got these back not too long ago... they look like my initial tests taken in September. curious about the number of plusses among other things-- never seen 4 plusses and I troll the bejeezus out of this board. That said, I am not that sick-- got it in August, had one month of lagtime before discovery/treatment, and my only real symptoms are mild neck pain, lethargy and fatigue.
IGG 23-25 kDa +++ 30 kDa + 31 kDa IND 39 kDa + 41 kDa +++
Posted by inundatedbyinfo (Member # 28378) on :
by TROLL I meant LURK.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Hmmm...I don't think it is possible to get a result more positive than yours. 23-25 are specific for lyme. 41 isn't so the ++++ could be due thte presence of other spirochete's which are not causing as much of an issue.
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
It's the sickest patients who get all negative because they are too weak to make the antibodies, so the strong positive correlates well with you sick you feel.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
My husband has an igenex even worse than yours and had no symptoms. He was recently bitten too and is now on doxy for a few months. I think they are right when they say that so many positives means it is still in your blood and you have a great shot of catching it now.
The negative ones are the ones that the lyme is long standing and hidden away making them sicker.
Although get this one: My new LYME LITERATE neurologist said that negative is negative and people spend too much time trying to blame everythign on lyme instead of focusing on the real cause!!!...no joke..she said that to me the other day.
Posted by inundatedbyinfo (Member # 28378) on :
Thanks for the replies. I did read somewhere that the IgM related to a generalized immune response, while the igG related to a more specialized one. Beyond this, and the hopeful stuff you guys wrote up there, not sure...
Posted by Hambone (Member # 29535) on :
quote:Originally posted by annier1071: Although get this one: My new LYME LITERATE neurologist said that negative is negative and people spend too much time trying to blame everythign on lyme instead of focusing on the real cause!!!...no joke..she said that to me the other day.
Ugggg....so maddening. Especially when they denounce Lyme and still give us no cause for being sick and just leave us to suffer.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Your immune system must be in very good shape.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by inundatedbyinfo: Thanks for the replies. I did read somewhere that the IgM related to a generalized immune response, while the igG related to a more specialized one. Beyond this, and the hopeful stuff you guys wrote up there, not sure...
- Positive IgM usually means chronic lyme.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
I thought IgM tests for a more recent infection and IgG a longer-standing one.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Looks like your immune system is responding to the Lyme. That's good.
I had ++++ on band 31 IgG. My LLMD said that band takes a year to show up, so the fact that I had 4 + there meant I had it a very long time.
My LLMD doesn't test after you've gotten a positive. There's really no point as the test only confirms you've been exposed, after that you treat based on symptoms.
Sammi, MOST chronic Lyme patients are IgM positive. My LLMD said I was in the minority being IgG positive. For other infections that is true.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I had a +++ on one line of IgM. I'll have to look it up later.
Your immune system antibodies are in overdrive. The sad part is they can't fight this battle alone.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sammi: I thought IgM tests for a more recent infection and IgG a longer-standing one.
- no .. not with lyme
I'm having trouble with a new computer here. Someone please give him the link to Dr C's Western Blot explanation. It's in "Quick Links to Popular Topics" here in Medical.
The portion about the IgG and IgM is highlighted there.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Here it is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both."
Which I know 41 can also be another bacteria, but I had 11 + lines on IgM.
Chuck dates are very difficult unless someone had a known embedded tick bite and a bulls eye within a few days...not to mention an lyme literate doc. Too many variables in pin pointing date.
Pam
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
"my only real symptoms are mild neck pain, lethargy and fatigue."
I, like you, consider myself to have only mild lyme. The problem is, it's been this way for years.
I believe it's because I didn't get treatment soon enough or long enough.
So hang in there with treatment and don't doubt that you have lyme, because you don't want those symptoms to go on and on.
I mean this to be encouraging, since it sounds like you've had treatment started much, much earlier than I did.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Here it is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both."
Regarding the Western Blot, I was told by the director of IgeneX that IgM is a more recent infection and the IgG is a longer-standing one.
I understand what Lymetoo and sixgoofy are saying though that people who have chronic Lyme can have a positive IgM because the immune system is forming new antibodies.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
My story is a perfect example of highly positive IgM being a chronic infection.
Igenex messed up my total IgG and LLMD threw it out and said no doubt you've had this sometime.
I'd had orals from July 99-IV Rochepin in Feb/Mar '02. Off them for 2 weeks......
I had antibodies galore. Orals by the tons and 6 weeks of IV had stirred it up and certainly didn't destroy it.
I was dying a slow miserable death at early 45 yrs of age.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sammi.. interesting .. but in my experience, it always seems to play out differently here.
Posted by inundatedbyinfo (Member # 28378) on :
thanks for the replies. Lymetoo-- what's "WOW" about ChuckG's post... I'm confused.
THanks!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by inundatedbyinfo: thanks for the replies. Lymetoo-- what's "WOW" about ChuckG's post... I'm confused.
THanks!
- That so FEW ever have ++++ on a band. Look at the numbers.
Posted by inundatedbyinfo (Member # 28378) on :
Oh, I thought you guys were referring to something in the numerical tally...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
The chart does not even show band 41 there. Maybe you are the only person with ++++'s on 41! Posted by Maradona (Member # 24552) on :
My doughter has **41++++ to and they(IGENEX) put she is test negative for lyme.
She does have nightmares only no other symptom. Still dont know what to do for her.
She was not biten by tick for sure but I'm highly susspicius for lyme spreding in other members by contact and shering things.
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