How to find a LLMD

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Source:

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

How to find an LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor)

In finding clinical help, the first order of business for you

is to rendezvous with a licensed physician who is Lyme-literate.

Before directing you to the contact information for

Lyme-literate doctors, a very important note:

Whatever you do, do not simply walk into any random general

practitioner's office or general infectious disease doctor's office!

Awareness of Lyme disease already very low among U.S. physicians. By

seeing a doctor who is not versed in the condition, you are almost

guaranteeing that you will be sent out of the office empty-handed, if

not ridiculed. Presently, Lyme patients have a difficult time gaining

recognition and validation in the United States. In fact, most U.S.

physicians do not even acknowledge the existence of chronic Lyme

disease (see Appendix . The first step toward placing the odds in

your favor is to start with the most knowledgeable physician you can

find instead of wasting time trying to educate other, potentially

closed-minded doctors.

The one exception to the rule of finding a Lyme-literate

physician at the outset is if you should happen to have a strong

relationship with a general practitioner who is not aware of the

condition but who has instead proven to you over past relationship

that he or she is open-minded, accommodating, humble, and inquisitive.

Such a physician (often a family friend, or, perhaps, a relative) may

be able to help you by mere virtue of the fact that he or she may be

willing to do what it takes to become educated on Lyme disease. After

all, when it comes to Lyme -literate physicians, the key qualities to

seek are open-mindedness and humility.

However, if you approach this trusted doctor and they are

hostile toward your hypothesis that you or your child may be suffering

from Lyme disease, then run the other way! There is no point in

wasting your time trying to change a doctor's mind when you can

instead spend your time and energy cultivating a professional

relationship with one of the hundreds of physicians out there who will

be accommodating and helpful to you. The simple fact is that most

physicians are not only ignorant of Lyme disease, but they are

actually taught in medical school to blindly dismiss suggestions from

patients directing them to new areas of research. This type of dogma

is ingrained in most physicians. Instead of fighting it, just accept

that the Lyme-autism field is years ahead of its time, and find

someone who is already on the right bus, so to speak.

The importance of finding a helpful, informed physician cannot

be over-stated. Countless parents and patients have lost years of

life, spent thousands of dollars, and endured immeasurable stress in

hopeless arguments with closed-minded physicians, all the while

unaware of the helpful and resourceful physician who may be practicing

medicine just a few blocks down the road.

Also keep in mind that simply a Lyme-literate physician is not

enough. In addition to such literacy, a physician must also prove to

you that he or she has an open mind and is willing to pursue ongoing

education. The reason for this requirement is simply that Lyme disease

is currently not well understood, and any physician who successfully

cares for patients of the disorder must be committed to remaining on

the cutting edge of modern medical science and interventions. This is

especially difficult for physicians given their demanding work

schedules and lack of time for keeping up with new research and ideas.

You need to make sure your chosen doctor can dedicate the time it

takes to not only become educated, but also stay educated.

Additionally, make sure your physician knows that Lyme disease

does not just involve Borrelia infection, but also dozens of other

co-infections, including Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, mycoplasma,

and many others. Or, if he or she does not already know this, make

sure that he or she is open-minded enough to consider the possibility.

Finally (are you getting tired of all the requirements yet?),

do not forget that you, as the patient (or patient's advocate) are

ultimately responsible for your healthcare. Do not buy into the lie

that you are a " consumer of prepackaged health care. " Contrary to what

the medical establishment would have you believe, there is no success

to be found with blindly relying on the medical establishment. The

responsibility for your success or failure in healing lies with no one

other than you, and you alone! Do not cave in to the enticing desire

for easy answers from a physician or specialist who seems to know it

all. While it may feel comfortable to blindly rely on decrees passed

down by medical professionals, the truth is that such comfort is

short-lived and the only real road to success requires your active

questioning, participation, and intellectual engagement in the healing

process.

With these many caveats out of the way, let's finally move on

to the topic of actually finding an appropriate physician.

