I was diagnosed with lyme in late 2005 (along with babs and bart). I tested positive for lyme through Quest labs and IGENEX.
A few weeks ago I had gone to see another doctor who did a bunch of blood tests including lyme. He sent it to a different lab (Imugen) and the lyme test came back very positive again.
I have been on treatment for over a year and I am still symptomatic. Has anyone had a similar experience where they tested positive for lyme before treatment and still positive for lyme 1 year+ into treatment?
Thanks, David
Posted by Al (Member # 9420) on :
Hey David Interesting ! Sounds like the ABX. you are on are not doing the job Ask your Dr. if he/she thinks it should be changed. Also the co/infections may have to be treated first or at the same time.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I never bothered to get tested again. I believe in treating until all symptoms are GONE for at least 2 full months.
I don't think it's unusual AT ALL to still test positive after one year.
Thanks for the responses. How long should it take after being treated properly for the blood tests to come up negative for lyme?
It's just funny (not in a humurous way) that so many people talk about never getting a positive lyme test and yet every lab that tests me seems to detect lyme...even over a period of 1 year and a half.
I have been on many different meds so I am taking a break for a little while and then will probably start on some others.
I wonder, though, after a yr and half of being treated for co-infections and lyme if this just a sign that IV treatment most might make the most sense?
Thanks!
-David
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I wouldn't take too much of a break from the meds.
Are you seeing an LLMD?
Posted by ldfighter (Member # 9405) on :
quote:Originally posted by davidx: It's just funny (not in a humurous way) that so many people talk about never getting a positive lyme test and yet every lab that tests me seems to detect lyme...even over a period of 1 year and a half.
This could simply be related to strain. Some strains are much more likely than others to result in a positive test, especially by a lab like Quest.
It could also mean that your immune system is doing a good job, since there's enough free antibody to be detected. If the antibody were all bound with antigen (bacterial proteins), the test would be negative because there wouldn't be enough "free" antibody to react with the test.
So I'm not sure you should be too concerned based on this alone. I have known people who improved while having increasingly positive tests. Imo clinical picture is what's really important. (But I'm not a doc, best to ask yours!)
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
Thanks again for the responses.
I am taking off about 4-6 weeks from abx and then going back to see my LLMD to figure out what to do next. He was in favor of taking a bit of a break. I have been on a number of different abx but do not seem to be making too much progress.
I agree that the clinical picture is what's important. The only reason I was even re-tested for lyme is because the neurologist I went to see included that in his blood tests.
I would be curious though what a duck might say to me given my circumstance! I have been treated for 1 year+, still have neuro symptoms and once again have tested positive for lyme.
-David
Posted by jazzman62 (Member # 9871) on :
David,
1. What symptoms have you had? 2. How have they changed over the past year? 3. What meds have you been on?
![[Smile]](smile.gif)