How does one know if they have co-infections!! I had Igenex test done and my results were off the chart, however I do not think my dr checks for co-infections! What test are available?? Thanks to anyone who can respond it will be very helpful! I am new to the site and I am really looking for some friends, since all of mine have disappeared!!!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Igenex will do coninfection testing. Most lyme docs order the coinfection tests along with the lyme tests.
Coinfections include babesiosis, bartonella, and ehrlichiosis, just to name the most common ones. See the igenex website to see all the tests. (igenex.com)
You want to get copies of all test results and keep them in your personal medical file. This is very important. You want to learn a little about reading the test results also. The more you educate yourself, the better you will understand what is going on in your case.
You want to have and understand your own test results. It is not difficult.
To find out the symptoms of each coinfection, read the Burrascano Guidelines, pages 22-27. They are here:
Some lyme doctors automatically treat all lyme patients for babesiosis, bartonella, and ehrlichia. Others go by the patient's symptoms and response to lyme treatment to decide on treatment of coinfections.
Still others don't believe in coinfections or don't think they occur very often, so they ignore them. This is NOT GOOD! (I treated for 2 years with a doc who believed this way. That was 2 years wasted taking antibiotics, treating only lyme.)
If you have had lyme for at least a year, Burrascano says that you definitely also have coinfections! That is the conclusion after treating thousands of lyme patients. You don't get just lyme from that tick bite.
I suggest you study the symptoms of the coinfections and also the symptoms of lyme. Then, think back over your medical history and see how far back you can see such symptoms in your life. They often come and go for years before they become anything continuous or major.
The more information of this type the patient can provide to the lyme doctor, the better the doctor is able to tailor the treatment to the patient.
I wish you the very best. You can make a lot of really nice friends here. We all understand what you are going through!
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :