Director of Neurosurgery)
Told Dr. that he's been diagnosed with Lyme since we last saw him. When we discussed some of the symptoms with him, he said yes, Lyme can give you just about every symptom there is.
Mind you , we had just been told by an emergency room Dr. the day before that Lyme is very rare in Florida. (NOT)
So there are Neuros who are knowledgeable about Lyme.
If I were you, I would make an appt to see the new Neuro immediately. You really can only evaluate a Dr. in person, and it's worth the time and money.
This Dr. may know something to help your neuro Lyme problem. Why wait a year to begin getting the proper help, when it may be available now.
Also, it may take some time before you can get in to see him.
Praying for your health and happiness.
-------------------- Wishing You Showers Of Blessings! Lyme since Fall 1983 = Diagnosed Summer 2008 IV Rocephin 7 weeks Stopped due to drug fever Now doxycycline "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 430 | From Sunny South | Registered: Jul 2008
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