Lyme Doctor in NJ that takes payments/low income

[sickandtired1984]

Hi Lyme Community,

In 2007 I was "diagnosed" with Lyme Disease. I never had any blood work done, but I did have a bull's eye rash and was put on Doxy for 2 weeks. I got an itchy rash from head to toe which lasted about a month. Everything has gone down hill from there.

A few months later I noticed I was extremely fatigued, to the point where I would sleep all day after getting home from work. Wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep. I am still like this.

I also developed pain and cracking in my knees. This has been constant and never goes away. I have a constant ache in my lower back.

I am always dizzy/light headed. I loose my balance and randomly fall over and have minor blackouts. I loose my vision, but don't actually pass out. This happens 5+ times a day.

I have developed problems having proper bowel movements. I have very slow bowel movement. Almost like constipation but not quite. My stool is very sticky and "gets stuck". I often have to manually stimulate myself to finish a movement. Often they are filled with mucus and trace amounts of blood.  This concerned me a lot. I went to a ton of doctors and specialists, had a colonoscopy, tested for chrons, IBS, and who knows what else. I was told this is all in my head and I need help. (WHAT?)

I have a fever few times a week of 99-101, and feel weak and sick, but never get diagnosed with anything if I go to the doctor.  I have a sore throat every few days as well and if I go to the doctor, even if strep test is negative, they tell me I have strep and give me antibiotics.

I used to have perfect vision, but these last 2 years it has steadily declined. I have a ton of "floaters" and now need glasses.

I am starting to have a really hard time concentrating on anything. I loose my thought process and forget what I am doing in the middle of doing it. I have lost a lot of sensation in my fingers and sometimes have a hard time controlling their movement. As you can imagine, this has caused a ton of problems for me at work. I only work part time a few days a week now, because it is ALL I can handle. Even this is becoming difficult.  I work in a deli, and have been injuring myself and dropping things on a more frequent basis.  

Sometimes when I am driving I forget where I am going and start to panic. This scares me.

My husband, my family, and my doctors all think/though I was crazy and a hypochondriac. This hurt and is causing me depression. My husband even threatened to leave me if I didn't start working more. We are running very low on money.

He was very angry at me until. one of his cousins, suffering similar (but more severe) symptoms, had a seizure and died, She had Lyme's Disease (although this was not the 'official' cause of her death).

We didn't link the similarities until now, after a friend said that it sounds like I have Lyme's.

So now, I am trying to find a Lyme knowledgeable doctor in NJ or PA or close to these states, that works with low income people. I have an appointment at a low cost clinic on Monday to get checked out for a fever and skin rash that developed over this week and I am going to bring it up to them, but I doubt they will do anything. They are a low cost clinic after all and I hear the tests are very expensive,

My husband and I combined only make about 1600/month. He works full time and I work part time. After rent/utilities/food/gas/other medical bills. This only leaves us with about $100 a month, which often gets used for something important that we missed. We are "too poor" to be required to get insurance under Obama Care. We actually have a form that waives us from the penalty of not having insurance. It makes me laugh and cry at the same time. And, because we don't have children, we don't qualify for medicare/caid or any of the other charity insurance.

I don't know what to do. I am so sick, and so tired. I know I will loose my job if I stay this sick. Does anyone know of any doctors with a sliding scale income requirement or that will take payments? I want to get re-tested for Lyme's, cause my symptoms seem to match up and I am afraid, but I don't know if I am financially capable of getting help.

Thanks,
Sick and Tired

[JackieCalifornia]

When a doc runs his/her own practice, they decide for themselves how much to charge a patient, so don't be afraid to explain your financial situation and ask for a discount and/or a payment plan.  

Docs who don't have to deal with the insurance companies are free to charge whatever the market will bear, and also to be compassionate in the process.  When you are well again, you could perhaps send a little money to the doc when you can, until the doc is fully paid.  Think of it as your way of getting back at Lyme.  Or offer to pay the doc a little money each month from the beginning, to show good faith and appreciation.  

Borrowing from family and friends is also a possibility.  It's not fun, but after all, what are family and friends for but to help each other?

[Rikky1]

you should be able to get medicaid at that income level.  then you can at least find a doctor who is semi lyme literate.  feel terrible for you i hope and will pray you find some solutions.

[mojogal]

For the future, I finally had to apply for social security Disability. You eventually get Medicare as your insurance. When I was in the hospital a few weeks ago, they applied for Medicaid for medical reasons and got it for me for the hospital stay. So I had both Medicare and Medicaid. My bill was paid for in full.

I wish you luck.

[JackieCalifornia]

There are at least two charities who can assist in funding for Lyme diagnosis and treatment:  LymeTAP is one, and the other one is LymeLight Foundation.

I am sorry you feel so awful -- but don't give up!