Need advice on LLMD search

New poster here- I've never tested absolutely positive for Lyme, but my life has been falling apart since shortly after a deer tick bit me in 2015.

I've learned in these two years that no doctor will try to treat you without a positive test. In fact, the ones that don't outright dismiss you will try to aggressively Rx antidepressants, but will laugh when you ask to try antibiotics. It's sickening. Just last week, I arrived at a doctor's office with a tick that bit me two weeks prior, and he sent me home without even offering a new blood test and was stricken with fear when I asked him to let me try a course of antibiotics just to see. Disgusting.

I'm at the point where I'm ready to see a LLMD, but money is a very real issue. I would be getting some help from family, but they're not completely convinced that I have Lyme. To tell the truth, I'm only like 97% sure I do, after recounting my tick bite, small ambiguous rash and mulling over these last two years, where every other of the many tests of my body and mind show I'm extremely healthy- even though I can't breathe, my mind is blank and foggy, my muscles and joints ache and twitch and my energy level is almost lower than if I had the flu- so bad that moving hurts and makes me feel like I may pass out.

I would really appreciate any info on LLMDs in the Long Island NY, NYC, Upstate NY, upper NJ and CT areas. Any you know of, what a visit is like, how they treated your infection, personal progress, whether or not they considered a negative test a reason to dismiss, cost- anything that can help with this decision. I'm at wits end but due to the potential cost of a LLMD and testing/treatments, I have a lot to consider. Not only that, but I know that not everybody who enters the world of Lyme treatment is a good and conscientious doctor.

I did email Ilads but the list they sent back wasn't very promising- the one I visited last year was a hack who only wanted to peddle natural remedies. Please don't send me any NDs or homeopathic docs or the like- I don't want to sound picky but I don't trust them.

Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it.

Hi Kev - welcome to our community!

I'm sorry for the bad treatment by the Dr.'s. Unfortunately many of us have also experienced that.

There aren't many options for LLMD's on Long Island, but I do have several listed for Upstate NY as well as NYC.
I can also check my list for CT and NJ.

Send me an email and state in the email what you prefer - and we can start there (If Upstate NY is closest for example - you can start there..or if you're closer to CT...I'll give you those names)

If you want recommendations from forum members - then start a new thread: "Looking for LLMD in/near____" and fill in the blank. Then enable you email so members can send you names privately. We don't post the names here for privacy reasons - to protect our Dr.'s.

We encourage our new members to read through the thread at the top of the page : "New to Lyme?..start Here!" It's packed full of useful information.

Hi Kevroeques
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

For information on finding a​n ILADS ​(International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)​ trained LLMD in your area, you will​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

And here are a few more places you can try as well:
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can go to ​​The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
​​​​​​​​www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​

​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can email ​​​​the​​ ​​​​​​Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at​: medicalinfo@tbdalliance.org​
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And www.LymeDoc.org

You will want to find an ILADS trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) as well as many others, believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your healing journey: www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf