I've gotten mixed messages. LLMD told me that if you've ever had lyme, even if you got well, the bands could still show up in bloodwork. Kind of like if you ever had EBV it will always show up as a past infection.
Lyme friendly doc keeps testing me with the implication that she expects the bands to go away once I'm cured.
Also LLMD told me there was no distinction between IGG and IGM as in other diseases (those were his exact words). Lyme friendly doc says that because I only have IGM it indicates a more recent infection...and that IGG would indicate a past infection. LLMD said not true for lyme.
So if I go into remission and all symptoms are gone, would the lyme bands still show up? And is there really any difference between Lyme IGG & IGM?
I'm confused.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
In answer to your question.. I really don't know. I'd love to have another test now that I'm well!!
Read this......
"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." -- Dr C of MO
Print this out and take it to your "lyme friendly doc."
I recently took the Bb test for the first time and it came back "very positive", according to the new LLMD. The LLMD insisted I quit my bart treatment to treat lyme - even though I have treated lyme for two years and do not feel sick from it right now. It is the bart affecting me most right now.
So it is my opinion, that Bb is dormant at the moment and the results of my test mean that my body recognizes the infection and is keeping it under control. I think that is why it was such a strong positive - I even passed the CDC guidelines.
I don't know how long we can show up positive but I think someone on here said it can be for years after the infection is controlled - it is hard to say if it is ever completely eradicated.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I would say when the IgM goes down it is getting
the numbers down based on what Lymetoo posted.
Posted by purplemom (Member # 21064) on :
I really do not think they know for sure.
My daughter had a tick bite, followed by fevers muscles aches and then bell's palsy after 6 to 8 weeks. The ID doc we say months after want to say she never had lyme because her IGG western blot was never positive although she was IGM CDC positive. He said "I have never had a lyme patient with bells palsy that did not have a positive IGG western blot"
I really don;t think they know for sure
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I think the ID doc has it backwards!
I have IGM bands only, 41 and 23, and my LLMD says as I get better, more bands will show up. I think he means IGG bands.
He still treats according to symptoms and not test results. But test can be used to determine certain things. Not sure what it all means. I might ask more about this at my next appt.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
nefferdun, my LLMD told me yesterday that bart must be treated before lyme can be treated.
"Therefore, in a co-infected patient, treat the BLO before you address Babesia species." - Burrascano
Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
Thanks all. Lymetoo I'm going to print that out and show to my doc as you suggested.
No wonder I got mixed messages. It seems to me that know one really knows. Oh well. Par for the course with lyme.
Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
Mine went away after treatment....Been tested several times and no bands....
(I originally had many bands with a bullseye rash and numerous symptoms)....
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by sutherngrl: [QB] I think the ID doc has it backwards!
He does .. because most ID's don't know anything about Lyme.
Read what I posted above about the IgG and IgM... most drs get it backward because lyme is different from most infections.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Ditto to TuTu.
Major point to remember all throughout: "Lyme is different from most infections."
Second major point to remember: Lyme can affect every organ and function of the body. Seek medical care only from those who are truly educated in all aspects, facets and stages of lyme and other tick-borne infections.
Nothing in this area is typical to what most doctors have been taught in medical school. It can also take a well-meaning doctor, who wants to learn, a long time to get up to speed as there is so much literature to study - when they find the real research. Many past ILADS seminars are on DVD, too.
- see Physician Training opportunities - and Articles & Presentations -
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I was IgG positive when I had a very active infection.
Now that I'm better, I still have bands show up, all IgG.
If you have either IgG or IgM and symptoms, the infection is active. All the WB can show is exposure, not whether the infection is active or not.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Ditto to what six and Keeb said!! Amen to that!!
Posted by Florence1 (Member # 22960) on :
well I had a poitive WB in oct bands 23, 39 and 41 IGm...no IGg......then it was just repeated and I only have band 41IGm......not sure wether the testing was not as good......(same lab).....or they go away......I guess its just as confusing as the disease.......