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Concerned I may have lymes - Looking for an LLMD in south jersey / philadelphia area

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Posted 11/1/2011 10:30 AM (GMT -5)
I am relatively certain that I may have LD, I've been having strange symptoms over the past few months. sinus issues, headaches, extreme allergies, low body temp, freezing cold hands, testicular pain/hip pain, floaters in eyes, joint pain, nausea after eating, dizziness / vertigo, panic disorder, etc. I'm not sure what to do about getting testing done as I have read many doctors don't know what they're doing with lymes. I live in south jersey and go to school in philly. Could anybody recommend what I should do at this point? I', very concerned and uncomfortable and I want help. Should I get testing at any doc I can find and then find an LLMD? I'm concerned a family doctor or the like may not take it seriously due to lack of experience with lymes. please help if you have any advice.

Mark
Posted 11/1/2011 12:42 PM (GMT -5)
Hi markus,

Welcome to the forum! Glad you found us.

I have a very good recommendation for an LLMD within easy reach of Philadelphia. You can click the envelope icon under my name and send me an email -- I will reply with the doc's info.

In the meantime, do check out our "New to Lyme?..." thread, it has a great deal of useful information.

I guess your next step depends on your insurance. Although most Lyme Literate Doctors do not accept insurance so that they can actually be free to treat the disease, however you might be able to get refunded a portion of your costs; you may need a referral for that.

A Lyme diagnosis is supposed to be made clinically, using the test as confirmation; however a lot of Primary Care Physicians do not know this.
So you could go to your regular doc, get the standard testing but do not let that stop you if the results come up negative.

So drop me an email and I will give the doctor's info (we don't mention our Lyme doctors' name so that we don't draw unwanted attention to them).
Posted 11/1/2011 9:43 PM (GMT -5)
thanks for the info! For some reason I cant send a message through this forum. Could you please send to my email address? its:

I live in south jersey and I go to school in philly. I found one or two in nj who seem to have good reviews, but yes insurance is an issue. My plan is to go to my primary care doc with a list of symptoms over the past year and explain that I want testing for LD. What types of test should I ask for? I think I read about 4 different types around this forum. Ive read about IgG/IgM (western blot?), and ELISA / EIA.

Post Edited By Moderator (achievinggrace) : 11/2/2011 2:32:23 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/2/2011 2:13 AM (GMT -5)
Markus,

The standard testing procedure is for an ELISA to be run first. If that shows anything, then they run a western blot to get more information. The ELISA is pretty inaccurate and the standard is fairly inaccurate, so they are not the definitive indicators of Lyme disease, particularly where it is a long-held infection.

Still, no harm in having your primary care physician run them. When you get to a Lyme Literate Doctor they will probably have your western blot done through Igenex labs for a more accurate result for both Lyme and co-infections.

Will send you the doctor's info in the morning.

Btw, try just clicking on a member's profile, scribble down their email addy, and then type it into your normal email server.
Posted 11/2/2011 7:47 AM (GMT -5)
Grace, can you send me that doctor also.

I have one too who has a web site that advertises they treat lyme.

Am I allowed to post it ??

Are we still doing that doctor protection thing if they are "out of the closet"
themselves?

I still have an issue with this whole policy of hiding doctors. I feel like it give a negative reflection on all the positive vitally important work they do.

Aren't we trying to bring lyme awareness and not have it be hidden?

Also I think it is important we share the docs who helped us and types of treatment.

Even now ... Markus is having trouble getting to the private email scene and when we are in this kind of position of needing so much help who needs the extra steps of this secret mission to get the name of a doctor.

I would like to know who it is and if they do ozone or IV chelation or abx or both and by posting the info there may be someone else in need of help that this doctor is near them.

We have a lot of people that just tap in here and read hoping to find info but they never post.

So again I am asking about tis policy. We share about Hansa clinic and what goes on down there. I forgot already what the reason was that was OK.

Post Edited (bucci) : 11/2/2011 6:55:52 AM (GMT-5)

Posted 11/2/2011 7:57 AM (GMT -5)
Hi bucci,

We aren't "hiding" them so much as keeping their names and recommendations off the general internet. While some states are not as bad for Lyme doctors as others, we think it's wisest to keep their names and anything we say about them in private conversation.

Feel free to recommend doctors through emails!
Posted 11/2/2011 11:57 AM (GMT -5)
Hey Bucci,
Here is a link to a thread here on HW about why we don't share LLMD's names openly unless they themselves are openly advertising that they treat Lyme Disease: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=2138729

I know it doesn't make sense to 'hide' the very people who are out there helping us, but it sure won't do any of us any good if those who are helping us get locked up or loose their practice if they are 'outed'. So we must still protect those who don't wish to advertise that they treat Lyme and other tick-borne infections.
Posted 11/3/2011 1:12 PM (GMT -5)
I don't think I am going to be able to afford an LLMD right now. Is an infectious disease doctor capable of treating lymes?
Posted 11/3/2011 6:01 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Markus,

If you go to an Infectious Disease Doctor they may or may not diagnose you with Lyme Disease. They tend to rely on the standard testing which often does not pick up Lyme, especially in its later stages or when there are co-infections that can also be transmitted with a tick bite.

They will also probably follow the IDSA guidelines for treating Lyme which usually precludes the long term use of antibiotics. Depending on how long you have had Lyme Disease, this could leave you with more problems than you had before. Any symptoms you are left with will be called "Post Lyme Disease Syndrome", when it is more likely that you weren't treated thoroughly enough.

In short, if you have a recent infection that responds to 4 weeks of antibiotics, you will be fine.

If you have had Lyme for longer, all I can say is that you simply can't afford to let your infection go untreated -- it will cost a lot more in the long run.

So what has you thinking that you have Lyme Disease? I don't think you have told us your story yet! smilewinkgrin

Post Edited (achievinggrace) : 3/13/2014 2:57:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/4/2011 10:10 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Marcus,
Welcome to the forum!! Have you had the chance to read through our "New to Lyme? ...Start here!" thread? It's full of some really important info, and has a link so that you can read through Dr. Burrascano's "Advance Topics In Lyme Disease". He is a very well known and very well respected LLMD and this paper is well written so that even the layman can understand it. In it you will see that someone only needing 4 weeks of abx treatment will not yet be showing any symptoms - unlike your situation.

What Achievinggrace has said about ID docs is true unfortunately - if we could ever get them on board with treating according to science based treatments, we could really have a lot of docs available to help those infected!! Although for now, they really aren't a good option. We have had a lot of members try to use an ID doc and end up with chronic Lyme, and in worse shape as the proper treatment was delayed - all because the ID docs don't want to use more than 28 days (I believe) of abx treatment. Even though those with acne issues can go to a dermatologist and be on abx for years with no issues.

If you don't have a problem with using "alternative" medicine, there seem to be a lot of Naturopaths that are now treating TBI's, or you cold look into one of these protocols: www.lymediseaseresource.com/Protocols.html. I am using Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to treat my TBI's. There are options if you are open to them, but you also need to be sure that you get a Practitioner that knows how to treat TBI's - no matter what type of protocol you chose to use.

No matter what type of protocol you chose though, we are here to help you find the answers you need, and to offer our support.
Posted 3/17/2013 7:21 PM (GMT -5)
Hi - I am looking for a lyme disease literate physician in the south jersey area.  Can you help me?

Appreciate your time!

Posted 3/13/2014 3:39 PM (GMT -5)
If anyone here could help me out with an LLMD referral for the South Jersey/philly area, that would be so helpful! Thank yoU!!
Posted 8/25/2014 5:31 PM (GMT -5)
I am looking for an LLMD in the south jersey/Philly area as well. I suspect that i have had Lyme Disease for several years. The symptoms have been getting worse lately and I am really getting worried. If anyone can help me locate a decent doc in my area i'd appreciate it. Thank you!
Posted 9/23/2014 3:20 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, I was also recently diagnosed with Lyme's and babesia. I am in north jersey and went to an AMAZING DOCTOR I can not stress to you how genuine and how professional she was. She however moved to NY and I am transitioning to a new doctor.if you're able to, definitely check her out. Her name is doctor Zimmerman.
She found my Lyme's after I have had it for 13 years AND after it didn't initially show up in the blood testing!
She is absolutely one of THE BEST I could ever suggest.I'm not sure exactly where she is located now,she moved to NY recently but if you can find her she can help you beyond your expectations I am sure :)http://www.naturalhealthadvisory.com/person/lisa-zimmermann-md/
Posted 9/23/2014 3:26 PM (GMT -5)
Nicole, please remove your doctor's name! :)
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