Through my integrative Dr, it was suggested I had Lyme's testing done. The results came back with some bands positive, some negative and some IND. Can someone help me decipher the results?
Not to go into a long story, but I was bit by a tick back in the summer of 2005 and have had declining health ever since, though never had a "positive" lyme test. I've had all the symptoms in the book, the most severe of is heart palpitations that actually sent me into Atrial Fibillation 3 times over the past 4 years. I've also had aches/pains, foggyness, depression, sort of CFS type symptoms. My CD57 recently came back at 40.
I'll elaborate more on my story later, but I didn't want to turn this into a monster sized post.
Here are my results, if anyone can key me into what I should do I'd be appreciative. Even my integrative, while seemingly Lyme literate, says it simply can't be definitively determined if I currently have Lyme.
posted
Hi Drew! Glad you found your way over to Medical!! Welcome!!
Hey.. I know all about the A-fib.. have it myself. Not good at all!
Be sure to read the Western Blot Explanation.... I'll bring the link. This is an excerpt by the dr who wrote it:
"Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track."
Band 39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all.
Band 41: Flagella or tail. This is how Borrelia burgdorferi moves around, by moving the flagella. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.
This is what Dr C of MO says about the important bands:
from 1999:
"In my clinical experience, if a patient has symptoms suspicious for borreliosis, and has one or more of the following bands, there is a very high probability the patient has borreliosis.
These bands are 18, 22, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 41, 83, and 93.
This is true regardless of whether it is IgG or IgM." ----------------------------------
From around 2005...
"The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93."
============================
So.. don't ignore the bands you have! They are very important indicators that you most likely have a borreliosis infection. Combine that with your symptoms and you have.....
Have you been searching for an LLMD?? Lyme Literate MD?? Someone can help you with that search over in Seeking a Doctor.
Hope this helps!
PS... I would print out the WB explanation and read it several times. You might even want your dr to see it.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Yeah, A-Fib is NOOOO fun. I appreciate your input, I'll read the western blot explanation.
I am just trying to get some kind of definitive answer. I've been sick for years basically. But its an on and off thing. Some periods of time are simply worse than others. But symptoms just seem to collectively worsen overtime.
What complicates things more for me personally is that I started not feeling right all the way back in 2003 (had some stomach issues and panic attacks, a bit of depression), had a positive ANA noted(saw a dr for it and it was deemed that I am just part of the 5% of the population who has a +ANA with no clinical significance).
So in 2005 after I was bit by a tick, when my symptoms got worse, it makes it all the more challenging to think it's lyme related since many of the symptoms started earlier.
But things simply got soooo much worse after the tick bite (took me awhile to connect the dots since I was tested for lyme by my regular dr and it came back negative back in '05).
Stomach issues got really bad, led to food sensitivies, led to heart paplitations, led to afib...and several other symptoms. nasty aches pains, back pain constantly (again, this one is confusing because i've had 2 back surguries to repair herniated discs)...
Anyway, I could kind of drag on and on with how many dr's I've been to, tests I've had done, but really, I just want to know if there is a connection between my middle of the road lyme test results and my symptoms. If I have some of the antibody, don't I have lyme? Or did I at one time?
Can it survive for years? And simply what Dr do I visit to help me get a more certain answer, if that is even possible.
Sorry if I am jumping all over the place with my response...
Thanks for your help!
Drew
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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Just curious, how often have you had afib? When did it start? After you had Lyme?
Just curious as this is my most troubling symptom obviously...
Thanks,
Drew
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
Drew,
You need to go to the seeking a doctor board to find a doctor in your area. There are people on the board who keep a list of all of the lyme literate doctors in your area.
The sooner you get to a good doctor, the better off you'll be.
Glad you found this board. It offers a wealth of knowledge. I was on the boards for about six months before my daughter got to see a doctor, and I didn't feel so overwhelmed with all of the info he was giving me because I had done so much research on here.
Best of wishes to you.......Christie
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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