[Ellie]

I am going to one for the first time on Thursday and really have no clue what to expect.

I was wondering if it's just the standard physical exam (check eyes, nose, ears, throat, vitals and ask questions).

I also didn't know exactly what they do there, like if they take blood work and stuff or ship you off to some other place.

They didn't have anyone who had any specialty in Lyme, so I asked for the oldest doctor. I am probably not the most popular when I say this, but I have left two doctors so far for trying to treat me with only a clinical diagnosis. My theory is that until they prove it with lab tests, I'm not going to chuck pills down my throat for 6-8 weeks for something I could potentially not even have.

I just don't think a rash is enough to stand on. I want the proper, most accurate tests done (I know none are essentially 'accurate' but there are some better than others, and I want the better ones).

I guess my beef is this, it could be something else causing my symptoms and the rash could have been some random thing that just had bad timing. From my personal researching, the EM rash actually seems to vary quite a bit - and while I had a pretty good looking circular rash that ended up making two baby rashes at a later date, it could also not be an EM rash.

I've been treated for things I haven't had, and finding out at a later date I threw away money and possibly further damaged my organs with pill after pill leaves a sour taste in my mouth. If I can have control over a situation, I'd like to - and I'm hoping I can have the courage to tell this guy to find out what the problem is and THEN treat it.

Sorry for rambling! Anywho, if anyone has been to an IDS what happens?

It's actually a doctor I haven't seen yet, and I'm kind of nervous!

Thanks in advance for any advice and thanks for reading this.

[watsonsh]

I have been to one at Cedars here in LA and the first thing they did was run tons of blood tests. Also had a spinal tap.

I only saw her twice and she said that she found nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to rare and infectious diseases and that I should see a rheumy.

Good luck

[Ellie]

Thanks and dang! I've been dodging the spinal tap for the past 2 months, hah. My Rheumy office called today, mind you I called 5 times for appt and she flat out lied (saying she got 1 message Friday but nothing else, and I didn't call Friday..). If they want me to see one, I hope he knows one that isn't her. She has the nastiest staff I have ever encountered.