Washingtonboard

I live near Spokane, and I'm looking for an MD who has had experience with Lymes, and is open to and current on recent and alternative approaches. I've been to an infectious disease specialist who was absolutely no help at all. Two alternative doctors have diagnosed me with Lymes. I have most of the typical symptoms, remember the bulls eye rash, and probably have had Lymes for 10+ years.

Hello, getting nowhere with my duckling even though she already has 2 Lyme patients, told yesterday "there is nothing that can be done with late stage Lyme". Very angrgy & upset right now, was infected 6 yrs. ago. I live near Mt. Vernon (60 miles north of Seattle), would appreciate any advice/help you can provide. Have been to U of W in past year (for myoclonus) is there anyone there Lyme literate that u know of? I have Basic Health (Regence) very doubtful they would cover expenses out of state,also I cannot drive most days & am nearly wiped out on savings from lack of income so REALLY need someone in Wa. if possible.

My name is Mary Russo and I am trying to find a doctor in my area that could help us rule in or out Lyme disease for my husband. My husband has been suffing from many lyme disease symptoms for the past few years. His enlarged spleen was removed and he has suffered 2 bouts of meningitis. In addition he is constantly fatigued. After numerous tests including a bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap, no one has ever given us answers for his ailments. I am suspecting maybe he has lyme and would like to find a good doctor in our area. We live in Pasco, WA, that is the tricities area of South East Washington state.

Thank you,

I don't know exactly when I was bit...it was this summer sometime. I don't even know where I may have been to pick up a tick. I never got the telltale bull's eye. I recall looking down at my wrist one day and seeing a raised bump about the size of a pea. I had been busily landscaping my mother's squirrel-infested yard all summer long as well as going out to the nearby rural area to ride horses with friends. I thought I had picked up a barkdust sliver. I looked at it closely but didn't see anything so I thought that it must be pretty deep and I'll just wait for it to fester.

Then one day, I was handing my mom a soda and she noticed the bump on my wrist. I had been monitoring it for about three weeks, but nothing ever came of it. It didn't get any bigger and it never festered. I explained to her that I thought I had picked up a sliver, but...she immediately attempted to biopsy it. There was nothing there. It scabbed over but never did completely go away.

About two months ago, I went in to a new doctor (I've never been one to go to the doctor much and my doctor recently moved out of the area) because I was felt like I was falling apart at the seams. I went into this doctor with so many ailments that I was prepared to be sent to a shrink and told him "Doc, get out your superglue." I began listing ailments from memory loss, sleepless nights, sleeping all day, gritting my teeth, hair loss, excessive eating, and weight loss, to fatigue and confusion. And to top it all off....I've got this bump on my wrist that won't go away. By this time, I was convinced I was crazy and I was in tears.

My doctor reassured told me that I was not crazy and he explained that he wanted to test me for Lyme. I'd heard of Lyme disease but was under the impression that it was only on the East Coast (so I was completely ignorant of the effects). He told me that it was completely curable so it was nothing to stress myself out about and provided me with no information while I waited for my ELISA results. He had no idea that there were two different tests, so when my ELISA came back positive I was called back in for more blood (dang vampires). My Western Blot also came back positive. He prescribed 21 days of Doxicycline because that was more than generous by today's standards for curing Lyme Disease.

My 21 days of treatment have been over now for three weeks. I have had no relief. Thinking that perhaps it was a false positive (high occurrence, so I'm told), they've also had me back in to give more blood for testing for thyroid disorder, magnesium levels, calcium, anemia...all to no avail.

On the suggestion from a friend, I went to OSHU to get a second opinion. BIG mistake! That doctor didn't look at my records, didn't take any blood or urine, and told me that I was more than likely suffering from "post-Lyme symptoms (whatever that is) and I was depressed." Well, I wasn't until I went there! She said that she would be happy to see me back in 3-4 weeks. Three to four WEEKS! What am I supposed to do in the meantime??? Okay, say it is all in my head now....TREAT me accordingly!! Nope, I got nothing. She pointed me to a website with very little useful information and told me to take ibprofen. Gee whiz, thanks.

Now, I can't find anyone to treat me. Afterall, I'm cured! What more do I want?

I just want my life back. I want to turn cartwheels on the lawn with my daughter. I don't want to be irritable anymore. I want to be of use to someone and have that spark and that energy that I once had. I don't want to be paranoid and make my child wear long sleeves in the blistering heat but I feel like it's my only defense. I don't want another single soul to suffer this way. I want people to stop looking at me as if the bacteria is going to jump off my skin at them. Better believe that I pay closer attention to the world around me now. I actually listen when the news has a story about West Nile Virus or some other epidemic.

Well, thank you for letting me vent. I hope you feel better these days. I'm resigned now to just living each day as it comes, I'm completely frustrated and have no idea where to go or who to see. If you have any helpful suggestions, I'm open to hearing them. Thank you for your time and God Bless.
My memory has played some real games with me lately and I'm not real good at some of the finer details. I wish I could be more organized but it's so exhausting. At OSHU, it was Dr. Brott (sp?), she's a third year resident. I'm sending off a letter now to LDF for a referral. Thank you for the reinforcement. I was starting to feel very frustrated. Just had a meeting with my employer, wish they could be alittle more understanding. I suggested that if they were going to speak to me about my health that they at least educate themselves on the disease. Sometimes, staying home on SSI doesn't sound like such a bad option. Sorry, in tears now.

Oh sorry, forgot to tell you that I was either in Vancouver, WA or Battle Ground, WA when I was bit. Details, details.....:)

I have been pointed to your website by a few people that I have met on a lyme disease newsgroup. My name is Anna and I am a young woman (20) who lives in northern Washington State, specifically Bellingham. I read your story and was horrified by the severity of it, and I know that it is hard to extend comfort, but I do wish for you the best health that you can possibly attain.

You asked for others to share their stories with you... and I would like to do so, in hopes of finding some help for my problems. The many I have spoken to that have been diagnosed with lyme's say that it undoubtedly sounds like that is what I have... but getting a diagnosis from a doctor has been extremely hard. Getting a doctor to listen alone has been one of the worst fights of my life.

Back in the fall of 1998 I was traveling across the US, and for some time I stopped in southern Indiana to go on a canoe trip. While camping along the river I had gotten many, many bug bites, I couldn't even count them all. Just a couple of weeks after the canoe trip little by little I found my energy being drained. I developed this cold, one that just would not go away. I got back home to the west coast in January 1999 and started a job, but after a month or so I started being physically ill in the mornings. It started off once, twice a week... but over time it increased and in just a couple of months every morning I woke up I was dealing with morning sickness. The cold symptoms graduated to constant flu like symptoms. In six months because of 60 hour work weeks and the intense stress... on top of being constantly ill... I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after choking up some blood.

It started a summer of intense, painful tests and treatments. I had x-rays, blood work, minor operations... (I don't know the name of the tests, they were quiet painful and intrusive though... since vomiting was one of my main symptoms the doctors checked everything they could about the stomach and the digestive track.) The tests all came back negative so I was given a horrid course of pills that was supposed to combat nausea. The next round of tests checked my head for brain tumors or anything of the like... which came back negative as well.

By the time August of 99 rolled around I was dealing with a multitude of symptoms:

stiff and achy joints (which sometimes is so bad I can hardly move some parts of my body)
general malaise
rashes that can itch and burn, or sometimes have no feeling to them at all
muscle weakness
shaking
severe fatigue
nausea
vomiting
sore throats (every morning due to the continual vomiting)
a sore rib area (also due to vomiting)
severe behavioral changes and mood swings that I could not explain
irregular sleeping habits
dizziness
fainting
headaches and stiff necks
difficulty breathing
difficulty with motor skill function
confusion
fevers
cold sweats
hot flashes
abnormal appetite (there are times when I cannot keep down even water, and I no longer get the feeling of being hungry)

When I brought all of this back to my doctor (I had made a list) he barely listened and still only wanted to treat me for the stomach problems. I finally got so upset with this doctor that I began to look around the internet on my own. This is where I came up with lyme's disease. I'm not sure if this is the right diagnosis, but it sure would explain a lot. Not to mention now for the first time I correlated the area of the country I was in when the symptoms first started to show. I had never put two and two together, but now it seemed blatantly obvious. What's more is that I matched on the typical development of the major symptoms. I printed up as many pages on lyme's as I could find and brought them into the doctor. He laughed and said it wasn't possible. It was like he couldn't believe it.

By this time I had lost over 100 pounds from not being able to eat, I was put into hospital many times over the summer just to be fed nutrients through an IV... every day was filled with pain and confusion. I hated the feeling of fighting not only my body but also my doctor. On my last stay at the hospital in 1999 one night a nurse walked into my room and handed me a large turquoise pill and a glass of water. I asked what it was and she simply replied, "A sleeping pill, this will help you rest comfortably."

I found out days later that the pills were anti-depressants. My doctor had finally just given up on me and called me depressed, saying this illness was in my head. I was fuming... and after only four days of the pills I tossed them out. I knew my body... there was something physically wrong... and I knew it wasn't in my head. On the next trip to the doctor my mother actually went with me, and dumped all the pills that I had been prescribed over a period of just a couple of months on the examining table. (At one point I had counted, I was taking 21 pills a day - I think it's no wonder that my stomach was so upset!) My mother can be forceful when she wants to be, and demanded that I get put on antibiotics. We had read about the courses of A/Bs for lyme's and basically ended up asking, "What can it hurt?" I don't know how, but I was put on doxycycline. I believe also at one point I was tried on tetracycline, but I'm not sure anymore. It was a long time ago and I was very drugged.

For the first time in over eight months I finally started to see some improvement. After months of constant vomiting... my stomach settled down, my throat was able to heal... I was able to put some food in my body and have it stay there. I found out ways to help my muscle and joint pain (glucosamine pills and exercise mainly) and had to learn how to recognize the confusion and mood swings for what they were so I could get past them. I used antiseptic cream on my rashes which helped them heal up a little. I also had to work on my motor skills again, and get my strength back up. I felt like I was on a self course of physical therapy. Beyond the doctor prescribing pills, he would do nothing for me. I figured out all of these things on my own. Which is why I left his care. The final straw was when he told me to go back to work, and I had to quit a couple of days later unable to keep up with it. I don't think any words can do justice to how angry I feel about this doctor and the way he treated me.

So without work and with my parents' support I concentrated on my body solely. It was a very, very slow path to what I thought then was recovery.... and I worked hard at taking care of myself. I even had a few rare instances where I felt well enough to go hiking a bit and live something of a normal life. I had also tried to find another job, something that could work with me instead against me. I couldn't find anything I was able to keep up with, not even an occasional babysitting job. There were some things that just never went away - I lived daily with aches, headaches, strange sleeping habits, low energy, and an abnormal appetite. I was living moment by moment. I could only tell how the day would be when I woke up. Yet still I thought this was recovery. I had accepted this as the way life was going to be.

After a few more months of the more harsh symptoms being somewhat calm (which brings this story into the spring of this year), they started to very gradually sneak back up again until I felt like I was in another full blown attack. I am now under the care of another doctor, and am feeling the same frustrations that I had felt with the first. My insurance had run out. I am not married, cannot hold up a job... it's a heavy reality for a 20 year old. All this doctor seems to do is prescribe pills. The most current is something called dicyclomine. There are a couple of good things about this current doctor, for one he works on a sliding fee scale, and with no job and no insurance I am not bogged down with too many medical bills. The doctor also saw in my records how I had responded to the doxycycline and put me back on a two week course of those. My boyfriend is good enough to pay for all of my prescriptions and is the best "nurse" I have ever had. (I live with him, though I will also admit that it's hard to get him to understand the full spectrum of what I go through as well) Once again I made it back from the "edge" of illness and am trying to regain control of my life. Yet I'm still dealing with an awful lot and am very unsure of what to do next, or what I can do next. I had posted much of the same information to a newsgroup called sci.med.diseases.lyme and have been pointed many times to your website. I am at an impasse of not being able to get much medical help seeing as I have no job and no insurance. (My boyfriend supports me completely) I humbly ask please for your help. Any information or direction would be so much appreciated. I'm tired of this running my life. More so I am open to the possibility that it may not be lyme's... yet it seems to explain too much for it to be just a coincidence. Thank you for your time.

