Saw Aussie G.P. with lyme interest

[Melissa072]

Hi
I saw the G.P. today with the interest in Lyme.
He was pretty good, and seemed to know what he was talking about.
Said its possible I have lyme (with all my symptons) and wants to test me for other co infections also.
So am going to have the cd57 done here in australia, then he said regardless on the result wants me to be tested overseas at Iginex (think thats what he said)
Anyway all I can do now is wait for the bloods to get tested here and see what the result says.
The one thing I did't understand was when he said he doesn't think I have ms due to the number of central nerves affected (I think thats what he said, or something like that or it might have been craniel nerves)
At the end of the day, he is only a G.P.
I just don't think he should or shouldn't be telling people they have got or haven't got ms.
And I don't understand what he meant by that anyway, I thought ms could affect any part of the body etc or nerves.
Will let you all know anyway how I get on with the blood results.
Cheers
Melissa

[Melissa072]

True, about the Dr just being a G.P.
My recent neuro with 20 years experience although "nice", has already diagnosed me wrongly twice......
Yes this G.P. with lyme interest, has done his homework, and really wants to get on board and make lyme recognised within australia.
Will definately let you know what our results bring...
Thanks again Jackie
Melissa

[JackieCalifornia]

Melissa,

It sounds like you made good progress in that appointment.  The doc did everything I would have wanted my own doc to do, and said all the right things too, from my purely patient's point of view.

I would not be put off by the fact that he is just a GP:  being good at diagnosing and treating Lyme and coinfections is a state of mind, not a wall full of credentials.  Some of the stupidest, most thick-headed, arrogant etc. people I have ever met are high-priced specialists.  It takes a wise MD to see the big picture.

True, he may not be as smart as he sounds to me on an email half way round the world, but it hits all the right notes with me:  testing for coinfections, testing with IGeneX here in California, testing CD57.

I don't know much about the cranial nerves etc. aspects of MS, but you should ask him what he meant next time you see him, so that you have comfort on that point.

Here's a possibility:  MS arises due to demyelination of the spinal cord (meaning the protective covering [myelin] on the bundle of nerves inside your spinal column starts to go away) and that causes problems, just like when the covering on a lamp cord starts to wear away.  The demyelination usually occurs in patches, from what I've read, so the symptoms are spotty, here and there.  If however it's 'just' your brain that's currently involved and your symptoms are more all-over evenly (and not much spotty), then it makes it sound less like MS and more like a generalized inflammation of the brain, like Lyme would do.  Just a thought, but ask your doc.  It's an excellent question.

I really appreciate docs who are willing to talk with me about what my symptoms may or may not mean, instead of just handing me slips of paper and telling me to get blood drawn and take these pills and come back in X weeks.  Too bad your doc is so far from me -- I'd go see him!

All in all, it sounds like a very productive meeting.  Do stay in touch and let us know how you do, all right?  Best wishes!  J.