Ive heard we should all be going through Ingenex for lyme testing but my LLMD had only Quest testing- results have not returned to my knowledge; but how long would the results take? anyone else have quest tests done? Ive read on this site about ingenex taking up to 5 weeks!! Thats a crazy amount of time to wait, but anyone would give a little time for an accurate test I suppose. The waiting and the herxing is killing me. chime
Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :
Dr. F?
Posted by dullchime (Member # 6024) on :
Yeah doctor F
why?
Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :
He uses Quest just to see if he can pull any bands, any bands at all.
He doesnt use Igenex ( so he says) because why waste your money when lyme is a clinical diagnosis? He will keep retesting for insurance purposes just to see if he can pull SOMETHING.
Other than that, my other comments are stuffed in my cookie jar at home.
Posted by Lenny777 (Member # 5452) on :
Any doctor can send blood to Igenex. Draw it, put it in a box with the paperwork and mail it. I had an Elisa and a WB through Quest...both negative. Then I had Igenex and it was positive.
So, if you do the math...from my first negative quest test, November 2003...to my second negative quest test Feb. 2004. Total wait time of 3-4 months and no satisfaction. Igenex test...March 2004 received positive results in about two weeks. So any wait, even if it's five weeks, is worth it and it will turn out not to be as long as the quest wait.
Posted by dullchime (Member # 6024) on :
Hey crime- I take it you werent satisfied with Dr. F ?? Is there someone else i should be seeing?? Im getting kinda worried now.
chime
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
Ok here is the deal with Dr. F. He uses the WB to track the progress of the disease not for diagnosis. His focus isn't on getting + results but getting treatment started. In that respect the lab doesn't matter. KHPE pays quest 100% so I'm happy with that.
He will only call with the results if there is something wrong/unexpected. When my SO tested + for Babs he called to tell us and ask which drug store we wanted the script called in to.
You can call the office and have the results faxed to you.
Next time you have blood drawn, on the left of the form you can supply an additional fax number and/or address for the results to be sent to. This works, I use it all the time.
Also, Dr F. doesn't feel that the co-fection testing is accurate. He will treat for them without + results.
What is really inteeresting is that he can predict WB results based on previous treatment. He didn't expect my first WB with him to show any + bands because I had been on IV for a number of months prior to my going to him. After I started orals, I tested +. 15 months later only band 23 comes up +.
I hope this helps.
Mel
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
Results are back from quest in 6-7 days, for WB and co-infections.
Mel
[This message has been edited by mlkeen (edited 07 October 2004).]
Posted by dullchime (Member # 6024) on :
thanks for the info, did you feel your experience with him was good or just "sub-par"? For the first time in my life Ive got the money to be picky. So if Im waisting my time, it would be good to know. I'd have to say that I live in Kennett Square so your not the first person Ive heard kinda speak of him in not-so-favorable ways. Yet none of those people were Lyme patients. thanks again chime
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
Well, he has his moments when he is less than 100%, a bunch of us feel he still has lyme.
That said, I still have moments I'm not 100%, and I charge clients too. I still have lyme.
Eighteen months ago my son and I were very sick, without Dr F. we might not have made the progress we have. Dr. F figured out the underlying cause of my compromised immune sytem, six other doctors didn't have a clue.
My life has been re-claimed and my son's is getting there.
As long as he knows what to prescribe and when it doesn't matter if he is having a bad day. He ALWAYS listens, that is important.
I actually think he's great. I was just trying to describe how the office works. I recommend him all the time.
Mel
[This message has been edited by mlkeen (edited 07 October 2004).]
Posted by Team Mom (Member # 4677) on :
Not sure on Quest. They are also used by my PCP. I ended up paying out of pocket for IGENEX and my test took about 2 1/2 weeks. But it was the best wait I ever had-I at least found out what I had after going through all kinds of tests for other diseases.
Posted by lymie101 (Member # 6336) on :
We have had no trouble with long waits from Igenex labs. My husband, my son, my mother, myself, my husband's best friend - all 5 western blots back in 2 weeks of testing. Was not happy with Qwest - mine was initially sent there & our GP would only do the ELISA first (negative) so no follow-through. GEEZ!
Posted by dullchime (Member # 6024) on :
mlkeen
thanks for all your info- Id have to say from my visit with Dr.F, everything he said was consistent with everything Ive read and he really set my fears at ease. I definitely had a good experience, glad you have too.
