Topic: How does Western Blot read if you get "all better?"
bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
If you are "cured" from Lyme Disease, should a western blot come back negative, or should it still show antibodies, because once exposed, always reactive?
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
joy, since it's early am, go to treepatrol's newbie links at top of MEDICAL before the posts start.
look for western blot info; he has it ALL together; good luck. let us know what you find out ok!
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Okay, so here's what I come up with. Please correct me, anybody, if you find me in error.
The Western Blot will show an antibody response if the immune system is aware of Bb in the body.
The immune system will make cells that are responsible for producing the antibodies if Bb is detected. The antibodies hang around for a while, but go away after a while (I don't know how long) if they are not needed. The cells stick around ready to make more antibodies if Bb gets detected again.
The Western Blot can be misleading because:
1. Bb is a stealth pathogen. It can hide within other cells, and can coat itself with protiens that hide it's actual identity from the immune system.
2. Many people who have had Bb for a long time lose the antibodies that they once made, and are not making new ones because the immune system isn't detecting Bb anymore.
3. There are many forms of Lyme Bb, including the wild strains that don't get tested for.
So where does that leave anyone who wants to do accurate scientific testing of a Lyme protocol?
If a Western Blot shows a negative, one can not be sure if they are "all better" or if their Bb just got more stealthy.
If they use a different test such as a PCR or flow cytometry, anyone in the medical community can tell them that the research is invalid because the only valid testing according to the CDC is ELISA and WB.
Sheesh.
If you rely on the Bowen flow cytometry, then you do have a pretty accurate visual account of what critters are out for a swim in your blood, although you don't know what has gone into hiding in other tissues.
Personally, I think I get more accurate follow up info from a visual like flow cytometry or a PCR, even if the ducks won't buy it.
bejoy
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I've also heard ducks say you don't have Lyme even with a positive ELISA & WB. I had a dr. tell me I didn't have Lyme. I told him I was CDC positive by WB. He said he didn't know what that meant!
Sheesh!
I think they are all programmed to deny Lyme no matter what the tests say or don't say or what your clinical symptoms are.
Kayda
Posts: 582 | From midwest | Registered: Nov 2006
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Now that Bowen has the new flow cytometry test up and running, I'm in.
Bejoy
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
you can have a neg WB even at your sickest. I did many times. The sickest patienets sometimes no longer make anti-biody's. There are many reasons why-please see link at the bottom.
I would not go by a WB but by how long you have gone symptoms free- and even that is not a guarantee. Lyme can go dormant-only to surface at a later date.
here's a link how you can still have lyme & test negative:
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
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