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Originally posted by Visual Afterimage Man:
So after all that reading... it's the IND on bands 31 and 39 with a + on 41 that is the cause for concern?

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You're mostly right.

You're leaving out Band 30+ on IgM, which was +.
Also you're leaving out 58+ on her IgG.
Both those are specific, in addition to those you mentioned.

41 CAN theoretically be something else (though it usually isn't).

The famous Dr. C says: "The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93."

Michelle
 

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Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :
 
So, it sounds to me that anything other an a - on ALL bands is cause for concern?

So in theory, someone who does not have Lyme, (95% of the population) would have all -'s on their WB?

It would be interesting to find out. Take a random sample of the population (say in Los Angles) and put 30 people through a Igx WB.
This would be an interesting study!! When I win the lottery, I might be able to fund something like this.
 

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Posted by susiecv (Member # 9702) on :
 
Sounds like you have a good & cautious LLMD! The probiotics for a month is a very wise idea-Now you just need to invest in sunscreen! On the bright side, you will have company in the low carb/no sugar diet!

My curiousity regarding the doxy dosage is personal-I am "almost" asymptomatic (if there is such a thing..) and was put on 2 months of doxy via a phone consult with an LLMD who has since retired He said I only showed positive for Band 41-though I am still waiting for an actual copy of my results from my PCP who OK'd the abx-

I am trying to figure out how to proceed & hoping to avoid the cost & travel involved in finding a new LLMD- not too sure I need to keep going with the abx???? Experiences of others sure does help me make some sense of some of this-

So, so sorry that you have worries for your baby!! I am going to have my 19 yr. old daughter tested next week because of some unusual health issues which I am hoping to rule OUT as Lyme-related- Can they test infants? Ugh-hate to think of anyone drawing blood from a baby! Unfortunately my daughter is already an old pro at blood tests...

Good luck to you & your family! And thanks for sharing your info
Sue
 

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Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
 
Doc told me that lyme was found in seman, but not in vaginal fluid. So women have a greater chance of catching it from there male partners.
 

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Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this topic. My wife is on her way to being treated. As for the baby, I think we'll take the watchful waiting approach. If he shows any sign, then we will reconsider. I just hate the thought of putting a baby through antibotics so soon in life.
 

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Posted by HaplyCarlessdave (Member # 413) on :
 
It takes some time for any of the tests to show positive, if there is lyme there. It may make sense to "treat prophylactically", as they say.

But there is indeed something to be said for avoiding unnecessary treatment, and while sexual transmission is possible, I can definitely assure you that it's far from a sure thing... Also, I do believe that once the infected partner is being treated, the chances of sexual transmission go way down. Furthermore, I have a feeling that the coinfections such as babesia are far less likely than lyme to be sexually transmitted. Thus if treatment is given immediately at the first sign of symptoms, the odds are very good that a relatively short (from LLMD view) treatment will do the trick (but be sure in that case, that a long enough, strong enough treatment is given!)

But I am far from an expert! If there is indeed a reasonable chance of infection, you don't want to let it go!

DaveS
 

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Posted by bartonella blues (Member # 9042) on :
 
This whole business with the various band readingsis so confusing. I had a lengthy Igenex test about a year ago. My LLDD is very good,but my comprehension is confusing so often.
I DO have one question about the passing of lyme to other people not just thru sexual intercourse.
What is the LATEST Opinion on KISSING,just good old fashion lip-smackin' show of affection.NO oral intercourse intended ,in fact no intercourse at all. Just that wonderful pasttime,sitting on the couch ,holding hands and"making out".....
I miss all that so much...Been single for s oo long now,,,Been afraid to try even the basics.
Anyone got same thots?? Is holding hands and following with a great kissing session O.K??
I send a nice soft romantic kiss to all.......from Bartonella Blues...(babesia as well?
 

