Hey there. Havent had any new information or concerns for a while but I am in need of advice once again.
I had never tested positive to any lyme specific tests, only IND to the antibodies. I recently tested positive to the multiplex lyme specific in serum from Igenex. In general is this test considered to have many false positives?
Because of this my doc wants to go back to IV and do Vancomycin this time with a PICC line. I am somewhat hesitant to do a PICC line and maybe considering having him choose another drug so I can do peripheral again.
From what I understand PICC lines cause scaring and skin discoloration the majority of the time, something I want to avoid.
Any advice on either topic would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by stiffyoungman (Member # 40067) on :
Looks like I didnt realize it was PCR serum DNA test. Which I already know is a high specificty but not that sensitive. So unless it was contaminated somehow its very likely.
Should I have a fear of PICC lines?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks for clarifying on the test. If it came back positive, then you are bound to have Lyme. You can have lyme and have a negative PCR, but not vice versa.
I don't know anything about PICC lines. I'm with you, though. I would try claforan before vanco. Vanco is a "last resort" drug.
What I meant by "vice versa" .. is that you can't have a positive PCR and NO lyme.
[ 02-25-2014, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by stiffyoungman (Member # 40067) on :
Its just strange my antibody came back negative like 5 or 6 times but the PCR in serum was positive.
I agree a non contaminated PCR positive is very specific.
I think he chose Vanco because he is now suspecting me of having mostly or maybe only Lyme and potentially no co-infections. And Vanco is supposed to be very good for general Lyme.
I am a little worried though and trying to explore my options/2nd opinions.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I'm not sure of your specific symptoms of lyme or what you have tried before IV wise (peripheral).
For me personally, neuro lyme, if other IV options had failed, and I was sliding back into the neuro lyme pit, I would go with the IV Vanco and PICC.
A scar and skin discoloration vs neuro lyme ... I would pick the scar any day.
But depends on if you have tried all other IV abx that is safe to do peripherally.
I've had IV gentamycin before (before dx), and it helped me so much, I would do it again in a heartbeat if it was recommended by an LL for bart.
IV Vanco is one of the few last resort abx, as lymetoo mentioned, for other abx resistant bugs.
It is a very personal, big decision for you to make. Perhaps other IV Vanco folks will chime in soon with how it worked for them.
Good luck.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think I have heard of one other person considering Vanco. It's not common for it to be used for Lyme. At least not as the first drug.
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