I had some bloodwork done to test for the lyme antibodies. IgG was fine but i was positive for IgM.
i know IgM is the first antibody to appear after infection but is it possible that i have some other bacterial infection other than Lyme?
any help would be appreciated
thank you
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Yes, you can have coinfections also with the Lyme.
Some common ones are Bartonella, Babesia,Erlichia, and Mycoplasma.
You are lucky to get a positive test let alone a postive IgM!
I have always tested negative for IgM but had 8/10 positive on the IgG Western Blot.
If you don't mind me asking what laboratory did you get tested through?
Also did your doc test for coinfections??
Best of luck to you!
Posted by Kevin V-910 (Member # 19624) on :
My PCP did some bloodwork and sent it away to a lab. i didn't get the name of the lab but I will next time i talk to him if you'd like.
he wrote me a prescription for doxycycline and wants me to go see an infectious disease doctor he knows.
I did some research on IgM and IgG after i talked to him and a lot of stuff came up on STD's so i got a little worried. had a girlfriend for 4 years though and we're both clean as far as i know but seeing that stuff scared me a little thats why i asked.
it's a little confusing to me because IgM is supposed to be the first antibody present but it's the winter time around here.
I had an episode back in october where I got bit by something and it turned into a rash. i had terrible chills, fever, stiff neck, etc.
I went to the ER and got some antibiotics and felt better afterward. then in january i started feeling like crap again.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
You really need to go to the Seeking a Doctor section
And post your city and state so someone can direct you
To a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD).
Unfortunately an ID duck won't be much help.
Co-infections are common, however, you probably were undertreated
And not treated long enough. Sigh.
The CDC actually uses some Lyme specific bands for IgM.
If you are IgM positive, it is highly likely to be Lyme.
However, you can always be tested for STDs if you are concerned.
However, usually a couple of weeks of antibiotics usually
Cures the system of STD's. Hang in there.
You need to get to a doctor who specializes in tick-borne infections.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Hi Kevin,
Sounds like the typical progression of lyme after a bite. At least you remember a bite and a rash...many don't.
Not unusual that you have a positive IgM now. It's still a recent and active infection.
You obviously did not have enough treatment the first time.
An infectious disease Dr, in all liklihood, will not know how to properly treat you with long term antibiotics and will not understand all the possible coinfections and how to diagnose and treat them too.
The Dr will TELL you that he knows how to treat you, but unless he follows the ILADS guidelines, you can expect to have short term treatment that is inadequate and you will continue to have symptoms.
You need a good Lyme literate MD (LLMD). Go to the Seeking a Doctor board here and post a message looking for a LLMD in the Boston, MA area.
You will receive a private message with names in your state.
Start doing alot of reading from the ilads.org site. Read the ilads guidelines and Dr B's guidelines, plus the info in the newbie package that you may have gotten already.