FINDING A LYME-LITERATE MEDICAL DOCTOR (LLMD)

Due to political controversy and legal challenges facing Lyme

doctors, most of them prefer to keep a low profile. For this reason,

they can be difficult to find. Additionally, good etiquette in the

Lyme disease community dictates that when discussing doctors in public

(including public internet discussion groups), their names should be

kept private. If your doctor tells you that he or she is okay with his

or her name being public, then you may be able to ignore this

etiquette. However, when in doubt, assume that the above is true.

Getting a Lyme-literate physician referral:

1.

Lymenet.org " Seeking a Physician " Forum: You can get a

custom referral to an LLMD from www.lymenet.org. When you reach the

homepage, click on " Flash Discussion, " and then click on " Seeking a

Doctor. " You will be asked to provide your city, state, and contact

information, and a Lymenet.org forum member will contact you with a

physician referral.

2.

Lyme Disease Association Doctor Referral Service: Visit

www.lymediseaseassociation.org and click on " Doctor Referral. " You

will be asked for your contact information and a doctor referral will

be provided.

3.

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society

(ILADS). Contacting ILADS may also be helpful in your search for a

physician. Use their website: www.ilads.org.

Learn More

Need More Lyme Disease Information?

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When treating Lyme disease, it is important to remember that not all

doctors are Lyme-literate. In fact, most physicians in the USA do not

believe in chronic Lyme disease. So, you can waste a lot of time and

energy going to the wrong doctor. Therefore, you should be very

selective and invest the time and energy up front to select a

physician who understands Lyme disease and can help you establish an

effective, aggressive treatment campaign for chronic Lyme. For more

information, see The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments paperback book.

The following are specialty areas and geographic locations for which

LLMDs are available:

City, ST, Specialty, Mobile, AL, Lyme Specialist, Hematologist,

sdale, AZ, CAM, Vancouver, BC, , Aptos, CA, Holistic, Chico, CA,

Neurologist, Chico, CA, , Chico, CA, General Practice, Corte Madera,

CA, , Los Altos, CA, , Los Altos, CA, GYN Reproductive

Endocrinologist, Los Gatos, CA, GYN Endometriosis, Nevada City, CA,

Family Practice, Oakhurst, CA, Family Practice, Ojai, CA, , Ojai, CA,

Palo Alto, CA, San Cruz, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San

Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, San , CA,

Santa , CA, Naturopath, Santa , CA, Family Practice/CAM, Santa

, CA, Family Practice/CAM, Santa , CA, Family Practice/CAM,

Santee, CA, Family Practice, Torrance, CA, Integrative, Trazana, CA, ,

Hope, BC, Family Practice, Centennial, CO, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic,

Lafayette, CO, Family Practice, Steamboat Springs, CO, Internist,

Greenwich, CT, Psychiatry, , , Mystic, CT, Buhner Protocol, New Haven,

CT, Pediatric, Adolescent, Norwalk, CT, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic,

Orange, CT, Neurologist, Ridgefield, CT, Internist, Southport, CT,

Neurologist, Stamford, CT, Psychiatry, Westport, CT, , Wilton, CT,

Internist, Wilton, CT, Psychiatry, Delray Beach, FL, Internist,

Lauderdale Lakes, FL, Neurology, Miami Beach, FL, Internist,

Geriatrics, Naples, FL, Neurology, Naples, FL, Psychiatry, Marietta,

GA, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Marietta, GA, Rheumatologist,

Louisville, KY, Neurology, Pineville, LA, , Boston, MA, Infectious

Disease, Newton Centre, MA, Clinical Psychologist, Waltham, MA, Fibro

and Fatigue Clinic, Bel Air, MD, Internal, Occupational, Holistic,

Easton, MD, Gynecology, Gaithersburg, MD, Family Practice,

Gaithersburg, MD, Medicine, Laurel, MD, Family Practice, Lutherville,

MD, Internist/Infectious Disease, Lutherville, MD, Cardiologist,

Lutherville Timonium, MD, Internist, Pocomoke City, MD, Family

Practice, , Rockville, MD, Internist, Integrative, Towson, MD,

Environmental, CAM, Towson, MD, Internal Medicine, Andover, ME, ,

Freeport, ME, Internal Medicine, Kennebunkport, ME, , Lincoln, ME,

Internal Medicine, Troy, MI, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Washington, MI,