I believe very highly that I have lyme Disease.
I was bitten by a tick in 1993 In Colorado when I was visiting inlaws with
my Husband.I removed the tick and a few days later I noticed a rash sort of
a round one with a spot in the center.
I was very ill after that and just figured I had the flu.
Years had passed and I have had numerous side effects.I would forget how to
get home or even my own phone number,I felt so strange and I was having
anxiety attacks.My heart would pound and I just could not get it together.My
joints would, and still do ache so bad that I cannot walk sometimes.Also I
have had the most amazing heal pain.It got, and gets so terrible that I have
to use a crutch to walk sometimes.
Well I had every type of symptom from the horid forgetfulness to constant
eye tremors.I often felt as if my skin felt like acid or I guess the word
would be toxic.
I saw numerous Doctors who told me that I had anxiety to thyroid problems.
Nothing came out of my testings.In 1994 I had a rash of Bronchitis about
three times that year and I was given quite a bit of antibiotics.Between
that year and 1996 I felt almost completely better.So I figured I was just
going through a bad time in my life and that It was no big deal.Then the
symptoms returned.
About Two years ago after having my Son,Who by the way has serious attention
deficit hyperactive disorder,I felt very weak and very tired.I told a
relitive about all of my symptoms and I thought I must be crazy, they just
will not go away.
She alerted me about Lyme Disease only because her friend had gotten
diagnosed with the same thing.I did tell her that I was bitten by a tick and
that I was so young and I was ignorant to the Disease itself.I saw my Doctor
who gave me a test for it .My test came back negitive.
My test was done five years after the initial bite.I am pleading and begging
for someone anyone who can help me find a Doctor willing to actually listen
to me and help me.It is very hard for me since I do not have alot of money
to travel and I am so busy with my son .I live in Washington State and I
have had no luck at all.I am praying for an angel today because the way my
life has gone in the last nine years I cannot imagine living like this for
very many more.
leenamoe@home.com

Hi:
I was wondering if you can give me some advice about what we can expect
following treatment. My 16 year old son was bitten by a tick in May 1999
while in NJ for his Grandma's funeral. He developed a bulls eye rash on a
private area of his body, so did not share that info with us until later. He
became ill with meningitis about a month later; then with what the doctors
told us was pseudotumor cerebrii, fluid on the brain falsely mimicking a
tumor. He recovered from these only to develop knee swelling,which they then
thought was juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, after having the fluid
drained from his knee several times and his weight falling to 108 pounds, a
sharp doctor (rheumatologist) decided to test him for Lyme...and bingo...his
readings were off the charts-- the highest reading this doctor said he had
ever read about. So, finally just after Christmas, our son was started on a 4
week infusion of Ceftrioxone. His symptoms instantly abated. Curiously, the
infectious disease specialist who ordered the infusion is not really
following him...just saw him once two weeks after the treatment concluded.
Now our son is suffering from chronic diarrhea (10 days and counting), is
fatigued, and has no stamina. The doctors seem unconcerned. Should we not
have follow-up for this? Do you know if there is info out there to describe
what our son can expect, and what future treatments he might need? The
infectious disease dr. pronounced him cured, but I thought when you;ve had
Lyme, you have it for life.
Anyway, any info you can provide will be appreciated. We live in Steilacoom,
WA.
Thanks!
Carol

I recently found your website and am currently doing research on my father's
behalf. He is 55 and has suffered from lymes disease for the past three
years. He has been on EXTENSIVE anibiotics to no avail. He lives in
Longview, WA (About 50 miles north of Portland, OR). Could you please email
me and tell me about any specialists that might be in the area. My father's
condition is so bad that many days he is unable to go to work. In another
month, I will be an airline pilot and my dad will be able to fly for free.
He is willing to fly anywhere in the US to see a specialist who can help him.
Thank you so much for your time.

Interested in emailing others in Washington with Lyme Disease.
newland@toledotel.com
or heavensent2u_58@yahoo.com

I just wanted to let you know that I found your site terrific. I contracted
Lyme Disease in 1991 while living in New York, and have just moved to Seattle 9 months ago. I'm looking for a physician out here to help me with the disease, but am at a loss as to where to look. I find that the knowledge of
the disease out here isn't as widespread as it is back East and would really
like to find someone who knows something about it. Do you have any
suggestions? Thanks again for a great web site! It's about time people
started realizing that this is a real disease!

Need Doctor in Seattle area, I know that Irene from MTV went to a
Doctor in Seattle if she or anyone who knows of a lyme Doctor please
email the host to this web site. All information will be kept confidential.
LymeDisease@juno.com
reply: She states she went to Boston for all treatments.

From: Marcs1018@aol.com
To: lymedisease@juno.com
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:22:06 EDT
Subject: resources re: LD physicians in Seattle

Hello, I'm looking into exploring the possibility of speaking with a Dr.
experienced with LD or related diseases in Seattle. I have had one LD test
of some nature 4 years ago after coming back from Cambodia experiencing
serious problems after what I felt was a bug or parasite entered right eye
leaving large swollen rash-and physical/nuero problems that followed. While
this sounds different than typical exposure, in my past travels in states and
abroad I have experienced long lasting skin ulcers and similar rashes, so I
think it is logical to speak with somebody experienced about this. I was on
antibiotics during the first LD test and I have done some research about it.
I would appreciate any resources or people you might point me toward, not as
an official referral but as common knowledge. The physicians I have seen
have suggested many things, most quite off the mark, and as I usually don't
have overt physical symptoms I am kind of left to look on my own for now

