How To Approach Your Non
For various reasons, you may choose to consult with a doctor who doesnt specialize in Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases.
If so, be sure to be as proactive as possible in providing information that could help in diagnosing your disease, and always feel free to share resources that you find in your own research to prompt discussions about any aspect of your diagnosis or treatment, including more advanced testing options.
If your doctor does not believe Lyme disease exists, reach out to another doctor for a second opinion.
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Ilads Mourns The Passing Of Charles Ray Jones Md
ILADS is saddened to report the passing of pediatric Lyme specialist and long-time ILADS member, Dr. Charles Ray Jones. Dr. Jones was a legend in the Lyme community for his dedication to treating children with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. He endured harassment from the medical establishment and cared for chronically ill children at a time when many physicians were not willing to acknowledge the true cause of their pain and suffering. His willingness to listen to patients and support families through the healing process made him a legend and a hero to the Lyme community.
In 2014, Dr. Jones was honored with the ILADEF Pioneer in Lyme award for recognition of his work with pediatric Lyme patients. He shared his knowledge at countless ILADS conferences and trained scores of physicians through the ILADEF Physician Training Program. We are grateful for all he did for his patients and the ILADS community.
If you are interested in supporting ILADS and the ILADEF Physician Training Program, please consider a donation to the ILADEF Charles Ray Jones, MD memorial fund.
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How Can I Book An Appointment Online With A Neurologist In Washington Dc
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Neurologists in Washington, DC and book appointments instantly. You can search for Washington, DC Neurologists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, youll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
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Do Your Research And Get Referrals
You can learn a lot just by researching doctors and reading patient reviews online. You can also connect with other patients through local and online support groups for various tick-borne diseases. Asking other patients to recommend or share their own experiences with different doctors can be particularly helpful when youre trying to locate and learn about physicians who specialize in various tick-borne illnesses.
The following sites can connect you to online support-group forums or help you identify different tick-borne support groups in the United States:
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What Causes Lyme Disease
Most people get Lyme disease from the bite of a nymphal a tiny immature tick. Because nymphals are tiny about the diameter of the head of a pin the bites are easy to miss. In rare cases, pregnant women can also spread Lyme disease to their developing baby.
Lyme disease is growing more common. More than 475,000 Americans are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease annually. But, the true number of people with Lyme disease is likely far higher because its often misdiagnosed.
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Hhs Publishes Third Report In Series Aimed To Improve Support For Long Covid Patients
In response to the Biden administrations issuance of the Presidential Memorandum on Addressing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published Health+ Long COVID Human-Centered Design Report in October 2022 which expands on two prior publications released in August 2022 Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 and National Research Action Plan on Long COVID.
This latest report focuses on what has often been neglected in Long COVID data, scientific literature, and legislative actionsthe expertise, narratives, and needs of those who are living with the illness. Using a process called human-centered design, the Health+ Long COVID program is working to ensure that the experiences and perspectives of those with Long COVID are being considered when developing the social, public health, and economic solutions intended to support the Long COVID community.
The report explores the many peculiarities of Long COVID, such as why some individuals develop debilitating symptoms while others symptoms may be barely perceptible. Social determinants of health are also contemplated such as ones geographic location, financial stability discrimination from health care providers due to race, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation as well as whether there is support from ones workplace or educational setting, and also taking into consideration insurance status and the existence or lack of a support network.
Internal Medicine Located In Washington Dc & Bethesda Md
Lyme disease is a serious condition thats often misdiagnosed due to the complexity of its symptoms. At Spring Valley Internal Medicine in Washington, DC, and Bethesda, Maryland, the team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. The medical team offers comprehensive care that focuses on easing the severity of your symptoms and protecting your general health and quality of life. To learn more about treatment options for Lyme disease, call the office or book an appointment online today.
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Top Lyme Clinic The Us
Long considered one of the top Lyme Disease clinics in the nation, LifeWorks Wellness Center regularly sees patients from around the world who are desperately seeking a resolution to this debilitating condition.
If you have been to other doctors and you feel like you are not being properly diagnosed or youre still suffering from strange symptoms despite testing and treatment, you owe it to yourself and your family to come to our clinic and be evaluated by one of the top Lyme disease experts in the world.
Information For Human Healthcare Providers
When treating patients for Lyme disease, keep in mind that ticks can transmit more than one disease, and there is always a potential for coinfection with multiple tick-borne diseases.
Reporting Lyme disease in people
All cases of Lyme disease in a person should be reported within 48 hours of suspected diagnosis or the appearance of symptoms using DC Reporting and Surveillance Center , our online reporting system.
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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.
Infected Brains Work Differently
On brain SPECT scans, infections in the brain can appear as an overall pattern of significantly high or low blood flow and may look similar to a brain affected by toxins. When these abnormal brain patterns are visible, it indicates a potentially infectious process at work. When we see evidence of infectious disease on SPECT scans, we investigate with additional testing.
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How Many People With Lyme Develop Post
When caught early, most individuals fully recover with the right antibiotics . It is not completely understood why some people develop PTLDS however, some experts think that the bacteria associated with Lyme can trigger an autoimmune reaction that causes more symptoms .
According to a National Institutes of Health study, “PTLDS occurs secondary to Lyme Disease in 1015% of patients who were ideally treated with antibiotics. It is characterized by persistent or recurrent symptoms of fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive complaints leading to functional decline” .
A Key Initial Step To The Success Of Our Program Is To Identify And Stabilize Debilitating Symptoms And Eliminate Other Barriers In The Way Of Effective Care In Order To Do This We Utilize A System Created By Dr Jemsek Termed Poems
You will be carefully monitored and evaluated throughout the stabilization process, and your Jemsek® Specialty Clinic provider will track your progress and adjust your program accordingly to best meet your treatment goals.
Recommendations for stabilization are essencials and accimplished through lifestyle and diet changes, understanding the importance of support individuals, recognition of distabilizing key metabolic abnormalities addresing pain stresors and sleep disfunction.
Suite 4000 Washington, DC. 20006
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Lyme Disease And Tick
Lyme disease patients have difficulty finding doctors with experience treating Lyme disease. For the past 25 years, LymeDisease.org has been connecting patients with Lyme-literate practitioners who specialize in caring for patients with Lyme disease.
We are happy to connect you with your nearest Lyme literate practitioners contact information. Please note, however, we are not privy to the status on each individual offices payment/insurance practices or if they are accepting new patients, with that said, we do encourage you to use the information available to contact the offices directly.
Anesthesiology & Ketamine Infusion Clinic Located In Mclean Va Bethesda Md & Washington Dc
Around 30,000 Lyme Disease cases are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually in the United States . It is thought, however, that the true number of annual cases in the US is closer to 476,000 . Lyme Disease can cause fatigue, pain and headache in many individuals who are infected. Most cases, when caught early enough, can be treated and cured with antibiotics in two to four weeks . Some patients, however, still have symptoms for six+ months post treatment . When symptoms last this long, it is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome , which has no proven treatment. PTLDS can be painful, and can negatively impact a person’s mood. Most individuals with PTLDS feel better eventually, but it can take a long time . Ketamine infusions can cause a reduction in pain and depression symptoms for patients with PTLDS.
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Lyme Disease Incidence In Washington State
According to a 2016 document by the Washington State Department of Health:
In recent years, 8 to 25 reports of Lyme disease meeting case definition are received annually. Almost all Washington cases are the result of tick exposure out of state endemic Lyme disease is not common, with generally only 0 to 3 cases per year. The risk of infection in-state is low throughout the state. Between 1/2005 and 12/2016, only 13 confirmed Lyme cases with in-state exposure were documented.
Recover From Chronic Lyme Disease At Lifeworks
Dr. Minkoff and the experienced team at LifeWorks Wellness Center have helped hundreds of Lyme Disease patients recover from Lyme and can help you too.
Watch the patient videos below and read some of the Lyme disease testimonials further down the page. Youll see a familiar pattern of patients who were suffering due to lack of proper Lyme diagnosis and/or treatment and then came here and their lives were transformed
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Comprehensive Lyme Disease Treatment
Reduce the Microbial Burden on the Body
- Antibiotic Therapy following ILADS protocol
- Because Lyme Disease can cause severe consequences antibiotic therapy is usually recommended based on ILADs protocols.
- Herbal Therapy Supplementation
- Herbal therapy if you cannot take antibiotics, or prefer herbals, based on the work of Buhner that may help kill the bacteria, relieve symptoms and/or strengthen your immune system.
Support the Immune System with Additional Therapies
Every patient needs to support their immune system in order to heal. This may done with IV Therapy, nutritional support, herbal supplementation, digestive support and detoxification therapies based on your symptoms and the direction of your doctor.
