Went to an appointment today to help out someone who has been TRYING for years to get a Lyme, Bartonella and coinfection tests. The patient was so sick they fell asleep on the bed/table in the room and the duck had to wake them up when they arrived.
Duck said ...
1. Even though you have had multiple tick bites and many more than the average person... and you are sick.. doesn't mean it is Lyme. (after refusing to do a Lyme test and a BIG lecture to us for even asking).
2. The duck said only about 10 percent of ticks are infected here.. for which he was reminded that isn't so.... (Actually over 80 percent are)
3. After the duck.. who at this time was slightly irritated with me... demanded to know what symptoms the patient had (we supplied a two page list previously that was in the chart) .. and I started off with the reason I was there for them... (and that is as far as THAT conversation went) ..
I said for one thing... the patient has a poor memory....
Well.... before I could say any other symptoms or even another word... the duck immediately dropped the Lyme topic and said patient needed a full neurological work up with a neurologist which would encompass CT scans, MRI'S, etc..
Of course I HAD to say to the duck... NO neurologist... no CT scans... and no MRI's or other STUPID stuff... until the SIMPLE blood tests are done!!!
4. Then .. as I AGAIN insisted the patient should at least have a Bartonella test... the duck got VERY angry and said they just TOLD me they ALREADY did one and this time they STILL wouldn't do a Western Blot... and they only would do a SCREENING TEST for LYME!!!
That is when I suddenly realized.. that throughout the whole conversation... the duck actually thought Bartonella WAS Lyme.
Needless to say.. when I explained to the duck ..in front of the patient who even knew better... that Bartonella WASN'T Lyme it was a different disease caused by a completely different organism... and that Borreliosis was the other name for Lyme...
Well... let's just say the appointment didn't go too well.
The patient later said after we left the office... at that point when I had to tell the duck Bartonella wasn't Lyme.. and I had to explain the difference between Bartonella and Borrelia to the duck... the duck backed away from me ...and the patient thought it was because the duck was so angry that the duck was holding back trying not to hit me.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
So I can be a little irritating sometimes...
End results... ONLY an ELISA was ordered.. which we didn't want at all. Duck also INSISTED several times that they did a Lyme test already ... blah blah blah.. and the patient didn't need another one... blah blah blah...
Anyhow...
That was BEFORE the duck looked over and saw the copies of all the labs that had been done in the past that I had just picked up a few minutes earlier from the receptionist... which the duck didn't know I just got...
And then the duck tried to take the papers from me!!!
I KNEW by the ducks reaction at that point that NO Lyme test was ever done. Once home I looked at all the tests and results... and NO Lyme test was ever done. The duck lied!!! On purpose!!!
What I DID find in the tests after I got home were high white blood counts (indicating an infection)... liver and kidney abnormalities (possible Bart, Babs Lyme)...
Two other tests indicating possible babesia... etc etc...
And the patient was NEVER told any of that... just left to be sick!!!
Yes.. I ate a duck for dinner today.
And I STILL have feathers stuck between my teeth!
Posted by lorima (Member # 11925) on :
ohhhhhh - I was going to say "unbelievable!" but then I realized it was all too believable. So sorry you had to go through this. I am having duck for dinner too - I sent an email to someone who was referred to me for information. She wanted to know why I think ILADS is right and IDSA et al. is wrong.
I laid out the evidence as well as I could, but then of course you have to address how it can be that so many mainstream drs. can be so clueless - it's hard to believe if you don't have personal experience of it.
So I was, well, candid, about what I think is going on with the ID docs, which trickles down to the PCPs - you know, how they're blind followers, don't understand science, are easily impressed by hierarchy and turf issues, and cover each other's butts. How the IDSA-type experts are not trained scientists, have loaded up the literature with reams of plausible-sounding but bad publications, and are up to their necks in liability and conflict of interest because of Lymerix and their industry and CDC recommendations and connections.
The recipient of my email said she was changing all the names in my email (so I don't get blacklisted ;-) and taking it to the ID dr to see what he has to say about it all. I hope she follows through - I can't wait to hear (at second-hand) what he's got to say for himself and his ilk.
Good luck and good health, Lorima
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Wow -- a new species -- shall we call it bartonellia or borrelinella??
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Lorima..
Yes.. it is astounding how STUPID and ARROGANT they can get!!! I am sorry the email person you spoke about is having trouble too.
But please DO tell when the report gets back to you! I'd LOVE to hear this one. hopefully though.. the patient won't be crushed... literally or figuratively!
And keep up the good work!!! Keep kicking duck butt!
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Robin 1234567...
You are too funny!
Maybe I should call and ask the duck! Especially since the duck seems to like making up things!
HA!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Oh, the possibilities. You could call up the duck and ask 'em if they have any info on a possible recent exposure to lymosis coupled with possibly tickesia and canardia.
Posted by Skyler (Member # 11549) on :
that is the most bothersom story i have read. And the sad part is, i have heard sooooooooooo many just like that story.
WHY ARE THESE DOCTORS SOOOO OPPOSED TO EVEN LOOKING at the possablity of Lyme?!
What are they told to where they get angry when someone is sick with lyme?
You know, if you went in there and had symptoms of MS, he would take your side and order a test.
Why is Lyme treated with such hatred?
Posted by Soleilpie (Member # 8481) on :
Tincup
You are an amazing friend to the person you advocated for Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I think Lyme is not treated, due to hatred, for many reasons. It's complicated, there's no bona fide easy cure, tests are not a shoe-in, it's expensive, insurance doesn't want to pay for it, there may be patents pending, and it may be mixed up with biowarfare, like the cat got out of the bag, and they don't want to admit it, otherwise everyone would sue the govt.
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
wowee zowee! It just amazes me all the horror stories. It never ends.
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