posted
I just returned from my first visit with an LLMD. He wasn't very thorough. He was overwhelmed with patience, and had alotted 15 minutes for our visit. He cut me off a lot when I tried to speak, and basically shoved me out the door.
On the bright side, he was concered about my illness, and did give me a 2-month supply of antibiotic treatment for Lyme, without a positive test result.
On the down side, my blood pressure (at 22) is dangerously high, and apparently I have a very clear heart murmur He also gave me a blood pressure medication to try.
Hope this goes ok. Just thought I'd let everyone know how it went.
Thanks for listening,
Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Wow, Sara, sorry it was not as thorough as maybe it should have been, especially on your first visit.
However you have a very positive attitude about it anyway. Hope you see some results from all of this and it is good to know that you caught the other dangers that you have in that 15 min visit.
Thank you for sharing. Take care, Amanda
Posts: 688 | From SW Arkansas | Registered: Dec 2003
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riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
That doesn't sound very thorough for a first visit! Fifteen minutes isn't nearly enough time to make sure there isn't anything else serious going on.
Is this someone who was recommended to you? What kind of antibiotics were you given? Were you told what to watch out for, how to take care of yourself? Did he recommend you take probiotics?
Sorry it didn't go better.
Have you read the basics on Lyme? You need to at least know about the possibility of herxing, the need for probiotics, and how you might respond to antibiotics. If you are taking doxycycline, there are quite a few precautions you need to know about.
cootiegirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3216
posted
Was this doc really lyme literate and one that is known by people around here? That visit certainly doesn't sound typical of the first visits people have with llmds. My first visit was two hours long, as were my childrens' initial visits with their llmd. Not only do those first visits include an extensive history, but also a physical exam. There is a lot to go over that first time. I have serious concern that this physician is billing him/herself as an llmd and just casually passing out abx...what were you given?
Sorry, this doesn't sound like a very good doctor at all - very atypical....think I'd look around.... cootiegirl
Posts: 1728 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Think I know who you went to see and getting 15 minutes was pretty darn good for him. He basically just helps people a little and expects you to find someone else to do the heavy lifting. Doesn't want to get too involved with losers like us who will just keep coming back and have complicated problems.
Sorry, your area just poor in Lyme docs.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Everyone is so amazingly helpful here and I can't thank you enough.
The doctor I went to see was sort of reccommended. He is in the Baltimore area. Actually, Dr. S from DC (who is supposed to be pretty good), apparently was referring people to this doctor, but I can't validate that because I got his name elsewhere. He did not ask me much medical history at all, did not ask me what symptoms were most bothersome to me now, and did not tell me what else it could be, if not Lyme disease.
Yes, I guess it was a failure. I have an appt. with Dr. S, but not until the end of March.
The antibiotic he gave me is Amoxicillin. That is not the one I was told I should be given, so I wasn't expecting it, but does it work? I know I am supposed to take it 3 times a day for 60 days, but I am not sure of the mg dosage because it is still at the pharmacy due to some confusion with insurance that just got worked out.
Should I not take this? Are there things I should be concerned about with this drug? He didn't tell me any warnings, just that "it is very safe and I give it to people for minor things too."
The other concern is that I know antibiotics don't always work on me unless they are really strong.
Any help I would be so thankful for once again!
Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
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riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
Sara, amoxicillin has fewer precautions than doxycycline, probably why he felt OK to give it with so little history from you.
The main concern would be whether he gave you enough to be effective. For Lyme, Dr. Burrascano recommends 1 gram of Amoxicillin three times a day, along with probenicid 500mg three times a day. Some people need higher doses.
Be sure to take a good probiotic two hours after each dose of antibiotic, in order to replenish the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
I would also be concerned about whether you have been properly evaluated. There can be other health isssues instead of or in addition to Lyme disease that need to be assessed. I don't know your history, so I don't know how clear it is that you have Lyme.
But even with a known tick bite and a bull's eye rash, at the very least any tick borne coinfections should be checked. If the Lyme history is not that clear, other things need to be looked at as well.
I personally wouldn't accept this as a sufficient health evaluation. I'm sure the folks out near you could give you the names of other doctors who are more through.
I did not get any other medications in addition to the amoxicillin. I hope it is ok to take just that.
I am now going to go find out what a probiotic is since I have never heard the word before!
I agree, that I should not be satisfied with the assessment. I am not certain I have lyme. I need a much more thorough LLMD to tell me that.
After 5 years of searching for answers and not finding any, going from specialist to specialist and getting sicker and sicker, I think I am willing to give this a try. I hope I see some results, although I'm not quite sure what to expect and when to expect it. I am also a little confused because I was told by some that if I have stomach upset and diarrhea on the antibiotic that it is a good sign that means it's working, and by others that it is a bad sign. I have not started them yet so I don't know if this will happen, I just guess I wish I knew more of what to expect with this medication.
Thank you very much for your help.
Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Hi Sarabear, Hang in there and get to Dr. S. You won't regret it. The llmds are so backed up, it is rediculas. People are coming out of the woodwork with lyme & tick borne diseases.Call Dr. S's office and get on a cancelation list. You just might get in sooner. You also might want to get checked for co-infections while you are waiting to get in to see Dr. S. Then you will have results and if you need to be treated for anything else it will happen sooner.
posted
Thank you, Barngirl. I am eagerly awaiting my visit with Dr. S. I got on the cancelation list, so maybe I will get lucky and get in there before the end of March! In the meantime, I am starting my first ever treatment for my 5 year illness. Lots and lots of amoxicillin, and soon Probenicid will be added. I hope this helps!
Thanks again, Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Sara, If you decide to have the tests for co-infections, be sure to use one of the labs that specializes in Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs). IGeneX in Calif www.igenex.com Medical Diag Lab in NJ www.mdlab.com
Bowen Research Lab in Florida has developed a new test, but it is not covered by insurance yet. www.bowen.org Click Lyme Research, then Info, FAQ, & Research Update. Good info on all these pages.
For a Tax-Deductible donation of $250, they test for Lyme, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I think the idea to have co-infection testing done before you see the LLMD would be a good idea. Any chance his office would let you do this in advance?
A day has passed and I am re-considering this advice. Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. You can have it without having a positive test (per FDA advisory) and you will not be given the results personally. They will go to your doc. And sometimes they need interpretation and the kind of history that a doc takes to understand the significance of the results anyway. So, now not sure about this.
[This message has been edited by lou (edited 21 December 2004).]
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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