How to find an LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor)

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How to find an LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor)

_http://www.chroniclymedisease.com/llmd-referrals_

(http://www.chroniclymedisease.com/llmd-referrals)

 

In finding clinical help, the first order of business for you is to

rendezvous with a licensed physician who is Lyme-literate.

 

Before directing you to the contact information for Lyme-literate doctors,

a very important note:

 

Whatever you do, do not simply walk into any random general practitioner’s

office or general infectious disease doctor’s office! Awareness of Lyme

disease already very low among U.S. physicians. By seeing a doctor who is not

versed in the condition, you are almost guaranteeing that you will be sent

out of the office empty-handed, if not ridiculed. Presently, Lyme patients

have a difficult time gaining recognition and validation in the United

States. In fact, most U.S. physicians do not even acknowledge the existence of

chronic Lyme disease (see Appendix B). The first step toward placing the

odds in your favor is to start with the most knowledgeable physician you can

find instead of wasting time trying to educate other, potentially

closed-minded doctors.

 

The one exception to the rule of finding a Lyme-literate physician at the

outset is if you should happen to have a strong relationship with a general

practitioner who is not aware of the condition but who has instead proven

to you over past relationship that he or she is open-minded, accommodating,

humble, and inquisitive. Such a physician (often a family friend, or,

perhaps, a relative) may be able to help you by mere virtue of the fact that he

or she may be willing to do what it takes to become educated on Lyme

disease. After all, when it comes to Lyme -literate physicians, the key

qualities

to seek are open-mindedness and humility.

 

However, if you approach this trusted doctor and they are hostile toward

your hypothesis that you or your child may be suffering from Lyme disease,

then run the other way! There is no point in wasting your time trying to

change a doctor’s mind when you can instead spend your time and energy

cultivating a professional relationship with one of the hundreds of physicians

out

there who will be accommodating and helpful to you. The simple fact is that

most physicians are not only ignorant of Lyme disease, but they are

actually taught in medical school to blindly dismiss suggestions from patients

directing them to new areas of research. This type of dogma is ingrained in

most physicians. Instead of fighting it, just accept that the Lyme-autism

field is years ahead of its time, and find someone who is already on the

right bus, so to speak.

 

The importance of finding a helpful, informed physician cannot be

over-stated. Countless parents and patients have lost years of life, spent

thousands of dollars, and endured immeasurable stress in hopeless arguments with

closed-minded physicians, all the while unaware of the helpful and resourceful

physician who may be practicing medicine just a few blocks down the road.

 

Also keep in mind that simply a Lyme-literate physician is not enough. In

addition to such literacy, a physician must also prove to you that he or

she has an open mind and is willing to pursue ongoing education. The reason

for this requirement is simply that Lyme disease is currently not well

understood, and any physician who successfully cares for patients of the

disorder must be committed to remaining on the cutting edge of modern medical

science and interventions. This is especially difficult for physicians given

their demanding work schedules and lack of time for keeping up with new

research and ideas. You need to make sure your chosen doctor can dedicate the

time it takes to not only become educated, but also stay educated.

 

Additionally, make sure your physician knows that Lyme disease does not

just involve Borrelia infection, but also dozens of other co-infections,

including Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, mycoplasma, and many others. Or, if

he or she does not already know this, make sure that he or she is

open-minded enough to consider the possibility.

 

Finally (are you getting tired of all the requirements yet?), do not

forget that you, as the patient (or patient’s advocate) are ultimately

responsible for your healthcare. Do not buy into the lie that you are a

“consumer of

prepackaged health care.†Contrary to what the medical establishment would

have you believe, there is no success to be found with blindly relying on

the medical establishment. The responsibility for your success or failure

in healing lies with no one other than you, and you alone! Do not cave in to

the enticing desire for easy answers from a physician or specialist who

seems to know it all. While it may feel comfortable to blindly rely on

decrees passed down by medical professionals, the truth is that such comfort is

short-lived and the only real road to success requires your active

questioning, participation, and intellectual engagement in the healing process.

 

With these many caveats out of the way, let’s finally move on to the topic

of actually finding an appropriate physician.

 

FINDING A LYME-LITERATE MEDICAL DOCTOR (LLMD)

Due to political controversy and legal challenges facing Lyme doctors,

most of them prefer to keep a low profile. For this reason, they can be

difficult to find. Additionally, good etiquette in the Lyme disease community

dictates that when discussing doctors in public (including public internet

discussion groups), their names should be kept private. If your doctor tells

you that he or she is okay with his or her name being public, then you may

be able to ignore this etiquette. However, when in doubt, assume that the

above is true.

 

Getting a Lyme-literate physician referral

 

1.

Lymenet.org “Seeking a Physician†Forum: You can get a custom referral to

an LLMD from _www.lymenet.org_ (http://www.lymenet.org/) . When you reach

the homepage, click on “Flash Discussion,†and then click on “Seeking a

Doctor.†You will be asked to provide your city, state, and contact

information, and a Lymenet.org forum member will contact you with a physician

referral.

2.

Lyme Disease Association Doctor Referral Service: Visit

_www.lymediseaseassociation.org_ (http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/) and

click on “

Doctor Referral.†You will be asked for your contact information and a doctor

referral will be provided.

3.

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). Contacting

ILADS may also be helpful in your search for a physician. Use their website:

_www.ilads.org_ (http://www.ilads.org/) .

When treating Lyme disease, it is important to remember that not all

doctors are Lyme-literate. In fact, most physicians in the USA do not believe

in

chronic Lyme disease. So, you can waste a lot of time and energy going to

the wrong doctor. Therefore, you should be very selective and invest the

time and energy up front to select a physician who understands Lyme disease

and can help you establish an effective, aggressive treatment campaign for

chronic Lyme. For more information, see _The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments_

(http://www.defeatlyme.com/) paperback book.

 

 

The following are specialty areas and geographic locations for which LLMDs

are available:

City, ST, Specialty, Mobile, AL, Lyme Specialist, Hematologist,

Scottsdale, AZ, CAM, Vancouver, BC, , Aptos, CA, Holistic, Chico, CA,

Neurologist,

Chico, CA, , Chico, CA, General Practice, Corte Madera, CA, , Los Altos, CA,

, Los Altos, CA, GYN Reproductive Endocrinologist, Los Gatos, CA, GYN

Endometriosis, Nevada City, CA, Family Practice, Oakhurst, CA, Family Practice,

Ojai, CA, , Ojai, CA, Palo Alto, CA, San Cruz, CA, San Francisco, CA, San

Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San

Jose, CA, Santa Rosa, CA, Naturopath, Santa Rosa, CA, Family Practice/CAM,

Santa Rosa, CA, Family Practice/CAM, Santa Rosa, CA, Family Practice/CAM,

Santee, CA, Family Practice, Torrance, CA, Integrative, Trazana, CA, , Hope,

BC, Family Practice, Centennial, CO, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Lafayette,

CO, Family Practice, Steamboat Springs, CO, Internist, Greenwich, CT,

Psychiatry, , , Mystic, CT, Buhner Protocol, New Haven, CT, Pediatric,

Adolescent, Norwalk, CT, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Orange, CT, Neurologist,

Ridgefield, CT, Internist, Southport, CT, Neurologist, Stamford, CT,

Psychiatry,

Westport, CT, , Wilton, CT, Internist, Wilton, CT, Psychiatry, Delray Beach,

FL, Internist, Lauderdale Lakes, FL, Neurology, Miami Beach, FL, Internist,

Geriatrics, Naples, FL, Neurology, Naples, FL, Psychiatry, Marietta, GA,

Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Marietta, GA, Rheumatologist, Louisville, KY,

Neurology, Pineville, LA, , Boston, MA, Infectious Disease, Newton Centre, MA,

Clinical Psychologist, Waltham, MA, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Bel Air, MD,