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Our Treatment Success Stories
âI am incredibly grateful for Dr. Fong and the entire team at Sierra Integrative Medical Center for helping me get my life back. After 10 years of searching for answers, and being dismissed by countless doctors, Dr. Fong took the time to really review my story and was the first doctor to see me, believe me, and help me get a diagnosis. Dr. Fong showed me that you CAN get better and have symptom free days again! Thank you, Dr. Fong, for everything!â
– Christa Nannos, Author of Tick Tock, Itâs LYME Oâclock
“The Doctors are western trained and practice alternative medicine, so I feel like we have the best of both worlds here. I would definitely encourage anyone to checkout the clinic because it has given us hope where we’d had none before.”
– LaJean, Lyme Disease Patients Mother
“It’s a great clinic. I really appreciate the perspective of the treatment. Dr. Fong is an internal medicine specialist, he’s focused on causes. With us he was able to go through and identify every single thing that is compromising the function of our immune system. I noticed a big improvement having the detox treatment… By the time we left a year ago there was a real sense of a depth of energy.”
– Seth, Lyme Disease Patient
– Danella C., Lyme Disease Patient
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Calvert County Health Department
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Calvert County as well as in Maryland and the United States. Cases of Lyme disease are found throughout the county and are not concentrated in any particular area. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
How is it spread? Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a deer tick, infected with Lyme disease bacteria. The tick is hard to see because of its small size, about the size of a pinhead.
These ticks are most often found from May through October in tall grass, brush and wooded areas. Pets can bring ticks into the house. Mice also carry ticks.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms usually begin within a month of being infected. In many infected people the tick bite leads to a “bull’s eye” inflammation of the skin that has a clear center with a darker outer ring. Other early symptoms include fever, joint and muscle pains, headache and tiredness. Lyme disease may be hard to diagnose because the symptoms often mimic other diseases and lab tests are unreliable. If you think that you or a family member has been infected with Lyme disease, see your health care provider immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
If left untreated, the infection can become chronic, possibly leading to serious disorders of the heart, joints and nervous system.
Is there a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease? No. A vaccine was available several years ago but was taken off the market by the manufacturer.
How can it be prevented?
Lyme Disease Stage 3 Late Disseminated Infection
If the disease remains untreated, a persistent infection can occur after a few weeks or months, leading to prolonged bouts of arthritis and neurologic problems, such as concentration problems or personality changes. Fatigue is a prominent feature of both early and late stages.
If Lyme disease is left untreated in stage 3, patients may go on to develop severe and chronic symptoms that affect many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, eyes, joints, and heart. Many disabling symptoms can occur, including permanent shooting pains, numbness, and tingling in the hands or feet may develop. Lyme disease is known as the great imitator because the symptoms which display if the disease is not treated, mimic many well-known conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alzheimers and Fibromyalgia. For this reason it is very important to find a practitioner who can perform tests and make an accurate diagnosis.
Contact LifeWorks
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Diagnosing And Treating Lyme Disease With Dr Joseph Jemsek
In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr. Joseph Jemsek, an infectious disease physician who runs the Jemsek Specialty Clinic in Washington, DC. Dr. Jemsek has been on the leading edge of both the HIV and Lyme disease epidemics. He became intrigued by reports of a small cluster of patients with outbreaks of Kaposi Sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia in New York and San Francisco. He intuitively felt that this was an indication of something much bigger.
He recalls diagnosing the first HIV patient in North Carolina in 1983, before the disease was even called HIV. In the years that followed, the virus was identified, tests were created and treatments were researched, including an early study for azidothymidine which Dr. Jemsek co-authored. This pioneering research study allowed patients access to this early treatment, clinical trial involvement and medical follow up.
I became a fierce advocate for the HIV populationI just hated the prejudice and I stayed steadfastly behind them.
Dr. Joseph Jemsek
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What You Dont Know About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is acquired by a tick bite. Early stages of the disease often include a rash and flu-like symptoms like joint pain and fevers. Later stages can include symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive difficulties.
It can be debilitating, and if its left untreated, Lyme disease patients can experience symptoms such as extreme fatigue, chronic pain, mental fog, depression and anxiety, and many other symptoms. These can be misdiagnosed as other conditions including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and psychiatric disorders. It could explain many of your symptoms, even if youve previously had a negative Lyme disease test, because these tests have significant limitations.
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One Year After Infection Patient Shows Signs Of Lyme Meningitis
In their article Lyme neuroborreliosis as a cause of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy, Nitro and colleagues present a case involving a woman in her 40s who developed a sudden loss of hearing in both ears, along with facial palsy and was later diagnosed with Lyme meningitis.¹ Bilateral hearing loss is rare, the authors point out. The patient was admitted to the emergency department reporting hearing loss in