Can a positive Elisa and a negative WB happen from having extremely high antibodies from a different disorder, such as thyroid, syphylis, aids, lupus, etc? I found this on a different chat board today and had read it elsewhere before. I am hesitant at spending the money on an LLMD since I have extremely high antibodies with my thyroid disorder.
Please give me some insight. I am scared of taking the antibiotics on just a symptom diagnosis because it can potentially make my visual snow issues worse, as it has been what started the visual snow for others on a chat board I am on specifically for support for the visual snow.
Thank you!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I don't think you can argue with a positive ELISA! They are fraught with false NEGATIVES.
I don't think other diseases cause the ELISA to be positive. I hope someone here knows.
Which lab did your Western Blot?
(yes, syphilis can cause the WB to show positive on some bands)
There are some bands that are LYME-SPECIFIC, however.
"Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The test used most often to detect Lyme disease, ELISA detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi."
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up for help
Posted by LosingMyMind (Member # 38696) on :
Thank you! Am hoping some others can chime in too who may have had experience in this.
Thank you so much!!!
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I had a positive Elisa in summer of 2006 following a few weeks of low grade fevers with mild joint and bone pain. My follow up Western Blot came back negative so I was told that it was not Lyme. I was tested for all kinds of other things that all came back negative including lupus, mono, parovirus, and more.
I was never given any antibiotics. Through the years, I had migrating joint pain and sleeping problems with some brain fog that I attributed to menopause. 5 years later, I lost my hearing in one ear and developed neuro symptoms.
I believe (and so did 2 lyme docs and 2 lyme NP's) that when I tested positive with Elisa, this was the year I contracted lyme disease. There are many people here who figured out that they likely contracted lyme several years before by looking back - once they recognized the symptoms.
The tests are very flawed and you really need to get a clinical diagnosis by a LLMD. You could try using herbs with a LLND but from what I have read, most need at least some ABX in the early treatment phase. I hope you will spend the money to go visit a good LLMD. Good luck to you and keep us posted.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by dbpei:
The tests are very flawed and you really need to get a clinical diagnosis by a LLMD. You could try using herbs with a LLND but from what I have read, most need at least some ABX in the early treatment phase. I hope you will spend the money to go visit a good LLMD. Good luck to you and keep us posted.
- Amen to that!
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
The problem is the person interpreting your WB is probably not lyme literate. Only a small percentage of lyme patients qualify for CDC positive on a western blot, but all still have lyme. You need a LLMD to interpret your WB. No such thing as a false positive on the Elisa.