. I listened to a taping of a radio show yesterday and Dr, S. in the neighborhood of Yale (IDSA) was a guest along with 2 lyme patients . It was agreed that testing for lyme was very problematic and an accurate test was desperately needed. I also agree with this That said Dr. S made a statement that , "The only way a patient knows he/she has lyme is if their Dr. (LLMD) tells them" I thought about this for awhile and then found that I agreed with him. I totally disagree with his lyme theory but have to give him credit for that statement.
Posted by jamieL (Member # 16563) on :
What about when your test results state that you are positive for Lyme? Isn't that a good way to tell?
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
A bullseye rash with a tick bite and symptoms is another good way to be pretty sure you have lyme.
I agree, a positive test is pretty clear.
I assume you mean Dr. Steere? We are only concerned with using last names when we are talking about a person who treats lyme contrary to IDSA guidelines.
Steere is lauded for his crazy view of lyme disease. Many of his screwed up studies were used as "evidence" for the IDSA guidelines. If he still treats, it would be IDSA all the way. No need to protect him.
Do you have a link to the show you are talking about? Terry
Posted by mcoLyme08 (Member # 17650) on :
It's probably this-
Pam Weintraub, Kris Newby and Dr. Steere discuss Lyme...
No It's not dr. Steere , I have my own issues there but because of legal matters I can't go into it. Dr. Shapiro was the Guest ! Current tests are antibody tests that only say that you have been exposed to the bacterium. You may still be infected or not. This is one of the big issues with current testing. There are many people that had Hep. C ,and now test positive for that virus and may test positive for life even though RNA of the virus can't be found. Is the virus dormant or are the people cured for life. Chicken Pox is another example; Once you get over the infection you are fine, then 30 years later you get Shingles which is the same virus. Even the lyme PCR is challenged for different reasons. The point to the statement is that current testing is a big problem. So the statement that Dr. Shapiro made is correct; It doesn't say wither or not you have lyme. He stated that the only way you know you have lyme is if your doctor tells you. Because of the testing problems doctors have to rely on this faulty testing to back up a clinical diagnosis.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
It seems to me that he is speaking about negative Western Blots.
Obviously a CDC positive one, or one with many Lyme specific bands is an indication.
It is probably for people like me.
I only had band 23 (IgM) show reactive via Quest.
Is this enough?
Obviously for a LLMD who knows the symptoms it is for a clinical diagnosis.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)