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Best resource(s) for skeptical doctors

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Posted 10/2/2019 5:44 AM (GMT -5)
What's the best resource you use to persuade a skeptical doctor about the reality of chronic Lyme disease?

I was just referred to an infectious disease "specialist" who refused to treat me because I've already taken 4 weeks of doxycycline (which he thought was excessive!). He thinks I'm suffering from "Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome," although he asked precisely zero questions about my symptom profile or history.

I am planning to see another doctor but this is incredibly frustrating to say the least.

Post Edited (Scroggins) : 10/2/2019 5:18:30 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/2/2019 6:12 AM (GMT -5)
I thought I was educated enough to provide adequate documentation to non-believing MDs and specialists to get them through their knothole of old school propaganda on lyme disease. I ended up firing my PCP fo 10 years, my neurologist, and a rheumatologist, both treating me for one year consecutively. I provided published papers from leading Lyme researchers and practitioners like Sam Donta who was on the IDSA committee that developed their diagnostic and treatment standards, and Joe Burrascano early writings. Nothing I could do to have them even slightly consider they and the IDSA were on the wrong side of this issue.

Don't waist your time, and move on to a more Lyme friendly MD. Consult your local lyme support group to see who their members go to in your area.
Posted 10/2/2019 6:21 AM (GMT -5)
That's terrible, tickbite666. The ignorance (and arrogance) on this issue truly is astounding.

The issue in my case is that I live abroad, and I was referred to this specialist by my company to determine whether medical leave was warranted. The hope was that he would authorize a few days of medical leave so I could travel to the US for treatment (I have an appointment scheduled with Dr P in Wilton, CT next month), but things obviously didn't go according to plan.

It's unlikely I'll be able to persuade him (or anyone else), but it would be nice to have a concise overview of the research at hand.
Posted 10/2/2019 7:39 AM (GMT -5)

jolaleye121 said...

Eventually, you get a feel for who's going to accept the reality of the illness and who isn't. There seems to be a lack of courage amongst a lot of these doctors (considering the good folks who have actually tried to help have been sued into oblivion.) It's far easier to just fob you off and continue to collect their paycheck. If you find that after trying to explain once or twice, I'd recommend you find another doctor. A hassle I know but nothing regarding this disease is easy - by design... Excuse the cynicism but this illness has been neglected - deliberately - for nearly 5 years now, one just has to have the will to not give up.

Yeah, I think you're right that some people just aren't open to considering new evidence. It was clear with 90 seconds that the guy I saw today wasn't going to listen.

Btw, just saw you have a pretty similar post. Being told you have PTLDS is definitely a form of gaslighting...
Posted 10/2/2019 12:00 PM (GMT -5)
Scroggins - you posted about finding a LLMD - did you not go to one ?

Edit - that was for your mother
Posted 10/2/2019 8:42 PM (GMT -5)
I've actually been fired by my doctor because she refused to diagnose or treat me... didn't know that was possible
Posted 10/3/2019 2:35 AM (GMT -5)

Girlie said...
Scroggins - you posted about finding a LLMD - did you not go to one ?

Edit - that was for your mother

I actually found one for my mother (in Maine) and for myself (in CT). I had to see this doctor to get approval to take time off from work so I can travel to my appointment next month. Looks like it'll be unpaid leave...
Posted 10/3/2019 2:38 AM (GMT -5)

jb1994 said...
I've actually been fired by my doctor because she refused to diagnose or treat me... didn't know that was possible

It's despicable, really. They encounter something they don't understand and, rather than trying to learn and help, they turn their backs - after calling us crazy, of course.
Posted 10/3/2019 3:25 AM (GMT -5)
I love to discuss it with them but from what I have seen, physicians don't like to hear things they don't know. They work in a realm of "known" and that is tests and treating. There is so much about Lyme that is "unknown" that they don't want to go down that road, even with scientific references. Physicians literally run from me if I start talking biochemistry. I've had it happen too many times so I just don't do it. I could persuade them if they would listen, but they just don't want to listen.
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