posted
got these back not too long ago... they look like my initial tests taken in September. curious about the number of plusses among other things-- never seen 4 plusses and I troll the bejeezus out of this board. That said, I am not that sick-- got it in August, had one month of lagtime before discovery/treatment, and my only real symptoms are mild neck pain, lethargy and fatigue.
-------------------- Inundatedbyinfo Bit 8/16/10 Treated 9/14/10
Taking: Doxy, Amoxicilin, Magnesium, Diflucan, Olive Leaf Extract, Others Posts: 30 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Sep 2010
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Hmmm...I don't think it is possible to get a result more positive than yours. 23-25 are specific for lyme. 41 isn't so the ++++ could be due thte presence of other spirochete's which are not causing as much of an issue.
-------------------- 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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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
It's the sickest patients who get all negative because they are too weak to make the antibodies, so the strong positive correlates well with you sick you feel.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
My husband has an igenex even worse than yours and had no symptoms. He was recently bitten too and is now on doxy for a few months. I think they are right when they say that so many positives means it is still in your blood and you have a great shot of catching it now.
The negative ones are the ones that the lyme is long standing and hidden away making them sicker.
Although get this one: My new LYME LITERATE neurologist said that negative is negative and people spend too much time trying to blame everythign on lyme instead of focusing on the real cause!!!...no joke..she said that to me the other day.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Thanks for the replies. I did read somewhere that the IgM related to a generalized immune response, while the igG related to a more specialized one. Beyond this, and the hopeful stuff you guys wrote up there, not sure...
-------------------- Inundatedbyinfo Bit 8/16/10 Treated 9/14/10
Taking: Doxy, Amoxicilin, Magnesium, Diflucan, Olive Leaf Extract, Others Posts: 30 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Sep 2010
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Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535
posted
quote:Originally posted by annier1071: Although get this one: My new LYME LITERATE neurologist said that negative is negative and people spend too much time trying to blame everythign on lyme instead of focusing on the real cause!!!...no joke..she said that to me the other day.
Ugggg....so maddening. Especially when they denounce Lyme and still give us no cause for being sick and just leave us to suffer.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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quote:Originally posted by inundatedbyinfo: Thanks for the replies. I did read somewhere that the IgM related to a generalized immune response, while the igG related to a more specialized one. Beyond this, and the hopeful stuff you guys wrote up there, not sure...
- Positive IgM usually means chronic lyme.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I thought IgM tests for a more recent infection and IgG a longer-standing one.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Looks like your immune system is responding to the Lyme. That's good.
I had ++++ on band 31 IgG. My LLMD said that band takes a year to show up, so the fact that I had 4 + there meant I had it a very long time.
My LLMD doesn't test after you've gotten a positive. There's really no point as the test only confirms you've been exposed, after that you treat based on symptoms.
Sammi, MOST chronic Lyme patients are IgM positive. My LLMD said I was in the minority being IgG positive. For other infections that is true.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I had a +++ on one line of IgM. I'll have to look it up later.
Your immune system antibodies are in overdrive. The sad part is they can't fight this battle alone.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Sammi: I thought IgM tests for a more recent infection and IgG a longer-standing one.
- no .. not with lyme
I'm having trouble with a new computer here. Someone please give him the link to Dr C's Western Blot explanation. It's in "Quick Links to Popular Topics" here in Medical.
The portion about the IgG and IgM is highlighted there.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
My 31 was ++ 41 +++
Which I know 41 can also be another bacteria, but I had 11 + lines on IgM.
Chuck dates are very difficult unless someone had a known embedded tick bite and a bulls eye within a few days...not to mention an lyme literate doc. Too many variables in pin pointing date.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
"my only real symptoms are mild neck pain, lethargy and fatigue."
I, like you, consider myself to have only mild lyme. The problem is, it's been this way for years.
I believe it's because I didn't get treatment soon enough or long enough.
So hang in there with treatment and don't doubt that you have lyme, because you don't want those symptoms to go on and on.
I mean this to be encouraging, since it sounds like you've had treatment started much, much earlier than I did.
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Here it is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both."
Regarding the Western Blot, I was told by the director of IgeneX that IgM is a more recent infection and the IgG is a longer-standing one.
I understand what Lymetoo and sixgoofy are saying though that people who have chronic Lyme can have a positive IgM because the immune system is forming new antibodies.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
My story is a perfect example of highly positive IgM being a chronic infection.
Igenex messed up my total IgG and LLMD threw it out and said no doubt you've had this sometime.
I'd had orals from July 99-IV Rochepin in Feb/Mar '02. Off them for 2 weeks......
I had antibodies galore. Orals by the tons and 6 weeks of IV had stirred it up and certainly didn't destroy it.
I was dying a slow miserable death at early 45 yrs of age.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
My doughter has **41++++ to and they(IGENEX) put she is test negative for lyme.
She does have nightmares only no other symptom. Still dont know what to do for her.
She was not biten by tick for sure but I'm highly susspicius for lyme spreding in other members by contact and shering things.
Posts: 482 | From Nebraska | Registered: Feb 2010
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