This might have been discussed -- I am new and haven't gone through all the posts yet -- but I have a BIG question for everyone. I'll use my own test results to illustrate. I've been sick for ~ 15 years, so this is not a recent infection. I have never been vaccinated for Lyme, and I have not had any antibiotic treatment.
On my IgM report it clearly states that infection with HSV, EBV, HCV, and/or syphillis (RPR+) may give false (+) results.
Has anyone else had similar results and gotten this notation on their report? I have not been tested for the viruses above or for syphillis. Should I be? Anyone else's experience? Suggestions? It bothers me that I missed nearly all the CDC determinant bands (except 41, which as I understand it, is not specific to Bb). I sure don't want to begin a heavy course of antibiotics if I actually need an anti-viral! Thanks
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
I had the epitope test done since I had + band 31. It was positive, meaning lyme.
I have also had viral testing and had some high results/titers. I treated for viruses before discovering lyme and I did not improve from it. I only had improvement from food elimination.
Band 83-93 is lyme specific. My LLMD says that an IND result on a lyme specific band is like a fingerprint. It may not be a dark fingerprint, but it's still the same fingerprint.
Dr C from MO says that band 58 is also significant.
We would all like to see positive results on our tests just so we know for sure.
Unfortunately, many, many of us do not see alot of + bands. Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, though, so if your history and symptoms point to lyme then your LLMD will treat you and see how you respond.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Marritt~ Why don't you run some viral panels to see if they are a problem for you?
I do have active viral infections (HSV1, and EBV). We have beat back HHV-6 and Coxsackie B. (We had beaten back HSV1 and EBV but they reactivated.) We are still working on Cpn. (Not a virus)
I use ARUP lab for enterovirus testing, and Focus Diagnostics for other pathogens. If you do a member search using my member number you will find some info on testing for viruses.
I did have a positive IgM WB from Igenex with LOTS of bands. At the same time, my EBV antibody titers indicated active, chronic infection. This is something I want to discuss with my ID doctor next week (who is a great doctor and very smart and very open minded). Was my WB a false positive due to the EBV? Possibly. More research is needed....
Best, Timaca
Posted by Marrit (Member # 25454) on :
Hi Dekrator48, I appreciate your experience with treating for viruses with no improvement. I guess I won't go down that path.
timaca, I'll look up those labs. Please let me know what your doctor says, okay? Are you on abtx?
I did test IGeneX positive for both IgM and IgG, but not CDC positive for either. If yours were a false positive for Bb, then WHY are the viral titers so high in the first place -- that would be my next question. Immune system dysfunction of unknown cause? Isn't that what the XMRV virus is supposed to be all about?
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Marritt~ I don't understand your question about why are the viral titers so high....
If viral antibody titers are very high, one might suspect active, chronic, infection.
In my case, I had a steroid shot to my knee which we think reactivated a pathogen (likely bacterial...either lyme or Cpn or both)..then the immune system took a hit, and lots of viral pathogens reactivated.
That's our best guess at this point in time..and quite honestly, I think I'm going to have two very happy and intrigued doctors at my appointments next week. Time will tell.
Best, Timaca
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
If you are Igenex positive, then you need treatment. It would be wise to post in "seeking a doctor" so you can find a LLMD that knows what they are doing.
Good luck to you!!
Posted by Marrit (Member # 25454) on :
Sorry, I wasn't clear. Everyone has latent viruses in their bodies, right? Well, why would someone who hasn't got a recent infection show high titers? The whole thing about reactivation must hinge on some type of immune dysfunction, or else why would viruses reactivate? And if it is an immune dysfunction, then what is causing that? AIDS is an immune system problem, and people with it get all kinds of bugs and have high viral titers. Clearly their immune system is whacked out. So, my thinking is that if your titers are high, something is going on with your immune system. When the "XMRV" virus was discovered, they thought it was an exact mirror image of AIDS.
VERY IMPORTANT READ!
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Marritt~ Yes, everyone has latent viruses in their body...especially the herpes family of viruses. If there is an immune dysfunction (weakened due to stress, battling other infections or medications) the viruses can reactivate.
My advice to you would be to run as many tests as you can afford, and treat what is most likely wrong. Lyme might be a problem, but it might be viruses. Or both.