posted
I have my first appointment coming up with my new LLMD since getting positive blood results.
Does anybody have any tips or suggestions for a first appointment? Anything to expect?
Posts: 62 | From Chicago, IL | Registered: May 2014
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Make a very complete list of your symptoms. Use Burrascano Guidelines, pages 9-10 to help you. Have one copy to give to the doctor and one for you.
This is the most important thing because lyme and its coinfections are diagnosed initally based on symptoms. So, the more you can name your symptoms, the faster the doctor can figure out what illnesses you are dealing with.
Don't forget to tell how your brain is working, including all types of mental and emotional symptoms.
Don't be afraid to tell even very weird symptoms.
Bring all relevant test results with you. Let the doctor copy your test results. You always keep all of your test results.
Have notes of the date you were bitten (if known) when you first got sick (month and year if possible). What the symptoms were then. If more symptoms got added, when was that.
Have a list of all treatment you have received (if any) for lyme and coinfections including dosages. Have names of doctors who treated you.
Make a list of questions for the doctor. Put them in priority order. This way, if you don't get time to ask them all, you will have asked your most important questions first.
One question is always, "How do I contact you between appointments if I am experiencing problems?"
Also, how often will the doctor want to see you. Can appointments be done by phone, if you are not local.
If you don't know what lyme treatment protocol the doctor uses, ask if he follows the Burrascano protocol. If not, what protocol?
You may want to ask the staff when checking out if there is any charge for patient calls/emails in between appointments.
If you are not told to eat a certain diet, ask about that.
If you are not told to take probiotics, ask about that. What kind should I take, how many, etc.
If you are not told to take supplements, ask if you should take any.
If these things are not mentioned by the doctor without you asking, that can be a bad sign.
The doctor should also ask you a lot of questions to elicit even more symptoms, such as, "Do you ever get lost driving home?" "How is your brain working?" "Do you have or have you gotten any red lines on your body?" "Do you have a white coating on your tongue?"
The doctor should also look at your tongue to see if you have candida before starting you on antibiotics. If you do, you should be given Diflucan to take before starting antibiotic therapy.
Take notes on the things the doctor says.
My doctor always wrote down his instructions and gave them to me. That is very helpful and means you don't have to remember or take good notes. But, if your doctor isn't going to do this, be sure you write down any instructions he gives you. Then, repeat it back to him to be sure you got it correctly.
Think about the appointment after you leave. This will help you remember what happened and can be useful in evaluating your doctor's expertise in lyme disease and his approach to treating you.
If money is tight, tell him about this if he recommends other tests or any expensive medications, etc. Ask what is optional considering your limited finances or what can be done more cheaply.
I hope you have researched your doctor thoroughly. That generally results in a better appointment because you already know how you will be treated.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I think it's a good idea for them to order a bloodtest to see your markers for inflam, thyroid, Vit D, etc.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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