Topic: doc says i can keep taking abx before western blot, not sure
gigimac
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33353
posted
I saw my doc today and we are doing the igg and igm western blot through igenex. I told her I had been off abx for two weeks in preparation for the test and she said that it wasn't necessary to stop abx.
I had planned on taking the test today but she said it would not be good to do the blood draw on thurs or fri cause the blood will sit around all weekend.
I thought i would get the blood test out of the way this afternoon and resume abx tonight. I am not sure what to do now, so many have said u are supposed to wait and I have waited so long to be able to afford this test.
I hate staying off abx this long. Any advice?
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
I personally would wait to restart ABX. I know it's different for everyone, but I was off for about a month before my Igenex test and tested CDC positive. I was told at least 14 days to stay off antibiotics prior to the test.
posted
I also kept taking antibiotics... In fact - before antibiotics I tested negative on labcorp's IgM... after nine months of meds I am now CDC positive on labcorp's IgM. I did not stop my antibiotics for any of the bloodwork...
RDaywillcome
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21454
posted
It was after I started antibiotics that my test finally came back positive. I had a few tests before antibiotics and they came back negative.
Posts: 1738 | From over the rainbow | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
gigimac
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33353
posted
When you say your test came back positive before abx. Do you mean before you ever started abx or when you purposely took a break before the test?
I am really beginning to feel the effects of this abx break and it sucks. I really want to take some doxy right now.
I can feel my body getting twitchy and weaker, also feeling really emotionally charged, sad, very angry.
Could this emotional stuff be from the abx break?
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
"Sometimes multiple antibiotics have to be tried before the patient feels better. Antibiotics may actually help with the laboratory diagnosis. But patients need to be off antibiotics about 10 to 14 days before the Western blot is repeated. This sounds like a contradiction.
Antibiotics may help convert the test to positive, but patients need to be off antibiotics when the specimen is drawn.
It is well documented in medical literature that the presence of antibiotics may cause false negative borreliosis testing. Therefore, your system should be free of all antibiotics for an accurate blot result.
When the Lyme borrelia are alive, they are geniuses at avoiding the immune system. They may do things like go inside your white blood cells, and come out enclosed by the cell membrane of your own white blood cells! This may partly explain why antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi are often not found when patients are tested."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
gigimac
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33353
posted
Thanks for the clarification lymetoo and manybites. That makes sense. I have been on abx and now had a break so hopefully this test will be accurate.
my previous tests were negative but they were also the elisa test and before abx. My doc feels sure i have lyme and I would like the proof for myself and for those who seem to doubt me.
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
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/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic