I was bitten by a tick in August of 1989. Not knowing of Lyme Disease, I assumed it was a spider or some other insect. I went through the flu symptoms and rashes, arthritis, etc. I was not diagnosed with Lyme Disease until late 2001. I was treated with the standard 30 antibiotic routine. I was recently re-tested and test results were negative. I was told that the IgG would be positive if I had chronic Lyme Disease. I currently suffer many of the chronic Lyme conditions. Does anyone have any medical information on the testing? Opinions are also greatly welcomed. Thanks for your help
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
Well, if youread enough posts on here, you'll find out how inaccurate the tests are, no matter how long you've had Lyme.
I have no idea how long I had it before I was diagnosed, but from the onset of symptoms till I was finally clinically diagnosed by an LLMD, it was 9 months, and my tests are still technically negative.
Most LLMDs will go by your symptoms for a clinical diagnosis anyway.
I would go over to Seeking a Doctor and post your info there, and then someone will send you the name of a doctor.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Welcome to Lymenet!!
Did you also get an IgM test? Lyme acts differently than other bacteria in that someone with chronic Lyme can have a positive IgM and a negative Igg.
Also, someone with chronic Lyme can have a completely negative test altogether. All a test can do is confirm exposure to Lyme, which you already know you have, so a test in your case, wouldn't be a help at all.
You know you were exposed. You were for sure inadequately treated (30 days is not enough for someone with Lyme for 12 years). You have symptoms.
If you went to a Lyme specialist, I am quite sure you would get a Lyme diagnosis based on those observations.
The problem is that Lyme is a politicized illness. This movie trailer explains it better than I can - www.underourskin.com
I would suggest posting in seeking doctors and finding a Lyme literate doctor near you. There is a very good one in the Carolinas - Dr. J. I would go see him.
You also might check out www.ilads.org .... there are diagnostic and treatment guidelines on that site.
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