I'm looking for a Primary Care / Internal Medicine doctor to coordinate my care with a nurse practitioner who specializes in Lyme.
I need someone who can manage basic medical needs (adrenal fatigue; sinus infections; high cholesterol; etc.), but is also willing to work with an LLMD.
My current primary care doctor (integrative medicine) is not a believer in aggressive, long-term Lyme treatment.
Ideally, I'd like someone in the Alexandria or Springfield area.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Just a few points about what you are looking for in an MD. I do hope you find someone who is at least somewhat LL and can help coordinate your care. Maybe you will get a good suggestion from someone who knows.
The LLMD / LL NP with whom you will be working would be the best person to make suggestions.
Still, it's important to know that you will not likely find any MD who will know what to do about the kinds of
1. adrenal dysfunction that comes with lyme, or even about adrenal support for fatigue. They just don't think like that or have that kind of education.
2. cholesterol. Lyme changes so much about how a body works, including cholesterol. Most MDs are not aware of the dangers of statins and may push them. Statins are NOT a good idea, at all.
And, with lyme, the cholesterol numbers are not necessarily handled in the same way as in someone without lyme. Your LLMD should guide you on this (or suggest the specific doctor if they know one personally).
Liver support is vital to helping manage cholesterol, though. Still, you can't count on the numbers. They don't tell the whole story - or the causes.
A LL ND (naturopathic doctor) or a holistic MD would be best to handle your adjunct care for so many reasons. You can also do much on your own, even just with adrenal support.
A GP who would be a regular MD could do certain routine blood work, though, what might be covered by insurance. And, if you have other issues, of course, not connected to lyme (but lyme just changes so much about the body that so much is connected).
LIVER & KIDNEY SUPPORT & and several HERXHEIMER support links, too -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Sinus issues.
Another area where most MDs are just not able to help someone with lyme: sinus issues. Unless you have a structural problem.
Sinus infections are often connected to lyme, et.al. Your LLMD should be involved in this part, too, though. They may have a suggestion for if another infection might be at play -- and IF you need a specialist in this area, they might know someone.
MOLD issues are often connected. Assess your surroundings and Ask your LLMD what they think.
Yet, while getting treated for lyme all that goes along with it, sinus trouble can be helped with some diet changes, especially going gluten-free & dairy-free. That has made my sinuses go from miserable to nearly normal.
Going scent free and avoiding all commercial cleaning products, etc. also helped. Avoiding all spray products or powders, too.
Be sure to see the articles here, first, about diary. Then about gluten:
posted
Thanks so much for the info, Keebler. I've already tried most of the sinus suggestions, but I'll be reading the other links carefully.
Looks like I'm in the market for a new LLMD as well. My first choice (DNP S) isn't accepting patients right now.
Do you think it's better to (temporarily) continue seeing an LLMD I don't have much faith in, or suspend treatment altogether for several months?
Posts: 118 | From Northern Virginia | Registered: Apr 2012
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I believe that it is going to be extremely difficult to get in with DNP S even when she again opens up for new patients.
There will be a flood of people vying for the few spots available. I advise you to look for a better lyme doctor because there is truly no guarantee that you will see S at all.
If you want a suggestion from me, let me know. And, let me know who your current lyme doc is.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would very much trust TF's recommendations. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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