If your doc's not "Lyme-Literate" it's doutbtful he/ she even knows what a CD-57 blood count IS. It's fairly specialized test & is done by only 1 or 2 labs, to my knowledge.
Some LLMDs consider (changing) CD-57 counts over time an important measure of how effective a particular treatment is. Others find it somewhat useful, but don't rely on the results.
Go over your treatment parameters with us (i.e: what you're taking & for how long) & we'll be better able to tell if you're under appropriate care... or are atleast being sufficiently treated.
Give your doc a chance. He diagNOSED you with Lyme... That's a good starting point! Posted by catdog (Member # 26365) on :
kete, i went undiagnosed for 5 yrs and was just diagnosed by an LLMD late last month.
i just started treatment 2 wks ago on 500mg biaxin/day. i bump up to 1000mg biaxin on monday. i'm also on a most of the supplements/herbs on Dr. B's list on my own accord, LLMD didn't advise to do this.
my LLMD didn't inform me about CD57 and what the other lymie said kind of worried me that i wasn't seeing the best doc!
is it reliable? is in necessary??
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
My LLMD didn't bring up the CD-57 test until the 2nd visit. Don't know why. It's not neccessary, but as far as "reliability", it's more a question of whether the doctor feels it's useful in his/her desire to know how current therapy is proceeding.
You can bring it up at your next appointment... if he doesn't mention it first. The abx you're on- Biaxin- is a good one for Lyme. You May find he'll add in either Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) or Symmetrel (amantadine), to boost it's effectiveness, later on.
LLMDs know to start late-stage Lyme patients out slow on the drugs, & add 1 at a time to be able to discriminate drug reactions from the "Jarsch-Herxheimer" reactions ("herxing") that spirochete-infected patients experience, esp. at the onset of antibiotic ("abx") therapy.
Hang in there. Those supplements recommended in Dr. B's guidelines are good ones... so continue on those... & keep the capsules organized.
Also, review what you're taking, & how Often, with the Doc next time. A FEW herbs can conflict with certain types of drugs. Do the research, or ask a knowledgable pharmacist. Also, mineral supplements can sometimes "tie up" some of certain medications, so keep those doses seperated.
Good luck in your recovery! 2 weeks "in" is just beginning. It's a long journey, but you'll get there.
Posted by catdog (Member # 26365) on :
thx kete, that makes me feel better! i was going to ask him about the CD57 the next time i see him in sept.
i haven't started the herbs yet because of money but i was going to start maitake & reishi mushrooms, ginsing, and astragalus which i read are supposed to help support the immune system. are these any of the ones you were referring to?
i know, i'm just a newbie at this! there's so much to learn!! Posted by ailat (Member # 26113) on :
does anyone know if the dx for this test would only be "lyme"? Also, does the doctor write "cd-57 panel" for his order of this test? thanks a lot Ann
Posted by 4Seasons (Member # 14601) on :
My LLMD and many others often don't order a CD57 until later in treatment or not at all, as they don't think it very reliable.
I have a friend whose LLMD orders it regularly.
My daughter and I have been in treatment for over two years and just had our first CD57 tests.
Posted by catdog (Member # 26365) on :
thanks 4seasons, that makes me feel much much better about my doc!
i didn't want to get farther along into treatment and find out he should have been doing this test the whole time!
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
i was going to ask him about the CD57 the next time i see him in sept. ![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)