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Posted by duke77 (Member # 5051) on :
 
This is sort of controversial too. My LLMD says that even if a person tested 100% positive but has no symptoms he would be reluctant to treat. Mainly because adding abx to their immune system could mess up the balance. I don't know if I totally agree with this though. Why wait an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
 

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Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
 
You can be infected and be a symtpmatic for years untill a stressor comes along to weaken your immune system and allow the dormant lyme to become active.

Glad to hear she will get treated anyway. She has enough positive bands to take this very seriously. Here is a link that describes why you can still have lyme & test CDC negative:

http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/lymeseroneg.html
 

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Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :
 
In hinesight, I wish I had done a lot more probiotics and immune support at the begining of treatment. I would also check with your doc on getting other immune support going also, like cat's claw, some king of good mushroom immune stimulator, MG and good b-vitamins. Doxy can hit some of the vitamins that we need.
 

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Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
 
This "negative" test looks much more positive than many people here probably have. There are clear indications of ongoing infection in the test and I would take the doctor's advice and pursue treatment. That said - 3 months of doxy alone makes me question whether the doctor knows how to treat Lyme or not.
 

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Posted by happygirl (Member # 10318) on :
 
This is a very interesting discussion.

My husband has NO symptoms but we are having him tested anyway. My LLMD says that if he tests positive they will NOT treat because he has no symptoms.

(However it does have implications for him passing it back to me etc.) Like other viruses and bacteria the immune system keeps it in check. They only treat if symptoms appear.

I'm not completely convinced, its very hard to know what to do.
 

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Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
 
I don't understand the reluctance of an LLMD to treat if a person tests positive, even if the person is asymptomatic. As many of us know, you can have the infection for a long time, it can suddenly surface and be devastating and very difficult to get rid of. Also, spreading it to others is a real concern. Anyone ever heard of typhoid Mary??? HIV anyone?? Just 2 examples of illnesses where a person can be asymptomatic and yet spread the disease.

The CDC state that they would rather spend money on "known vectors", ticks only please, not the proven transmission via uterus.
"Transplacental transmission of B. burgdorferi has been documented in a pregnant woman with Lyme disease who did not receive antimicrobial therapy. She delivered an infant with a congenital heart defect (1)"
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000569.htm

We have no way to find out the full ramifications of a person who is positive and yet asymptomatic for now. We have to protect ourselves and the public as best as we can.
Terry
 

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Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
 
Vision, you asked if anybody else had their spouse tested. Well, I had my boyfriend of 4 years tested after I found out I had Lyme.

But I and my boyfriend both used the Bowen test - which is not an antibody test - so this may not be of particular interest to you.

In any event, my boyfriend tested ``maximum positive'' - 1:128 - just like I did. Neither of us was positive for Babs or Ehrlichia.

Our tests were identical, yet my boyfriend has nearly no symptoms.

We cannot be sure that the Lyme bug was passed from me to him because he grew up in New Jersey and remembers finding lots of ticks on him.

Like dana said, it seems that sometimes it takes a stressor or trigger to create the scenario we currently call Lyme Disease.

Tracy
 

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Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :
 
Are there any guidelines out there for how long you should treat someone who has an negative Igx test and no symptoms. Seems stange to even consider it...

Where did the three months come from? According to my LLMD he will treat three months past the point where I notice 0 Lyme symptoms. So this holds true for my wife. Since she has no symptoms, the three months holds true? I'm just guessing at this.

I'm not opposed to treating her long with abx if it's not causing her any problems. If she seems to be handling all this pretty well, then we might ask the LLMD why not try to keep her on abx for another three. Just to be safe.

She's on day number 6 of probiotics and vit C. I noticed over the past two days she's been very run down. As a matter of fact she's taking a long nap right now.. Its 1:54 PM, and this is not like her. It makes me wonder if she's experiencing a small herx due to the Threelac.

Thanks again to everyone who's added to this topic. You all have given me much food for thought.
 

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