Does testing positive for Lyme by IGM ALWAYS necessarily mean that the infection is still active and needs more treatment?
Or do some continue to test positive by IGM for awhile even after they are symptom free?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- How do you feel? -
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
^^this. + i hear that you can test positive indefintely. even after you have been symptom free.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
It's a test for antibodies. My LLMD said once you have the confirmation of Lyme, from then on, you go by symptoms.
Posted by nybasketball212 (Member # 28309) on :
Well I've treated with a doxy, IV Rocephin, biaxin and plaquenil, all with literally 0% improvement.
And I had another positive test by IGM. It's just frustrating being only 21 years old and having 0 improvement. I had a babs test come back 1:64 only by IGG, and same for bartonella.
I'm currently awaiting more Babesia testing from Igenex.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You never need another lyme test. As for lyme, it can take anywhere from a few months to years. But, for many at the 3 or 4 year mark they should improvement.
I don't know why you had another babesia test if one was already positive.
All this testing seems excessive. Are you sure you are seeing an ILADS-educated LLMD?
They would not keep doing repeat tests when positives were already done. AND they'd know to tell you that treatment can take awhile. You've been at it for four months. While that is a lot, it's still just a start. -
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
I'm a bit confused... you are still experiencing symptoms, and have a positive test. Where's the disconnect?
Posted by nybasketball212 (Member # 28309) on :
All the Babesia testing was sent out at the same time, so the Quest ones came back before the Igenex testing. And the Dr. does not seem to believe I require Babesia treatment since it was only 1:64 only by IGG.
5vforest- The disconnect is I am 21 years old and was only symptomatic for a few weeks before starting treatment and have seen 0% improvement. I'd be more than willing to continue Lyme treatment if I even saw a little improvement. I've had to withdraw from college and am completely deabilitated with all neurological symptoms along with overwhelming fatigue. No joint issues.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic (2008) - by Pamela Weintraub
This details what an entire family went through. Having this knowledge of their journey will help others to get better, faster treatment. You can follow the author's progress at her blog. She is doing quite well.
DVD can be obtained through the site � or maybe borrowed from local support groups.
==========================
In addition to the usual coinfections from ticks (such as babesia, bartonella, ehrlichia, RMSF, etc.), there are some other chronic stealth infections that an excellent LLMD should know about: ----------
I would encourage EVERY person who has received a lyme diagnosis to get the following tests.
- at link. -
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
ny-im like you. i have neuro only. im only 30 with no prior health issues and i started treatment 4 weeks after symptoms started. ive been in treatment 14 months and the last week i felt as bad as when i started.
i have seen months though were i feel 80-90%. i would think you should see some improvement with a couple of months of treatment. feel cured after 3 months? no. feel slight improvement? i would hope so. what is your LLMD saying about all this?
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
well just because you all of a sudden came down with these symptoms doesnt mean that is when you were bit, it could have been "hiding" and something made it come out. as for 2 months of your treatment (from your sig.-- dont know how long you have been on biax/plaq) thats not a lot of time at all, it took me 4 months to have a "decent" day. its been over a year and altough im much better i still have lingering symptoms.
its a loooong road, hang in there it does get better.
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
quote:Originally posted by nybasketball212: 5vforest- The disconnect is I am 21 years old and was only symptomatic for a few weeks before starting treatment and have seen 0% improvement. I'd be more than willing to continue Lyme treatment if I even saw a little improvement. I've had to withdraw from college and am completely deabilitated with all neurological symptoms along with overwhelming fatigue. No joint issues.
Sorry if my post didn't sound empathetic. I'm actually in a very similar situation to you... although my onset was a little less sudden, and I've only been treating for a few weeks now. I was going to start university this fall, but alas, I am at home living with my parents, barely able to leave the house.
I think the fact that you have a positive test result should be affirming. Assuming you have a good LLMD, it seems like you're on the right path.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
This is just my opinion based on hubby.
I would suggest either a trial of babesia or bartonella meds. Specifically I would probably try artemisin. Ad for bart probably levaquin. But not at the same time. Try thenm separately. I would also probably try some Buhner herbs such as andrographis.
Everyone is different but I would expect some improvement after 3 or 4 months especially since 1 of those months was on IV Rocephin. But that is assuming all infections are being treated and obviously you have not specifically treated coinfections.
And if your doc will not treat coinfections without positive tests then maybe a Clongen bloodslide would convince him. At only $100 it might be worth checking out.
Do you have what appear to be babesia symptoms? Have you been tested for both babesia microti and babesia duncani (WA1). Hubby just found out after being sick for 10 years that he has babesia duncani -- had not been tested in the past because he was not from the West Coast. We had treated for babs multiple times based on symptoms, but WA1 requires a minimum of 1 year continuous treatment and we always stopped treating after 4 or 6 months in the past.