Strategies For Finding A Good Lyme Doctor
The first thing I did after my Lyme diagnosis was spend as much time and mental energy as I could researching Lyme disease. I needed to understand a little more what treatment options were available and how they compared.
I had a general idea that I wanted to find a good integrative LLMD to help guide me through the treatment process. I wanted a doctor who would take the best that modern medicine has to offer while also understanding what other alternative treatment modalities could bring to the table.
Good luck on your doctor search!
Where Can I Find Chronic Lyme Disease Doctors Near Me
As stated above, doctors who treat chronic Lyme disease effectively are not at all easy to find. In fact, over 50% of patients suffering from chronic Lyme disease travel between 50 and over 500 miles to receive their treatment.
At the Biologix Center For Optimum Health in Franklin, Tennessee, our Lyme disease doctors have treated patients from all over the world, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kansas, Seattle, Tampa, Georgia, California, Missouri, Michigan, Utah, Virginia, Ohio, Australia, UK, France, Switzerland,
If you are able, we recommend that you visit our world-renowned, state-of-the-art chronic illness center, which is located just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Our Nashville treatment facility is unlike any other because our doctors stop at nothing to help our chronic Lyme patients regain control over their lives and their bodies. We recognize that canned protocolsparticularly those that involve harmful pharmaceuticals designed make you feel worse before you feel betterare completely ineffective when it comes to solving Lyme disease casesor any chronic illness cases for that matter. Instead, we focus on providing a highly individualized and comprehensive approach that gets to the root causes of a persons Lyme disease symptoms.
To learn more about our treatment of Lyme disease at the Biologix Center, please visit our blog.
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Pioneering Multidisciplinary Research In Lyme Disease
The Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center is focused on patient-based research in all manifestations of Lyme disease.
Our mission is to understand and urgently address the varied manifestations of Lyme disease and translate our pioneering multidisciplinary research into improved patient care, education, and health outcomes.
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Whats So Hard About Finding A Lyme Doctor Anyhow
If youve landed on this post, you probably already know the answer. But for those who are at the beginning stages of investigating Lyme disease, let me fill you in.
You see, most doctors simply dont understand Lyme disease and some are certainly not humble enough to admit they dont really understand this disease. Many doctors dont even believe chronic Lyme exists.
To make matters worse,testing is unreliable and notoriously inaccurate, particularly the standard tests most doctors will run. If you happen to test positive for Lyme on one of those standard tests, the doctors will most likely throw a couple weeks of antibiotics at you and call it good.
Yeahthats not so good. And likely it wont help much at all.
When it comes right down to it, theres been precious little research done on this complex disease. Doctors at large have not been educated about what the good research out there actually says about Lyme. All they know is the outdated and ineffective guidelines passed down from the CDC.
The doctors that are really making an impact are those that have gone out of their way to dig into the research. Theyve spent time educating themselves and working intimately with their patients .
A Huge Thank You To Bay Area Lyme Foundation For Honoring Me With A Coveted Emerging Leader Award
This $100,000 scientific grant has allowed us to go forward with the much needed initial proof of concept testing of our new drug to combat Lyme and bartonella and research is underway. Bay Area Lyme Foundation is an amazing organization and we couldnt be more grateful! Im working alongside Dr. Neil Spector of Duke University, Dr. Jayakumar Rajadas of Stanford University, Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt and his team from Galaxy Diagnostics and NC State, Dana Parish, and too many others to list here. Were developing a drug for the treatment of bartonella and Lyme, made possible by this joint-development effort involving some of the smartest folks from academia, the private sector, and the non-profit world.
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Dr Phillips & Dana Parish: Keynote Speakers At Lymemind
On October 10, 2020, Dr. Phillips and Dana Parish led a discussion about the topics in their upcoming book, Chronic: The Hidden Cause of Autoimmune Pandemic and How to Get Healthy Again at the 5th Annual LymeMIND Virtual Conference. Check out the full event schedule at lymemind.org/agenda
The LymeMIND team, based at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is made up of diverse experts in the areas of computational biology, epidemiology, software engineering, systems biology, and Lyme disease research.
How Do You Test For Lyme
The most common Lyme tests look for antibodies developed from exposure to the bacteria, but theyre notoriously inaccurate, with numerous published reports in the medical literature of patients with severe, progressive illness despite normal-appearing tests. There is also considerable debate about the use of CDC criteria as a diagnostic standard for Lyme, as there are 10 times as many Lyme cases being diagnosed as are captured by its criteria.
Direct detection tests for Lyme are available, like polymerase chain reaction which amplifies DNA of the pathogen so it can be found however, given the fastidious nature of these bacteria and their broad spectrum of strain and species, even PCR, which has such high sensitivity for some infections such as hepatitis C and HIV, frequently fails to reliably detect the presence of Lyme bacteria.
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Telehealth And In Person Office Visits For Your Convenience
About
Dr. Susan Marra is a world-leading Lyme Literate Naturopathic doctor specializing in the treatment of vector borne disease .” rel=”nofollow”> Relapsing Fever, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Tularemia, Q Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rickettsia Species), Long Covid, anti-aging, and environmental illness.
She utilizes various diagnostic testing and evaluation to determine the root cause of your illness in order to help you move on with your life. Having trained with Dr. Richard Horowitz and Dr. Charles Ray Jones, Lyme disease experts on the east coast, Dr. Marra is well qualified to manage and heal tick-borne disease. Her approach is progressive, integrated, and holistic.
Additionally, Dr. Marra is successful in overcoming a personal battle with Lyme disease and leads a very normal life. Her road to recovery aids in personally understanding the difficulties patients experience on the healing journey and allows for heightened compassion for patients in search of a proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Blending the intelligence of nature, with the brilliance of science, the wisdom of instinct, the art of soul, and the ethics of a responsible human being.
Dr. Susan L. Marra
Services
Treatment Starts With Accurate Diagnosis
The only way to get the proper treatment for your tick-borne disease is to get the right diagnosis in the first place and one of the best ways to do that is, if possible, to see a physician whos experienced with tick-borne diseases. Accurate diagnosis also requires high quality testing at a reputable lab. Learn more about why doctors and patients trust the tests offered by IGeneX.
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Illinois Clinicians Demonstrate Gaps In Understanding Of Tick
Carson and colleagues surveyed clinicians between August 2020 and February 2022 and reported their findings in the article Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Illinois medical professionals related to ticks and tick-borne disease. ¹ The respondents included RNs , physicians , and APNs/PAs . The authors found that clinicians were best at identifying Lyme disease. Out of 346 respondents, 80% correctly identified Lyme disease as endemic to Illinois, while 95% were
How 11 Top Nyc Doctors Missed My Lyme Disease
This is one of a series of guest blogs by people who have enrolled in MyLymeData.
A July 2014 wedding on Long Beach Island, New Jersey was the start of my nightmare.
It was a beautiful weekend filled with love for two of our dearest friends who were, after 14 years together, finally legally able to marry. There was lobster and champagne and a crazy Gordon Gekko-style house on the beach. I sang a few songs, made a toast, and cried happy tears.
I woke up two days later, back home in NYC, with a crushing head and neck ache. It was weird, but I figured I would sleep it off and be better in the morning. It took a few days, but I recovered.
That Saturday, I got out of the shower and saw a faint red circular rash on my shoulder with a bug bite in the middle. My knees buckled. I called for my husband, Andy, HUNNEEEE! I have LYME!
He really didnt think so.
I banged on my neighbors door, still in my towel, Rachel! Look! Lyme!
She told me no way.
But I knew, and I walked to the ER.
The fresh-faced doc took a quick glance at my shoulder and said it looked like Lyme, and to thank God I wasnt one of those crazy Lyme people that never gets better because they caught it too late.
I filled the CDC recommended 21 days of 200 mg of Doxycycline and fully believed Id be okay.
I followed up with an infectious disease specialist from NYU a few days later, to be safe. He reassured me that I would have no complications since I caught the bite within a week.
I was relieved.
So was I.
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Identify Doctors Trained In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Tick
You can access a variety of online resources and directories to locate doctors who are specifically trained in identifying and treating tick-borne illnesses. These do not have to be infectious disease specialists they can be physicians from any practice area who simply have extensive experience with tick-borne diseases.
It is particularly important to find a Lyme expert if you suspect that you may have Lyme disease, since it is the most frequently misdiagnosed of all tick-borne diseases. Finding a Lyme-literate medical doctor a physician who is familiar with the vast range of symptoms that may indicate infection at various stages of the disease, as well as potential coinfections and other complexitiescan help ensure that you get the right treatment, right away.
To find a doctor who is also a Lyme expert, you may want to explore the following resources:
Note: Some of these organizations may require you to submit a form or create a login to access their databases.
Our Daughter Got Her Life Back
Our pre-teen daughter had always been active in sports and engaged at school. Suddenly she was complaining of aches and pains and was exhausted all the time. She became lethargic at school and no longer wanted to play soccer. Her pediatrician repeatedly dismissed her symptoms as growing pains and moodiness. Months later, our daughters symptoms had worsened to include headaches, swollen joints, shortness of breath, and more. For more than a year, we visited a variety of experts, all of whom told us it wasnt Lyme disease and prescribed a long list of medicines, ranging from anti-inflammatories to antidepressants, meant to ease her symptoms. Nothing helped. When another parent told me how much the chronic disease experts at Bock Integrative had helped his child, we knew I had to give Dr. Bock and Jennifer Petkos a try. The comprehensive approach they took in evaluating our daughters condition allowed them to diagnose her with two lesser-known tick-borne illnesses and they were able to design a treatment program that restored balance to her immune system. Shes now an active high school athlete and straight-A student. Thank you for giving our daughter her life back!~ Victoria, Hesler, Somerset, New Jersey
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Are Llmds Infectious Disease Specialists
No. While it is possible for a LLMD to be an infectious disease specialist, LLMDs can come from any field or background. Many LLMDs are general practitioners or family doctors, while others may specialize in a specific type of medicine, such as naturopathic medicine.
For more information on finding a LLMD, read IGeneXs blog How to Find Doctors Who Can Help with Your Tick-Borne Disease.
What Our Patients Say
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The Most Accurate Lyme Disease Test
Many of the patients we see have already been tested and told they didnt have Lyme disease but continued to suffer from classic Lyme symptoms.
When we re-test these individuals with our extremely sensitive Lyme test, almost all cases are confirmed to be infected with Lyme. This is due to the sensitivity of the Lyme test we use.
Other Surprising Lyme Disease Symptoms
So many people are walking around with inexplicable health conditions and baffling symptoms.
Conventional doctors are often perplexed by the striking range of symptoms, leading to severe misdiagnosis. Patients are often brushed off as hypochondriacs or having mental illnesses neither of which leads to a resolution.
The tsunami of symptoms is not some strange mystery illness. Its often simply Lyme Disease that can manifest as:
- Flu-like symptoms Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, and a headache may accompany the rash.
- Joint pain If the infection is not treated, bouts of severe joint pain and swelling, weakness and arthritis may occur, particularly in the knees.
- Unexplained SymptomsBrain Fog, malaise, fatigue, dizziness, aches and pains, headaches, anxiety, mood swings, depression, abdominal pains, nausea, diarrhea, sleep disturbances, stiff neck
- Neurological problems In some cases, untreated infection resulting from Lyme disease may result in inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain , temporary paralysis of one side of the face and weakness, numbness, tingling, shooting pains or burning in different parts of the body or limbs.
Many patients are startled to discover their poor health is the result of having Lyme Disease.
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Growing Need For Lyme Disease Experts And Research
The estimated incidence of Lyme disease in the United States has been steadily rising, to approximately 476,000 new cases annually. Despite antibiotic treatment, approximately 10-20% of these new infections will lead to distressing and potentially disabling symptoms, such as severe fatigue, joint and muscle pain, neurologic symptoms, and cognitive problems that may last for months or years.
There is limited expertise in treating the acute and chronic aspects of tick-borne diseases, making it difficult for patients to find high-quality, specialized care. In addition, little research has been done to determine which treatments are most effective for persistent symptoms, which can interfere with daily activities and work.
Like COVID-19 long-haulers, many people with tick-borne diseases were completely well until their infection precipitated a cascade of chronic, multi-system effects, says Brian Fallon, MD, director of the Cohen Center for Health and Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases. A comprehensive evaluation takes time. In addition, the cost of care for patients with chronic symptoms can be prohibitive, requiring multiple visits to physicians who may not be aware of the latest research on tick-borne illnesses. Our center will be the first to address all of these issues by offering access to affordable care with experienced physicians while at the same time integrating research and physician training into our clinical model.
Mans Ravaging Lyme Disease Eludes Doctors For A Year
Music professor says CDC test failed to pick up his disabling Lyme disease.
âAllen Bargfrede said he was jumping into the shower when he spotted a tiny tick on his ankle that would change his life.
I washed it off and didnt think about it anymore, said the 39-year-old associate professor of music business at Berklee College of Music in Boston, who was in Spain at the time for a conference. I remember thinking to myself, I hope I dont get sick from that.
Two days later, Bargfrede said he developed the classic bulls eye rash of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites. The rash eventually gave way to a fever, cough and strange headaches, he said.
I had severe anxiety, said Bargfrede, who was getting ready to head home to the U.S. when the symptoms began to worsen. I was crazy scared to get on an airplane.
Bargfrede said it took nearly a year to confirm that he had Lyme disease after a string of negative tests, dangerous treatments and disbelief from most of his American doctors.
The best treatment for Lyme disease is the prompt use of antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the CDC acknowledges that its recommended test can miss Lyme disease in its early stages, and it only catches an American species of the bacterium not the one Bargfrede contracted in Spain.
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