Topic: what if you can't afford a specialist???????
Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
Ok, you all have recommended that I see a lyme specialist. However, I don't know if I can afford one! I have Tricare insurance and I seriously doubt they'll cover it.
Are there things I can do myself at home?? Is there a medication that maybe I can try first to see if it helps??
Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
I forgot to mention. My homeopathic dr has me trying a candida diet and wants me to go through a detoxing program for my body. Can these help????
posted
The candida and detox should help you feel better if you have a problem there. Otherwise you could get Samento drops for the Lyme and some artemisinin for babesia.
Can you talk your GP into some abx??
The money you would save by not seeing an LLMD may be lost in the real thing you want to save.....your health!
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
WELCOME To LYMENET
Here's more goodys! A typical response to newcomers.
Hi and WELCOME! Get a LLMD or at least Dr that is willing to learn about lyme. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and on your response to treatment. Good Luck, bumpy road ahead.
( No you don't always see a bite and if there's no bullseye the only way your going to be able to tell is (symptoms) and (((Maybe))) WB or lyme dot blot 3 day urine banged with abx's to free your antigens up for the test. ) See this ( . )thats the size of the larva stage tick... Next nymph size... ( * ) Next is adult ( o ) to ( 0 ) Pretty small????? HUH
LLMD is Just a Doctor has been treating lyme disease and has a good understanding of its symptoms and treatment protocol.This dosent go away without high prolonged treatment with abx's=antibiotics but probiotics dont hurt get a llmd or if you do have lyme it will get worse not better.
[This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 21 January 2005).]
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Check with your insurance to what extent they might cover out of network MD visits. Some insurances cover out of network visits up to a certain percentage (after a certain deductible has been reached).
If they don't, and you really can't afford a LLMD, request from your insurance a list of all providers and call them to ask if they have any experience in treating lyme disease (ask about success rate, lenght of treatment etc.). As mentioned earlier, begin with your current GP. He/she might be willing to learn more about the disease and help you on the long run.
We have Tricare as our secondary insurance, and I go to a wonderful LLMD. Our Primary insurance covers some out-of-network cost, and our secondary (TriCare) picks up some, also.
We still have a lot of out-of-pocket cost, but your TriCare will cover some, I think. I have TriCare Standard.
You can call them and ask if they will cover your out-of-network appts. That's the best way to find out.
I call my insurance a lot to be sure of what is covered and what is not. Then I know how much I will be paying ahead of time and can plan.
Even if I have to put off a travel appt for a while, you can always have a phone appt, and that is lower in cost, due to no travel time, no gas, and only about a half hour on the phone. If you have a list of what you want to discuss in front of you while talking, it might save you even more.
Nancy, they will work with you and your financial situation, but do get thee to a LLMD.
We do have to pay up front for all exams, but they then file your insurance.
Treepatrol gave you some excellent sites to check out, and do check with Seeking a Doctor.
Please show here and also on SEEKING A DR. *(be sure to show STATE NEEDED in topic line!) in other section, and others who live in your state can respond who THEIR LLMD are to help you decide.
Then they can give you some ideas about cost.
Best suggestion was calling your care provider instead of IF they cover or don't. Then you can deal with the facts, and go from there.
TREEPATROL & Tincup's combo newbie links are wonderful. Print off their list, check off as you read as there are MONTHS of reading there! Best wishes. Glad you found this 24/7 educational support group. Betty G., Iowa
Nancy, do you have SUPER sensitivity to light? We should eliminate all light coming into our homes, wear special AMBER NoIR/no infrared/UV sunglasses for outside and another for inside on pc, watching tv, etc. www.noir.com models 901 & 907 are recommended.
When you do go outside, wear a hat, sunglasses, LONG sleeves & pants, and wear gloves covering up your hands as you drive.
Posts: 1 | From US | Registered: Aug 2015
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posted
The LLMD lifeline is talking about is one of the very best. He charges around $400 for the initial visit, which is two hours of comprehensive evaluation on the first visit.
Is Tricare a medicare supplemental ins?? If so, that's great.....this LLMD takes Medicare. If not, you pay upfront and apply for reimbursement with Tricare.
quote:Originally posted by bettyg: Nancy, do you have SUPER sensitivity to light? We should eliminate all light coming into our homes, wear special AMBER NoIR/no infrared/UV sunglasses for outside and another for inside on pc, watching tv, etc. www.noir.com models 901 & 907 are recommended.
