Our Son Got His Life Back
Our sons illness was so frustrating for all of us. His unpredictable symptoms had been bothersome for a few years, but we werent able to find a doctor who could clearly diagnose his illness and effectively treat his symptoms. Everything changed for the better when we met the medical detectives at Bock Integrative Medicine. Dr. Bock patiently listened as we explained the history of our sons illness, asking us questions about our sons background and environmental factors. Dr. Bocks knowledge of complex medical conditions and research-based science enabled him to diagnose our sons condition and develop a treatment plan that gave our son his life back. If you or a family member are experiencing a chronic illness, you need the caring team of experts at Bock Integrative Medicine!~ Josh and Lois Helder, Manhattan, NY
What Is Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine is an evidence-based approach to diagnosis and healing that considers all of a patients lifestyle factors and employs traditional as well as more comprehensive treatment methods. As practitioners with expertise in adult and pediatric integrative medicine, the board-certified providers at Bock Integrative look for sources of imbalance that are causing physical reactions, like inflammation or oxidative stress, and seek to address these problems using the most appropriate individualized immune, hormonal, nutritional, metabolic, psychosocial and antimicrobial therapies. Dr. Bock and his staff are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of multi-symptom, multisystem disorders, including Lyme disease and co-infections, autoimmune disease, PANS and PANDAS , Autism and co-occurring conditions, and:
- Treatments
Payment Policies & Insurance
Payment is expected at the time of your visit either by cash, check, or credit card. Office charges may or may not be covered by your insurance plan. We are considered out of network so it will depend on your individual insurance policy and the coverage of that policy as to the services and amounts they may reimburse. If youd like to check with your insurance company prior to your appointment, visits are typically considered level 5 office visits.
Our office does not bill your insurance directly but we will gladly provide an invoice at the conclusion of your visit with your diagnosis codes, treatment codes and all pertinent provider information to you so that you may send it to your insurance company for reimbursement of billable services. We are also not a participating provider in Medicaid or Medicare.
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Both have been told their neurological and other medical problems may be imaginary. Yet each is convinced she has the disease.
After a while of going to these docs and them telling me that its all in my head, you start to believe it, Stachowiak said.
If caught early, Lyme disease is easily treated. But the women illustrate divisions in the medical community over diagnosing and treating Lyme in chronic, long-term cases.
On one side are the majority of physicians, supported by government health agencies, who adhere to a definition of the disease based on the criteria used to document new cases, such as flulike symptoms and a rash that resembles a bulls-eye.
On the other side are some patients, Lyme disease organizations and a small number of doctors who use a broader set of criteria to diagnose Lyme disease. They advocate treating patients for probable Lyme disease with long-term antibiotic therapy.
These doctors, and their patients, argue that Lyme disease is more widespread than believed.
The governments definition of Lyme, based largely on observable symptoms, is too focused on the early stage of the disease, according to some patient advocates.
effectively disenfranchised a whole population of Lyme patients because most of the Lyme patients dont meet it, said Pat Smith, president of the New Jersey-based Lyme Disease Association.
Others disagree.
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For women who have Lyme disease, the struggle can be especially difficult, given the complicated nature of the disease.
âThe problem with Lyme disease is that there are so many different strains,â said Dr. Andrea Gaito, a New Jersey-based rheumatologist who specializes in treating Lyme disease. âOne person can have it and have headaches, someone else can have joint pain, someone else can have palpitations. And none of these are specific to Lyme. Thereâs no Lyme test thatâs 100% accurate. Unless you have a tick in a baggie, literally, and a bulls-eye rash, thereâs sometimes a delay in diagnosis.â
A Long Journey of Pain and MisdiagnosisTait estimates that she had Lyme for about 15 years before she was diagnosed. She thinks she was bitten by a tick as a teen in Californias Bay Area, where she grew up. In high school, she was a dancer. Suddenly she was getting injured more than usual joints coming out of their sockets and ligaments tearing after doing normal routines. During class, she was exhausted and having trouble concentrating. Her grades started to slip.
Looking back, its now clear I was neurologically starting to not be myself, she said. But when youre a teenager, a lot of it is just attributed to, Youre a teenager!
Tait, who was thin with a bubbly personality, recalled one doctor telling her she was too pretty to be sick.
Eventually she was diagnosed with depression and prescribed an antidepressant.
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At Bock Integrative We Dont Just Treat Symptoms
Evidence-based Diagnosis and Personalized Treatment Plans
With over three decades of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of complex medical disorders, Dr. Bock has a wealth of knowledge from which to draw when determining cause and effect of chronic illnesses. He recognizes that the combination of factors that can contribute to any chronic medical condition differs for each person and uses integrative/functional medicine to diagnose and treat these often-frustrating illnesses in children, teens and adults. Rather than only trying to manage your symptoms, he takes a comprehensive whole person approach to evaluate everything you are exposed to, and their effects. Dr. Bock then incorporates validated lab results and decades of diagnostic experience to develop an evidence-based diagnosis on which to base a highly personalized treatment regimen.
