I've been tested twice through Igenex for Babs, Bart, and Erchliosis and all results were negative. Is it possible to just have Bb or are these results unreliable?
I also have CPN, Mycoplasma, and high EBV titers. Are these tick related viruses and pneumonia or a result of a compromised immune system? I've heard a large percentage of the population has past infection of one or more of these, and are not necessarily Lyme related.
posted
I was wondering the same thing. My co-infections test thru Igenex all came back negative. I have the heart issues, daytime and night sweats (moderate - not drenching), I've had a rash wide and mostly centered (not EM) twice. So I thought this was Bart. I tested Neg. Is it all Lyme? Is This testing accurate? Peedie
Posts: 641 | From So. CA | Registered: May 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I suppose it's possible, but not probable.
Most people with lyme have at least one co-infection if not more. Ticks are filthy.
If you have symptoms of a co-infection, you should definitely treat for that particular co-infection even if the test was negative. Unfortunately, co-infection testing is just as inaccurate as lyme testing. So a negative doesn't mean a thing.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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disturbedme
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posted
Peedie - the sweats and heart issues sound like Babesia to me.
I have the same symptoms but my babs test was also negative. The labs, even the qualified and expert labs on tick-borne infections so far can only test for two species of Babesia while there are over a dozen species. So many people do end up getting false negatives.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Angelica
Unregistered
posted
Coinfection testing is still very unreliable and that is why a good LLMD is important so they can do a clinical diagnosis and treat for coinfections that way.
Sometimes bart symptoms do not even show up until you start to treat for babs and LD. It can be like peeling the layers of an onion off. That is a one big ole diseased onion.
It is also important to read and educate yourself as much as you can about all the coinfections so eventually if you suspect one you can bring it up with your LLMD. I sort of had to diagnose my bart myself.
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gemofnj
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posted
At my last LLMD visit we had this very conversation. I am only on a monotherapy of 500 mg. of zith a day.
She stated that it very possible that I have no coinfections, and I guess she feels by my response to abx and my symptoms I dont.
She gave me some percentages of people that DONT get co's.
I had co's tested twice and they were all negative. I have improved quite a bit in the last few months on just zith and some of my symptoms could have been related to co's. Maybe the zith is getting it all.
Because in Dr. B's guidlines, it say you should be treated with combo therapy,I gave serious thought to a second opinion, but its $300.
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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Babesia? oooooh. I've read that is a tough one to treat. What is the antibiotic of choice? Is there a antibiotic that covers both Babes and Lyme?
Posts: 641 | From So. CA | Registered: May 2008
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
IMO, one should treat for everything, as none can be ruled out
Mepron and Zithro or Biaxin for babs. Artemisinin I was told treats babs too.
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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sparkle7
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posted
I don't think I have co-infections.
In NJ 2003, there were samples taken of local ticks for a study. About 34% had Lyme, 32% had Bart, & a small percentage was other infections. Do a google search for info if you are curious.
I did hear that mycoplasmas are becoming more common in ticks in CT.
I've been ill for 10 years & I have practically no symptoms of any of the co-infections.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Some doctor said that not all of the possible co-infections carried by ticks have even been discovered yet, so you might have none of the ones tested for and still have others they don't know to look for yet.
-------------------- Just because it' s not nice doesn' t mean it' s not miraculous. --Terry Pratchett Posts: 121 | From Nazareth, PA | Registered: May 2008
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sparkle7
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posted
That may go for anything... I have several EPA listed toxic superfund clean up sites within a few minutes of my house. Am I going to sit around worrying that I have cancer all day long? I don't think so.
You have to temper the bad news about Lyme & all the associated dangers with some realism. It's best not to get too paranoid over everything.
Lyme & co are devastating but I'm not going to drive myself crazy about it. I had probably over 40 blood tests awhile back. You can test & test & never really know which way is up.
I never had a positive conventional test for Lyme. I just don't have any of the co-infection symptoms. Pain -yes, fatigue - yes, cognitive disfunction - yes... sweats - no, rashes - no... do I have to go through the whole list?
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that post for Mandy164
-------------------- Just because it' s not nice doesn' t mean it' s not miraculous. --Terry Pratchett Posts: 121 | From Nazareth, PA | Registered: May 2008
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posted
I've never has the rashes, sweats, or air hunger associated with co-infections either. But I do have some of the overlapping symptoms associated with lyme that may point to something else... so who knows!
I guess if you don't test positive for co-infections this is good news, but I can see where treatment would get tricky if something was hiding out and not being addressed.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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My LLMD started me on Biaxin 3 weeks ago. Maybe that is why - I see him again on Friday and we will talk about this. Thanks for the help! Peedie
Posts: 641 | From So. CA | Registered: May 2008
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Angelica
Unregistered
posted
Sparkle the coinfection testing is unreliable on people and I have heard the lyme testing is unreliable for testing ticks so I would not believe in any tick testing stats.
I thought lymetoo said she sent a tick out for testing once and it came back negative but the bite gave her lyme anyway.
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posted
Ive been tested through Igenex and came up positive for lyme, but no coinfections. I would have sworn I had bart to go with it, but, nothing. I think the thing to remember is that if lyme involved, its throughout the whole body, and especially the brain, so all odd symtpoms are possible. I even mentioned to my llmd about some new odd things and he said its all a part of lyme and healing... But he was firm on saying...no coinfections. So yes, its possible.
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