Also, should I even proceed with an LLMD if ppl on here suspect I probably don't have Lyme? I really do appreciate the info, I'm wondering why he's not testing me for these things? Will the Rochephin and Flagyl help kill or help kill these viruses?
Once again, lost in a nightmare.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
It seems that after 8 weeks you should have an IgG response of some kind. Here's an interesting bit of info from Arup lab. You will need to print it out to read it:
Okay so how many of us have IgG responses and how long have you been sick?
Posted by smiles132002 (Member # 7949) on :
I was bit as a child. Never tested. Got so sick when I turned 20 that I had to come home from College. 8 months later I happened to be on my 40+ doctor trying to figure out what the heck was going on and she happened to be an LLMD and suggested Lyme.
Although I didn't initially test positive for Lyme, I did test positive for Erlichia, Babs, and Bart. Now, I can't seem to stop testing postive for Lyme, despite 4 years of treatment including IV. I also have pretty intense symptoms and if you don't have his disease you should consider yourself lucky.
This disease is not easy, in any way. Even if you do everything you're "supposed" to sometimes this disease will still beat you.
If you don't test positive but you think you have it, then you NEED to see an LLMD and you need to start treating yourself properly.
Are you being tested by IGENEX? That is the only lab I would trust except for the one in FL that looks at your blood under ultraviolent light.
Good Luck Lindsay
Posted by UnexpectedIlls (Member # 15144) on :
Nessa what maes you think you DON'T have lyme???
DO you know HOW many people here ONLY have IgM positive WB's.... SO does that mean that all of them REALLY DON'T have lyme either??? I dont think so...
of course you can still have Virus's but a lot of us have reactivated virus's..
I know its tough because I still very much doubt my diagnosis at times. I have ONLY a IgG western Blot... NO IgM response.
You have to go with what your Doc/LLMD says... You cannot take what everyone says here as Gospel.
Please continue seeing your doctor... People just dont test positive on the WB for nothing...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
They may never show up at all. Everyone is different. Some only have bands on the IgM.. or mostly on the IgM.
And as Dr C says:
"But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies."
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Nessa~ You say you were bitten...I'm assuming a tick? Were you tested for co-infections? It is possible to be negative for Bb, and positive for co-infections...(and here I mean babesia and bartonella and other tick borne pathogens)
Rocephin and flagyl are antibiotics. They do not kill viruses.
Many LLMDs are not aware of testing for HHV-6, enterovirus or Cpn. I think they are learning along with us.
Best, Timaca
Posted by Nessa1815 (Member # 15697) on :
Okay well how do you get rid of those viruses?? Or attack them, whatnot? I'm curious?
I do think I have Lyme. I have way too many of the symptoms. When I took abx I got weird bull's eye rashes, not at the site of the bite, weird, don't know that that means, but it probably means something.
I will continue to fight Lyme, but I wouldn't mind testing for the other things as well. Please spell them out in their entirety so that I can mention it to him.
Thank you. I'm still learning.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Nessa~ Many pathogens can cause "way too many symptoms." I have been over this very question in great detail with a prominent lyme doctor and a prominent ID doctor. Once a virus or bacteria is chronic you can't tell the difference by symptoms, what is causing your problems. Seriously, every part of my body has been affected except my nose. And, I have been diagnosed with lyme, chronic viral infections, and chlamydia pneumonia. The symptoms are the same.
You get rid of the viruses by taking antiviral medication (which medication depends on which virus you have).
You get rid of the bacterial pathogens by taking antibiotics.
I will start a new thread on lymenet about how to get tested and what to get tested for.
Best, Timaca
Posted by lymer (Member # 16352) on :
Nessa1815,
I've had lyme untreated for five years. My IGG is negative, only IGM is positive. I think this is common.
Lymer
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nessa1815: I do think I have Lyme. I have way too many of the symptoms. When I took abx I got weird bull's eye rashes, not at the site of the bite, weird, don't know that that means, but it probably means something.
Lyme treatment will often bring out bullseyes. Has to be Lyme.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Lymetoo~ When I was given bicillin, I ended up in the ER with tachycardia (extended and recurrent); this was followed 5 days later with my having a flu like illness, and developing a red, circular rash on the abdomen. I then had a very stiff neck for 2 weeks (couldn't move my head in any direction whatsoever.) I thought at the time that I was having a herx like reaction to the bicillin due to lyme.
I had the rash photographed and biopsied. It's been examined in my local lab, Georgetown University medical center (for viruses) and ProPath lab in Texas (IHC for lyme). It was negative for both viruses and lyme.
I had a long discussion with the pathologist in Texas who has taken an interest in lyme disease. Rashes like this can occur in people. In my case, the report states: "The histologic differential diagnosis includes causes of a dermal hypersensitivity reaction (given the presence of eosinophils), such as urticaria, a persistent arthropod bite reaction or drug eruption."
So, a circular rash is not always lyme disease. It can be....but not always. Rashes can occur because a drug was given.
Now that I know that I also have chlamydia pneumonia, I wonder if the herx reaction was from that. Obviously, it was because of a bacterial pathogen of some kind...
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