posted
Hello I am attaching my wife's latest Lyme test (Western Blot) results from Arup Inc in salt Lake through PeaceHealth Labs. I am not sure how accurate their test is but here are the results. Can some one please tell me what our future course of action should be? Do we need more tests to be done? or we can staight away start the Antibiotic treatment with a doctor (I got some info from this forum)?
TEST RESULTS:
LYME ABS, IGG/IGM WESTERN BLOT IGG Negative
Band(s) present: 41 kDa (Insufficient number of bands for positive result)
TEST INFORMATION: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IgG Western Blot
For this assay, a positive result is reported when any 5 or more of the following 10 bands are present: 18, 23, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66, or 93 kDa. All other banding patterns are reported as negative.
IGM Negative Negative Band(s) present: 39 kDa (Insufficient number of bands for positive result)
TEST INFORMATION: Borrelia Burgdorferi Antibody, IgM Western Blot
For this assay, a positive result is reported when any 2 or more of the following bands are present: 23, 39, or 41 kDa. All other banding patterns are reported as negative.
Test performed at: ARUP Inc. 500 Chipeta Way Salt Lake City UT 84108
Posts: 6 | From hillsboro, or | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
This test basically says negative. But this is not a lab that is known here as a specialist.
However, even if you get a better test, symptoms and history are important, because antibody test are not perfect.
Why are you suspecting lyme? A good lyme doc will do a differential diagnosis to determine if it is tickborne or something else. Keep in mind too that ticks frequently transmit more than germ.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
band 39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all. ---------
'nuff said!
I don't know much about this lab. Not sure it is as sensitive as Igenex??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Here is more information on her history with the disease:
She was diagnosed with MS 8 years back while she was in Connecticut. She was at Yale for 5 years.
She was an avid outdoors person. She used to go for walks in the trails but never had any rashes or anything associated with the tick bites.
It all started in 2003 with some tingling in her toes & then had Optic Neuritis which resolved in 2-3 weeks. The doctors thought it might possibly be MS.
She was fine for 4 years. In 2009 she had some stress from an incident and she started getting worse from there. She has brain fog, extremely stressed even for the slightest thing, bukling knees, mood swings, constipation, incontinence She can still walk short distances but having problems with balance and is very tired all the time.
Her MRI indicated demylenation in both her brain and spine. The neurologist thinks it is MS and wanted to start on drugs.
Any suggestions now?
Posts: 6 | From hillsboro, or | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
Has she been evaluated by an LLMD? If I were her, I definitely would seek out the best LLMD I could find before starting any MS drugs.
Posts: 227 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
I would test through Igenex.
If she has LD that means antibiotics.
If she has MS that could also mean an antibiotic protocol.
I suggest the websites:
www.thisisms.com their forum and for treatment - the antibiotic protocol. Really a "must read". It is Dr. Wheldon's Abx protocol. His wife is on the protocol and doing amazingly well. She is "Anecdote" on the forum.
I think his might be based on Dr. Brown's protocol - or similar to it. www.roadback.org Also a "must read" form. I just got Dr. Brown's book and will start reading it today. ie "The Road Back".
posted
Well, when I said that the test says negative, that is in fact what it says.
But you would be wise to get past the idea that you must have a positive test for lyme to be present. She has had this for a long time, and her antibody response will not be very good at any lab. But it would still be worth trying at IGeneX.
Your wife definitely sounds like she had the lifestyle of a person at risk for lyme.
And lyme is a neurological disease, so do not be surprised if there are nerve problems that resemble MS. Lyme is called the great imitator.
So, the best way to proceed is to find a good lyme doc and see what he/she says. You could jumpstart this process if you could get someone to sign off on the order for the IGeneX test, even if they would not be treating her. Can get the details on ordering the test kit and which number of test from a search of archives. This gets posted constantly.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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Treating for MS usually involves immune suppressing drugs... particularly steroids. If someone with Lyme is treated in that manner... THEY WILL GET SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE and it will be very difficult to recover.
FIND AN LLMD RIGHT AWAY.
PS .. Lyme can go dormant and come out in times of physical or emotional stress. Very typical.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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