HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

LLMD in Raleigh, NC ?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/29/2017 4:39 PM (GMT -5)
I am looking for an LLMD in the Raleigh, NC area, hopefully covered by BCBS. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Tested positive for lyme 5-6 years ago, did a course of abx, now being retested as having major fatigue, headaches, body aches, etc. similar to last Lyme experience (but with more aches this time).

Currently on 21 days of doxy, 100 mg 2x day due to tick bite (no rash either time) and symptoms. Worried it won't be enough and that it's actually chronic lyme as I never felt the same after first diagnosis. Feel an LLMD might be beneficial.

Any thoughts on if I can take a liver cleanse (Dr. Tobias blend) during this abx course?

Thanks!
Posted 5/29/2017 5:01 PM (GMT -5)
Dr. Rawls is out of Raleigh. Not sure if he is a true LLMD, but he is very knowledgeable on Lyme, suffered from it himself and healed. His company is Vital Plan. Best of luck to you smile
Posted 5/29/2017 5:04 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you!
Posted 5/29/2017 5:23 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Raleighgirlie - welcome!

I deleted the other thread you started - as it was a duplicate of this one.

In addition to the name Bekindpls told you about, you can also email me and I will check my list of LLMD's and send you names.

Just click on the envelope below my screen name on the left.

Also, we encourage new members to read through the thread at the top of the page titled: "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" It's packed full of useful information.

It is wise that you are seeking out a LLMD - 100 mg doxy twice daily for 21 days won't be enough for treatment, unfortunately.
Posted 5/29/2017 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
BTW - I like your name... tongue
Posted 5/29/2017 6:40 PM (GMT -5)
Apparently Raleighgirl was taken so Raleighgirlie it is!

Yes, after reading a lot of posts on this forum sounds like 21 days won't be sufficient if my test comes back positive again and I want to be prepared. I received your email and greatly appreciate the info!

I will let you know my results once they are in-hopefully they come back negative but after knowing how difficult it can be to actually test positive I will wonder if I can trust the test. I am tired of feeling bad.
Posted 5/29/2017 6:59 PM (GMT -5)
You're right - a negative test doesn't mean anything...so, no, you can't trust the test.

LLMD's should all be able to diagnose clinically...and use the testing as a back-up.

Also, trialling a protocol and seeing how you respond is another way to find out if you have lyme and co's.
Posted 5/29/2017 8:34 PM (GMT -5)
Dr. Rawls is in Morehead City. His therapy is very similar to Buhner's, i.e. predominately herbal. While I see a LL clinic in Raleigh, they do not take insurance. Due to the attitude of the NCMB I would be surprised if anyone does.
Posted 5/31/2017 7:45 PM (GMT -5)
Well, I got my lab results today and I tested negative on the Lyme IgM test but they didn't run the Lyme IgG test which is the one I wanted. Apparently my insurance won't cover it because I am in NC where Lyme isn't prevalent and it would cost me $750 out of pocket if I decided to have them do it. Plus, since I have had Lyme before they said I would probably test positive on the IgG being I would still have the antibodies so there doesn't seem to be a point in even taking it. So how am I supposed to know if this is a different bacterial infection or the Lyme is back in play? My concern was more that I never fully got rid of it the first time, not that it's a new infection. I am a bit frustrated sad

no fever, no rash (absent first time i had it), aching is gone now with the antibiotics as are the headaches, but fatigue is still bad and have a lot of brain fog. An overall feeling of malaise. All of my bloodwork and thyroid tests came back perfectly healthy. Yet i am not healthy right now! I feel terrible.
Posted 5/31/2017 7:48 PM (GMT -5)
If you need to pay for a Lyme WB - then go through Igenex - $210 for both Igm and IgG.

Don't pay $750.


Even if you have a long-standing infection, you can still be IgM positive.

I was after 15 months of infection...positive Igm and negative IgG.

My husband figures he's had it a lot longer and he was positive IgM as well (after he had the Epitope on band 31 done)

If you previously had a lyme positive test result...and now have relapsed...then a LLMD can treat based on that. You shouldn't need another test.
Posted 5/31/2017 8:29 PM (GMT -5)
I tested positive for lyme about 5-6 years ago. Did a course of antibiotics and was okay after that. Have had bouts of fatigue/feeling of being unwell ever since so always wondered if it ever fully went away. It would kind of come and go.

Feeling cruddy again same way I did first time I had it so they tested me for it last week being I had a possible tick bite (pulled something small off but figured it was a skin tag or something). Since IgM test came back negative maybe it's not really lyme? Felt worse for a few days after starting doxy so figured it was die off but maybe it's just some other bacterial infection as a lot of stuff i am reading say most people do test positive for IgM.