I hope you can help.
Thanks for your time.
Cindy Neely
-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Stolow <carol@lymenet.org>
To: Cindy Neely <thomas_davies@email.msn.com>
Date: Sunday, June 27, 1999 4:45 PM
Subject: RE: Lyme disease - symptoms

-----Original Message-----
From: Cindy Neely [mailto:thomas_davies@email.msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 6:19 PM
To: carol@LymeNet.org
Cc: jazzmals@aol.com
Subject: Lyme disease - symptoms

I am sure I am not the first person to be frustrated with the process of trying to determine whether my symptoms are due to Lyme disease. This is compounded by the fact that WA state has not had a high incidence of the disease. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with.

I was bitten by what I assume was a tick back on April 7th 1999. I say assume, because although I did not see the tick, I had been pulling deer ticks (very small, red, black legs) off my dogs at the rate of several a day per dog (7 dogs) AND the bite site was the classic bullseye, located at the thigh where the leg elastic of my underwear sits. (I have since been bitten again - but I caught the sucker on her way in and was able to pull it out - I saved it but local health had no idea where I should send it - no bullseye this time)

Unfortunately I was not advised to take antibiotics at the time of the bite - told it was rare. About 2 1/2 weeks later I started experiencing flu like symptoms and began to do research on the web. I then went down to the health clinic and had blood drawn and began a 3 week course of doxicycline.The bloodtest came back negative.

About 1 week into the treatment I began having extreme lower back pain and sciatica. Back pain is not new to me, I have stenosis, but I became acutely affected by parasthesias (sp?) and radiculopathy with severe pain. I quickly lost all motor function in my left leg, could not flex my ankle up or down or curl my toes, no ankle reflex, and the right leg was very numb (skin surface) with extreme sciatic pain. A consult with a neurosurgeon (after CT and MRI) ended up with the surgeon saying that although my spine was not great, there was nothing in the films that would suggest a reason for the severity of my symptoms. My symptoms have since somewhat abated, although I still have severe fare ups and the numbness and tingling persist.

My question is, are these symptoms you have heard of as related to tick bite AND if so how do I go about convincing MDs in this area to treat me for the disease or to at least suspect it and test me further.

Additionally, in my bloodwork, I show a elevated alphafetoprotein. I had a germ cell cancer 10 years ago for which AFP was the marker. (I have been clear for 10 years and it does not normally recur after 5 years) Normal is less than 8 and mine was recently 8.6 and is now 11.4. This is not high but is a marker for liver cancer when very elevated. My question on this is, has there been any history of subclinical hepatitis caused by Lyme or tick borne disease that might explain this elevation in AFP. Liver function blood tests are normal, but I have read that AFP can be slightly elevated in cases of subclinical hepatitis.

Sorry for the length of this post. I would appreciate any help you can provide.

The blood test for Lyme are poor especially if it was less than 8 weeks after the bite. The bulls-eye rash IS Lyme Disease. You do not need a Lyme test ( it is defiantly too early to test if you have the rash). You needed 6 weeks of an appropriate antibiotic. I suggest you go to our homepage at: www.lymenet.org and go to the support group listings. I believe there is one in Oregon (Rita Stanley). Contact the leader of any group in your area and surrounding states and ask them who to see for treatment. You need a Lyme literate Doctor. Lyme can cause elevated liver enzymes as well as other abnormal tests. It can mimic many diseases. It can also hit weakened areas and cause exacerbation of old injuries and illnesses. It has also caused cases of treatable cancer in a small number. You need to be treated by someone who understands the disease even if it means traveling. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. god luck.

Also, please read Dr Burrascano's article on our home page. It will be very helpful to you.

I hurt so badly today it feels like I was beaten up with a crowbar all
night as I slept, but will attempt a condensed version of my "story".
For the past 29 years, I have been ill, hurting, and having KILLER
headaches. I've had umpteen diagnoses; chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia,
allergies, sinus infections, TMJ, irritable bowel, allergic migraines,
and now Lyme disease. After spending nearly a year on the internet at
public libraries, I realized I fit the Lyme symptoms to a "T"; had a
highly positive LUAT test, and am now, at last, being treated. I've
had various antibiotics, including IV Rocephin, for 4 and a half
months. AND I'M GETTING WORSE.!@!! This is extremely depressing and
upsetting. I have no life, cannot work, and am poor. If I can't
improve, life is not worth living. I do have a few internet buddies,
but no Lymies in my area to "hash things over" with. I'm 58, divorced
Mom of 5 grown kids. It's a constant fight to try to educate my local
doctors, and I'm so TIRED of fighting. Thanks for posting all or part
of this; Dianne

