Lyme Literate Doctors In Vermont

Can Lyme Disease Be Mistaken For Herpes

In their article Disseminated Lyme disease with a herpetiform center, Zhang et al.¹ described a patient who presented with a Lyme disease rash that could have been mistaken for herpes. The woman in her 30s developed a herpetiform rash, which resembles herpes lesions. Initially, the patient developed a small red bump and surrounding swelling on her back, along with a rash in her left armpit and left ipsilateral swollen lymph

State And Local Lyme Organizations And Nonprofits

If youre unable to find an LLMD through a national organization, consider doing a web search for a state or local Lyme organization or nonprofit. Some keywords that may generate helpful, search results for you include:

• The name of your state

For example, typing in Minnesota Lyme disease nonprofit yields the Minnesota Lyme Association , where you can then browse their website for ways to locate a physician or fill out the contact form for more help. These days, most states have some sort of site to distribute information to inquiring patients.

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:

• What is Lyme Disease Website and Support Groups by State

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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.

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?

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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.

Vermont Natural Family Medicine

Lyme Disease Association, Inc.

Save this Information for Your Records:

About LDA DOCTOR REFERRAL SYSTEM ©Welcome to the Lyme Disease Associations LDA Doctor Referral System ©. LDA made updates and enhancements to its prior system and has launched a new site to provide patients with information about doctors, other practitioners, testing labs, and pharmacies that are knowledgeable about chronic Lyme disease and often about many other tick-borne diseases . Many of the doctors listed are often referred to as Lyme Literate Physicians/Doctors . Tens of thousands of patients have successfully used the prior LDA system to locate Lyme and TBD resources.

Terms & Conditions and GuidelinesBecause there is a negative political climate surrounding Lyme disease, many LLMDs do not want their names posted outright on the internet. LDA has tried to balance the doctors wishes with patients need to find a doctor. This new system is a result of that compromise and therefore:

Some providers may not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. Contact the provider to confirm.

It is your responsibility to contact the providers office to confirm the current address, directions, nature of services provided, and all other provider information before you make an appointment.

LDA does not accept or reply to any comments on:

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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

A Matter Of Negligence

Crosswalks and stop signs around Dallas might seem like a nuisance, but they are strategically placed to maximize the safety of drivers and pedestrians alike. In spite of laws and safety features on the streets, pedestrian accidents occur far too often. In a collision with a vehicle, a pedestrian is most likely to come out hurt the worst, which is why drivers and pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings.

Pedestrian accidents are usually the result of negligence. Either a driver is not paying attention when a pedestrian has the right of way, or a pedestrian is not paying attention when drivers have the right of way. In crosswalks in Dallas, pedestrians have the right of way if there is no signal light. At a signal light, pedestrians have the right of way when the ‘Walk’ signal appears.

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Vt Research Trials Underway On Lyme Disease Vaccine

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Lyme disease has become an increasing source of concern for public health officials in Vermont in the past few years. Officials say its the states most common tickborne illness — about 59% of black-legged ticks carry it. But help could be on the way. A Lyme disease vaccine is now on trial in Vermont and the organization running the trials is looking for more participants.

Lyme disease is running rampant in the Green Mountain State. Vermont is number one in the country per capita and so thats why we have a focus outreach here, said Alexander Willis with Care Access. The Boston-based company is running vaccine trials across the East Coast and has set up a mobile site in Brattleboro and looking for Vermonters willing to participate in the study.

We take the study into the local communities, so the advantage of that is we are able to include a much more diverse cross-section of the population, Willis said. HE says Vermonters hes spoken to have all shared a similar message. It seems like everyone who came up to me, either their relative or their neighbor or they themselves have been exposed to Lyme disease.

The trial consists of eight check-ins over 2.5 years, with three shots spaced out over a few months and a booster after a year. And the end point really is to be determined, because as we gather information and process the data, then decisions are made based on the data that were gathering now, Willis said.

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Vermont Lyme Group Vt@groupslymediseaseorg

Join any or many. To join state or special sub-groups, join the national group, Lyme.groups.io first, then subscribe to sub-groups. This will allow you to see national announcements and discussions, as well as topics focused on parents or states. All state groups can be found at Lyme.groups.io/g/XX where XX is your state postal code e.g. Lyme.groups.io/g/CA, etc. We provide a special sub-group for parents of pediatric Lyme patients: Lyme.groups.io/g/Parents. You are free to join multiple groups, for example, adjoining states or your state and Parents. If you join at the national level only, you will only be able to participate in national discussions until you join a sub-group.This group is sponsored by LymeDisease.org, the largest and most trusted communications network representing Lyme disease patients in the nation. With an active Facebook, Twitter and Web presence, our quarterly journal, the Lyme Times, published for over 40 years, and these groups we draw millions of online visits each year.

Group Information

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Late Stage Lyme And Co

A small number of people continue to experience Lyme Disease symptoms years after antibiotic treatment, some never received proper treatment at all, and others have undiagnosed or mis-treated co-infections that continue to linger. This can be very frustrating when youre suffering with debilitating symptoms.

Preventive Medicine is an established Lyme-literate clinic, and we have seen and treated patients with Lyme and co-infections in a variety of stages and manifestations..

