LymeNet Flash: Equivocal IgM - what's up with that

This is topic Equivocal IgM - what's up with that in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by EllenB (Member # 5764) on :

Hello good people,

I got my Igenex results today. Unfortunately not the positives I was hoping for (strange, huh?)

I've read some past posts on this, but I would love to hear from anyone out there who has had these kind of results. Should I keep going down this path? I know this is a clinical diagnosis, but there's no LLMD's close by (i'll be seeing one in Sept!), so I'm on my own with this for now and really needing some feedback from some people who know more than I. I need to know if I'm getting warmer in finding out what's going on with me - or colder.

I have all the arthritis symptoms, some neuro, (no name recall and horrible memory, but I just figure that's how it's always been) and a few others - all started about ten years ago. I was diagnosed with RA at that time.

Anyway, these were my results:
IgM - equivocal:
18 +
30 +/-
39 +/-
41 +/-
66 +/-

Igg - negative
39 +/-
41 ++
58 +/-
66 +/-

All other bands were negative.

I was taking doxy for about 1 to 2 weeks prior to the blood draw for this - would this have any impact on my results.

On last thing, I did test postive thru Bowen, but I was hoping for the western to to nail it down for sure.

Can anyone make some sense of thsse results for me? Does it look like it might still be lyme?

Thanks very much,

Ellen

Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :

Band 41 is specific to Bb (that is my understanding) to the Lyme bacteria. You have a positive Lyme test. You just dont qualify to be in statistics.

Posted by Lenny777 (Member # 5452) on :

You mentioned you've felt bad for 10 years. I think if you've had it that long your immune system could be run down and the antibodies just aren't there.
I know the positive test would have made you feel better, but I would keep an open mind and keep with the abx and see what the LLMD says in Sept. I've read about people who had 10 negative test and then tested positive after being on abx for months even years.
Hang in there.

Posted by Rene (Member # 4870) on :

Ellen,

I too have an equivocal result on an Igenex IgM, and a negative IGg. I also was on doxycycline for one month prior to Igenex testing. The important thing to remember is that Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. Your LLMD will diagnose and should treat based on symptoms. Another important consideration is co infections which will need to be adressed prior to your lyme treatment. You are on the right path in getting an appt with a LLMD. Hang in there and remember with Lyme and Co-infections that slow and steady wins the race

Rene

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I never had a positive, just equivocal or negative.

and I *KNOWS* me gots some lyme!

I think you definately do.

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Screw the tests get treated it should be clinical diagnosis anyway symptoms, area, bite?

------------------
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

[This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 15 July 2004).]

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

My son had an equivical IgM and a negative IgG. We treated anyway, based on symptoms and my positive tests, assuming exposure, since he had never seen a tick, nor had a classic rash.

Within three weeks of antibiotics, he had two perfect bull's eye rashes, one on each leg. Perfect herx reaction, and leaving us with no doubt he has a Lyme infection.

He is recovering nicely from a long term infection through multiple antibiotics. He's healing from things he didn't even know where illness, since he grew up with them.

Lyme and co-infections can play games with your immune system, and the testing often tells very little about what is really happening. With antibody tests, all you can say is whether or not your body is mounting an immune response.

If your body is unable to do so, for one of many possible reasons, you can be badly infected, and have nothing show up.

Your best bet is an experienced doctor who can interpret your medical history, your clinical signs, and the tests in the light of all that.