I got bite in Washington possible twice , found one tick on head took it to
Dr.
then health Dept,................................................etc.etc.
Yes I have a story and like other lymers I want to help others and will talk
and compare like we all
do trying to find another common link other than the bug. I have major 90%
retina damage many other things but I have learned how to survive most days
anyway! I will help in anyway I can. I also had 2 cats die of lyme. One I
had tested as she lay dieing(positive)! My Vet knew nothing of lyme anyway
and
looked at me like i was crazy (we all know those looks), But when she called
with the results she seemed a little different Contact me Anytime!!!!
No Worries
Sincerly Susan
newland@toledotel.com
or heavensent2u_58@yahoo.com

From: "McKenney" <d_mckenney@conknet.com>
To: <lymedisease@juno.com>
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 14:02:04 -0400
Subject: questions about lyme disease and a 4 year old

My 4 year old daughter was bitten by a tick last June 27th while at an
outdoor wedding reception in Spokane, Washington. We live in New Hampshire.
The bite was on her head behind her right ear. We watched for changes of
the skin for about two weeks give or take a few days. We saw none and then
forgot about it. By September I noticed a dry scaly patch of skin on her
head thinking it must be dry due to shampooing. By November I noticed this
patch grew in size, about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. This spot was also bald.
Looking and thinking back she had a very difficult Nov., Dec., and Jan. with
sinus infections and bronchitis. She is usually very healthy. By January
all the glands were swollen just below this patch all the way down to her
neck. I brought her back to the Pediatrician and he said that it was a
staph/strep infection putting her on two courses of antibiotics. Finally in
February I brought her back to the doctor because it still wasn't going away
plus somehow she developed something called "moluscum" warts that do go away
(eventually). She is still getting new ones, I find "colloidal silver"
helps in clearing them up quicker. She (my daughter) has also from time to
time complained that her neck hurts usually in the morning just after she
has gotten up. She is pointing to her throat so I am not sure if her throat
hurts maybe because it is dry or tick related. Once she complained just
after she got up that her leg felt funny and could not walk on it. This too
I brushed off as (her leg had gone to sleep, as they say).
Two weeks ago I was feeling enough is enough called the dermatologist and
said I wanted it looked at immediately and something aggressive to be done.
They got us in that day and we decided to have it removed in the office a
week later. I learned of the pathologist report last night. He said that
it was an inflammation due to a tick bite. We had told the doctor about the
bite and he put it in the report going to the lab. The lab report indicated
an "insect bite" and knowing about the tick they figured this was the
culprit. I take her in for stitches removal in two days (Friday) I called
him and asked if he would do a blood test for lyme disease. He said that he
would. For months now both doctors, the Pediatrician and Dermatologist said
that it could not be related to the tick bite "because to much time has
passed since the bite itself and that any signs of the bite would be gone."
I had a hard time accepting this and pushed for removal. Now that we know
that it is tick related I am concerned that she could have lyme disease. Is
my concerns unfounded or could there be a chance of it. Also should I ask
for the "Western Blot" blood test over the "Elisa"? I read where this is a
more accurate test. Can I be sure if the test results are negative that she
is free from Lyme Disease? Last question: Do you know of any cases of Lyme
Disease in the Spokane, Wash. area?

I hope that I have asked the right questions to the right people, if I have
not please e-mail me and let me know who I can write to.

From: Marcs1018@aol.com
To: lymedisease@juno.com
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:22:06 EDT
Subject: resources re: LD physicians in Seattle
Hello, I'm looking into exploring the possibility of speaking with a Dr.

experienced with LD or related diseases in Seattle. I have had one LD
test of some nature 4 years ago after coming back from Cambodia experiencing
serious problems after what I felt was a bug or parasite entered right
eye leaving large swollen rash-and physical/nuero problems that followed.
While this sounds different than typical exposure, in my past travels in states
and abroad I have experienced long lasting skin ulcers and similar rashes, so
I think it is logical to speak with somebody experienced about this. I was
on antibiotics during the first LD test and I have done some research about
it. I would appreciate any resources or people you might point me toward, not
as an official referral but as common knowledge. The physicians I have seen
have suggested many things, most quite off the mark, and as I usually
don't have overt physical symptoms I am kind of left to look on my own for now