Received my son's secons western blot from Igenex. After 8 months:
April 2010 IGM 18+, 39 IND, 41+, IGG 41+ December 2010 IGM 41 IND, IGG 41 IND
He was on antibiotics when the second test was taken. He had just pulsed Tindomax along with his usual Azithromycin and 2 g Rocephin IV.
His IGG is low, subclasses IGG 1 and IGG2 specifically and his IGM is low.
Does this mean the load is lessened? Hard to tell from sympotms because he also has Hashimotos and POTS and severe sleep disorder. But now getting colds the last three months and BP is finally, after 4 years, normal on its own. Many symptoms gone, but those that remain are exhaustion, back and neck pain, poor sleep and concentraiton, and dizziness, though today said it is not all the time anymore. Getting better, but is the test result a good sign?
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
Sorry if it's off topic, but aren't Hashimoto's, POTS, and sleep disorders caused by Lyme? So part of his recovery would be alleviation of those symptoms as well.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
His symptoms sound like Babesia. Has he been treated for co-infections?
The best indications of improvement are symptom relief and resolution. Our bodies will always have Lyme antibodies. Some people's test results show more positive bands during treatment, as the immune system recovers and recognizes the Lyme bacteria.
If he is herxing and symptoms are improving, that would indicate that the load is lessened.
Posted by alelis (Member # 27989) on :
Yes, we do think these diagnoses are symptoms of Lyme. That is what led us to the diagnosis. Lyme seemed to be the missing piece to the puzzle that linked all the symtpoms together. So maybe the fatigue will be the last symptom to disappear since it was his first symptom.
I think we are making some progress. But that is all subjective since an 18 year old is not exactly forthcoming with details. It would be comforting to know that a negative Western Blot is a sign of a lessening load. That is what the LLMD thinks, along with the increasing blood pressure, the increase in WBC, which have been low for 4 years +. And now he is getting colds every month. He has not had a cold in over a year plus even though he has 3 siblings who have been sick with colds, fevers, stomach flus, he has escaped them all.
Posted by alelis (Member # 27989) on :
Boxermom, He has not herxed and that is what is a little disturbing through all this. He does not remeber what it is like to feel well so he does not think he is getting better. We did Artemesia for 3 months, but have held off on the Mepron. I do not think he will be able to stomach it, but maybe we will have to try it.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
If he doesn't notice improvement, it could mean that a significant infection is not being addressed.
There are alternatives to Mepron, but if he has Babesia, 3 months of Artemesia will not be enough.
Leave no stone unturned. He should do trial runs of meds for both Babesia and Bartonella and watch for herxing and/or improvement.
Also consider parasites.
I understand the reticence of teenagers. They can be difficult patients, for sure!
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Did you do Artemesia by itself? I was told that the combo of Artemesia (Artemesinin is better), Black walnut and cloves is the parasite cleanse.
I know boys are difficult to communicate with. I have to drag information out of my 11 year old. Do you know if your son got anything out (in the toilet) with the artemsia?
I have done 2 rounds of parasite cleanse (combo of all 3)... my son started Parastroy yesterday - which also contains these 3 + more.
I am now doing salt/c - this treatment is controversial and could be dangerous to mess with electrolyte levels. I felt I needed a change from the herbs and I am healthy enough to try this. I am not as ill as my son (or your son) I am non-symptomatic from the parasites. I see tons of things coming out - I also saw results from the herbal parasite cleanse.
There are people who have been actively battling babesia & parasites for a long time and they are still trying to rid themselves of the bugs.
From my research --continue until you don't see anything more coming out or they will continue to multiply and you will have to start back up again.
I am looking for GiGi's 6 week parasite cleanse (probably from Dr. K in WA)... she mentioned it not too long ago. I will let you know if I get the protocol.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Many symptoms gone, but those that remain are exhaustion, back and neck pain, poor sleep and concentraton, and dizziness, though today said it is not all the time anymore. AND THE HASHIMOTO'S!!!
Could very well be gluten intolerance or celiac disease!!! Lyme can cause this!!!
Many celiacs have Hashimoto's and the above symptoms.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
Ale: I sent you a link to the work of Nicholson. I was on his website today and he has a lot of great info that is available in PDF. I just printed out an article called: Diagnosis and Therapy of Chronic Systemic Co-infections in Lyme Disease and other Tick- Borne Infections Diseases. My sister is already getting better on mepron, so it may be worth a try. She isn't having side effects at all. You won't know until you try it. There is a topic currently on mepron and nausea and the need to take it along with fats. How long has your son been on the doubled rocephin now? Keep looking for answers and don't give up. He will get well!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- In a video from an ILADS seminar, I recall Dr. B saying that testing lyme along the way is of no help as it's just not like other infections in that regard.
So much has to be read from the patient, not from tests. -
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I agree with Keelber. These test are just too unreliable. You can't use them to determine progress. Progress is determined by how you feel.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :