Hello,
Does anyone have a Primary Care Physician in Massachusetts who recognizes Lyme? I provided my current doctor with a Positive Igenex test and a note from the state of Massachusetts stating that I have Lyme disease. He kind of balked at this paper work and had me take his "special" Lyme test which gave me a result of Lyme negative and now he says I don't have Lyme. He now won't even let me bring up the topic when I have an appointment.
Does anyone have a PCP in Mass who is Lyme friendly?
Sorry, gfields that your pcp has his head up his arse.
BTW - what was the special test?
Moderator, Lyme Forum
Symp started April/2013; Buhner's Lyme May 15-July24/14; Igenex pos. July 3/14
Doxy: July 4-Aug.24/14;Zithro July26-Aug24/14; Amox + Proben. Aug. 29/14;
added biaxin Sept. 26/14
Disc. amox,added Ceftin Nov. 20th.;
Disc. biaxin added Buhner bart herbs Dec/14;Jan/15 pulsing Tinda (w/ Ceftin);
Abx/herb break Apr-July/15; July-mino; Aug. added Rif;
Nov./15 mino - to biaxi
BTW - what was the special test?
Moderator, Lyme Forum
Symp started April/2013; Buhner's Lyme May 15-July24/14; Igenex pos. July 3/14
Doxy: July 4-Aug.24/14;Zithro July26-Aug24/14; Amox + Proben. Aug. 29/14;
added biaxin Sept. 26/14
Disc. amox,added Ceftin Nov. 20th.;
Disc. biaxin added Buhner bart herbs Dec/14;Jan/15 pulsing Tinda (w/ Ceftin);
Abx/herb break Apr-July/15; July-mino; Aug. added Rif;
Nov./15 mino - to biaxi
I haven't found one in western Mass yet. There are some other llMD's but I think they don't take insurance. One in Northampton(Dr. B) and East Longmeadow(DR H).
The PCP's here need to get educated its a joke.
I go to New Hampshire but I believe there is a waiting list.
The PCP's here need to get educated its a joke.
I go to New Hampshire but I believe there is a waiting list.
How does one get a note from the State of Massachusetts? I'm part-time Mass resident, part-time CA resident, so I feel like this could be useful...
If you are willing to drive, there are some great LLNaturopaths (don't know the abbreviation) who take insurance in S. NH. One is located in Amherst, NH.
Warmly -
Peppermint Tea
Warmly -
Peppermint Tea
I'm in the same predicament gfields.
I do go to an LLND in Amherst, NH for my Lyme, but she doesn't cover some things I need a PCP to cover. I had a FABULOUS Dr in Wellesley, but he changed his practice to concierge/mdvip and became asst medical director at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I miss him terribly and he has been very hard to replace
Bit in the 80's with bullseye rash
Diagnosed Nov 2015
IGeneX:
- IgM (IND): **31 +, **39 IND, **41+++
- IgG (Neg): **31 IND, **39 IND, **41+, 58+
- CD57 = 31
I do go to an LLND in Amherst, NH for my Lyme, but she doesn't cover some things I need a PCP to cover. I had a FABULOUS Dr in Wellesley, but he changed his practice to concierge/mdvip and became asst medical director at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I miss him terribly and he has been very hard to replace
Bit in the 80's with bullseye rash
Diagnosed Nov 2015
IGeneX:
- IgM (IND): **31 +, **39 IND, **41+++
- IgG (Neg): **31 IND, **39 IND, **41+, 58+
- CD57 = 31
When I came back positive for Lyme on my Igenex test, the state of Massachusetts sent a note to my doctor stating that they received a positive result on the Igenex test. I think there's an infectious disease department in MA and they must be in direct communication with Igenex somehow. My doctor was kind enough to mail me a copy of the note. I showed it to my current PCP and he just scoffed at it. Not sure how he can justify that type of a reaction with a note from the state of MA, but he did nonetheless.
I don't know if there are really any doctors that take insurance that recognize lyme in MA. I would go to NH, but I'm not sure if my insurance would allow for me to see an out of state PCP. Maybe they would. I should look into it.
I don't know if there are really any doctors that take insurance that recognize lyme in MA. I would go to NH, but I'm not sure if my insurance would allow for me to see an out of state PCP. Maybe they would. I should look into it.
I'm not sure what the test was specifically that my PCP gave me. It's probably the same test that all PCPs give patients which universally say everyone is negative for Lyme.
This is what the information looked like:
Borrelia burgdorferi AB (Lyme), EIA with Reflex IgG, IgM - Details
Component Results
Component Your Value Standard Range Flag
Borrelia burgdorferi Ab < OR = 0.90 index index
{LYME AB SCREEN {QLS45054600-RCQLS)
Index Interpretation
----- --------------
< or = 0.90 Negative
0.91-1.09 Equivocal
> or = 1.10 Positive
The use of purified VlsE-1 and PepC10 antigens in this
assay provides improved specificity compared to assays
that utilize whole cell lysates of B. burgdorferi, the
causative agent of Lyme disease, and slightly better
sensitivity compared to the C6 antibody assay.
As recommended by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), all samples with positive or
equivocal results in a Borrelia burgdorferi antibody
EIA (screening) will be tested using a blot method.
Positive or equivocal screening test results should not
be interpreted as truly positive until verified as such
using a supplemental assay (e.g., B. burgdorferi blot).
The screening test and/or blot for B. burgdorferi
antibodies may be falsely negative in early stages of
Lyme disease, including the period when erythema
migrans is apparent.
This is what the information looked like:
Borrelia burgdorferi AB (Lyme), EIA with Reflex IgG, IgM - Details
Component Results
Component Your Value Standard Range Flag
Borrelia burgdorferi Ab < OR = 0.90 index index
{LYME AB SCREEN {QLS45054600-RCQLS)
Index Interpretation
----- --------------
< or = 0.90 Negative
0.91-1.09 Equivocal
> or = 1.10 Positive
The use of purified VlsE-1 and PepC10 antigens in this
assay provides improved specificity compared to assays
that utilize whole cell lysates of B. burgdorferi, the
causative agent of Lyme disease, and slightly better
sensitivity compared to the C6 antibody assay.
As recommended by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), all samples with positive or
equivocal results in a Borrelia burgdorferi antibody
EIA (screening) will be tested using a blot method.
Positive or equivocal screening test results should not
be interpreted as truly positive until verified as such
using a supplemental assay (e.g., B. burgdorferi blot).
The screening test and/or blot for B. burgdorferi
antibodies may be falsely negative in early stages of
Lyme disease, including the period when erythema
migrans is apparent.
Gfields - I live in NH. Something I have found is often Nurse Practitioners can be more open to the subject of Lyme. Both my PCP and my children's PCP's are Nurse Practioners; they have been great. I speak to them pretty openly about the treatment my kids and myself have been on in past. They are definitely curious about learning about their treatment plans. They both also state Lyme is very prevalent.
If you are hitting road blocks with lyme friendly doctors in MA. Perhaps you might want to try a NP and show them your letter.
Warmly -
Peppermint Tea
If you are hitting road blocks with lyme friendly doctors in MA. Perhaps you might want to try a NP and show them your letter.
Warmly -
Peppermint Tea