useful Lyme session

[Lulu54]

You might find this webinar useful - it happens this afternoon (note the Pacific time since this doctor is in Seattle)

http://www.treatlyme.net/conversations-with-marty-ross-md

be well,
Laura
(from MS forum- the LYME MIMIC  :-)  LOL)

[JackieCalifornia]

I hear you.  I would also see an effective doc even if he called himself Mickey Mouse!  

The ones I worry about are about 'docs' who don't really understand the science behind Lyme research, and so trail off into treatments that do not address the real infection(s).  Ideal, imo, is a doc who thoroughly knows the hard science AND knows how to support the rest of the human during treatment.  Sounds like you've got one.  That's all to the good -- best wishes --

[sitka35]

Jackie - He uses both antibiotics (prescription and natural) and natural supports for detox and system support (so your system doesn't get trashed). In my opinion, the ideal approach. He has had a lot of success treating people in my area (where there is not an LLMD to be found!), which is why I went to him. People going from bed-ridden to working out and being active again. I would put myself in that category now. I'm not hiking up big mountains yet, but I'm up to respectable small ones. :)

Ricobord - I tested negative for coinfections. Straight up lyme as far as we can tell. I've made huge progress in the last 2 years, so I'm pretty happy to have finally been diagnosed!

[JackieCalifornia]

I can see a doc holding him/herself out as someone who uses herbs etc., but when they start adopting tribal designations like shaman in the same breath as MD, it leaves me wondering what their approach really is.  I would proceed cautiously.

My LLMD was all antibiotics, all the way -- and then I went to another doc when I was finished with the LLMD's treatment, and she helped me rebuild my system, which was just thrashed.  It took a while, but I came around.  My ideal would be an LLMD who also appreciates vitamins and supplements, but doesn't chant or light incense.

This is not to 'diss' nonMD healers or non-herbal LLMDs, but I lean toward the antibiotics approach WITH dietary and vitamin etc. support for the body simultaneously.  Best of both worlds, but got to be careful not to be taking supps that interfere with the abx, and if the docs aren't aware of what interactions are possible, well ... they should be.

[Ricobord]

Jackie - I was thinking tribal/spiritual healer, too, which confused me when talking about Lyme. Perhaps he just incorporates spiritual practices in with medical practices..

Sitka - Welcome. I, too, got diagnosed in 2011, but I got infected almost exactly 6 years earlier. Do you just have Lyme or do you have a coinfection or two to go along with it?

Side note: I had to chuckle today when I was booking my next appt at my doc's office. Two women in the waiting room were comparing symptoms and coinfections. Each had a common + a less common one. Both said how nice it was to talk to someone who understood, as compared to most previous doctors who dismissed or ignored many of their symptoms.  We Lyme patients clearly do this in person as well as online. ;)

[JackieCalifornia]

Shaman:  "A person having access to, and influence in, the world of spirits, esp. among some peoples of northern Asia and North America."

A nice word for witch doctor or faith healer.  If they throw some herbs in, maybe that helps.

[cave76]

I was more intrigued by the Dr. Ross defining himself as a 'visionary'.
Always the semantic nut I went to find out what, exactly, that meant.'

vi·sion·ar·y  (vzh-nr)
adj.
1. Characterized by vision or foresight.
2.
a. Having the nature of fantasies or dreams; illusory.
b. Existing in imagination only; imaginary.
3.
a. Characterized by or given to apparitions, prophecies, or revelations.
b. Given to daydreams or reverie; dreamy.
4.
a. Not practicable or realizable; utopian: visionary schemes for getting rich.
b. Tending to envision things in perfect but unrealistic form; idealistic.
n. pl. vi·sion·ar·ies
1. One who is given to impractical or speculative ideas; a dreamer.
2. One who has visions; a seer.

[Of course that's just from
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/visionary

....and the saying is 'you get what you pay for'. :)]

[cave76]

Perhaps Dr. Ross is like the ND that I went to for many years: I politely but emphatically told him I wanted abx only, for Lyme, and he complied.

The office my ND worked at did do all those 'other things', excluding Shamatic healing, but I declined.

[sitka35]

Shamanic healing has never been suggested to me by them, so I'm not sure what it is exactly, but they are certainly not against antibiotics (they actually say you can't get better without them) and use them as part of a more holistic approach to treating Lyme and co-infections. I got Lyme disease in 2007, but it took until 2011 to get a diagnosis. Once I had that, I started treatment with this doc (after a failed attempt with a Canadian one). He has helped me come a LONG, LONG way. Knowledgeable, up on current research and has years of experience treating complicated cases.

[Ricobord]

What in the world is a "shamanic practitioner?"
I wonder what their beef with ILADS docs is.  Are they against antibiotics?

[cave76]

Interesting. Thanks for telling us about Dr. Marty Ross---- I'd never heard of him so went looking on Google.

One site says this about him:
"Greater Seattle Area - Visionary, Integrative Medicine Physician, Entrepreneur, Health Policy Expert, Educator, Shamanic Practitioner"

Dr. Ross and Tara Brooke resigned from ILADS around 2010 due to some differences of opinions.

http://www.thehealingartspartnership.net/faqs.htm

As far as I can gather----- they sometimes treat via Skype or phone. Seems like the 21st century has caught up with us with long distance healing.

[JackieCalifornia]

Thanks for the heads-up, Lulu -- appreciate it!