Let me ask you all a question just to see if my anger is justified or if it's an emotional issue that I'm going through in trying to deal with my daughter's diagnosis.

My daughter's test results from IGeneX and LabCorp for Striker panel, co-infections, etc., have been sitting on our LLMD's desk for 2 weeks now. I know they've been sitting there because I called the labs and they told me tests were completed and sent to the LLMD.

In spite of THREE phone calls to our LLMD for test results, we have yet to hear ONE word back.

Only one phone call was returned by a *receptionist* re: length of our daughter's abx treatment (we wanted to know if we should extend treatment until our next appt).

I can't help it, but I'm livid about this. About being ignored. About paying out a LOT of money to see a doctor who can't be bothered to return our phone calls.

I'd rather her call and say ANYTHING to us rather than nothing at all. The feeling of being non-existant, not mattering, unimportant...you name it...is filling me with rage.

So, in your opinions, do you think my anger is justified, or am I being irrational and unreasonable?

Thanks, everyone, for any input you'd like to offer.

(edited to clarify)

Yes, the doctor is a LLMD. We sought the LLMD out after realizing that our pediatrician was not Lyme literate.

My heart goes out to you. Yes, you have a right to be angry. I'm still angry.

I'm still waiting our clinic's "official" investigation who dropped the ball here on my lyme positive dx!

So complain to the top person in charge. The SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS GREASED! I wanted to know these things:

1. Why did I the patient have to follow up on my blood tests 4 wks. after they were sent to Igenex?

2. Why didn't the blood lab have a FOLLOWUP system calling a lab for results when they hadn't been returned in 1-2 wks?

3. Why after I visited my dr. requesting again the lab results did our local blood lab call IGX in Calif. & they were FAXED that morning to clinic.

4. Why was it 1.5 days later before I got an answer when I called them although I have told them NOT to call until after 2 pm since I'm in bed all morning & then on internet...we have ONE phone line.

5. They also screwed up and did NOT have a drs. dx code on IGX's special request form, and then sent ALL my BC/BS reimbursement paperwork back to me after 6 wks. vs. having furnished the BLUE CARD co. the drs. dx code! Was I livid! I spent 2.5 hrs. calling 4 people that day...twice each.

Toni's daughter has already been diagnosed AND is being treated for Lyme. She had two bull's eye rashes, confirmed by physician, so doesn't really need a positive Lyme test to confirm Lyme. She has been tested for coinfections, so that is the real question.

The doctor they are waiting to hear results from IS a LLMD, and a good one. She is also available only part of the week, and like all other LLMDs in CA, is VERY busy.

So, while it's not good to hear they aren't returning calls, it is not surprising. Lyme patients are very high maintenence, and take up a lot of doctor time beyond appt time.

Your doctor may not be comfortable with letting you have the results till the appt. This is perfectly reasonable, as you can't DO anything about it till then anyway. Some people only worry themselves over results they don't understand.

Now, my doctor does let me get my results first, because he knows I'm very educated about them, and will research treatment before my appt.

But your LLMD doesn't know you yet. So she may not feel comfortable with that.

Also, my doctor's office charges for phone consults.

quote:

---

In the interest of keeping our office visit fees as low as possible, and due to the time of our staff involved in patient care, we must charge a fee for some services, as you will see throughout this informational document.

If you need to call for clarification of the Doctor's instructions, there will be no charge for the initial 10 minutes.

If you call for general information and it requires more than 5 minutes of staff time, there will be a $1.00 per minute charge.

To provide you with optimal care when you have individualized questions, the Doctor may need to review your chart and for this there will be a $10 - $20 charge.

If your question requires further chart review, you may be asked to schedule a brief office visit or phone consultation with the Doctor at regular office fees.

---

Now, if you were calling because your daughter was having a SERIOUS increase in symptoms that required immediate intervention, I would be upset. But wanting to know lab results, I would give them a little more slack.

I've stood in my LLMDs office and watched the receptionist answer calls. Its nonstop.

What was the response about the continuation of medication? Have they extended it?

Maybe other labs offer this additional fax to option? It won't help today, but in the future it could
make your life easier and less stressfull.

Our llmd has become overwelmed and as wonderful as they all are in the office, it take a long time for them to get results to us.

It really does take its toll on the office staff. Unfortunaltly it is the environment we have to live in because of the lack of Lyme litereate physicians.

It sounds like your daughter has already been placed on antibiotics. The test results may or may not change what she is taking. I bet though if it was an emergency, or you were in need of perscriptions, they would get right back to you.

Since you have already asked on several occasions for the results, I would wait until your next appointment. I know that sounds bad, but there is only so much we can expect out of them. They are overloaded with very little relief in sight.