Just got a VM from my wife doc stating that her latest CD57 blood test results are in. Blood was drawn on Monday. The voice mail said it was now over 200. This is up from 38 just 8 weeks ago.
That rapid of a jump seems odd to me. Anyone else seen theirs jump like this? My wife doesn't really feel much different than 8 weeks ago.
Thanks!
Jason
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Cd-57 is only a marker and generally does not determine how well one feels. Some with high numbers feel awful, some with low feel good.
You need to look at the whole picture. Wellness is not determined by CD-57 alone. Some doctors feel that it has little value at all.
feelfit
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
quote:Originally posted by feelfit: Cd-57 is only a marker and generally does not determine how well one feels. Some with high numbers feel awful, some with low feel good.
You need to look at the whole picture. Wellness is not determined by CD-57 alone. Some doctors feel that it has little value at all.
feelfit
Thanks for the response and I've already gathered that from searching the forums. That's why I'm looking for personal experiences from those that have seen similar CD57 results.
The opinions about CD57 are clearly all over the place but it has to mean something.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
I agree with feelfit.
At my sickest my CD57 was at 160. I'm feeling much better now and it is at 40.
I feel it is a total waste of money.
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
quote:Originally posted by joalo: I agree with feelfit.
At my sickest my CD57 was at 160. I'm feeling much better now and it is at 40.
I feel it is a total waste of money.
So does your doc offer any insight on why it's 40 or just say to ignore it?
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
It makes no sense to me either, when I felt amazing it was 48, and when i was sick it was over 100. Does not seem to make any sense.
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
It's pretty clear that there are 2 schools of thought regarding the CD57. Those that say ignore it and those that use it as a tool.
For those of you where your Dr. has said ignore it I have a few questions.
1) What reason did your Dr. give for ignoring it? 2) If your Dr. doesn't use it then why did he/she give you the test?
I not here to try and pick apart anyone but rather to just learn as much as I can so I can better understand the value of this test.
Thanks!
Jason in GA
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Mine was 85. I feel like hell. I'm not dying though, nor at my sickest. 85 "sort" of makes sense with how I feel. I would expect it to be 25 points lower now, if it were accurate.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I thought the test was just to determine if your
body was fighting anything/making its own
antibodies. I do not think it should be a
reflection of actual illness?
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pinelady: I thought the test was just to determine if your
body was fighting anything/making its own
antibodies. I do not think it should be a
reflection of actual illness?
I've heard some say that it is "Lyme" specific but I can't find that information anywhere outside of the boards.
I'm still trying to figure out what it exactly means when my wifes Abs. CD8-CD57+ goes from 38 to 232 in a six week period.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
I haven't had that test done in three years. LLMD does not believe it is valid.
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
quote:Originally posted by CD57: I haven't had that test done in three years. LLMD does not believe it is valid.
And why does he/she say that it is not valid?
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
Why do so many people/Dr's say the CD57 is useless while at the same time Dr. Burrascano states: "Our ability to measure CD-57 counts represents a breakthrough in LB diagnosis and treatment."
This is on Page 7 and 8 of his treatment guidelines.
So much conflicting information out there.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
How does this not make sense to you guys?
You're recovering your immune system.
When this happens our immune system immediately begins fighting the fight it originally started with bacteria.
This is why you feel WORSE when it actually just means your body is sticking it's dukes back up. You're herxing. Albeit be small herxs.
That's good news that your CD57 is higher. Good job. Keep living healthy and let that immune system do its job. It may take awhile but it will get better.
It's all about the immune system people. This fight is won and lost with your innate immune system.
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
quote:Originally posted by canefan17: How does this not make sense to you guys?
Sounds like you're recovering your immune system.
When this happens our immune system immediately begins fighting the fight it originally started with bacteria.
This is why you feel WORSE when it actually just means your body is sticking it's dukes back up.
That's good news that your CD57 is higher. Good job. Keep living healthy and let that immune system do its job. It may take awhile but it will get better.
It's all about the immune system people. This fight is won and lost with your innate immune system.
Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. This line of thinking seems to be in the minority and I agree with what you are saying.
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
My LLMD finds it a helpful marker of how well my immune system id doing.
I have noticed that when my CD57 was low (its been zero before), I don't feel quite as bad, but I also stop herxing.
When my numbers get up more, I start feeling worse, but I also start herxing.
My numbers have gone form zero to 60 in 4 weeks. That happened when I started teh bicillin shots.
So, LLMD and I use it as an indication that we have knocked down the buggers enough so that my immune system can help fight it off. But she would never use this number to determine when to start or stop treatment.
There was a study published by Stricker that found his lyme patients, as a group, had statistically lower CD 57 counts than AIDS patients. From that study, LLMDs asserted that Lyme must cause this drop.
But then when large numbers of lyme patienets started doing the test, some LLMDs found it didn't seem to be meaningful. The problem is that no one every qunatified that in a scientific way. At least in the Sticker study, all pateints were followed.
Anyway, the problem with lyme is that we are all different. What is helpful for some, may mean nothing for others.
One more side note, I noticed big jumps after I started the Mepron. Go off Mepron, and my CD 57 scores start to drop. So for me at least, there seems to be a relationship between my Babsea and CD 57 scores. Could just be the combination of the lyme and Babs hammer my immune system, WBC counts are also low in general.
Posted by jason915 (Member # 14448) on :
Thanks Amanda for sharing. Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Amanda makes good points. We have to remember that lyme may not be "the" issue for everyone here. So that in part may account for some of the diverging numbers. Some may be impacted more by other infections.
What lyme test is perfect? In my case, I feel the CD-57 is helpful and has always been consistent, ranging from 30-40. These results accompanied by other circumstantial evidence--regularly Igm positive blots, band 31 confirmation pos, somewhat low alkaline phosphatase, overall symptomatology, etc.--point toward lyme as a main factor in my illness.
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