Hi guys so I was looking at an old Bart test from May from Galaxy Labs. My IGG titers were 128 for Henselae and 256 for Quintana. However, on similar Igenex testing, nothing was picked up.
I have no classic Bart symptoms, though I do have twitches and sleep disturbances which could be Bart or Lyme..
Is it safe to assume with those high titers I have active Bartonella? And does it also mean I have two active infections of two different bart strains much like having the bad luck of two babesia strains [Microti and Duncani]. Thanks!
[ 12-02-2015, 02:05 AM: Message edited by: Lymie1723 ]
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hey Lymie493785793,
Good questions. My opinion is if you have an elevated reading on any tests this should be investigated further. I know no other reason to have elevated readings to an organism unless you've been exposed.
As for the amount or level of elevation, I don't have facts to support this, only experience, but my thought is with Lyme the lower the reading often indicates a more lengthy infection.
Dr. L wrote an excellent article many moons ago describing testing and low Lyme titers. I have it in paper form but will see if I can find it online for you. He is basically saying (I am paraphrasing here) the sickest people often have the lowest titers.
As for Bartonella, I don't know of any studies to support the elevated reading is making a difference either way.
I do know many of us are infected with more than one strain of Bartonella (for example, I tested positive for 3) and many have been exposed to multiple stains of Babesia (I have 2 known strains).
I am not positive, but from memory- top of my head- IGexeX does a PCR for Bartonella. (?) Although PCR testing is right on if it is positive, it often takes many repeats of the test to really get a true answer (or positive if you are positive). False negatives are VERY common with PCR's.
One more thing, when one infection is kicking your behind (like Lyme), often the immune system won't go after the others in a noticeable (to the person) way. Kinda like it can't handle the truth (to quote A Few Good Men).
Often, when one infection is beaten down, suddenly another one will explode and give you even more symptoms. This sure isn't fair, but often happens.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
If my head wasn't frying and it didn't hurt to read a lot, I'd look further, but right now these are just a couple of his great articles. Not sure if the first one is the one I was looking for (maybe?), but I know the second one isn't, but it is good just the same.