My CD57 score dropped from a 48 in March '09 to a 38 in July '09. I have been taking bicillin shots, biaxin, and plaquenil. I recently added tindamax (a week or so before my last CD57 test).
Can a cyst buster cause your CD57 to decrease?
Does your CD57 count drop during treatment?
Does this mean that I am back sliding?
Hope not... Would love to hear what others have to say. Thanks!
Posted by Buster (Member # 19472) on :
The CD-57 can wax and wane in small amounts. From what I understand, it is testing the count of natural killer cells which I think are white blood cells that attack lyme.
Were you feeling really bad when you had the blood drawn for the test. My LLMD said that a herx can make it go down but it should not change it a whole lot, yours only changed 10pts which is not a big difference.
But don't take my word for it, I think there is still alot of confusion among LLMD's about this test.
I got mine up to a 96, then I hit a massive herx or relapse after being off IV's for about a month and a half and it dropped down to a 68. Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
That's why I don't think the test is all that great.
10 points is probably not a big deal.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
Mine dropped from 100 in March to 39 in June and then rose to 60 in July.
I really have no explanation for it, nor does my LLMD. I have been on abx since April.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
My LLMD doesn't even use that test. I doubt it proves much. How you feel is what means the most.
Posted by ichelp73 (Member # 19559) on :
I think maybe it's due to the fact that I stopped taking the clarith / plaquenil / bactrim and began taking a cyst buster which did increase my symptoms a few days before the test. But it was a necessary evil that was required to break the cysts.
Now I am feeling better in some ways - my body must be getting accustomed to the tindamax. Some of my symptoms are changing. For example, I started feeling pain in my right knee??? But my fatigue and bladder pain have improved - Would take knee pain over bladder pain any day of the week!
Will try not to worry too much. However, I would like to see the spike in the CD57 count at some point. However, don't feel that I've been on treatment long enough (since May '09).
![[Frown]](frown.gif)