hi kristen,most accurate to date is this:
go to TIPS FORUM, right above here, click on forums,
tips is half way down,
either as a STICKY PIN OR GO TO INDEX AND LOOK FOR THIS:
blood testing labs; i have named them all i am aware of.
i'd go to the VERY BOTTOM and look for:
ADVANCED LAB SERVICES or the last 2 words are turned around in penn i think.
$600 is supposed to be the no. 1 testing accurately now.
otherwise, igenex lab in calif. has western blot igm/igg for $200 OUT OF POCKET unless you are on medicare!
do you know if you have CO-INFECTIONS, OTHER DISEASES ticks/etc. carry?
in my welcome letter link below, read dr. corson's KID'S EVALUATION where she goes thru the entire body and tells WHICH DISEASES effect every body part. you'll know towards end if you have CO-INFECTIONS TOO AND WHICH ONES!!
my blood lab post has many details there to read. hope this has helped you.
hugs/prayers,
bettyg, iowa activist
********************
in case i missed you, below is what i send to all who come here.
please post in LLMD REQUEST FORUM, ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS ASKED using my posting guidelines of SHORT paragraphs please.
Welcome to MD JUNCTION! I'm so glad you found us! You’ve come to the right place for education and support!
Private messages DELETED in 30 days!
ARCHIVE, upper right!
My WELCOME LETTER is posted at the top of SUPPORT FORUM in sticky pin full of good info and HYPERLINKS ready to be read.
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/lyme-disease-support-
forums/general-support/2356916-bettygs-welcome-letter-wgood-
beginner-links-
The most important things are at the top; MUST READ and print off as mentioned there already to start your lyme/co-infection journey with us all.
The 1st things to do are:
• JOIN LYME BOARD;
• Post in LLMD REQUEST FORUM for a LYME LITERATE md; see my welcome letter and the INSTRUCTIONS there if you are SPECIALLY FROM CALIF. Where it’s broken down into 8 NAMED AREAS.
• You’ll need to give me my calif. NAMED area where you live in the areas shown there in SUBJECT LINE plus if it’s for ADULT or a child; we need age of CHILD; some llmds have AGE restrictions.
• OTHER STATES will show the SPECIFIC NAME OF THEIR STATE and Qclosest, largest city to them in SUBJECT line plus adult or child; UNDER 21; we need their age!.
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/lyme-disease-support-
forums/llmd-info/Itemid=217/func=post/do=reply
• Also, we’ll need the following info in your request post:
in your llmd request, please EDIT and add more info ok.
Are you UNDER AGE 21;; if yes, I need your age shown as some of our llmds have AGE RESTRICTIONS; thanks!
how long you've been sick
if you've tested for lyme/co-infections;
which labs doing work for which specific test, etc.
did you have western blot igm/igg done by igenex?
if yes, what were the POSITIVE & INDETERMINDED numbers; NOT negatives.
thanks for understanding; just EDIT your post. you can find all by going to left MY DISCUSSIONS, click on it.
after you add more, a LEADER will send you names ok.
I RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 6 LONG YRS. OF DOING THIS!
Betty’s suggested posting guidelines:
NO ALL CAPS POSTS; they are illegible to me/other neuro folks!
Many of members have neuro lyme, and it is hard to read long solid block text and be able to comprehend; example, me, 42 yrs. neuro chronic lyme, so we are UNABLE to comprehend and read. Thank you for helping us help YOU
Please post in short paragraphs like you see below or look at a few other posts, but we neuro folks need them short.
1-2 sentences MAX per paragraph and hit ENTER TWICE to double space between each paragraph. We’ve lost our comprehension skills to read solid block text.
We neuros lose our train of thought if the sentence is broken up in the middle; so please keep an ENTIRE sentence together as ONE. hugs
For easier reading, please edit your post. You can break up your longer paragraphs into smaller paragraphs. Please hit
ENTER key twice after each paragraph.
Go to left hand corner; click edit send. Then go to bottom and click SUBSCRIBE TO THIS DISCUSSION.
Thank you for posting in a manner that makes it easier for all to read and help others.
insurance co. allow 7 min. per patient; we can hardly say hello in that time!
you also have to follow INSURANCE'S GUIDELINES ON TREATMENTS, IDSA/infectious disease drs. socieity guidelines... BAD NEWS FOR US!
by NOT accepting insurance, they can practice ILADS/intl. lyme and associated disease lyme guidelines ... treating you longer than 4 wks. of antibiotics, herbals, and alternative therapeis.
they allow 30-60 min. appt; longer 1st time; you pay accordinatelly for those appts.
ACCEPTING INSURANCE; they get very little $$ to pay the staff/overhead of building/utilities, etc.
many call patients day before to make sure they will be there; MANY DO NOT SHOW UP NOR HAVE THE DECENCY TO CALL SAYING THEY ARE NOT COMING!!
they could get those close by to come in but NOT being called; they are OUT THE MONEY and having one hell of a time meeting the bills.
i hope this answers your questions so you understand what THEY are going thru too.
RETIRED llmd coordinator for 6 yrs working directly with these drs/former group leader
"I have suffered from depression most of my life, but had some long, non-depressed times. The last 16 years have been an on-going, constantly worsening nightmare for me medically, socially and with my family. 11/2008 to the present has been the worst time in my life, and new things just keep piling up. During that time I’ve gone from being mostly homebound to being totally homebound due to the errors of about 2 dozen doctors who overmedicated me so badly that I came home w/ 4 conditions I didn’t go in with. I spent months wanting to die, and finding MDJ may well have saved my life. It’s one of the worst feelings to know that nobody on earth needs you for anything; but now that I’ve been a group leader for awhile, there are people here who need me. Thanks MDJ." (Sylvia4648)
