posted
When I saw my LLMD a few weeks ago, she took blood for the Igenex Lyme and Babesia Test. Just wondering how accurate the Igenex Fish Test is?
I didn't really ask, just let her draw the blood. I go back to see her next week. It is possible I am relapsing (was in remission for the past year), but not sure so she is retesting.
I am not really sure of the point of retesting though, wouldn't you still show antibodies even if you were in remission too or not show antibodies too when you have full blown lyme?
well, regardless, just thought i would ask here for some feedback. thanks, maureen
Posts: 871 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Probably accurate for the two strains it tests for
Out of the 13+ strains out there.
Mine was negative. Yet my LLMD treated for it based on symptoms.
It seems to be one of my worst infections to get rid of.
After six months symptom free, it is now back in full force.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I'm just starting to research this issue about babesia, too.
You may want to look at Dr. Schaller's website. There's a huge amount of info there. I also posted something about Fibro here which addresses this issue, too.
Seems that there's lots of new info about this pathogen recently. I never treated it but my doctor just suggested to try some Malarone for it last week.
He's sending me the prescriptions so I'm going to go over everything & figure out what the next protocol plan will be. I'm not into doing a long course of abx but he suggested that I should know if it's going to help in a few weeks.
None of the abx I've done so far did much to make me feel better. I did them for about 9 months. I discontinued them due to severe side effects.
From what I hear - the tests aren't accurate. I didn't have the obvious symptoms of babesia yet there's new info that it (or something related to it) may be causing some cases of Fibromyalgia type symptoms...
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Hey Sparkle- I am going to that woman alternative doctor again tomorrow (the one in Toms River that you sent me the link on awhile back, remember I had seen her once before?)
It is hard to know if I am relapsing or not- the only symptom I have is a whole body trembling feeling and some twitching. my llmd thought it could be anxiety since i don't have any of my other symptoms back- but i doubt anxiety would present itself by giving me crazy neuro. symptoms.
hope you are feeling better these days, maureen
Posts: 871 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
The FISH test is not testing for antibodies; it is looking at the blood, and it actually "sees" the babesia in the cells. My understanding is that they use a flourescent marker to help find it.
So it is good to do before and after treatment, because if you test positive on the FISH before treatment, then later it's negative, you'll know at least the levels were knocked down, because in the second bloodtest, they couldn't detect the organism.
My FISH came back positive, and later I tested positive on a titer test for babesia duncani from Sonoma County Public Health Lab. I'm not sure what the titer levels were detecting...antibodies? Not sure, because the titer wasn't labelled as IgG or IgM.
I have never tested positive for babesia microti...I'm not really sure what species I have, because the duncani test could be cross-reacting with another species, who knows.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
Hey Maureen - I sent you a PM but your mailbox is full.
Make some space & I'll resend it.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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