My doctor would not test me, so I went to a naturopath who sent samples of my blood to igenex for testing. Problem is the ND knows nothing about lyme.
Sock...
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Two pluses on band 31 IgG means you've had it for a long time. My LLMD told me one plus sign there means you've had it over a year. Based on your IgG, if you have symptoms, you have Lyme.
Not that you need it with that IgG, but didn't they do an IgM?
Posted by JimSock (Member # 47744) on :
With two plus signs next to 31, I wonder then how long ago I was bit?
I have 3 plus signs next to 41 holy crap, wonder what that indicates?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think that's the only one that indicates a time frame. I had ++++ next to band 31, and I'm better today, so you can still get well. Posted by duncan (Member # 46242) on :
I believe the + signs in Igenex reports indicate intensity of response, not duration of infection.
It would be great if we could qualify time frames relative to infection, but I don't think that is possible quite yet (outside of IgM/IgG conversion estimates, but we know even those are unreliable since we may get locked into IgM mode for various reasons).
Posted by JimSock (Member # 47744) on :
Thank you both... Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
duncan .. Band 31 is tied to a time frame.
Posted by duncan (Member # 46242) on :
Lymetoo - why, because it is OspA?
That should not effect the number of +'s, except that you would think the intensity of the blot would be weak to non-existent before six months or so.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
Band 31 indicates chronic Lyme.
Posted by duncan (Member # 46242) on :
Chronic Lyme is persistent Lyme that does not easily resolve with treatment.
That may be an oversimplification, admittedly. And I don't like using the qualifier "easily".
The point is, that OspA showing positive suggests someone has been infected for at least six months - but that isn't chronic. That's likely late stage.
It is only after treatment failure that it qualifies as chronic,or at least that's how some interpret the semantics, me included.
Posted by dal123 (Member # 6313) on :
Chronic active long term Lyme, meaning you have had it for a good while.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
I'm agreeing with Duncan. Band 31 shows up in IGG in infections of 6 months or longer. It takes a human to read the blot so the intensity may not be relevant.
An infection of 6 months or longer is not necessarily chronic if it hasn't been treated and if it's been active for six months that is hardly longterm, considering there are people who've been in treatment for ten years.
There is a second stage of Lyme, before the third stage; it could be an established infection without being chronic or long term.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sammi: Band 31 indicates chronic Lyme.
Exactly
Posted by duncan (Member # 46242) on :
I suppose you could ask yourself what is the difference between late stage and chronic Lyme.
If you live in some parts of Europe, there is no difference; the terms are used interchangeably.
Not so in the U.S.
Practically speaking, though, these days the difference gets lost in insurance double speak, and any attempts at distinguishing the two can be a waste of time.
Technically, though, there is a very real difference, as those who have never been able to get properly diagnosed and never received any kind of treatment till way too late, can attest.
Also, there is the unpardonable way IDSA types have mangled the meaning of chronic Lyme. As we all know, the media has latched onto their interpretation. Bucking that is hard.
I've got late stage Lyme refractory to treatment (so far), but I'm ok with chronic Lyme too.
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