posted
UPDATE: My PCP read the lyme stuff I gave her and called me today agreeing to refer...Keep faith!
*********** My PCP (not lyme literate) just got my lab blood test result back from Quest and said there's no indicator of lyme or any other infections (how could it be?! I have obvious sinustis!!) and my liver functions very well too.
That couldn't explain why my hands are constantly shaking and the rashes on my elbows, knees, ankles, thighs and hips (they start to fade now after two months).
Anyway, she refuses to refer me to infectious disease specialist (who won't do much good) because the blood test result is not convincing!!
Gee, can anyone talk me out of trying to save $$$ by sticking with my BCBS HMO routine?!
I'm now on doxy and cipro, hope those will hold on for a while before I get enough money to pay by myself
[ 21. February 2007, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: justag ]
Posts: 196 | From atlanta/norcross, georgia | Registered: Feb 2007
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
BCBS ppo at least mine you dont need a referral it costs $25.00 self referral specialist. $15.00 self referral MD or LLMD thats not a specialist field like ID docs, Family pcp not mine who happens to be a internist also treats lyme. see?
There are lots of LLMD's that have different letters in front of there names.
You dont need a infectious disease specialist to find and or tret lyme. Go to the Drs section and post for a llmd.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
Print this abstract out and give it to your PCP...
Microbes & Infection 2006 Sep 22; [Epub ahead of print]
Invasion of human neuronal and glial cells by an infectious strain of Borrelia burgdorferi.
* Livengood JA, * Gilmore RD Jr.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, 3150 Rampart Road, CSU Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
Human infection by Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent for Lyme disease, can result in serious acute and late-term disorders including neuroborreliosis, a degenerative condition of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
To examine the mechanisms involved in the cellular pathogenesis of neuroborreliosis, we investigated the ability of B. burgdorferi to attach to and/or invade a panel of human neuroglial and cortical neuronal cells.
In all neural cells tested, we observed B. burgdorferi in association with the cell by confocal microscopy.
Further analysis by differential immunofluorescent staining of external and internal organisms, and a gentamicin protection assay demonstrated an intracellular localization of B. burgdorferi.
A non-infectious strain of B. burgdorferi was attenuated in its ability to associate with these neural cells, suggesting that a specific borrelial factor related to cellular infectivity was responsible for the association.
Cytopathic effects were not observed following infection of these cell lines with B. burgdorferi, and internalized spirochetes were found to be viable.
Invasion of neural cells by B. burgdorferi provides a putative mechanism for the organism to avoid the host's immune response while potentially causing functional damage to neural cells during infection of the CNS.
PMID: 17045505
The bottom line is that one of the CDC's own research groups now has evidence that Bb can infect the host without the host's immune system recognizing it's there...i.e., the typical markers that go up when we have an infection, such as WBC count, antibodies on the Western Blot, etc, DON'T happen in patients w/Bb.
This study has huge implications, and because it's so new, the typical doc out there isn't aware.
I hope it will help open her eyes.
Also, you should educate her about the CD57. Have you had a CD57 drawn? If not, look it up here or on the Washington State Lyme Disease website. If it's low, that would help support your diagnosis. Dr. Stricker developed this test, and it's found to be low only in pts w/Lyme disease.
Good luck,
Patti
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
The CD57 isn't considered "diagnostic", but is used to monitor treatment success. According to studies done, it is low in pts w/chronic Lyme disease who have not been treated w/abx. In Chronic Lyme pts who have been treated w/abx, some have a low CD57 but some have normal levels.
So, like the Western Blot, it isn't an absolute either. But if you've been sick for 2 years, there's a good chance that it will be low if you have Lyme disease.
I'm not an expert on this. You should really check out the Washington state Lyme disease site I mentioned earlier. There's a lengthy discussion of the CD57 there.
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
You know what I would do>? I would ask around to try and find a Lyme friendly physician who would be under another specialty than ID doc- and would then ask for a referral for something that has nothing to do with Lyme!!!! Example- find out there is a Rheumie who is Lyme or at least abx friendly- or a gastro doc- or anyone- and THEN ask regarding whatever that is-!! If your doc is anti-Lyme they don't tend to change.
Sorry!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I am sending you a Blessing so you will find a great the help you need on your next visit.
Blessings,
Julia
-------------------- Please consult your LLMD before making any changes to your treatment regimen. Posts: 641 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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