posted
I'm sure this is answered in detail somewhere.
Basically, I'm wondering if a postive test - be it an ELISA, Western Blot, or whatever - necessarily indicates that the infection is current. By "current", I mean that the bacteria is still in you and alive.
Put differently, I'm wondering if it's possible for someone to have Lyme and/or coinfections at one point, then have the body eliminate the bacteria on its own, and then get a positive test because the antibodies are still being produced even though the bacteria is gone.
I would tend to think that the immune system stops producing antibodies for a particular threat once that threat is gone, and that the "old" antibodies get removed from the body. In other words, a positive test result does indicate a current infection (or at least a very recent one).
EDIT: I ask this because I tested positive on the WB test a couple weeks ago and have had symptoms for over a year now. I just wonder whether the infection is current. Certainly something is going on.
-------------------- Lyme: Igenex positive on IGG WB, borderline Igenex positive on IGM WB; Babesia: Igenex indeterminate Posts: 25 | From San Francisco, CA | Registered: Jul 2013
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Is this a theoretical / hypothetical question or are you asking in regards to a test you had?
The reason why can help those who reply gauge how much detail to post. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Bottom line, if you have symptoms, a positive test of any kind, then lyme is likely "current" whether newly acquired or chronic.
If you do not have symptoms and a test is positive, you need to be mindful in the future in case it flares. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Symptom lists here should help you determine if symptoms you may have are relevant.
See the Western Blot and other test explanations here:
WHY you need an ILADS "educated" or "minded" Lyme Literate doctor (whether MD or ND, or both) - starting with assessment / evaluation.
Medical "models" explained here, as to differences in the ISDA & ILADS models of assessment & treatment - and exactly why it is so very important to know the differences. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Looking at your posting history, you report current classic TBD (tick-borne disease) symptoms.
As to when you might have acquired lyme, that can be nearly impossible to trace. If you have been well up until recently, that would be a clue, of course.
If you have not been well for a while, that would be a clue, too.
Lyme can also lie dormant for quite some time, in some cases.
For many, we can drive ourselves dizzy trying to figure out exactly where & when the key event took place. It's just so often not very clear when the symptoms can take months or years to come to extremes enough to pursue diagnosis.
Your Western Blot results, as some replied "light up like a Christmas Tree" with some key bands present.
I don't see that there is any question in your case. Lyme certainly seems to be a player but there could be other TBD, too.
When I see a question as you pose above, one of two things is usually happening. Someone wants to talk himself / herself out of "having lyme" or someone has been told to just "forget it" by some doctor who is not lyme literate.
You might want to review the replies for you here where you posted your Western Blots results - with some explanations:
posted
Keebler, thanks for all your help and for even taking the time to read through all my old posts! What an effort!
I don't know why I question this. I have the symptoms and the test results. Sometimes I just can't believe I've actually found out what's wrong with me after seeing several doctors over the last year before the current LLND, having oodles of tests, and having nearly everything come back normal. I was diagnosed with fibro, which as far as I'm concerned is sort of a cop-out diagnosis. So I've become suspicious of everything, maybe too much so.
-------------------- Lyme: Igenex positive on IGG WB, borderline Igenex positive on IGM WB; Babesia: Igenex indeterminate Posts: 25 | From San Francisco, CA | Registered: Jul 2013
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Peets-I felt the same way. I wavered between believing I had lyme, even with 3 clinical dx's and a positive IGM.
Then after starting abx, some of my troublesome symptoms dissapeared.
That's what confirmed it for me.
Resolution of symptoms with abx.
Something for you to look forward to Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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