Hi and WELCOME! Get a LLMD or at least Dr that is willing to learn about lyme. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and on your response to treatment. Good Luck, bumpy road ahead.

Post for a LLMD in Seeking a Doctor. Ps remember I am not a Dr, just a fellow sufferer.

How to Search Courtesy of Danq
LymeNet Links for New Members
Newbie's Lingo

Lyme Disease Audio Network
Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines
CDC Website on Lyme Disease
International Lyme and Associated Disease Society

Lyme Disease Symptoms
Rashes
Co-IinfectionsThanx M

Rose's 15 Facts for Newcomers
Making the Most of Your LLMD Visit
Camp A and Camp B, The Lyme Disease Contoversy
2nd Version Camp A Camp B

Why You Can't Trust Medical Journals Anymore
Something to share with friends and family members But You LOOK Good!

Labs
MDL
Igenex Labs

Western Blot Info
FDA It is important that clinicians understand the limitations of these tests

Explaining Borreliosis (Lyme) Western Blot Tests
Explanation of Western Blot Bands
Igenex Labs on the Western Blot
Melissa Kaplan's Lyme Website Explains Western Blot
Dr. C Explains Western Blot
- Not present
+ Low
++ Medium
+++ High
+/- Equivocal = indeterminate (there, but not as intense as Low)

Drug Interactions and Other Drug Info
Drug Digest
American Medical Women's Association Tiscali Reference Encyclopedia
Herxing
What Is a Herxheimer Reaction?
What Is Herxing?
The Herxheimer Reaction

Check Diet Link Atkins Diet
Sexually Transmitted ???
Transmitted Through Sex?
Sex Question-Serious-Adult Content
Video On Demand: Blood Supply May Be Source Of Lyme Disease Infections
Good Site Canadian Lyme Disease Association
FDA on Lyme Testing
Legal Help

GreatSite
MedicalDictionary

USA Support

SupportGroups Canada

SupportGroups Australia

( No you don't always see a bite and if there's no bullseye the only way your going to be able to tell is (symptoms) and (((Maybe))) WB or lyme dot blot 3 day urine banged with abx's to free your antigens up for the test. )
See this ( . )thats the size of the larva stage tick...
Next nymph size... ( * )
Next is adult ( o ) to ( 0 )
Pretty small????? HUH

Marnies......... Ten Points Regarding Mg and Lyme Disease

Canlyme MAG

Help with Meds

Vitamins you should Know

Tests Synonyms Guide

Lab Tests Looky

How to apply

You do not want to send your blood to a lab that doesn't test all the specific Lyme bands, for then you'll have a negative test in your medical records, which can come back to haunt you later. Like, if you ever apply for any type of disability.

The majority of the tests that most of the LLMDs do are from the www.igenex.com lab in California. They will do the IgM and IgG.

A blood draw is required for this test.

My best advice to you is to look through this link:

Tincup's links for New LymeNet members:

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

which as most if not all of what Treepatrol has provided you. You'll want to bookmark that link in order to come back to it time and time again as you start to begin to grasp this most complicated disease.

I only gave you the above link as I can see that just having all those links thrown at you can be so overwhelming to someone new to Lyme Disease (LD).

My very best advice for you is that you get into see an LLMD as soon as possible, if you are suspecting LD. You can post over in the Seeking a Doctor forum to try and get one close to you.

But, remember an LLMD is one who usually only treats LD and is NOT one who just says that they treat LD...many call themselves treating when in reality they just make the bacteria madder. So, you can see why it is so important to get into see someone who knows how to treat this disease.

If you have a cooperative PCP, then you can go to the www.igenex.com site and print out the order form and instructions for test 188 and 189 and take it to your doctor for him to sign.

He will then either have his nurse draw the blood or send you to a blood draw lab. Any facility or person that draws blood will have the red top tubes and a spinner. You then put your check for the test into the box with the blood and FedEx it to Igenex yourself.

Or, you can WAIT a week or so until you get their "kit" and do it then.

BTW, the kit doesn't contain anything more than forms and the red top tube...so, you can see that doing this yourself can save you some time. This time of year Igenex is very busy (Fall and Spring) and don't expect your test back for several weeks.

I just wanted to give you an option as to not make you have to wait for the kit if you are in a hurry to know the results.

Welcome to Lyme Net!

Tree provided some wonderful links.. didn't he?

You wanted to know about the only "good and reliable test for lyme".

Sorry to say there isn't such a thing.

We do have tests available that are a bit better than the rest...

BUT...

None have been made to be 100 percent accurate.

If negative.. that absolutely does NOT mean it is for sure negative and you don't have Lyme.

If anyone tells you different.. they are wrong.

Tests are only able to aid the diagnosis and are most useful to those who actually CLINICALLY know the disease.

When positive.. they can assist in completing the picture.. but...

According to the International Lyme and Asociated Disease Society.. using the current standard testing methods.....

Up to 90 percent of the people tested for Lyme are missed.

The Bowen test... from a research lab in Florida... is sometimes referred to as a test that looks at the red blood cells... however.. that is still a stretch and I am not sure what test you are referring to??

Red blood cells (Bowen tests) are also checked for the co-infection of Babesiosis... and can often be seen as positive on the Bowen testing if they are present.

If we can help in some way... please let us know.