How Can I Prevent Lyme Disease
- Cover up when youre in wooded or grassy areas with long pants tucked into socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and gloves.
- Avoid walking through low bushes and long grass.
- Use insect repellent with a high-concentration of DEET.
- Thoroughly check your clothing and body for ticks.
- Shower after returning indoors.
- Remove ticks immediately. Use tweezers to grab the head as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly and carefully.
- Do not squeeze or crush ticks.
- Dispose of ticks by flushing them down the toilet or putting them in alcohol.
- Apply antiseptic to bite areas.
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Lyme Disease And Gut Health
When one has Lyme disease, invariably there were risk factors that led to this problem, such has hypothyroidism, thats been missed by routine testing and alterations of the microbiome. Additionally when one develops Lyme and co-infections, one develops secondarily a low thyroid and microbiome dysfunction.
Alterations to the microbiome are another component of both the cause, and the effect, of Lyme disease. In treating Lyme, we work to repair, restore and rebalance the microbiome, which is essential in order to reverse inflammation. Dr. Kellman pioneered the term Microbiome Medicine and has written numerous bestselling books on the subject.
One of the many components of microbiome medicine includes finding personalized probiotics, based on your particular bacteria. Probiotics can be a powerful tool for overall health, but they are not one size fits all. We find precisely which formulawhich bacterial strainsyou need in order to heal your microbiome so that it can thrive.
- The sensation of being out of your own body
Unfortunately some doctorswhen hearing those complaints, dont always believe you.
Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center
Experts on the forefront of Lyme disease for over 30 years 493-TICK
The Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center is now open for appointments June, July and August on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Hours:
19 Bradhurst Ave. Suite 1400 S Hawthorne, NY 10532
Background:Established in 1989, the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center is staffed by highly experienced physicians and nurses with special expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of persons 18 years and older* with tick bites, early/acute Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis , Babesiosis, Deer Tick Virus , and Borrelia Miyamotoi.
To see if we can help you, please visit our Services page.
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Conversation: Boy Suffers Heart Attack From Lyme Disease
We discussed the case of a 12-year-old boy who suffered a heart attack as a result of Lyme disease. While the boy made a full recovery of cardiac functioning, he had neurologic injury that required long-term rehabilitation. The case was featured in the February 2017 issue of HeartRhythm Case Reports.
Host: Dr. Daniel Cameron
Conversation: Three Newborn Children Contract Babesia Through Blood Transfusions
We discussed three newborn children who contracted Babesia, a parasitic tick borne pathogen, through blood transfusions. The newborn children contracted Babesia through a transfusion from an asymptomatic donor. The cases were initially described in the 2017 issues of Journal Pediatric Infectious Disease Society and in my book Lyme Disease takes on Medicine.
Host: Dr. Daniel Cameron
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Conversation: Dementia And Lyme Disease
Dementia and Lyme disease are common. Kris Kristofferson was thought to have suffered from Alzheimers disease for ten years before he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Two other individuals who were thought to suffer from dementia before being diagnosed with Lyme disease were also described in my book, Lyme Disease takes on Medicine. I will discuss these three cases during my next live Lyme Hangout Tuesday, March 27, 8PM EST.
Host: Dr. Daniel Cameron
Infectious Disease Specialist & Internist Located In Hoboken Nj
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies suggest that the number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States is around 300,000. If youre bitten and experience unexplained joint pain and fatigue, schedule an evaluation at Advanced Infectious Disease Medical in Hoboken, New Jersey. Avisheh Forouzesh, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease. Her office is well-equipped to remove ticks, test for Lyme disease, and treat existing infections. Learn more about treatment options for Lyme disease by calling the Hoboken office or using the online booking feature.
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Call Ahead And Ask Questions
Even if you find a doctor who specializes in treating tick-borne diseases, you will want to ask some questions before making an appointment and committing your time and money. A few basic questions to consider asking upfront include the following:
- What is your experience in treating patients with tick-borne diseases?
- How do you diagnose diseases? Do you use any specific labs or lab tests to confirm diagnosis?
- Do you test for coinfections?
- Do you use traditional antibiotics and/or herbals?
- Do you have any patient success stories you can share?
- Do you strictly adhere to CDC test interpretation criteria or are you open to alternative criteria?
If youd like to find a LLMD and want to know more about how to vet them, read the Tick Talk blog, What Makes a Doctor Lyme Literate?
Lyme Disease Patients Seek Help As Doctors Debate Treatment
The month of May with warmer weather and the start of the summer season brings renewed concerns over Lyme Disease and possible exposure to the ticks which carry the bacteria infection. And advocates for better access to medical care in regards to diagnosis and treatment are pressing for more awareness of the condition.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. The month of May with warmer weather and the start of the summer season brings renewed concerns over Lyme Disease and possible exposure to the ticks which carry the bacteria infection.
