I have a 4 year old daughter who was bit by a tick. She had a LABCORP western blot and her dr. said she has normal results according to the CDC.
She had a PRESENT ABNORMAL result for IgG P41 Ab. and a PRESENT ABNORMAL result for IgM P23 Ab.
The doctor was adament that treating her based on this would be a disservice due to the potential harm of long term antibiotic treatment on a young kid.
She doesn't have any symptoms that I can really note. No muscle aches, fevers, etc. She complains about tummy problems from time to time, but not really consistently.
As someone who has been CDC negative by Igenix Positive myself, I am just looking for peoples advice on what they would do.
This is a hard one I think as she doesn't really have any symptoms...I am just terrified that she;ll deal with this in 1, 2, 5, 10+ years.
Thanks for anyone's input...
Drew
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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My personal opinion is not to treat something that isn't causing an actual problem.
Maybe as she gets older you can work some natural herbal approaches into her schedule -- like Samento. This way you can show her a positive way of living a healthy lifestyle early on.
But, I would not start treating her if she's not complaining about feeling ill.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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17hens
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posted
drew said, "She complains about tummy problems from time to time, but not really consistently."
Did she complain about tummy problems before the tick bite? Or has this stayed the same?
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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17hens, good question, I'll have to really think about that. I am not sure. I don't think she did...but really, I can't even think of the last time she complained about her tummy save for a 24 hour virus she had a few weeks ago. I will pay more attn to it though and see just how consistently that comes up.
I am inclined to agree with you Wolfed, I am just worried, it will plague her later. I had somewhat similar results to hers and went undiagnosed for years. Never had a rash or CDC positive test, though many negative ones. Igenix showed a few bands (i've given my results in detail in a previous thread). I even had the band 31 epitope test done to confirm Lyme bacteria. Had some mixed success with LLMD treatment. Anyway, don't want to side track this with my story, but since I went through something like this, I can't help it. The thought of her suffering like I did/do, or some of the other poor people on here, well, that keeps me up at night.
If she is asymptomatic, does that mean her immune system is effectively dealing with any exposure? Not sure if anyone can elaborate on that...
Thanks all...
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I have been lurking on this site for a bit now. This is the first post that I felt I had to respond to.
I have four children who have somewhat recently tested positive for Lyme through Neuro Science. Three of these kids have previously been diagnosed with PANDAS.
Our doctor feels (and I agree) that since they had Lyme for so long without it being addressed that this set the stage for PANDAS because of the suppression of the immune system.
I just wanted to share this so you keep a close eye on your little one because once one bug sets up house it can set the stage for others. Our situation is not unique in the PANDAS world.
FYI - PANDAS is Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus
We feel that my children may have be congenital Lyme cases. I have tested positive also and had symptoms that went untreated since I was a child.
It is not my intention to scare you. I just wanted to share what has happened here as this has caused a multitude of problems in my children.
-------------------- If I was a magician .... I would make this all disappear!!! Posts: 8 | From Wisconsin | Registered: Feb 2011
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momintexas
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posted
Great point Houdini......
Posts: 1408 | From Tx | Registered: Nov 2009
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Tested because she was bit by a tick. I have Lyme disease myself, so I was worried and figured I'd start by having her tested. We struggled with whether or not to treat immediately after the tick and after deliberation and discussion with several doctors, we decided against it.
We finally got her results back and they came back as I reported above.
Houdini,
I appreciate you informing me of your experience. Sorry to hear that. Of course, I am worried about something like that occurring, which is why I am trying to figure out the best course of action for her.
Again, thanks to all for your input...
Drew
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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momintexas
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Member # 23391
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Drew,
Sounds like you are very aware. Just keep an eye on her. Children can show a lot of neurological signs or changes in behavior.
Just keep it in the back of your mind if anything just seems a little off.
Posts: 1408 | From Tx | Registered: Nov 2009
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Momintexas is right. So often in children the neuropsyche and behavioral changes are all you see. My child that is most affected is all severe psyche issues at this time. Soooo sad and VERY scary!
-------------------- If I was a magician .... I would make this all disappear!!! Posts: 8 | From Wisconsin | Registered: Feb 2011
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Was your daughter evaluated by a LLMD or just her regular physician? You didn't mention that in your original post.
Posts: 8978 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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posted
^ Labcorp WB was done, so that probably means it wasn't a LLMD.
Another piece of vital info you left out: How long ago was the tick bite?
But I agree, just keep an eye on her for signs of infection. No need to treat if no symptoms.
Posts: 340 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Nov 2010
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Daughter was evaluated by her own pediatrician, not an LLMD. Bite was last summer in early June. No bullseye. No symptoms at all. Not sure how long the tick was on her.
We had blood drawn soon after and had her tested, doc told us results were negative. My wife finally remembered to pick up the results ourselves,so that is why I am only posting them now.
We had been keeping an eye on her since we decided against immediate treatment. She had no rash, no symptoms what-so-ever.
Most people on here (I posted at that time as well) said to treat right away, but I consulted several doctors and even asked my LLMD who didn't give me a straight answer. I could find nearly zero support for putting her on meds for 30 days.
Not sure if I will live to regret that.
Anyway, it is very difficult to notice symptoms in a 4 year old. They don't always tell you, or are unable to communicate them properly, but we really haven't seen anything out of the ordinary, either physically or behaviorally.
Anyway, thank you all for your continued posts. I take them all into account.
Lastly, I will see my infections disease and LLMD docs (I see both, my infections disease doc is pretty much an LLMD but in network, my LLMD, DR H in NY, is not in network obviously) in the next several weeks, I am going to get their advice as well. But I would imagine, since there are no symptoms, they will tell me to just pay close attention to her...
Drew
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I was also going to add, that I was considering getting her tested by Igenix just to get some more credible blood work on it...I just have to find a dr that will prescribe that so I can have insurance cover it, or at least some of it...
Posts: 55 | From NY | Registered: Apr 2010
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17hens
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posted
My son had various tick bites over the years. He has never been "sick" with lyme, but because of these symptoms, he is now in treatment.
Over the years, he's been diagnosed with gout and mono (abnormal test results), has Bartonella streaks for years (that was the give away for me - when I finally learned what they were), dry cough for months, air hunger for months, 2 yr. long constant "seasonal" allergy/congestion, has trouble falling asleep, at age 16 has a "big gut" while the rest of him looks like a growing boy (now I know is caused by Babesia). Probably a few things in there I'm missing.
My daughter, after short abx treatment for lyme illness 8 years ago, had weird symptoms too. Her natural ability at math suddenly decreased. She's had gut issues (belly hurt) since then and had been very moody as a child and teen. She had physical therapy for shin splints that wouldn't heal and for "irritated iliac joint." Then she developed GERD and Barrett's esophagus. When I finally figured out what her long time hip & thigh rashes were - Bingo! Light bulb moment!
To me then, the ignorant me, I had no idea why these things were happening. I had no idea that they all tied together with lyme&co. These things, looked at separately, can all have a reasonable enough cause. Shin splints from sports, moody from being a teenage girl. But looking at them all together...
You know now. You've had it yourself. Please, keep your eyes open.
I'll tell you, treatment is much easier on them when before they're "sick" from it. If you see suspicious symptoms, maybe consider herbals.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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bcb1200
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posted
Drew...I know exactly how you feel.
We found a tick attached to my 2 year old daughter last April. It had been there for at least 2 days. Attached to the upper inside of her ear, hidden where we couldn't see. Luckily it wasn't engorged.
3 weeks later I was diagnosed with lyme (after 4-6 months of feeling unwell) and started to get my lyme education. Then I began to panic about my daughter.
Her non-LLMD refused to treat her and did a standard elisa test. Negative.
So..I took her to an LLMD in CT who trained with the famous Dr. J. By this time it was 10 weeks post bite. He said, it she was just bitten he would have treated prophylactically. But since it was 10 weeks after she was bitten and she showed zero symptoms he thought she was fine. He even called Dr. J who agreed. Fast forward 10 months later and she is still fine, or so it seems.
I still worry and watch her like a hawk. But so far so good.
Regardless....most LLMD's I know say don't treat unless there are symptoms. No matter what the test says.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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17hens
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posted
quote:Originally posted by momintexas: Drew, Sounds like you are very aware. Just keep an eye on her. Children can show a lot of neurological signs or changes in behavior. Just keep it in the back of your mind if anything just seems a little off.
I totally agree. I hope my above post didn't sound like I thought you should treat no matter what.
I believe you should treat ONLY if she has symptoms. It's just that symptoms are so hard to see as symptoms to most people. We with lyme, knowing what we now know, need to keep our eyes open for our kids. That's all I meant.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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When my daughter was 6 (before my CDC positive result for lyme and pos result for bart, as before my lyme education) she had been complaining that her neck was sore. I felt around her neck and her glands were a bit swollen.
So knowing the little bit that I knew about Lyme at the time, recently being in a wooded area and frankly living in a tick hotspot of NJ I took her to her regular pediatrician.
SHe felt around her neck and what do you know an engorged tick was on her head right near the hairline. This doc said she would test the tick. 3 days later she called and said that it was a Lone Star tick and they didn't carry lyme so don't worry.
Even not being lyme aware...that did not sit well with me. I took her to another pediatrician who willing to treat her with 1 month of amox "just to be sure" I also kept her on a childrens probiotic throughout treatment and at least 1 month beyond.
Now 5 years later she has had odd rashes (one diagnosed as pitoriasis rosea and one eczema. She has had foot pain but was remedied with better arched shoes and is prone to sinus infections. Just this last Monday she had a bulls-eye looking rash in her armpit so I took her to a walk-in doc today and showed him the rash (took a picture...it has since disappeared) and she has been tired, but also has a sinus infection.
I am having her tested (yes I know unreliable) through Labcorp because insurance will cover and while I wait for results I am making an appt with my LLMD (3 month wait time...ugh).
Now to my point...do I regret having her treated 5 years ago? Not one bit. After going through all of this myself...regret it even less. Now I am in active mode with her again. Does she have symptoms? Yes. Could they be symptoms of other things easily treated? Yes. I am not taking any chances.
Just my 2 cents!
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