About 1 1/2 yrs ago, I began being treated by a doctor for CLD. At the time, this doc was very supportive, kind and compassionate -- and I was so very weak and unexplainably sick that I do not think that I could have survived without his medical care.
In the last few months -- EVERYTHING has changed. Even after lab work came back positive from an outside source, he refused to accept its validity. He has blatantly and repeatedly accused me of making up symptoms... this is having an effect in how I am being treated by my other supporting doctors (not well).
There appears to be some dispute as to whether co-infections are accepted by traditional medicine? But this issue goes much, much deeper ... it is more about the need for treating Chronic Lyme's Disease (CLD), rather than just the acute phase --also, it is about recognizing symptoms and treating patients who are suffering, but not yet in the completely incapacitated mode BEFORE they become further compromised by the disease.
-- Also, in the last few months, I have heard similar accounts from others with CLD problems about doctors in Pennsylvania. Doctors who HAD been helpful and supportive, suddenly becoming almost to the point of being hostile towards the patients when they complain of ongoing CLD problems.
It seems that there is blatant pressure to "make the patient say that the symptoms have gone away" -- that there is a refusal to acknowledge that for some people, CLD is an ongoing struggle... that may continue for years...and is not going to just go away with a course of antibioitics.
In speaking to someone who is professionally associated with International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) about MY problems with my doctor... there was some concern of the possibility that perhaps my doc had been reprimanded by (take your pick) - A local hospital review board or a local health department - (or even possibly insurance companies, or local medical professional society)
Still, I find it strange that this is a complaint that I have been hearing more and more in the past few months from people in different parts of the state of Pennsylvania - and I am wondering if there may be any substance to such a possibility?
Posts: 13 | From philadelphia | Registered: Aug 2006
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
Along, good luck. PA is a war zone as are most states. For the last couple of years, some legislators have attempted to help our patients and doctors but the bill always gets stymied or sabotaged in the senate.
Even a public film crew did not air a Senate hearing segment that they said was a bad copy. Others that got their hands on a CD have said that they feel it was fine. So I only speculate that big interests have long arms.
Some of the hospitals/Drs are in something like consortioms..in that they work together or are networked..This facilitates learning and/or illiteracy and heads in the sand, or even fear of disagreeing.
If I had followed the advise of some traditional PA Drs and ER Docs that are Lyme and co-illiterate, my daughter would be on the obit list.
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
i travel to the delaware border for treatment, and i LIVE on the ohio side.
Ive run into the same crud.
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
People, please join PennsylvaniaLyme if you haven't already. This is why people in each state need to come together, get to know each other, and discuss problems and possible solutions in their own state. Unless we start getting really serious and figuring out strategies and actions, this situation will continue. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pennsylvanialyme
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
I live outside of Philly and it is horrible around here. I just pretend i dont even have lyme if i need to see a new dr for one of the symptoms.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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