It seems like more people seem to have "stronger" positive blood test results when sympoms come on fast and hard and a diagnosis is made within the first year, hopefully much sooner.
My results - posted below - came from Igenix nearly 5 years after I was bitten by a tick. My symptoms creeped up and a few dr's that read my Igenix results (befor my LLMD) said my results were "indeterminate" for Lyme's disease.
My question is, for people like me, where the symptoms start slower and build up over time and diagnosis is missed, vs people who are blindsided by symptoms hard in the first 6-9 months, anyone have an idea of what the reason for that is?
Does that have anything to do with the specific "strain" of bugs one might have?
I am just trying to understand the nature of this disease and how it affects people differently. I am still trying to 100% convince myself all my problems are related to Lyme, as many people around me doubt it...
I appreciate anyone's insight. My results are below:
LUME IgM WESTERN BLOT:
18 kDa. neg 22 kDa. neg 23-25 kDa. neg 28 kDa. neg 30 kDa. neg 31 kDa. pos - I also had the "epitope" test done and it came back pos on this band 34 kDa. IND 39 kDa. IND 41 kDa. double pos 45 kDa. neg 58 kDa. neg 66 kDa. neg 73 kDa. neg 83-93 kDa. neg
B. henselae IgM <1:20 TITER B. henselae IgG 1:80 TITER - elevated titer
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I had 8 bands positive and had Lyme for over 30 years when I got diagnosed finally. I had a new bite 7 years ago, 3 years before diagnosis.
Looks like your WB supports that you have Lyme.
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
Sometimes the longer you have the disease, the weaker your immune system is, so you stop creating antibodies. This is why many people with chronic long term lyme have negative tests.
Posted by drew (Member # 25220) on :
Right, the only thing is, I tested negative twice. First time not one band lit up on the CDC WB run through the regular lab my doc used back in 2005. Then I was retested in 2008 all bands showed negative except one on the IGM I think, band 23. CDC neg at the time and my Dr (For the 2nd time) told me not to worry about Lyme...I guess the 3rd time was a charm in 2010 with Igenix...