We offer full blood work and treatment for Lyme disease. The well-known Igenex Inc. lab in Palo Alto, CA is who we work with for Lyme Western Blot confirmation as well as testing for co-Infections such as Bartonella, Babesia, Relapsing Fever, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and more. We aim to get you clear answers and effective treatment plans as soon as possible, especially for more complicated cases where treatment, symptom management, and rehabilitation can take longer.

Will Insurance Cover Treatment?

The IgeneX Inc. lab only accepts Medicare at this time. A payment by check or credit card directly to Igenex Inc, will be expected by patients at the time of the appointment. Please call us at 802-879- 6544

Order Your Own Lyme Disease Testing

Get the tests you need when you need them. No need to visit a doctor. Simply order a test,head to a local lab, and in most cases receive your results within 48 hours.

Personalabs offers discount lab testing in your city. With more than 2,300 blood testing facilities nationwide, you are sure to find a labconveniently located near your home or workplace.

Save time and money when you order the blood tests you want direct throughPersonalabs.

Personalabs is your one-stop shop for lab tests, prescriptions, and telemedicine consultations in Burlington, Vermont.

At our shop, you can purchase your own lab tests without having to go through your doctor or insurance company for pre-approval. With over 400 tests to choose from and more than 2,300 lab testing facilities nationwide, you can be sure you will find what you are looking for at a location that is convenient to you.

Whether you need to be tested for pregnancy, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, hormone imbalances, sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids, Hepatitis C, Herpes, Syphilis or simply want to check on your overall health status Personalabs is your first stop for affordable direct-to-consumer lab testing.

Not only can you choose the lab tests you want at a price you can afford, but you can also consult with one of our on-call physicians if you are not sure which test to buy or if you have a question regarding your results.

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How To Find A Lyme

When youre dealing with Lyme disease or other tick-borne infections, it can be a daunting task to find a doctor whos familiar with the illness throughout its various stages. Your family doctor or primary care provider may be able treat you when your symptoms correspond to an acute case of the condition. But where do you turn for Lyme disease treatment if your illness doesnt check the traditional boxes for the infection? Or if the disease has progressed to a later stage? Thats where a Lyme-literate medical doctor or Lyme specialist comes in. These physicians have additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. Here are resources to find a provider who understands your symptoms and can help guide you toward recovery.

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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Fusing Common Sense With Modern Science

Powassan Virus Encephalitis Contracted During Winter Months

In their article Powassan Encephalitis: A Case Report from New York, USA, Bazer and colleagues describe a male patient who was admitted to the hospital in December due to altered mental status, dysarthria, and a left facial droop.¹ The man also had a history of multiple medical problems including of a right putamen infarct, hepatitis C, hypertension, and substance abuse. Clinicians considered a tick-borne disease since the patient had reported

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New Podcast: Dr Alexis Cheney From Vermont Outlines Her Expertise On Lyme Disease

In this episode, Sarah hears from Alexis Chesney, a naturopathic physician in Vermont who specializes in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. She is also author of the book Preventing Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases.

She points to the different roles practitioners have in a patients care, including primary care physicians and specialists such as neurologists and cardiologists. Finally she reiterates the importance of prevention and of adequate early treatment, to prevent the chronic symptoms of Lyme disease.

Treating The Rising Rate Of Lyme Disease

You’ve been hearing more and more about Lyme disease over the last decade, and with good reason: the number of confirmed and probable cases of this tick-borne illness has risen dramatically since the early 1990s. Vermont Edition looks at how Lyme disease is treated and diagnosed today.Joining us to look at the various aspects of Lyme disease is Dr. Jeff Parsonnet, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and a professor of medicine at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.

Broadcast live on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at noon rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

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International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society

The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society is a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary, international medical society aimed at advancing the treatment, research, and education efforts of Lyme and associated diseases. ILADS provides training to physicians who want to enhance their skill set to evaluate and treat Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Physicians who successfully complete the training requirements established by ILADS are known as Lyme-literate medical doctors, or LLMDs.

To locate Lyme-literate doctors, use the Provider Search function on the ILADS website to receive a list of doctors in your area. Please note: ILADS states they dont make referrals to specific doctors. Its up to you to decide which practitioner is the right fit for your needs.

Learn How To Prevent Lyme And Other Tick

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. On Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Springfield Town Library, Dr. Alexis Chesney will present findings from her new book, Preventing Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases.

Alexis Chesney M.S., N.D., LAC is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Originally from New York, Dr. Alexis Chesney received a B.A. from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass. She earned a Master in Science in acupuncture from the University of Bridgeport Acupuncture Institute and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut.

She is one of the first naturopathic students to complete a hospital-based medical rotation. With five of her colleagues from across the nation, she founded the Naturopathic Medical Student Association, which is a recipient of the AANP Presidents Award. Naturopathic residency brought Alexis to Vermont, where she has continued to work with a team of integrative practitioners at Sojourns Community Health Clinic in Westminster.

She has dedicated her practice to the treatment of Lyme and tick-borne diseases. She also has a private practice in Northampton, Mass. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, and a founding full member of International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness.

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