Quick question, I am about to take the Igenex Western Blot IgG/IgM. (Thanks Robi). I was on a heavy dose of Prednisone 60mg per day for about two months and got off it in mid Feb. I have read in other places that it is hard to get a correct reading on the Western Blot if you were on Steroids because the Steroids kill off the antibodies.
Is this true? If so how long should I wait to have an accurate test? or is an accurate test ever possible?
Thanks, Spitz
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Hmmm, I'm not sure if this means it may never show positive or not. Steroids suppress the immune system and if your immune system can't register a response, then the test might be flawed.
However, even if you have Lyme-specific bands [even one or two], then only Lyme can cause that to happen.
I had taken 2 months of steroids many years ago and my WB was not CDC positive. I had an intelligent dr who dxd me clinically, and that was all I needed.
Read this on the Western Blot. It will explain alot. Hey, it rhymed! And I've been Lymed!
[This message has been edited by Lymetoo (edited 27 March 2005).]
Posted by spitz (Member # 7023) on :
lymetoo, thanks for your post, I just finished talking to a llmd and he told me after two months I should be producing enough antibodies to register on the Western Blot Test.
Spitz
Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :
Good thinkng Spitz...........Glad you called an LLMD to figure out the next step.
Did you atually get a doc to come to hte phone and talk to you? Wow, your good.
robi
Posted by spitz (Member # 7023) on :
Yes Robi, it was a doctor at Igenex, but I didn't want to add too much info on that just in case I was being politically incorrect.
oops! 