I just had some blood work done as I've had chronic back pain for 5 years. Very sporadic, very painful (at times). Tried yoga, massages, chiropractor, nothing has worked. So I went to the doctor, had some imaging done which revealed some pars defects, spondylothesis (sp.), and some other minor things. My blood work on the other hand came back with the following:
IgG P41 Ab - PRESENT IgG P39 Ab - PRESENT IgM P23 Ab - PRESENT
Then it says, "3 antibodies present, high risk for possible lyme exposure. recommend follow up"
When I called to schedule follow-up, the nurse said it was nothing urgent and I can't be seen for a week. Is this something I should be worried about? Anyone have insight here with these antibodies?
-------------------- Nick Dokken Posts: 12 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2018
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Another week is not going to hurt. But what will hurt is not being ready for that doctor appt.
Do tons of reading on this site. You can actually use the search icon (above) and put info in the boxes.
You need to have a plan of action for treatment when you see this doctor. Do not assume that the doc has a clue what the tests results mean or even how to treat you.
Take notes on info you find on this site and take your notes to the appt. Be prepared to be told this is no big deal and a couple weeks of antibiotics and you will be all better.
You do have Lyme and most likely you also have co-infections such as Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma etc etc.
Also be prepared to milk this doctor for all the antibiotics you can get them to rx. But more importantly, you most likely are going to need a LLMD(lyme literate medical doctor) to see your thru the treatment.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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"In my clinical experience, if a patient has symptoms suspicious for borreliosis, and has one or more of the following bands, there is a very high probability the patient has borreliosis.
These bands are 18, 22, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 41, 83, and 93.
[---- from DR C's update from 2005 --- ----The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93.----]"
Dr C of MO
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Thank you for your response! Do you have any idea if this is related to my wide array of back issues last 5 years or if this is completely unrelated?
-------------------- Nick Dokken Posts: 12 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2018
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
It certainly could be related, although it could also be separate. Always hard to tell if you are unsure of when you were bitten by the tick.
I would push for doxycline when you go to the MD. Ask for 200 mg twice a day for 4-6 weeks to start and follow up with testing for other tick borne diseases (Igenix)
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8908 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Nick, is back problems your ONLY pain/health issue or do you have other health issues that you've not associated with having Lyme?
Some folks have severe pain in their spinal area. Many have nape of the neck and lower back inflammation with Lyme.
Lyme symptoms can come and go. Here today, gone tomorrow, linger for awhile and move area to another area of body.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Pam, the back issues you describe are spot on. Couldn't move Sunday, felt 100% Monday, etc. Yes, it's the nape of the neck and lower back right side (hip/butt area) has given me issues since 2013.
Other issues are brain fog, anxiety, some fatigue, which I always have just thought was attributed to stress. I don't think I have ever had a rash, or fever, or anything like that. But back pain for years, and have just felt OFF last few years, especially with the fogginess and anxiety.
-------------------- Nick Dokken Posts: 12 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2018
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posted
Bands 23 and 39 are Lyme-specific bands, so yes, you have Lyme disease. At least you have some confirmatory bands - some don't get any and yet they're sick.
You will need to see a Lyme doctor and get educated about Lyme disease. Medical Questions has a sticky at the top, "Important Information about Lyme and Co-infections" - you can read through links there.
We also have a Search function at the top of the page where you can type in any word or phrase and archived threads will come up. Just know that we're all different in what we have and how we respond to treatment. The trick is to discover what will work for each of us.
Re your back pain, the spirochetes like to go where there is reduced oxygen, which is what tight muscles have. The looser we can get our muscles, the better. I once spent 9 months stretching out all pelvic muscles in a pool and then I could walk again.
For me, brain fog was due to being low thyroid, so your doctor should do thyroid tests. I got clear-headed again when I went on Armour thyroid.
Fatigue can be due to low magnesium, which the Lyme spirochete depletes. Most of here take a magnesium supplement. I also successfully got my energy back from taking flower pollen when I didn't know what was going on.
Am PMing you since you're in CA.
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