Internal, Occupational, Holistic, Easton, MD, Gynecology, Gaithersburg, MD,

Family Practice, Gaithersburg, MD, Medicine, Laurel, MD, Family Practice,

Lutherville, MD, Internist/Infectious Disease, Lutherville, MD,

Cardiologist, Lutherville Timonium, MD, Internist, Pocomoke City, MD, Family

Practice,

, Rockville, MD, Internist, Integrative, Towson, MD, Environmental, CAM,

Towson, MD, Internal Medicine, Andover, ME, , Freeport, ME, Internal

Medicine, Kennebunkport, ME, , Lincoln, ME, Internal Medicine, Troy, MI, Fibro

and

Fatigue Clinic, Washington, MI, , Bloomington, MN, Family Practice, Duluth,

MN, Infectious Disease, Forest Lake, MN, , Minneapolis, MN, , Minneapolis,

MN, Consults Only, Winona, MN, Family Practice, CAM, Columbia, MO,

Infectious Disease, Columbia, MO, , Kansas City, MO, Infectious Disease

Teacher,

Springfield, MO, Family Practice, Ocean Springs, MS, Internal Medicine,

Huntersville, NC, Infectious Disease, Epping, NH, Family Practice, Portsmouth,

NH, Naturopath, Wolfeboro, NH, , Absecon, NJ, Infectious Disease, Basking

Ridge, NJ, Rheumatology, Brachberg, NJ, Ophthalmology, Cherry Hill, NJ, Pain

Management, Chester, NJ, Psychiatrist, Psychopharmacologist, Chester , NJ,

Pediactric, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, Pain Management, Engelwood, NJ, Clinical

Psychologist, Essex Fells, NJ, Pediactric, Flemington, NJ, Vector-Borne

Disease Consultant, Hammonton, NJ, , Howell, NJ, Internal Medicine, Howell, NJ,

Pediactric, Jackson, NJ, Internal Medicine, Margate, NJ, Pain Management,

Morristown, NJ, Psychiatrist, Mountainside, NJ, Psychologist, Parsippany,

NJ, Clinical Psychologist, Red Bank, NJ, Neuro-Psychiatry, Red Bank, NJ,

Neurologist , Riverdale, NJ, Rheumatology, Sewell, NJ, Pediatrician, Somers

Point, NJ, Infectious Disease, Somerville, NJ, Ophthalmology, Treehold, NJ,

Psychotherapist, Washington Twp, NJ, Pain Management, Watchung, NJ, , West

Caldwell, NJ, Rheumatology, Santa Fe, NM, Internal Medicine, CAM, Las Vegas,

NV, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Armonk, NY, Internist, Critical Care,

Brewster, NY, Family Practice, Brewster, NY, Pscyotherapy, Buffalo, NY,

Environmental, Chazy, NY, Family Practice, Hyde Park, NY, Internist, CAM,

Mamaroneck, NY, Clinical Psychologist, Mount Kisco, NY, Internist,

Epidemiologist,

New York, NY, Psychiatrist, New York, NY, , New York, NY, Neurologist, New

York, NY, Neurologist, New York, NY, , Pleasantville, NY,

Ophthalmology, Port Jefferson Station, NY, , Rhinebeck, NY, Family Practice,

CAM, Rhinebeck, NY, Family Practice, CAM, Middleburg Heights, OH, Fibro and

Fatigue Clinic, Beaverton, OR, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, The Dalles, OR,

Naturopath, Allentown, PA, , Bala Cynwyd, PA, Internist, ID, CAM, Bloomsburg,

PA, Emergency Medicine, Coatesville, PA, Clinical/Child Psychology,

Colamar, PA, Family Practice, Downingtown, PA, General Family Practice, East

Stroudsburg, PA, Family Practice, Exton, PA, , Glen Mills, PA, CFS, Hermitage,

PA, Internist, Family Practice, Hermitage, PA, Family Practice, Holland,

PA, Psychiatry, Kennett Square, PA, Family Medicine, King of Prussia, PA,

Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Lancaster, PA, Neuro-Opthamology, Paoli, PA, ,

Philadelphia, PA, Research physician, Philadelphia, PA, Holistic doctor,

Pittsburgh, PA, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Shillington, PA, Hormones,

Williamsport,

PA, Radiation Oncologist, Williamsport, PA, Internist, Rheumatology, York,

PA, Family Practice, Hodges, SC, Family Practice, Dallas, TX, Fibro and

Fatigue Clinic, Ft. Worth, TX, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Richardson, TX,

Cardiologist, CAM, Victoria, TX, Pediatric, Murray, UT, Fibro and Fatigue

Clinic, Fairfax, VA, Rheumatology, Portsmouth, VA, Family Practice, Sterling,

VA, Family Practice, Vienna, VA, , Brandon, VT, Integrative Family Physician,

Brattleboro, VT, Buhner Protocol, Waitsfield, VT, Buhner Protocol, ,