I currently have no diagnosis after numerous time spent with several Docs. Ive had one WB done through LabCorp back in March, neg.
My sister thinks I should have a Western Blot done through Igenx.
A lady in charge of our local Lyme Group thinks I need to take the XMRV first before the lyme since it would affect, if I have Lyme, how it would be treated.
I have very limited funds so cant have both done. Just not sure what to do, about anything at this time!
Thanks for any insights!
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
Ugh, testing is useless here. Can I live vicariously through you and recommend no testing. Wish I had done the same, so much money gone.
Posted by jecati (Member # 26700) on :
So should I just save my $ and try to get clinical diagnosis from an LLMD??
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
You could get some idea if it's Lyme at the Canadian Lyme site-www.canlyme.com
Click on symptoms and tally yours.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Personally, I would get the WB thru Igenex. That would be test #188 and 189. (the cost would be around $200)
And yes, you could wait for the LLMD to diagnose you...but he/she will likely want to run the WB.
I don't understand why someone says you should have the XMRV first. What is the treatment for that?
Posted by m0joey (Member # 13494) on :
The cost of getting a serology test from vipdx is $250, $50 more than a WB through Igenex. It is true that you can do more a positive WB result than a positive XMRV result at the moment, but if you have both, it would be wise to treat the retrovirus first based on what is known about human retroviruses: retroviruses integrate into your DNA whereas lyme is an extracellular pathogen. It is much more likely that if you have both, treating the retrovirus will make a dent in immune suppression, than treating the lyme will deal with immune suppression. Hence although you may not be testing to treat based on the results, you might consider testing to plan ahead. I hope that makes sense.
I treated lyme and co-infections with antibiotics, antivirals (not antiretrovirals) and photons, but none of my immune suppression markers changed. I am XMRV+. The pathology of a retrovirus can theoretically explain why the immune markers have not shifted.
Posted by jecati (Member # 26700) on :
@ janet thomas, I have 62 out of 76 symptoms.
I dont understand what the symptoms of XMRV are, is there a way I could compare my symptoms to something online??
If I just go with the lyme treatment, will no response to Abx be a clue that i could have the retrovirus? What are my chances of just having lyme and co infection and not having this retrovirus??
I hope Im making sense...my cognitive skills are going downhill...