When you do go outside, wear a hat, sunglasses, LONG sleeves & pants, and wear gloves covering up your hands as you drive.
Are you on the Marshall Protocol, or do you just eliminate the light because it bothers you?
Are you on Doxy??
I need EXTRA light, especially in the winter, or I get depressed. [as in SAD]
Its a tough place to be to worry about the cost of this kind of health care-I know because I'm there with you.
We only have catastrophic insurance with a very high deductible and no Rx coverage so so far we've been paying everything out of pocket. And right now I work at a very low paid job and the hubster is unemployed...often the Rx for the month will take a whole week or even two of my salary.
Here's what I know- I called about five different LLMD's. Their initial office visits range from $180 to $775 and the follow up visits vary widely depending several factors. I ended up seeing one based more on his reputation than his affordibility.
My Rx's seem to usally cost around $200-$300 per month but have been as high as $500. This is for oral abx and ususally the generic if the LLMD said it was okay.
Plus I take a lot of supplements which I haven't tracked the cost of but I'd guess they cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $75-$100 per month.
There are tests too but since I had a EM rash and some very obvious other symptoms I didn't bother to get one since the docs were willing to treat me without the tests.
I'm sure all of this varies ALOT depending on your individual situation.
In my case we are muddling through by depleting our "rainy day" fund, living cheap and a little help from relatives.
But I'm glad I did it-I feel strongly that I wouldn't be getting better if I hadn't.
I don't know if this helps but I thought I'd tell you my experience.
-Shanna
------------------ Wishing you fast healing and good health!
Posts: 109 | From Colorado | Registered: Aug 2004
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Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
You guys are great, thanks for the info. I just need to figure out how to get started. I don't think this illness is going to kill me, but I am tired of suffering. I just want to feel better and it's really scarey!
posted
Disclaimer: I am 1) not a doctor, and 2) a total medical amateur. All these are just ideas I've used to beneficial effect, or have read about with great frequency on Lymenet. This is all opinion, in other words, and makes no claim to medical fact.
Minocycline and doxycycline are two of the most widely prescribed antibiotics for acne. Minocycline is supremely effective against Lyme when taken longterm, but also causes the worst herx known to mankind. For more info on this abx, try a search for a former Lymenetter named TX Lyme Mom.
TOA-free cat's claw is related to the quinolone family, which works on bartonella. Claw cannot cure bart, but may be able to improve the symptoms a little.
Artemisinin, while it seems to need mepron to be fully effective, is a necessary ingredient in a good babesia treatment, and can be bought online or at any neighborhood health food store. Lymenetters tend to love Allergy Research/Nutricology brand. Be aware that artemisinin is different from, and more powerful than, artemisia.
Bromelain apparently helps with inflammation. L-theanine helps with anxiety. Phosphatidylcholine, fish oil, and plant oils all temporarily ameliorate neuro damage.
Coptis extract helps control yeast, and works pretty well on neuro Lyme, though not on the co-infections. Berberine, the active ingredient in coptis, can also be found in some other herbs to a lesser degree.
Zhang's herbs can be helpful, depending on what you use them for. A lot of people like garlic + artemisinin for babesia, and I love his Hepa Formula 2 to keep my liver enzymes down while taking large abx doses. All the ingredients in his products are listed online. They aren't cheap, they aren't perfect, but they don't require a prescription, either.
Broken cell wall chlorella, N-acetyl choline and alpha lipoic acid help remove heavy metals from the body, and support liver and immune function. Be sure to take extra B vitamins and chelated mineral supplements when using these.
Probiotics help support the immune system.
All of these may possibly be of use to you, not in curing Lyme and the co-infections, but in restoring some measure of functioning.
posted
We also have Tricare--now as our primary insurance. The good news is they have covered prescriptions and lab(but not all labs) so far without question. However, my LLMD submits the paperwork after I pay, and we are reimbursed about a third of the cost by Tricare. If he were a part of the network they would pay most of it.
You do need to check with the insurance and the doctor to be sure, as one LLMD I went to while on the waiting list for my current LLMD was neither in the network nor on the list of approved so Tricare paid nothing.
It is really importent to get to an LLMD as I wasted a number of years with doctors who did not know what to do. Good luck!!
Ann
Posts: 287 | From Northern California, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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