posted
I had a positive test result for lyme by Igenex about 2 years ago.
Did about 6 months of ABX, but couldnt take the side effects.
I have been doing alternative treatments since then and i have improved, but, im still not there.
So, i decided to have Bowen doing a test. I came back with a 1:32 positive result. I guess im happy that it wasnt the highest level. I dont know what my level was 2 years ago though.
Does anyone know how important the "levels" of infection are?
Im going to keep doing what im doing as far as treatment goes.
I am having a lot more pain in my legs in the last couple of months, but my low grade fevers are pretty much gone. THAT was a big symptom for me.
Hope everyone is feeling well today.
Take care,
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
Personally, I think the Bowen test serves no value for progress. Useful to validate infection, but not for progress. Lyme does not live predominantly in blood. It is in the brain, CNS, gallbladder, bladder, etc. You may have less in blood and really have a deeper infection or more in blood but not such a deep seeded infection. I have no plans to run the test again after my initial one was performed. I was also 1:32.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
The levels of infection indicate how much Lyme bacteria is in your blood. If it goes down that is good. However, it doesn't indicate cure because it doesn't measure the amount of organism in your tissue. Ann
-------------------- Ann Posts: 66 | From Bourbonnais, IL, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Doesnt' Lyme get its nutrition from the blood?
Or are you guys saying that Bb can live indefinately in tissue?
I keep hearing that Bb snacks on Magnesium and loves glucose.
Does Bb have access to these ingredients in tissue, or would it be safe to assume that Bb on occasion ventures out from tissue an into blood to basically eat?
If this is true, would it be safe to assume that when Bb decides it's snack time that this is NOT a coordinated effort amongst the entire Bb collection in the body but rather that the occurance of Bb in blood it totally random in time?
If this is true, then at any given time there's a more or less constant fraction of the population in the blood...in which case the Bowen test would be a good test for tracking progress.
Lots of if's above. Your thoughts?
Michael
-------------------- I'm not an MD. The above is IMO and in my experience as well as from health related books.
I've had symptoms consistent with neurological Lyme disease since 1986. Was diagnosed with Lyme in 2004. Am feeling better now than ever before. Posts: 702 | From NY | Registered: Jul 2004
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Michael, I could be way wrong here, but I thought Bb had to come out every 28 days to reproduce, and that is when it is in blood and can be killed, hence cyclical herxing, adn teh long time it takes to kill it.
My first Bowen, before tx, was 1:128, the highest possible. After six months of herbal tx it had gone down to 1:32.
I did conclude however, that with limited funds, I'd go by my symptom reduction from now on, doing without tests.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
I agree with what others have said - that the Bowen test (or any Lyme blood test) can only measure activity in the blood.
But my qestion is this - what about the cyst (dormant) forms of Bb? I have not been able to find out how long the bacteria can remain in the cyst form without having to revert back to spirochete or L-form.
No test measures the cyst forms of Lyme. So I don't think we can know what percentage of Lyme bugs are hiding out in cysts, waiting for an opportunity to emerge when conditions are favorable.
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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I went back and read a bunch of old posts looking for answers.
I dont understand why Bowen doesnt put out some accurate information about the test numbers.
I mean, i guess you could have a negative test, no lyme in the blood, but, it could be deep in the tissues, meaning you have late stage lyme? I wonder if that is possible?
Also, with the cycle of lyme, wouldnt your numbers change by that just alone? Maybe one week you would be at 1:64 and the next 1:32?
These are just some of my thoughts.
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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