gainesville fl doctor referral

diagnosed yesterday with lymes, doctor wants me to have a spinal tap before he will prescribe antibiotics.  I need a doctor referral in/near Gainesville FL who can help me get the antibiotic treatment I believe I need.  They don't have any specialists listed here in my ins. co.

[JackieCalifornia]

I confess I don't understand why spinal taps are done to diagnose Lyme.

Try googling 'LLMD gainesville' or 'LLMD florida' or something in your geographic area.  You can also look at websites like ilads [dot] org, truthaboutlymedisease [dot] [something -- com? org?] and you'll find them.  Sometimes local Lyme groups in your area will have good recommendations.

You'll notice LLMD names don't get called out here very often, due to harrassment by local medical boards directed at the LLMDs.  

[wonko]

No, a good LLMD will not require a lumbar puncture!  Spinal taps are not a good way to test for Lyme disease.  They are a painful and invasive procedure.  

"Lumbar puncture has also been disappointing as a diagnostic test to rule out concomitant central nervous system infection. In Lyme disease, evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid is unreliable for a diagnosis of encephalopathy and neuropathy because of poor sensitivity. For example, pleocytosis was present in only one of 27 patients (sensitivity 3%) and with only seven cells. The antibody index was positive (>1) in only one of 27 patients (sensitivity 3%). An index is the ratio between Lyme ELISA antibodies in the spinal fluid and Lyme ELISA antibodies in the serum. The proposed index of 1.3 would be expected to have even worse sensitivity."

source:
http://www.lymeiniowa.org/ILADS.htm

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We're a small group of regulars here, not enough of us to be able to advise on area LLMD's.  The below site has some advice for how to go about your search, and links to some referral sites.

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

As for insurance, that can be tricky.  Many LLMD's operate outside of insurance because they diagnose and treat outside of insurance guidelines, often at risk to their medical license.  You may want to read "Cure Unknown" by P. Weintraub or watch the documentary "Under Our Skin" to learn more about the Lyme controversies.  Both have good and easy-to-find websites, too.

[patsy10]

If the spinal tap is to rule out other diseases or conditions then it may be helpful.  Spinal taps are not reliable for diagnosing lyme.  I had and LP to rule out MS.

[mothernatureschild]

You found someone in Gainesville to diagnose you? I am also in Gainesville! Who did you go to? What test did they use?

[Lymebuster]

I am in Fl and would like to know if you find a doctor who knows about lyme in Gainesville.  I can give you names of other docs in Fl.  Lymebuster