I went over my old labs today and noticed my Toxoplasmosis tests were IGM, IGG positive. Lyme was equivocal on two tests, Bart and Babs negative (though LLMD says Bart was positive - 1:40 Igenex). Mycoplasma Pneumoniae was positive IGG, IGM.
2 years of Doxy and Zithromax helped me improve to almost 100% but I dropped the Doxy and all hell broke loose. Now on Rifampin and Zith and feeling better. Some mild dysautonomia, heart skips, head pressure.
My question is whether any of your LLMD's treated your Toxo if you were positive. My main symptoms were heart and Neuro and I owned a cat that scratched me deeply. But also had right side of face that was slightly numb at the time (Mild Bells palsy?) and sensitivity to light when the symptoms first appeared (more like lyme).
I am questioning whether this was something from my Cat (who later died) or a tick bite.
Did your Dr. think Toxo treatment was necessary? If so, what is the safest treatment?
Thanks!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I have an elevated IgG titer to Toxo..ID doc didn't care less. `
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
Isnt it treated with pretty much same things (flagyl/mepron etc)
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I think Toxo is like Lyme once you have it, always have it in testing to some degree. I would bet if tested at least 50% of us do.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I showed past exposure to Toxo. It wasn't a test that could differentiate between past and current. I responded poorly to the antiparasitic so didn't treat it, but have since done parasite treatment.
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Yes, but my IGM was also positive, meaning currently active. Strange. I suppose when I address Babs I will make sure the meds cover Toxo too.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
It's only a problem with severe immuno-comprimised patients. I don't think most Lymies really meet that criteria even though we 'think' we do.
Posted by Selection10 (Member # 19578) on :
Deseret Biologicals sells a good homeopathic series for toxoplasmosis. Might be something to look into.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Myco~ Perhaps you could talk your doctor into sending your blood to this lab.
If it comes back positive, then if your doctor is unsure about treatment, he can consult with the doctors at this lab.
Since you have a positive IgM for Toxo, I would check this out further.
Best, Timaca
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Printed that lab info for my LLMD. Thanks.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
If toxo were hanging around chronically, it would present with severe problems, according to the House episode I saw
It's mostly a threat for those with HIV and self-limiting for most others...
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I tested positive for exposure. I was told that it's common in lyme patients. Like Aniek, the test I took couldn't tell if the infection was currently active.
I was already being treated for babesia with mepron so no need to add further treatment.
Lyme patients do have compromised immune systems, some more so than others. The degree of impairment would depend on genetics, length of time infected with borrelia and accumulation of other infections. Lifestyle - stress levels, diet, immune system support etc...
Like Pinelady said, toxo is a permenant infection. It can reactivate at any time. Toxo lives in the tissues in cysts. When the immune system is weak, the parasites can emerge and you will have an active infection.
When I found out I had this chronic infection, I looked around and found a group for people with chronic active toxo. Don't know if it's still around. I had my hands full researching lyme etc. so didn't spend much time on this infection.
As we've already seen, the IDSA can't see the obvious. I doubt current "knowledge" related to any illnesses that fall under their purview.
Terry I'm not a doctor
[ 09-21-2009, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: TerryK ]
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymeorsomething:
It's mostly a threat for those with HIV and self-limiting for most others...
Lyme has actually extremely strong immunosupression. Not quite as bad as advanced HIV , but one of the strongest out there. So I wouldnt rule it out
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Myco~ Here's a bit of info from that lab website:
The FDA has recommended that sera with positive IgM test results obtained at non-reference laboratories should be sent to a Toxoplasma reference laboratory. At our reference laboratory, these referred IgM positive sera undergo confirmatory testing and the results are interpreted as i) a recently acquired infection, ii) an infection acquired in the distant past or iii) a false positive result.
Those three categories do not seem to include an infection from the past reactivating, which would be our case presumably.
I personally had an episode of shingles and have had a long running mouth sore that is probably herpes virus reactivated. So, immune suppression may not be like AIDS, but it is there for lymies.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Hi lou~ Yes, something has gone wrong with the immune system, in some of us. In my case, I have had reactivated HHV-6, EBV, VZV, HSV1, enterovirus and Cpn. I've been on antibiotics and antivirals and my health has improved substantially.
The doctors at the above mentioned lab know toxo well, and also know a great deal about reactivated infections. So, if someone wonders if toxo is a problem (even in a reactivated form), this lab can figure it out.
In our case, it is worth turning over every stone to figure out what is making us ill.
Best, Timaca
Posted by kadee (Member # 21199) on :
quote: it is worth turning over every stone to figure out what is making us ill.
Definitely.
After months of treating for Lyme to no avail, I was accidently tested for Toxo and it turned out to be a very high titer! Main symptoms: Headache, vertigo and heart. This will have to be treated.
Posted by kadee (Member # 21199) on :
quote: it is worth turning over every stone to figure out what is making us ill.
Definitely.
After months of treating for Lyme to no avail, I was accidently tested for Toxo and it turned out to be a very high titer! Main symptoms: Headache, vertigo, nausea and heart. This will have to be treated.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Just to repeat: If you think toxo is a problem for you based on lab results, have your doctor contact this lab for further testing: http://www.pamf.org/serology/contact.html
They do NOT take inquiries from patients, but they will speak with doctors.
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