So, I went to doctor yesterday She said i tested postive for Bartonella with a titer of 512. Is that a high titer? Also I had igm23 and igg41 present. She said I should take another lyme test that they send out to california. My question is can I have Bart and not lyme is that common???? She said my C4 cells or Cd4 cells were negative so that suggests not lyme. and my EBV was undetermined. I am so very lost with all of this. Could anything else mess up my lab tests? They are no sure I have had lyme, they said it could have been activated by a vaccine. I am so very lost!
Posted by Bocalyme (Member # 26459) on :
tricia386, it is possible to have Bartonella without Lyme. However, you do have two bands showing up, which suggests that you have Lyme also. Have you had the CD57 test, as well? I believe that is more of a marker for Lyme than C4 and Cd4. I assume by sending out to California, she means she will send it to IGenex which is far more reliable than Quest, Labcorp or even Stoney Brook lab. At the end of the day, Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. Are you going to a Lyme Literate Doctor recommended by folks in this community? It is soooooo very important that you get to a good doctor. Both of my sons had bands 31 and 41 only and were very sick from Lyme. The elder one is doing great, now, after being on IV Zithromax, along with oral amantadine and suprax. The younger son is just starting treatment. So, don't let any doc rule out Lyme just because you don't have the "five" required by the CDC.
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
Ya I am going to a natural llmd. Actually they are putting ,me on rifampin bc i am allergic to avelox and levaquin is that category.
I had Igm 23 and Igg41
They think I do have lyme Could anything else cause a false postive on my Bartonella test?
and did they test my C4 cells or my CD4?
I have to go get my cd57 test done still.
This is all very scary to me I am worried i will never ever get better
Posted by deerose (Member # 27484) on :
Hi tricia386
I know it can be scary all by itself not to mention all the information that comes flooding in.
How to make sense of it all.
I can't help with test band info but I can offer this;
I had lyme with undiagnosed bartonella. Hospitalized Paralyzed waist down and no bowel or bladder control.
on steroids from undiagnosed lyme and steroids are such a no no with lyme.
I even had a second bite with a rash this summer and got acutely sick immediately..
and I am getting defintiely better in cycles of improvement. Way past those days.
Even the ball and chain of daily crushing fatigue is lifting.And I am walking and regained control for a long time now.
Beyond that little by little and sometime s in big leaps I improve. and then deal in the cycles that come. I feel like I just might be getting my life back.
So I offer that to you as great hope.
and I echo that these in the end are clinical diagnoses...which means they evaluate your history and symptoms not just read tests.
The world of testing in tickborne diseases leaves a lot to be desired so unlike some other diseases that can be definitively diagnosed with tests,,,some of these may or may not.
but a skilled lyme literate practioner can still proceed effectively...
I could not afford all the tests at Igenix but I got the CD57 which is lyme specific.
Bartonella was diagnosed based on the array of symptoms.
sure LLND would have preferred to have all the tests but so long as she had the CD57 she used her clinical diagnosis to treat.
that and my careful tracking of symptoms as we proceed and this is almost more progress than the last three years and that included a very sickening second bite.
I ay that to say sometimes the process and symptoms can be frightening but there is no reason to think you will not get better.
Many many people speak of getting better in here from their own experiences.
I was on rifampin myself for four months plus Clarithromyacin. Now plaquenil and Clarith
So anyhow take heart... there is a lot to take in and digest but this is definitely not a rush job. More of a slow cooker thing than a drivethru.
here for sure you can find much support for your questions and worries. and also people who "get" this journey.
all the best
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
everything I am reading about bart suggests HIV now I am freaking out even more...
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Bart is a fairly common infection that is more likely to cause problems with the immunocompromised.
It was placed in the opportunistic infection category with regard to HIV and there is quite a bit of literature/research on it.
With us, it is considered a co-infection to Lyme, because both are carried by ticks.
It us unlikely that you have HIV. It is very likely that you have Lyme.
It is possible to have Bart and Bart symptoms without HIV or Lyme.
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
I am currently going to a natropathic doctor who discovered my lyme. but im wondering if i need to switch to a LLMD.
all of my problems started after the gardasil vaccine I am wondering if the vaccine triggered my lyme or something of that nature
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Is your ND Lyme Literate and "ILADS-educated"? Some are. If so, that is good.