If your getting lyme testing, do Igenex but you must make sure he knows exactly how to take care of the blood, how to ship it, and to ship it next day!
Read the Igenex website, if you dont follow the instructions the test will be worthless
Posted by lisabeth (Member # 11725) on :
this was great advice on one of my post.... for my daughter. go to those websites and print out the type of test the doc. should look into for you... i hope this will help for you, but i'm sure others will post and give you more advice....
For testing, do you think your dr would consider using one of the labs that specialize in Tick-Borne Diseases? It increases the reliablity of the test results.
If your doc has never done this before, don't expect him/her to jump right in.
A simple thing for YOU to do is to call Igenex and request that they send a test kit for Western Blot IgG and IgM.
They can send it to your home. There is no obligation...if you change your mind, just don't use the kit.
The "kit" consists of instructions, a form to fill out, a test tube, and packing materials to ship it back to Igenex.
There is a paid shipping envelope for FedEx.
The blood draw must be done early in the week, as the lab wants fresh blood. (If it arrives on a Friday or Saturday, it would wait until Monday to get tested.)
You send payment with the blood. I sent a check, but you can also charge it to a credit card.
Later on, you can get the paperwork you need to send it to your insurance company, for reimbursement.
The only thing you really need from the doctor is his order for you, for "Western Blot IgG and IgM" written on a prescription form.
Then you can go to any lab to get the blood drawn. The lab spins it down, and puts the serum into the test tube.
They also fill out the form.
When I did this, I took it home, made sure the form was complete, packed the test tube according to the instructions, and looked up the FedEx number in the phone book.
I called, and two hours later they picked it up.
It was a good thing I had read the instructions, and highlighted the parts that my doctor's office needed.
The nurse there didn't understand that she was supposed to spin the blood. Then when she finally gave me the tube of serum, she also gave me the tube with the spun down clot, which I just discarded when I got home.
All through this, everyone in the office kept asking me why I didn't just get this test done at a local lab. Sigh....
Copy the page at the link above. Highlight tests #188 and 189. Show this to the doctor, and ask him to write an order for these tests for you, on one of his prescription forms.
Tell him that you'll get the blood drawn, and will pay for it. That way you've made it as easy as you can, for him to do his part.
The lab will send the results to your doc in about two weeks. Ask for a copy of the results, and you can post them here for comments and interpretation.
If you don't do this, you're likely to get a runaround, like I did for a couple years.
Carol
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Good for you, Christi. Pay attention to what Carol and others are saying here.
Getting the two Igenex Western Blots would be a GREAT start to getting some REAL anwers, and there are folks here to help interpret the test results once you get them.
(Hey, I knew you couldn't just step back from all this.... once you suspect you have Lyme, it is hard not to keep pursuing answers.)
Tracy Posted by wilsongal22 (Member # 11210) on :
Thank you, that was a very good post about the test. Very detailed! Thanks!
You are right. Once I suspected Lyme I can't stop thinking it has to be it. Neither can my mom, but she isn't pushing it as much as I am. Because she doesn't really know what to do, but luckily, I just informed her on it and told her how to go about it using the info people have told me on here.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
lisa