posted
I am in my 7th week of treatment, one drug amoxil 3000 mg a day. I have had significant improvement and had been seeing an LLMD in NY.
The LLMD in NY, didnt tell me to take a probiotic or any supportive help but did give me the abx and got me feeling better. Im sure if I would have asked he would have wrote me a script for a probiotic but I didnt.
He is a very nice dr and handles my important calls quickly if they seem to be an emergency. Also, he takes my insurance. Downside is that he doesnt have 90 min to spend with me as he has a large practice and is affiliated with a major hospital. Also, he is in New York and I now live in the midwest.
Now my problem...
Since moving back to the midwest I made an appointment with Dr. C... I pushed it back today because I wasnt sure if I really needed it.
First problem is it is actually cheaper to fly to NY and see my LLMD there and fly back, because he is covered under my insurance, than see Dr. C...
Second I have never had a positive band show up on any test not even Stony brook. Does Dr. C treat if no bands are present? I understand he uses Igenex but im afraid I will go off abx have that test ran nothing will show and then be out even more money and the cost of an appointment with him.
So, I guess im looking at the pros of going to Dr. C... I could drive there. But what else? I understand he will spend more time with me and cover more issues over the "what percent of health are you at" I get from my other dr but he is also more expensive.
I want to kick this thing as quick as possible but I also have to have money to survive... How is Dr. C at other areas of medecine for instance if I have a negative test will he still treat me to see whats up?
Does pricing with dr. c go down per visit?
Just trying to find the best route for me to go... If I go to the Dr.c apt I will literally only be able to afford the appointment then i will be broke...
** edited to remove cost **
[ 05-25-2010, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posts: 286 | From St. Louis | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
You don't need a prescription to take probiotics.
If you are making improvements with your current doctor and he's cheaper, why change? Maybe wait till you hit a plateau, that way you know you have another option.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
He treated my daughter without a positive test, but she did have a few bands present. He likes to call it antibiotic-responsive disease or something like that, so he would probably try you out on something and see if it helps. He did diagnose my daughter with borrelosis even though she didn't have a positive test, but she did have some bands present. I have been seeing him for 3 years. The cost of the appointments has remained the same since the 2nd visit. The 1st visit was double the price.
-------------------- Dying is easy. Living is harder. Posts: 257 | From owensboro kentucky | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Wow... a dr who takes insurance! Amazing that you can fly there and see him more cheaply than a "local" dr.
abigail is right... the 2nd and following appointments are half what the initial apptm is.
He will treat clinically as long as you have evidence of Lyme disease and respond to the meds. Am shocked you have NO bands however. Did you ever have a test thru Igenex?
I'll PM you.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Just read your other posts... understand your frustration while you are seeking answers.
Getting ready to change doctors so am interested in what you learn abt Dr. C's office.
Posts: 758 | From now TX | Registered: Mar 2001
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Keep flying back to NY, especially for insurance reasons.
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
i would not go off antibiotics for the test.
My previous llmd would just give me western blots while we were treating....a lot of times they'd be positive.
Some doctors like to take people off for testing, but based on my experience at least, it isn't necessary. Maybe for others it is, but i figure why bother?
If i were you, i'd keep seeing the other doctor unless you really feel you need a change.
Then in that case, you could consider any LLMD that does phone consults and is willing to see you in person only a few times a year.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I would also be sure to take something to prevent yeast. I take Nystatin, but many take Diflucan.
Most of us have it and I believe it can keep you sick.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
If your NY doc takes insurance, I'd go there.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
You may want to stay with your current LLMD who takes INS, that is a very big deal AND if you feel like you are getting the best treatment AND you are seeing improvments AND it is best for you financially.
DR C does not take ins, so you would have to submit it to your ins for out of network coverage and deductibles which are much higher than your in network costs. Not to mention you have to have the money to pay up front. He is very mindful of your $ and will do phone consults in between appointments we are on an every 4 month cycle of office visits. We are extremely happy to have found him, he has been a huge help to getting our lives back and I wouldnt change DRs even if one is coverd by ins!
At the end of the day if you have to make the best decision for you.
Posts: 52 | From Illinois | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Did you read about probiotics and florastor in Burrascanno's Guidelines?
We get the kind in the refrigerated section, it's been working well for us. We started with 60B cells per day taken once a day and 3 florastor pills per day taken three times a day. When a yeast infection was starting, llmd had us double the probio and flora, added Nystatin 3 times a day. And we cleaned up diet, no sugar, low fat, lean protien avoid starches, increased vegetables like brocolli, green beans...not so much fun for a teen, but it cleared up the problems within a few days.
Best wishes.
Posts: 124 | From Maryland, USA | Registered: Jan 2010
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