Advocates for better access to medical care in regards to diagnosis and treatment are pressing for more awareness of the condition. That would especially apply to longer term cases where people say they have been suffering from its debilitating effects for years.
There is an ongoing debate in the medical community over proper diagnosis and care for such cases. Some doctors feel patients could be misguided and there could be harmful or dangerous complications if they follow procedures for long term use of antibiotics.
Some advocates say doctors must be allowed to consider and suggest treatment options.
Recently 2 on Your Side spoke with some patients and their loved ones who hope to see some change.
Thats a shared assessment among many of the people and loved ones attending a Lyme Disease support group meeting at an Orchard Park restaurant.
Over 300,000 cases are documented in the U.S. each year.
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How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed And Treated
To diagnose Lyme disease, Dr. Firshein performs a comprehensive physical exam, reviews your symptoms, and orders blood tests that rule out other health problems or look for signs of tick infection. In some cases, Dr. Firshein might also recommend DNA testing to see if you have genetic markers indicating an autoimmune response to Lyme disease. In many cases, off-site blood drawing in the convenience of your home or office is available to ensure lab tests have been processed prior to your visit.
Based on your diagnosis, he typically recommends a combination of treatments, including oral or intravenous antibiotics to treat your infection. He might also suggest IV therapy to help boost your immune system and flush toxins from your body.
Lyme disease recovery is usually faster the sooner your treatment begins. Your doctor might also suggest long-term IV therapy to continue supporting your immune system after your infection clears up.
To learn more about Lyme disease, call the Firshein Center, or schedule an appointment online today.
Be Prepared For Your Doctor Visit
You can improve your chances of having an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment by providing your doctor with as much information as you can from the very start. The following checklist can be a good reminder of what to bring and discuss with your physician at your first visit:
- Have the tick tested and/or identified:If you were able to remove or find the tick that bit you, seal it in a glass or plastic container and consider sending it to IGeneX for testing. Additionally, photograph the tick and/or have the species identified ahead of time if possible. Knowing what kind of tick bit you and, in particular, whether it has tested positive for a tick-borne disease can be extremely helpful for your doctors diagnostic process. If the tick is still being tested when you see your doctor, you still may be able to start treatment based on the severity of your symptoms.
- Note possible exposure: Write down the places and dates that you believe you were exposed to ticksand the possible date and time of day when the engorged tick attached and fell off or was removed.
- Track your symptoms: Keep a running log of all symptoms youve noticed since the tick bite, even if youre no longer experiencing them. Be sure to include the days/times when symptoms appeared . For additional help, you can use IGeneXs Symptom Checker.
- Take pictures: Take pictures of any rashes or blisters that you may have noticed at the site of the tick bite or elsewhere on your body.
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Integrative Medicine & Family Medicine Located In Manhattan Upper East Side Ny
Diagnosing Lyme disease can be difficult because it shares symptoms with other conditions. At Firshein Center on the Manhattan of Upper East Side, Dr. Richard Firshein specializes in diagnosing and treating complicated conditions, like Lyme disease. If you have a Lyme disease diagnosis or symptoms, call the Firshein Center, or schedule an appointment online today.
Upstate Lyme Disease Doctor: Early Treatment Crucial But Diagnosis Can Be Tricky
The deer tick can spread Lyme disease in its nymph or adult stage.
Syracuse, N.Y. — Lyme disease is treatable when caught early, and most patients recover fully, said Dr. Kristopher Paolino, an infectious disease expert at Upstate Medical University.
“The thing with Lyme disease is, the earlier you catch it, the earlier you treat it, the better the outcomes,” Paolino said today. “There is concern that Lyme disease is a forever illness, and for the majority of people that’s not the case.”
Paolino spoke with discussion, answering questions about the spread of the disease, its symptoms and treatment, and the difficulty in diagnosing it.
Dr. Kristopher M. Paolino
If Lyme is caught in its early stages, a 10- to 21-day course of antibiotics are usually enough to kill the bacteria that causes Lyme. Left untreated, the bacteria can wreak havoc on the body, causing anything from painful joints to dangerous heart conditions. Even among those who are treated, 10 to 20 percent can suffer long-term problems, he said.
“There are people who have chronic symptoms, and those people are suffering,” Paolino said. “We need to do better to find ways to treat those patients.”
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria spread by the bite of a black-legged, or deer, tick. About half of adult deer ticks in New York carry the bacteria.
Paolino said you should consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
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What Do I Need To Bring To My Appointment
- Information about any recent hospital stays Lab or diagnostic imaging reports . If you dont have the report, let us know where the lab or imaging test was performed and we can request the report for you.
- Current medications: name of the medication, dosage and milligrams.
- Questions that you would like to ask Dr. Cameron. At times patients may have a list of questions they want to ask but forget them once they get to their appointment. Were happy to answer all of your questions and a written list can help ensure we do.
- You may choose to bring a spouse, relative, or close friend with you to assist with the evaluation.
- it is helpful for you to call ahead of you appointment to ensure all necessary paperwork has been completed efficiently
