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which type of doctor first?

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Lyme Disease
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marylandgirl
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 26
Posted 10/14/2008 8:27 AM (GMT -8)
I am trying to figure out which route to go first.  I have many symptoms of both ms and lyme disease, more for lyme disease.  Would you go to a LLMD first to get tested for lyme or go to a neurologist to rule in or out ms?  If I was diagnosed with ms, I would be tested for lyme to be sure anyway.  Makes me think to go to a LLMD first.  What do you think?  Any good ones in Frederick, MD or Montgomery County, MD that can be reccommended?  Thanks for any advice.
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ticker
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 9208
Posted 10/14/2008 10:02 AM (GMT -8)

Hi marlylandgirl, welcome to the board!

How long have you been sick?  Some people who have Lyme disease were first diagnosed with other diseases inlcuding CFS, Fibromyalgia, MS, and ALS.  My recommendation would be to see a Lyme doctor and rule out or confirm Lyme disease.  From what I understand, MS is often treated with steroids.  Steroids can make Lyme symptoms worse.

Below is a Lyme symptom list.  You can have any combination of symptoms. 

Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing

Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol

When Lyme disease is possible, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor.  No test is completely reliable and results can vary by lab.  Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma.  Many people who have Lyme are co-infected.  It may affect treatment choice and progress.  It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.  

You can email me at ko_@bellsouth.net for doctor recommendations.

It is also important to learn as much as possible.  I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html  He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols.  He also lists diet, supplement, and exercise recommendations.  I also recommend the books "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singelton MD.

I hope you can get answers soon.

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baileygirl76
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2008
Posts : 123
Posted 10/14/2008 11:35 AM (GMT -8)
You can go to www.turnthecorner.org to get some doctor ref's. There are a lot of good ones in MD. I live in MD too.

 

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