posted
Hi All. After several months away, I'm back. Last I checked in, I had begun seeing an LLMD. She has been a wonderful provider and resource and the only medical provider I saw who believed I had Lyme after 7 months of seeking treatment. I have never tested positive under CDC guidelines. She based her Lyme diagnosis on the facts that I had a tick bite with rash (7 months prior) and my lab results showing positive for IgM 23 and low CD-57 count. She prescribed a 4-month regimen of 3 antibiotics (doxy, metronidizole sp??, and clarimythrin sp??). After the 4 months, I had about a month of feeling somewhat normal again (thinking clearly, return of stength and energy, reduction of other symptoms). However, after a month, the old symptoms began to reoccur. Primarily I felt the malaise, stiff/cracky/achy joints and neck, lack of focus, forgetfulness, and depressive moods. I also experience some other regularly occuring symptoms. I waited a few more months just to be sure of what I was feeling and documented the symptoms as they occured. After several months, I retested (western blot) through LabCorp. Again, I show a positive IgM 23 band and no others (IgG or IgM). I am seeking answers, support, etc. Is IgM 23 specific to Bb? I know many users on this platform are not medical professionals but, based on this, do you think I may have chronic Lyme? And, lastly, we recently learned that my wife is pregnant. Is there any possibility that my Lyme (if I do indeed still have it) could be transmitted to our baby (fetus)? Thanks for your support.
Posts: 12 | From Richmond, VA | Registered: Feb 2011
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
Was your CD57 rechecked? Were you symptom free at the end of treatement? Seems like you may not have had proper treatment. Were you checked for coinfections and treated? In my opinion, you may want to seek out a better trained doctor.
If transmission occured to the baby it would be through your wife having the bacteria/disease. Is she showing any symptoms? It sounds like you still have active Lyme. I would use protection eventhough she is pregnant.
Knowing what I know now, and having passed Lyme to two boys unknowingly, I think I would advise to have your wife tested. She would need to be with a good doctor who may want to do an antibiotic push before testing through IgeneX.
Dr. J., spoke at the ILADS conference about congential Lyme and had some very good statistics if Lyme in a mother is treated throughout the pregnancy.
These are my notes on band 23: 23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb I think more info can be found on the site.
I'm sorry that you are sick and sorry that you are worried at such a happy time in your life.
Hopefully others will have more advice. I wish you and your family the very best!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Hi Kari, thank you for your input. And you are right. This should be a happy time for us. We've wanted to have a child for quite some time and unfortunately may have unknowingly placed my wife and unborn child at risk. As of right now, all of the conventional tests she's undergone the regular pregnancy general health tests and they show she's in good health. And she hasn't shown any "lyme-related" symptoms to date. But, as you pointed out, that doesn't mean that she doen's have Lyme. I will certainly talk with her about getting tested to be certain (even though testing is unreliable). We'll look into an IgeneX test for us both. Any idea of the cost through IgeneX? We will also look into other LLMDs. I only hope I didn't jeopardize my family's health and wellbeing. Thanks for the advice.
Posts: 12 | From Richmond, VA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
Daughter's diagnosis based on only IgM band 23 positive plus clinical symptoms. It does sound to me like you have chronic lyme. Also wonder if 4 months treatment was not enough.
Posts: 312 | From Utah | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Can you go back to the LLMD who treated you? It seems like you need more follow-up.
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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