Getting a diagnosis for Lyme disease can be difficult. Any doctor can order a test to determine if you have been infected by a tick carrying the Lyme bacteria. Unfortunately, the tests used by general doctors are not sufficient and are often inaccurate.
This puts you in that dreaded cycle of experiencing devastating symptoms, but your doctor tells you it is not related to Lyme disease. But you know your body, you know your symptoms, you’ve done the research, and you know you have Lyme disease.
Most likely, you are right.
After getting no help from a doctor who knows very little about Lyme disease, it is time to seek help from a Lyme disease specialist.
Benefits of Lyme Disease Specialists
There are common Lyme disease signs and symptoms, and then there are uncommon ones. Lyme disease specialists thoroughly understand the vast array of symptoms, even the rare symptoms a person can experience when dealing with Lyme disease.
Other infections, called co-infections, often accompany Lyme disease. Lyme disease specialists know how to recognize and treat co-infections.
Lyme disease specialists diagnose you based on your symptoms as well as diagnostic testing. Most general doctors order lab testing and, based on those results only, for an opinion and treatment plan. Lyme disease specialists understand that bloodwork or lab tests can be tricky. For instance, if the Lyme anti-bodies are in hiding when you take your Lyme test, your results will show you do not have Lyme, when in fact, you do.
Finally, the chances of your Lyme disease being misdiagnosed are reduced when working with a Lyme disease specialist.
You may be wondering how to best find a Lyme disease specialist. Below are tips to help you know what to look for so you can find the best doctor.
1. They Are Part of the Lyme Disease Community
Lyme disease specialists are part of a more extensive network of professionals. You can research national and international organizations established to educate and connect Lyme literate doctors.
2. They Are Educated
Lyme literate doctors make an effort to continue their expertise after graduating from medical school. Like how psychiatrists specialize in mental health and addiction, and how gastroenterologists specialize in the digestive system, Lyme disease doctors specialize in Lyme disease.
They know everything there is to know about the disease, including new and modern treatments. They can also diagnose Lyme specific ailments such as Lyme neuropathy, Lyme carditis, neuropathic pain, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Most importantly, they can confidently tell you if you do not have Lyme disease based on more than just a diagnostic lab test.
3. They Are Equipped to Treat Lyme Disease
If your general doctor diagnosis you with Lyme disease, he or she will prescribe a round of antibiotics. But what is their backup plan if the antibiotics do not work?
Lyme literate specialists have that backup plan.
They also have the equipment in their office to provide backup plans or alternative treatments. Treatments like lab testing, hyperthermia, therapeutic apheresis, oxidative and anti-oxidant therapies, immune modulation, biofilm eradication protocols, and parasite inactivation.
These are just a few of the long list of treatments Lyme specialists can use to treat your unique Lyme disease symptoms.
4. They Have Referrals
All doctors should come with referrals, not just Lyme disease specialists. You know you have a good specialist when they are happy to provide you with referrals. Often, you don’t even need to ask the doctor for referrals; you can check out their online ratings and testimonials on their websites.
5. They Answer Questions
If you visit a doctor who does not have time or interest to answer Lyme disease questions, they are not the right doctor for you. Every patient has questions that deserve answers. After all, Lyme disease is disrupting your life.
Lyme disease specialists should encourage questions and teach you about your disease rather than just talking at you, hoping you understand.
To prepare for your visit, write down your questions ahead of time, so you don’t forget to ask any of them during your meeting.
6. Look Outside the United States
Don’t be afraid to look outside the United States for treatment of your Lyme disease. Like those at the Lyme Mexico Clinic, some of the best specialists are renowned around the world through contributions they make in publications and to their field of research.
Traveling outside the United States for medical treatment has been negatively impacted in the past. At times, the media makes efforts to put a spotlight on worst-case scenarios and dangers. But in most cases, the doctors were not appropriately licensed or operating in unsanitary or unsafe environments.
This is not the case with licensed medical professionals, like at the Lyme Mexico clinic. Just because the clinic is located outside the United States, doesn’t mean you won’t receive the most professional healing services. In fact, more adequate treatments are offered than what’s available in the United States.
7. Collaborative Care
The right Lyme disease specialist will work with other doctors to provide you with an integrative, all-encompassing treatment and after treatment plan.
If you need bioidentical hormone treatment following Lyme care, you can receive that treatment closer to your home. If you need help from a digestive specialist following your Lyme treatments, your doctor can connect you with a gastroenterologist familiar with Lyme’s effects on the digestive system.
You can even be connected with a family doctor who can provide proper Lyme care follow-up.
The right Lyme specialist recognizes the benefit of collaborative care in the medical industry. It shows they value your health and make it a priority.
Final Thought
In conclusion, there are excellent Lyme disease specialists out there who can give you the diagnosis and care you deserve to have that long, happy, and symptom-free life. Contact the right doctor today – they are ready to help.