Hi - I'm trying to sort this out. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for almost 30 years. Early on, I was experiencing extreme inflammation., and have had some joint damage because of it.
That gradually diminished some, so I was able to be off all medications for it up until about 1-1/2 years ago, when it started to flair up much more.
Rheumatoid factor has always tested positive.
I had a blood test through Igenex, and below are the results. ------------------------------------------------------ My questions:
1.) If this was your test, I would be interested to hear how you would be interpreting it.
2.) I this was your situation, would you be seeking treatment for RA, or seeking treatment for lyme?
MCeline
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I'd definitely find an LLMD and see what he thinks. That's a lot of bands...
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
heck, i had less than that and was told i had lyme!!!
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
quote:Originally posted by randibear: heck, i had less than that and was told i had lyme!!!
Yeah. I only had one positive band and we (my LLMD and myself) still don't know if it's lyme or not for sure. We're just leaning that way because treatment seems to be helping and I'm having what seem to be herxes.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
hi mceline
the fact that 31K has ++ would be enough to convince me to find a LLMD to see what he thought. It's one of the most sensitive bands for lyme disease. It's so sensitive the gov used that band to help make up it's lyme vaccine.
Personally I don't put alot of stock into tests from any lab, because there are so many reasons you can still have lyme & test CDC negative for it:
Bands: 30: Possibly a variant of outer surface protein A.
31: Outer surface protein A (osp A). 34: Outer surface protein B (osp B).
39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all.
41: Flagella or tail. This is how Borrelia burgdorferi moves around, by moving the flagella. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.
58: Heat shock protein.
66: Heat shock protein. This is the second most common borrelia antibody.
83: This is the DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the same thing as the 93, based upon the medical literature. But laboratories vary in assigning significance to the 83 versus the 93.
93: The DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi.
In my clinical experience, if a patient has symptoms suspicious for borreliosis, and has one or more of the following bands, there is a very high probability the patient has borreliosis.
The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93."
....."Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track."---Dr C of MO
[ 27. September 2007, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I would seek the professional opinion of a LLMD.
I have a neighbor with RA who has tested CDC positive for Lyme.
It has helped a great deal to be under treatment for Lyme.
She can now use her fingers.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
Were any of the meds you were on antibiotics?
If so, could that be why you improved some?
I ask because when I was 13, I was given penicillan for Rheumatic Fever, then told it was Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
I did get well, but when I read now of children with lyme, it's exactly like the symptoms I had then.
About 3 decades later, I got sick again, although differently and finally tested positive for lyme.
My theory is it was lyme at 13, only in those days it wasn't heard of.
I think I'm lucky they thought it was rheumatic fever and they gave me an antibiotic.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Marz: My theory is it was lyme at 13, only in those days it wasn't heard of.
Exactly. What year was that?
Posted by mceline (Member # 9235) on :
When the RA went into remission, I had not been given any antibiotics.
After the major flare up at the time of the onset of the disease, I started to do relaxation combined with healing imagery.
I also went on the no nightshade diet, which I adhere to still today - almost 30 years later.
It's hard telling if either, neither, or both of these contbributed to the remission.
Mceline
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Lyme's a clinical diagnosis, but that 31 band, and the other "indeterminate" bands sure look telling to me!! Do you have other symptoms of lyme apart from RA?
You should DEFINITELY be seeing an LLMD. I'd be shocked if you were NOT diagnosed with lyme and started in treatment.
You might be saying goodbye to that RA!!
Michelle
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
get a llmd you have enough of the parts to be infected.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I would cry and give thanks that maybe I will be feeling better soon. I'd start looking for a very lyme literate doctor today.
Pam
Posted by mceline (Member # 9235) on :
Reply With Quote Do you have other symptoms of lyme apart from RA? ------------------------ No neurological symptoms.
Other than that: joint symptoms. typical of RA....ie. inflamed joints and subsequent joint damage that goes along with it if the inflammation continues long enough.
Sometimes overall body aches, feverish feeling, sometimes feeling like I have the flu but I don't have any fever. That about covers it.