surprise
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34987
posted
If you haven't tested for Lyme yet through either Igenex or a Advanced Labs, how do you know you don't have it?
I guess I assume since you are on Lymenet, you have symptoms.
If you've never tested for co- infections, I would get the co- infection panel through Igenex done.
I guess you could have standalone Bartonella from a cat, or standalone babesia from a blood transfusion, but, it's rare, I think.
MN is a hot spot. If you are here, there is a reason. I think best to test for it all. If one comes back suspicious, where there is smoke, there is fire.
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Get tested for lyme and a complete coinfection panel. That's what the lyme doctors usually do.
Since the tests are not that accurate, you test for everything. If anything comes up positive, that is a strong indicator that you are on the right track.
So, for example, if you test positive for babesiosis, you most likely have lyme. Same if you test positive for bartonella.
It is rare to have a lyme coinfection and not have lyme. My lyme doctor calls such a test result a "smoking gun."
On the other hand, if you clearly have lyme based on symptoms and medical history (an attached tick or bulls eye rash and then the symptoms started, for example), many lyme docs will save you the money and not test for lyme.
They will also not test for any coinfection that you clearly have. So, if you have night sweats, air hunger, etc. you have babesiosis. If you get sore soles of the feet and you have abdominal pain and nodules on your shins, no sense testing for bartonella. You have it.
So, if your case is clear and your doc agrees, you don't have to test for any of those 3.
Some lyme doctors want a positive test in the file even if you have all the symptoms. It can protect them if a state medical board tries to get on their case. So, go along if the doctor wants to test in a case like this.
Back when I was doctoring for lyme, Igenex threw in a free lyme test if you ordered the complete coinfection panel. So, you may want to find out if that is still the case. Check Igenex site or call them if it doesn't say.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Test for everything. It's the best way to find out what's going on so you can be on the right treatment plan.
This link has a list of coinfections to test for. You may have more than you think (I had 13 and tested through Labcorp).
posted
Surprise -- I am on Lymenet because I think I may have Lyme. I was just tested a while back through Quest (I know, not reliable), and it was negative. I had/have been seeing a Lyme Literate doc, and he says he doesn't really think I have Lyme. I am questioning that a bit though, and have decided to get tested through Igenex on my own, just to be safe.
Since this will be my first time testing through Igenex to see if I get a positive test, I wasn't sure if I should go forward with the full co-infections panel at the same time.
I did have some recent test results come back abnormal from my Lyme doc though. He ran the biotoxin/mold panel and based on those results diagnosed me with Biotoxin Illness.
My C4a is double the normal range.
About a month ago he put me on a trial of Flagyl to try something out and I got a major reaction from it (high fever, flu-like symptoms, etc) for a couple days. Then it just went away. That has also made me wonder what is going on inside me.
The combination of the biotoxin results and Flagyl reaction peak my curiosity, even though my symptoms don't completely match up with Lyme, and most people seem to have many more symptoms than I do.
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