$210 is much better than $750. Do I have to have a doctor order the Igenex test? I am sure she won't want to being I tested negative on the IgM.
Posted 5/31/2017 8:40 PM (GMT -5)
Dr. Rawls did have an OBGYN practice in Morehead City, at one time. But, after leaving to work on Vital Plan full time, I believe they're now operating in Raleigh and Cary.

Last November, due to the FTC and FDA enforcing stringent regulations on what supplement companies can say about their products and what types of information they can provide to consumers, Vital Plan moved all chronic disease content from VitalPlan.com to RawlsMD.com.

Dr. Rawls is still the medical director of Vital Plan. The RawlsMD.com site has book updates, speaking engagements, webinars, and articles about chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc.

Vital Plan
800-951-2414
info@vitalplan.com
/vitalplan.com

RawlsMD
info@rawlsmd.com
/rawlsmd.com

If you want to schedule a telephone consultation with Dr. Rawls, you can do so here:

/rawlsmd.com/consults

Should you be okay with driving about two hours west of Raleigh, I can give you the name of a Lyme Literate provider that also works at the Jemsek Speciality Clinic in Washington, DC.
Posted 5/31/2017 8:47 PM (GMT -5)
You do need a Dr. to sign the Igenex lab req. But, it can be any Dr. - MD, ND, Chiropractor...

Or you can go through TrueHealthLabs (It will be more than $210 though - $360 for Igm and IgG)
No Dr. necessary.



www.truehealthlabs.com/Lyme-Disease-Tests-s/1836.htm
Posted 5/31/2017 9:12 PM (GMT -5)
Another option is DNA Connexions - it's a urine test that looks for several coinfections too. Cost is $500.

I am also in NC - Greensboro. There's a good doc in chapel hill. Dr. S R. Look at Haven Medical. Does not accept insurance. She did a podcast with Neil Nathan and I was impressed with her. I have also heard from a few people that she is good. Well versed in mold treatment too.
Posted 6/1/2017 5:58 AM (GMT -5)
So if any doc can sign it how does Igenex get the bloodwork? Do they have draw centers I would go to? I may do that as I can afford $210. I am thinking that test may give me some answers.

I looked into Dr. Rawls Vital Plan but I don't think I could take that many pills, especially if they are big, as I have Shotzke's Ring. Even my multi gets stuck half the time so 24 pills/day would not work for me.

Anyone know of anything with less pills? I figure I need to boost my immune system up as much as possible. Thinking about doing a few cleanses too and maybe a parasite detox. All of my symptoms are gone now with the abx other than the fatigue. I am crazy tired all day long. I am still hoping it's not lyme but not ruling it out being this is how I felt last time.
Posted 6/1/2017 6:00 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you to everyone for all of this advice! I greatly appreciate it. I know you guys have been going through this for a while so I appreciate you sharing your knowledge smile
Posted 6/1/2017 8:33 AM (GMT -5)
Raleighgirlie, I live in Durham. My doctor filled out the Igenex test forms and then I took them to a lab called "Any Lab Test Now" in Durham. They are also located in Raleigh and they knew exactly what to do. I think the draw cost me $25.00. They shipped it and took care of it all and made sure I had the right paperwork.

You need to have the draw done on Monday, Tuesday and no later than Wednesday so the blood can get to Igenex by Friday. Igenex is closed on the weekend and your blood needs to be refrigerated and would not be testable.
Posted 6/2/2017 7:47 PM (GMT -5)
Good to know, seems easy enough! My plan is to finish my 21 day course of doxy, boost up my immune system with supplements and do a liver detox (after abx are done) and see how I feel. If I am still not 100% I will get the Igenex test even though I tested negative on IgM test with LabCorp. I have tested positive on it before (5 years ago) so I don't know if I can trust this negative test or not as I know how elusive Lyme is and I was lucky I tested positive the first time I had it.

My doc says there is no point as I will test positive on IgG since I have had it before but I am hoping seeing the bands and how I test will tell me something. Does anyone know if the bands will tell me if it's a recurring infection? Or will I be wasting my money? Feeling much better now thanks to doxy so hoping it's not a resurgence of lyme but would like to know...
Posted 6/2/2017 8:09 PM (GMT -5)
No, it won't tell you much. You can still produce the antibodies after being treated.
Will the test help you get treatment?

You need to go by symptoms. You had a recent tick bite plus symptoms...so treat until symptom free.
Posted 6/2/2017 8:25 PM (GMT -5)
Well I guess it probably won't unless I test positive according to BCBS standards so you are probably right. Even then I would probably have to be in a hospital bed for them to pay for treatment. I will just go see an LLMD if I can't get symptom free and pay out of pocket.

I did check out that Vital Plan protocol as I am more into natural remedies but I don't know how anyone could take 24 pills a day. Ugh. Not sure I can do it and they probably aren't small lol.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply