I had Lyme disease 3 years ago and was treated and thought that was the end of that. Since then I have had trouble with my knees and have just been diagnosed with idopathic dilated cardiomyophty (SP?) I told my doctor about my bout with Lyme Disease and he suggested I be tested to see if I still had it. My test results came back positive. My Question is, Once you have Lyme Disease will you always show positive? Or is that little bug still hanging around?
Posted by Ewok (Member # 8319) on :
My Question is, Once you have Lyme Disease will you always show positive? Or is that little bug still hanging around? [/QB][/QUOTE]
I asked that question to my LLMD recently. He believes most people will test positive due to the antibodies still being present. That is why one never knows, from a testing standpoint, if one is cured. When I first found out I had LD I asked the LLMD,"How will I know if I am cured, what is the test?" And he said, "You will feel better, there is no test."
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
For now this is a clinical diagnosis...based on symptoms.
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
I'll out on the limb here, not knowing how long you were treated the first time, that info would be helpful.
If you were in my family I would be thinking lyme and encourage you to go to a llmd and be evaluated and probably treated before considering taking any steriods or having surgury on the knees. Many here have had joint problems relieved or healed with treatment, depending on the kind and extent of damage.
Mel
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
thanks cave
very good explaination.
Posted by pmerv (Member # 1504) on :
to my knowledge, no one has published a test of "cured" or at least adequately treated, now healthy Lyme patients. So we don't know! My dr told me his patients' titers went down the longer they were treated, as they approached health. LLMDs may be keeping track of their patients' titers but no one is publishing the results. I think it would take a long time for titers to come down, even with longterm treatment, because it only takes a small amount of antigen to drive the immune response. Since there are likely a few bugs hiding in the nooks and crannies, even with aggressive treatment, they keep the immune system stimulated over a long period. This has enabled short-treaters to claim that titers, once elevated, are perpetual. I don't believe it - even for diseases we vaccinate for, like smallpox, no titer is forever.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Robert Rothwell: My test results came back positive.
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