, Bloomington, MN, Family Practice, Duluth, MN, Infectious Disease,

Forest Lake, MN, , Minneapolis, MN, , Minneapolis, MN, Consults Only,

Winona, MN, Family Practice, CAM, Columbia, MO, Infectious Disease,

Columbia, MO, , Kansas City, MO, Infectious Disease Teacher,

Springfield, MO, Family Practice, Ocean Springs, MS, Internal

Medicine, Huntersville, NC, Infectious Disease, Epping, NH, Family

Practice, Portsmouth, NH, Naturopath, Wolfeboro, NH, , Absecon, NJ,

Infectious Disease, Basking Ridge, NJ, Rheumatology, Brachberg, NJ,

Ophthalmology, Cherry Hill, NJ, Pain Management, Chester, NJ,

Psychiatrist, Psychopharmacologist, Chester , NJ, Pediactric, Egg

Harbor Twp, NJ, Pain Management, Engelwood, NJ, Clinical Psychologist,

Essex Fells, NJ, Pediactric, Flemington, NJ, Vector-Borne Disease

Consultant, Hammonton, NJ, , Howell, NJ, Internal Medicine, Howell,

NJ, Pediactric, , NJ, Internal Medicine, Margate, NJ, Pain

Management, town, NJ, Psychiatrist, Mountainside, NJ,

Psychologist, Parsippany, NJ, Clinical Psychologist, Red Bank, NJ,

Neuro-Psychiatry, Red Bank, NJ, Neurologist , Riverdale, NJ,

Rheumatology, Sewell, NJ, Pediatrician, Somers Point, NJ, Infectious

Disease, Somerville, NJ, Ophthalmology, Treehold, NJ, Psychotherapist,

Washington Twp, NJ, Pain Management, Watchung, NJ, , West Caldwell,

NJ, Rheumatology, Santa Fe, NM, Internal Medicine, CAM, Las Vegas, NV,

Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Armonk, NY, Internist, Critical Care,

Brewster, NY, Family Practice, Brewster, NY, Pscyotherapy, Buffalo,

NY, Environmental, Chazy, NY, Family Practice, Hyde Park, NY,

Internist, CAM, Mamaroneck, NY, Clinical Psychologist, Mount Kisco,

NY, Internist, Epidemiologist, New York, NY, Psychiatrist, New York,

NY, , New York, NY, Neurologist, New York, NY, Neurologist, New York,

NY, Chinese Medicine, Pleasantville, NY, Ophthalmology, Port Jefferson

Station, NY, , Rhinebeck, NY, Family Practice, CAM, Rhinebeck, NY,

Family Practice, CAM, Middleburg Heights, OH, Fibro and Fatigue

Clinic, Beaverton, OR, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, The Dalles, OR,

Naturopath, town, PA, , Bala Cynwyd, PA, Internist, ID, CAM,

Bloomsburg, PA, Emergency Medicine, Coatesville, PA, Clinical/Child

Psychology, Colamar, PA, Family Practice, Downingtown, PA, General

Family Practice, East Stroudsburg, PA, Family Practice, Exton, PA, ,

Glen Mills, PA, CFS, Hermitage, PA, Internist, Family Practice,

Hermitage, PA, Family Practice, Holland, PA, Psychiatry, Kennett

Square, PA, Family Medicine, King of Prussia, PA, Fibro and Fatigue

Clinic, Lancaster, PA, Neuro-Opthamology, Paoli, PA, , Philadelphia,

PA, Research physician, Philadelphia, PA, Holistic doctor, Pittsburgh,

PA, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Shillington, PA, Hormones, port,

PA, Radiation Oncologist, port, PA, Internist, Rheumatology,

York, PA, Family Practice, Hodges, SC, Family Practice, Dallas, TX,

Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Ft. Worth, TX, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic,

, TX, Cardiologist, CAM, , TX, Pediatric, Murray,

UT, Fibro and Fatigue Clinic, Fairfax, VA, Rheumatology, Portsmouth,

VA, Family Practice, Sterling, VA, Family Practice, Vienna, VA, ,

, VT, Integrative Family Physician, Brattleboro, VT, Buhner

Protocol, Waitsfield, VT, Buhner Protocol, ,