I only had a positive Western Blot before seeing an LLMD. LLMD said no need to do further testing. I am a little scared. Do all LLMDs treat for co-infections just to be safe? How do I know if I get treated for co-infections or not?
Jen
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I got tested myself and came up negative everywhere. However when I went on Malarone I experienced improvements significantly in my night sweats and breathing. Unfortunately that's all that improved and neither symptoms were a "problem" in the realm of functioning. It's everything else that's causing me not to function well.
I'm doing Levaquin now with nothing else pretty much except Malarone and my other basic symptom treating meds.
We'll see what happens, but it's very wise for an LLMD to consider the co-infections to as much of an extent as Lyme. Co-infections are a crippling complication -- a very very very very serious issue which is overlooked too often by most patients. If there is Lyme, the absolute critical nature of pursuing investigation into co-infections is needed to rule them in, out, or.....even "maybe" inspite of not knowing.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Babs was found with EDS - electrodermal screening. Used a mixed herbal for it, good results.
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
No, not from a good lab anyways. Was tested for Babs and Bart a couple times but always neg. (although we are pretty sure I have Bart) I did test positive for RMSF and Mycoplasma though. Oh..and West Nile antibodies.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Jen, did your LLMD tell you if s/he'll be treating you for co-infections based on your symptoms and the clinical picture?
I think there are some LLMDs who do as you asked, and treat for all co-infections as a just in case.
But - many also run tons and tons of tests. Mine did.
I tested positive for all the common TBDs, and some of the not-so-common TBDs (Colorado Tick Fever, for one)...
But honestly, I think my LLMD likely would have cycled me through all the rotations of abx combos anyway, based on symptoms, if it seemed necessary.
Hope you feel like you're in good hands with your LLMD, and that you are soon feeling better, cactus
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I wonder which LLMD said that there is no need to test?
Posted by BHealthyNow (Member # 22537) on :
I didn't test. He dx'ed Bart based on symptoms and started me on Levaquin. He didn't feel like a neg. test was conclusive enough for us to run the test.
Posted by jennie46 (Member # 20953) on :
I do feel like I am in good hands with my LLMD.
I am still learning so much, since I am a newbie. I will ask about rotating ABX to treat for co-infections. He did tell me tests are not always accurate, so he treats by symptoms.
Thanks, Jen
Posted by Beautiful Disaster (Member # 21882) on :
I only got tested for Bartonella. I wish that I would have gotten tested for all things associated with Lyme, but I guess he didn't feel the need to do it.
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
I did the Igenex tick panel on my own. It turned up lyme and babs. Thank goodness, I knew nothing about babs until then.
My LLMD also tested me for bart but that seems to be negative.
I'm surprised your LLMD didn't test for babs, it's tx is very different from the other cos. Plus, if you have cos it can confuse the sx and confuse understanding of your treatment progress.
Posted by zil (Member # 12048) on :
My LLMD didn't test for co-infections. He doesn't think the testing is reliable and treats for them. He thinks ticks carry more than just the Lyme and we get co-infections.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yes i was; none showed up on bowen labs or mdl
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
I was tested for co-infections and was positive for four.
Posted by Topaz (Member # 20216) on :
I tested negative for coinfections a few months back.
Now it is becoming apparent that I probably have babs and maybe bart as well.
I'll be starting up with artemisiae as soon as it arrive in the mail.