This is more of a vent posting than anything. I am sure many on this board can relate.
I was bit on July 26th 2009. When I called my PCP afterward, he asked if I had a rash or bullseye and the answer was no. I blindly trusted my PCP of 13 years so I believed I would be fine. The incident was then forgotten.
When neuro symptoms started to set in November, PCP refused to see me. He referred me to specialist after specialist, 13 appointments with various docs in all. I called him four times over a two month period begging to see me because these "specialists" were missing something but he still refused because he could not add anything.
The PCP's last pre-Lyme referral was to a pain specialist stating I needed to learn to live with this pain. That really hit a nerve so I did my own research and the possibility of Lyme kept coming up.
The hunch was right but the damage had been done by steroids from one of the "specialists."
I wised up and found an LLMD (thank you Lymenet) and not an IDS. Getting better every month but still a work in process.
Fast forward to today. My cholesterol is very high because I quit the statins when starting the abx. LLMD is trying to bring down naturally but the PCP went ballistic when finding out I quit his Lipitor. Now, the little a$$h0l3 wants to get involved.
The PCP refuses to work with or contact my LLMD on this cholesterol issue since he is not an IDSA member. He demanded I see an Infectious Disease Specialist to get a second opinion. His opinion is the Lyme is gone so I can go back on the Lipitor. It does not matter that symptoms still exist. The PCP assured me that much research was done (I laughed out loud).
BTW, the ticker checks out just fine.
So, I refused the IDS referral. My wife dropped the PCP earlier this year and I will probably sign on with her new doc.
Thanks for reading. You guys and gals are great!
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
A Pittbsburg practitioner just last Summer still believed that if a patient has no bulls-eye or other rash.. that they're free & clear of any tick infection? No tests? No question as to what kind of tick?... or how long it might've been on you?
E-Gads! I had no rash what-so-ever at Either deer tick bite location, took a couple 100mg doxycycline tabs that morning (my own decision) after removal, and still ended up with a case of Lyme a few months later that took the better part of a year to throw!
Glad you're on the right path now. :0) These stories Continue to be all too common. {sigh}
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Definitely dump him! He is more trouble than he is worth and has changed your future forever.
Most of us are here because we never had the benefit of a rash. Doctors need to know that a rash only shows up in about 40% of cases.
Move on, and never look back!
PS.. my husband lowered his cholesterol 100 points by taking Red Yeast Rice (they use it to make Lipitor) and Omega 3's.
My cholesterol is very good and I take Vitamin E and Omega 3's.
Lipitor is a dangerous drug, if you ask me! Same with the other statins. Just Google it!
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
I think people should just say they got a rash from now on. At least then maybe we can be believed ugh
Posted by 2roads (Member # 4409) on :
Exactly Lymetoo, these Liptor type drugs within three -five years usually head up a legal defense commercial siting serious side-effects and damage.
Taking the natural derivative, naturally is what God intended during creation, a time when there were no Pharmaceutical companies or doctor kickbacks.
I would've laughed out out loud too. There is also definitely "a legend in my own mind" syndrome going on at that office. Ditch them.
if only they could receive a slap in the face like Chief Brody on your way out the door, because they did change your future. Shame on them.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Statins are very bad! My cousin was on them and now her muscles are damaged beyond repair. One of her doctors actually admitted that the statins were the cause.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I know of a couple of people who have died from the "preventive" drugs they were on.
The fact that he insisted you see only a member of the IDSA sounds as if there is more than regular old ignorance involved.
Good move on dumping him. I am not sure where we Lyme patients are supposed to find Lyme Literate PCPs, since there aren't any Lyme Literate anythings within hours of where I live, but our old doctors seem to let us down an awful lot, even on non-Lyme matters.
I also had a tick bite but never had a rash.
Posted by grandmother (Member # 19908) on :
After going through another version of the same thing, I sent a polite letter to the doctor who told me it was all in my head. It didn't change anything but I've always been happy I did it.
Posted by Karen Mc (Member # 23354) on :
yep, drop him and move on...thank goodness you eventually figured this out for yourself.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)