lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Dear friends:
My husband and children and I are moving to Switzerland. This move is going to be expedited in order for the kids to start school in Basel on time.
Yes, I'm freaking out. I have been in touch with ILADS looking for a doctor in Switzerland.
There is just one llmd, but she is currently not taking new patients.
I have found two people online in European lyme forums, one American living in Switzerland, and one Dutch, that have told me whatever they can. Seem like terrific people suffering the same way we all are.
I learned that Switzerland has the highest tick infection rate in Europe. They subscribe the IDSA guidelines, and finding treatment is nearly impossible.
My nightmare.
Might have to travel to Germany for treatment. There is no one in France that anyone knows of.
Any information you all might have as my family makes this journey would be very helpful.
We might have to travel back to the United States regularly to get treatment.
I know laws from state to state differ. How often do you have to physically be in your lyme doctor's office for him to continue to write you prescriptions.
I know of one state that says every three months, and another state says every six months.
What have you all heard.
Thanks, mary, the basket-case Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
My goodness. That is quite a move.
My Mom is from Germany. Lyme is common knowledge there.
My grandmother, who is still living and in Germany,
Knows all about it and she is in her 80's.
I think she said it is something like 20% of the population are infected with Lyme.
I believe it is socialist medicine there.
You may do just as well with any good doc there as they obviously know so much
More about Lyme (other than our LLMD's).
Will be praying for you and your family as you make this transition.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
| IP: Logged |
dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
I am an American living in England for the last 11 years and I have resorted to just going back to the US to see an LLMD, about every 4-6 months. However, he doesn't need me to even come that often, I choose to as I want to see my family too.
I know others in the UK/Europe only travel there about 1-2 times a year, so you wouldn't necessarily have to go that frequently if you decided to do that.
There is only Dr M in Switzerland, and I really don't know of anyone else in France or anywhere. Even in the UK there are only two LLMDS, however, not as experienced as most of the ones we know of on Lymenet.
I am not sure Germany has anything great to offer either as another friend was initially treated there, but has decided to continue with her treatment with Dr H in NY. It may be 'common knowledge' in Germany, but I believe the treatment is very IDSA as the rest of Europe and USA, mainly.
Good luck DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Better take your medical records with you may help for continuing treatment.
-------------------- 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.
hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
I live in Switzerland, at the border with Germany.
Treatment here is as hard as in the USA, I belive. Only Dr. M-S follows the ILADS, the other 'specialist' is in Zurich Dr. S., he's like an IDSA follower (I've been to him and gave it up).
I found alternative treatments with a doctor, but he follows Dr. K, so not much on abx (he'll give you if you ask, but that's not how he usually treats patients). He's in Zug. If you'd like his contact, PM me.
I also go to Freiburg, at the border with France, not far from Basel, to see a naturopath who's the right hand of Dr. K. Not a doctor, so only on alternative treatment.
Patients in Germany suffer a lot to find good doctors, there are a few in this bord, maybe they'll answer your post?
Some do find doctors to prescribe long term abx, but you got to dig them up and possibly have to travel around. Insurance from Switzerland will not cover such 'abroad' treatments, unless they consider it was an emergency and that you dind't travel TO GET treatment but got an emergency while on a trip.
Selma
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Thank you all. Maybe I will meet you Selma once I am in Switzerland.
Mary
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm in Germany and I would recommend that you stay with your LLMD in the US. The situation here is NOT good.
There is one sort of LLMD about 280 kms from Basel (2 hours driving) but you have to wait 5-6 months to get an appointment.
He is abx friendly and treats more or less acc. to Dr. D in Boston. But usually - when you are not from the place or live close - he only gives recommendations to your normal doctor and if you don't find a normal doctor who is following his recommendations then you are lost again.
Also, he just starts to learn about coinfections like Babesia - you cannot expect much in this field, yet.
Really, I'd stay with your LLMD in the US.
All the best,
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
I believe here in Wisconsin, you have to see your duck once a year to keep getting prescriptions filled. At least that has been my case. Jim. ###
IP: Logged |
pls keep in touch, i am in Europe and very dissatisfied with my drs, maybe we can meet up and drive to Germany together!! Switzerland is not far from Germany, I never really investigated the German situation because I don't speak the language, I have heard they are more aggressive with treatment and they know more, but is it true?
Posts: 75 | From europe | Registered: Mar 2007
| IP: Logged |
hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
SEEWATER, no no, don't believe on that. We always think that the apple from the neighbor tastes better. That's NOT the case!!! Gabrielle is an 'old' lyme sufferer, she's gone through lots of trial and errors there...
Where are you in Europe?
MARY, yes, certainly, I would be pleased to meet you! I'm not though in an abx treatment as I told you before, just totally on alternative tx. I just sent you a PM.
Switzerland is infested with lyme,and there are different infections (than the US), but main ones (babesia, bart, mycoplasma, rikketsia, ehrlichia) are the same as in the US.
Same as for Germany (Gabrielle can confirm!). One different infection of concern is TBE, tick born encephalitis, still 'rare' but on the rise. You can get easily a vacination for that (it's virus). I didn't.
There's also another member here from Poland, hope he'll bump in this thread. Maybe he can speak of the situation there. His father is a medical doctor, if I'm not mistaken.
Selma
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
I forgot to say that I'm Belgian by nationality, and I have been through quite a few doctors, hospitals, and tropical disease centers in Belgium too to try to find help there.
Got ZERO HELP. The only medical doctor that believed my lyme story was my homeopath who knows me for years. He knew I was sick and that I was not a pshycho patient.
All the others, nope. My Elisa was coming negative by the time I started searching for help in Belgium. Before, it was still positive, so they even didn't do the Westernblot for me.
The chief-rheumatologist from the UCL hospital (university hospital, one of the best in Belgium) even laughed and told me: 'girl, you're reading too many sites in the internet' after I told him I think I got lyme arthitis...
So if you would like to go on with the ILADS guidelines, stay with the doctor in the US!
If you'd like to give a try with alternative treatments, there are quite a few alternatives around, specially in Germany, but also here in Switzerland.
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
All I know is there is alot of good research that has come out of switzerland on lyme disease, they are the ones that dsicovered the lyme cyst form and flagyl
IP: Logged |
VelveteenGirl
Unregistered
posted
While not ILADS, the author of the article below may be of some help or guide you to a doctor who can think outside the box.
This may be just the abstract, though. Full article might be good to see if you decide to contact him.
There is an email address.
Just 11 patients is a small study, but this guy may still be following those folks or of mind to keep searching until resolution.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic