My daughter has been fighting Lyme for 2 1/2 years and was recently tested to determine if there was active infection. When first tested using Western Blot 2 1/2 years ago, she had the most positive WB that any physician had seen. Just last week she was tested and she had tons of positive IgG bands (more than the lab had ever seen again!) and no positive IgM bands.
So, should she be treated as if she has an active infection and placed back on antibiotics? My doctor thinks we should, but is awaiting retests of her co-infection, bartonella, to see if we need to treat her for both diseases.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
Will this ever end??
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Is she still sick? Does she still have obvious symptoms? If so, yes, she should still continue treatment.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I agree. If she still has symptoms then you need to continue treatment.
The Western Blot can support a diagnosis, but is
Not a good test to "see" if you are better.
Remaining symptom free for over two months would be a better indicator.
If your daughter relapsed fast, then it is probably a co-infection.
Oh, and by the way, co-infection testing isn't very reliable.
Unless you have the specific strain the test is looking for.
It will get better. Hang in there.
Sending you and your daughter positive thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I was IgG positive (8 bands) and IgM negative. The infection is active if there are symptoms. I treated and got better. So, treat in the presence of symptoms.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I agree with all 3 of you! In Chronic Lyme, more IgM's are positive than IgG's... but you TREAT either way.
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
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.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both."
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
It means continue treatment. Even IGG bands should disappear -- they shouldn't all be showing up like that in a post-infectious individual who is disease free. Some linger, this is true, but not all!
Posted by Beckicon (Member # 19304) on :
Thank you for your responses, I appreciate the insight. She does have symptoms: major joint and muscle aches, exhaustion, irritability...she also is always hot but without a fever. Our doc said that last symptom is from the bartonella.
She has been off antibiotics for four months and on Naproxen after being diagnosed with Juvenile RA. I wasn't sold on the Dx but we gave it a try. Even on the Naproxen she is in pain and her knee inflammation is present.
I know a four year old should not be in all this pain, but I had hoped we were on the recovery side of this illness. I still have hope we can beat it.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
She absolutely needs more treatment.
Posted by rosebuds mom (Member # 17435) on :
I'd treat her.
Lots and lots of healing hugs for you both!!!!!!!!
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I was one band short of CDC positive on my IgG but IgM negative. We did an abx challenge and my IgM turned up IgeneX positive.
The tests are so unreliable that I don't think they can determine if it is an active infection with any certainty. I'm with everyone else, she needs more treatment. If she still has symptoms, she still needs treatment.
My feelings of being hot but not having an elevated temp stopped with babs treatment. Interesting that the doc says bart. My babs test was negative but treatment for babs stopped that feeling completely.