Have a couple of questions: 1. I assume that the IGeneX lab is the place to have your blood work done. I got my results back and had the following: 23-25 + 30 + 31 + 39 + 58 ++
From this info is there some way to tell how long the infection has been in my body?
Do you know if they retest if they get positive results.
It's pretty scary not knowing if I will get better as well as if what is going on with my body is all lyme-related (too much info out there).
Just wondered if anyone had a thought on this and could post here. Thanks so much. Being new here and feeling terribly alone.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
gailsy,
Did the test say IGG or IGM?
There is no way to know how long an infection is in your system. The only way to have an idea is to go back through your medical history and track symptoms. Unless you saw the tick or rash.
Posted by gailsy (Member # 10536) on :
Actually the test was positive for IgeneX IGM and positive for CDC/NYS. I'm not sure what the CDC/NYS positive result means, either. Thanks so much for responding.
Gailsy
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
IGM means a recent or ongoing infection. Many doctors will say it is a sign of recent infection, but that actually is not necessarily the case with Lyme. I was bit 29 years ago and I have IGM positive.
The CDC/NYS is just a different standard. For a positive test according to the CDC/NYS standard you need to have a certain number of specific bands positive.
The CDC/NYS standard is overly conservative and misses a lot of positive cases. Obviously, since you were positive it didn't miss you.
Some doctors will test again to see if the test changes with treatment. But you can't really tell if treatment is succesful through tests. Unfortunately.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yea for Gail; you are NOW one of the CDC statistics! Make sure your MD reports your case to your state health dept.
Many do not have enough POSITIVES to be CDC positive, their lyme is NOT included in each state's positive LYME disease annual totals!
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