trying to get tested for Lyme Disease

[ASHAHILL]

I am from Canada and I am trying to get a test down in the US.  Does anyone have any information on how I would go about this?

[JackieCalifornia]

I hear you.  It's a big messy area of medicine, and when the docs are at war with each other, guess who gets caught in the crossfire -- yep, us the patients.

I'm sorry you got bitten by the tick, but you were one of the "lucky" few to get the bullseye rash and THEN to find treatment!  Most of us aren't that fortunate --

Hope you're doing all right now.

[beanie485]

Thats just how I found out and that is the only way I know of to be tested I woke up one morning could not turn my head and had this crazy looking bulls eye rash on my leg went to the ER they did the test I was positive they gave me Doxycycline to take for it. I didn't even know that there had ever been a tick on me to get this from when they first told me I had it I was like WTH? i've never been bitten apparently I had so I'm sorry if i didn't know about the specialist i was just going on what and how i found out from my own experience shoot wish I knew there was lyme disease expert around here because NO ONE explained the mess to me do you know how freaked I was and all they gave me was a 1 sheet print out discharge instruction THANK GOD for internet

[JackieCalifornia]

It is important in my personal experience that a Lyme specialist be consulted, not just any doctor or hospital as 'beanie' suggests.

[beanie485]

go to a doctor or er-hospital tell them your bitten by a deer tick and your symptoms if they feel you are symptomatic for lyme disease they will do a blood test i think it is called Western Blot for lyme disease good luck

[JackieCalifornia]

Greetings, neighbor from the north ...

I'd suggest you try some of the more established websites for a referral.  LLMD names are generally not posted in public because of problems from the local/state medical boards, but if you go to one or more of these website, you should find a 'request referral' function:

itsaboutlyme [dot] org
lymenet [dot] org
ILADS [dot] org
lymediseaseassociation [dot] org
Columbia University (NYC):   Columbia-Lyme [dot] org

You can also search:  LLMD [your city and state]

I'd start with ILADS -- it's a physician organization -- and go from there. I don't have personal experience with any of them.  Columbia U may not have a referral service as such, but if you would consider going to NYC, it would be something to look into.

Best wishes to you -- let us know how you do.