So you think my results state that I have Lyme for sure? I don't see how I wouldn't if I have the confirmed Babesia blood smear. And from your knowledge, those blood smears are accurate?
It's been so long that I've been searching for answers, I'm still almost in shock that this could be true.
I'm assuming the doc will want to start me on antibiotics next week after I review the results with him?
Posts: 79 | From Austin | Registered: Jun 2015
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TF
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The blood smear test involves a technician actually looking at your blood through a high-powered microscope. He saw babesia inside of your red blood cells. He knows what normal red blood cells look like, and he knows what it looks like if babs is in there. It looks like a dark dot inside the red blood cell. So, there is no way that test result can be wrong. You have babesiosis. This is the way my lyme doc explained it to me.
Eventually the babs explodes the red blood cell that it is occupying. That is what makes you feel so exhausted--you don't have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body, so you don't have much energy, are low in oxygen, etc.
Remember, my main symptoms were lyme. Once I was treated for lyme, then I finally got some babs symptoms. So, this can be your case also.
Babesiosis is not present by itself, or it would be awfully strange if it were. It is called a lyme "co-infection" because it is an infection that is so often found along with lyme.
So, your blood tests say you have babsiosis and you also have antibodies specific to lyme showing up on your Western Blot.
The lyme bacteria is handled by the immune system by making various antibodies that attach to the various parts of the lyme bacteria. The immune system cannot make one big antibody that fits exactly all over the spirochete.
So, if lyme bacteria were shaped like an elephant, for example, the immune system would make one antibody the shape necessary to cover the trunk, one specially shaped to cover the head and ears, another for the legs, another for the torso, and another for the tail.
One antibody cannot cover an entire bacteria; it takes many. These antibodies have all been numbered and are the "bands" that show up on a lyme Western Blot.
Band 41 on the Western Blot is the antibody that attaches to the tail of the lyme spirochete and, in this way, covers it and disables it.
Band 41 will also be positive if you have oral spirochetes (such as gum infections) because this antibody attaches to tails of All spirochetes, not just lyme spirochetes. (Syphilis is also a spirochete. There are not many spirochetal infections, but they all have tails that propel them into any body part they want to enter. The tail is called the flagella.)
So, band 39 did not react enough to call it a positive (one +), but it also wasn't negative. Negative means that no antibodies to band 39 were found in your blood at all.
They found SOME band 39 antibodies in your blood, just not enough for a +. They code such a result as "Ind" or "Indeterminate." Half-way positive, in other words. No other germ except lyme causes the immune system to make band 39 antibodies. That is what Dr. C. and other lyme doctors are saying in their explanation of the Western Blot. So, if you get any band 39 antibodies showing up, that is a major indication of lyme disease. The shape of 39 is unique to lyme, as I understand it.
So, put it all together, your symptoms, your coinfection with babs, and your slightly positive band 39 and very positive band 41 and that all equals lyme disease.
Pretty soon, you will likely find out that you also have bartonella. That would make you the typical lyme patient.
If you have other diseases also (viruses, etc.) which I am sure your doc tested you for, then that even adds to the strength of the diagnosis.
So, the money on testing and a lyme doc appointment was money well spent. Can't get anywhere until you get a diagnosis.
Now, you can move on to treatment. Yes, you will be put on antibiotics for your diseases. Start reading Burrascano Guidelines sections on how these diseases are treated. Then, you will understand what the doc is telling you next time you talk and you will be able to see the sense of his treatment plan.
I searched for a diagnosis for 10 years. It is good to finally get one. I know the shock. You will be happy by next week.
Once you get your head around what this means, you may want to tell the doctor which disease you would like to treat first. In your case, tell him that you really need to get rid of your popping/painful joints. Tell him that this is by far your worst symptom. So, if that is lyme disease (which it is), you really would like to be treated for lyme first.
Other than that, just make a list of questions for the doc and prioritize them. You have a few days to try to get your own answers before talking to him, so you can research.
Mostly, listen to him carefully. If you can get your wife on another line to also listen with you, that is great. She will hear and remember things also.
Put yourself on the Burrascano diet and on good probiotics and on whatever supplements Burrascano recommends for your symptoms.
Start these things as soon as you start the treatment. Drink lots and lots of water with lemons squeezed into them. No bottled lemon juice. This will help you detox and prevent bad herxes. I made lemon water my ONLY drink all during treatment. And, I did well. No sense drinking things that are not going to help you.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Once again TF, thanks for the information. I will review the Burrascano guidelines.
I do feel a sense of exuberance with this new information. I guess one of those ticks I pulled off years and years ago did infect me. I'm nervous about treatment, but I am hopeful that this will help treat my symptoms.
Perhaps I can get back to some normalcy in my life and maybe even get to eat at a restaurant in the future.
Do you or anyone else know a good probiotic to take? I have found that two I have purchased are actually dead. I just purchased Jarrow last week and took them back b/c they were not alive.
I tested them by putting them in milk and letting them sit overnight to see if they produced a cake-like film or signs of a fermentation process. Both times there was no change.
I had a naturopath tell me that a lot of probiotics are dead and are not governed by any real regulation. So at that point, I stopped taking them and just recently tried purchasing them again. Any thoughts or suggestions on a brand would be helpful.
Also do you know if Lime will work in place of lemon with the water? Lemons were one of the foods that came up on my intolerant list when I had the food tests done.
Posts: 79 | From Austin | Registered: Jun 2015
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TF
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You can substitute lime for lemon.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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I'm not sure who did my blood smear, but I want to say it was done at the clinic and costs $175. I have yet to receive a hard copy of my results, but they are supposed to be emailing me them today.
Posts: 79 | From Austin | Registered: Jun 2015
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TF
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His lyme doctor did the babs blood smear in-house.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Spiritwalk you got the babs blood smear done at the same place as your llmd?
If so please email me his name.
-------------------- Lyme flare June, July, August of 2013. Diagnosed September 2014 Lyme, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Mono Posts: 595 | From Texas Crossroads | Registered: Oct 2014
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TF
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Member # 14183
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SacredHeart,
Just look at the private message I sent you recommending a doctor a few weeks ago. That is the doctor's name.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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