I was diagnosed with Lyme in 2008- I recently retested (Sunquest, I think) and had a CD 57 Test done...The only band that was reactive was the 23 KD (IGM) band...does anyone know what this means specifically? I am interpreting as there is still a trace of the bacteria in my body and I need to monitor it and continue on a healthy lyme diet?
Also, I have recently given birth (my son is almost 8 months old)....I tested the cord blood, which came back negative and am going to have the lyme test done using Labcorp...any other suggestions as to what to look for with my son? Any information is welcomed....Thank You.
Warmest,
Toni
Posts: 7 | From Michigan | Registered: Feb 2009
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Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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Sammi
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Member # 110
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Toni, congratulations on the birth of your son!
Were you treated during your pregnancy or were you ever treated?
From what I understand, band 23 is specific for Lyme disease. Which lab did your Western Blot? Labs such as Quest and LabCorp do not list all the Lyme-specific bands that IgeneX does (bands 31 and 34). So I would suggest getting tested there, because having any Lyme-specific band present is significant.
I am sure that moms who see your post will be able to tell you signs to look for in your son. I hope he is negative.
If you would like the contact information for a great Lyme pediatrician, feel free to send me a private message.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Thank You!..yes. I was treated for Lyme with numerous antibiotics previous to pregnancy...but nothing during pregnancy.... the lab is Sunquest....I might have mine redone at Labcorp...and am going to have my son's done there...before I decide to go to a lyme pediatrician..but the information would be helpful too..just too keep an eye on signs etc and if I have questions down the road, regardless...Thank You...xx tmm
Posts: 7 | From Michigan | Registered: Feb 2009
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Thank You!..yes. I was treated for Lyme with numerous antibiotics previous to pregnancy...but nothing during pregnancy.... the lab is Sunquest....I might have mine redone at Labcorp...and am going to have my son's done there...before I decide to go to a lyme pediatrician..but the information would be helpful too..just too keep an eye on signs etc and if I have questions down the road, regardless...Thank You...xx tmm
Posts: 7 | From Michigan | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
* Apologies...I had another regular Lyme test done...as well as a CD 57....the CD 57 came back non reactive on 10 bands...but the lyme test (Western Blot) had a reactive 23 KD band, which is reactive to lyme...
Posts: 7 | From Michigan | Registered: Feb 2009
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MichaelTampa
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CD57 isn't a test with bands. It is a natural killer cell count.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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I wasn't aware of my lyme illness before pregnancy or even during pregnancy, however I do now believe I had lyme while pregnant with both of my children.
They have both tested positive for various tick borne diseases, but I didn't put 2 & 2 together until they were 3 and 5 years old.
In the first couple of years there was no way of knowing that any behavior was odd. And both children were very different, but here is a rundown of what we saw that, in hindsight, could have been flags: - "colicky" babies. seemed to be more upset than normal - hard to get to sleep without comprehensive rituals - sensitivity to sound - when older and starting on solid foods there were many GI issues. constipation was a big one. - less active than same age friends
I'm sure there is a more comprehensive list somewhere, but that is what I saw that might have been unnoticed signs.
Best of luck to you!
Posts: 274 | From United States | Registered: Feb 2012
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surprise
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Irritable, colicky infant, sensory issues, possible delays in sitting up, crawling and walking.
Unexplained fevers.
Also, please be aware it is possible to pass Lyme with breast feeding.
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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Sammi
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Do you feel like you were in remission before you got pregnant?
Please remember that no test is completely reliable. Band 23 is a Lyme-specific band. Are you having symptoms?
I sent you a private message also.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Yes, surprise indicates one I missed that my son experienced. Delay in walking.
I just found some more information regarding newborn symptoms at the below link. You need to scroll down to get to the newborn info (it is really a post on headaches).
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Dr. Charles Ray Jones is the foremost pediatric lyme doctor in the world. He spoke on this subject at the 2011 Lyme Conference in Toronto. I took notes on the talk.
Here they are. They talk about symptoms in the infant and child.
2011 ILADS Conference, Toronto, Canada
Pregnancy & Tick Borne Diseases: Gestational Lyme
Dr. Charles Ray Jones 10/28/11
Impulsivity is an earmark of children born with lyme. Lyme is a multi-system disorder. It can wax and wane and change. It likes collagen (valves), nerves, and joints; it is almost always tick borne
HIV, CMV, any infection in mother can be transmitted to the fetus.
If lyme is transmitted, you will see severe hypotonia (floppy baby), child will be irritable, tire easily, sensitive to light, noise, skin. The hypotonia will cause trouble sucking due to the lips being floppy. This can improve as time goes on. 30% of these children will have developmental delays.
Tissue PCR biopsy is more likely to be positive rather than a test of bodily fluids (blood, urine, spinal fluid, etc.). Test placenta and foreskin remnant.
Some of these children are classified as autism spectrum early on due to their failure to progress. These children do NOT experience regression as is often seen in autistic children. If antibiotics help them, it points to lyme as the true diagnosis.
He described 2 patients. One little boy ran around his office. He had never spoken. It was doubtful that he could understand what others said. But Dr. J. noticed that the boy made good eye contact with him, which autistic children will not do. He took his face in his hands and said to the boy, �I am going to unlock your brain.� The next time the child returned, he ran to Dr. J., put Dr. J�s hands on his face and said, �Thank you for unlocking my brain.�
The other boy had committed a long list of crimes, the most serious of which was attempted murder of his mother, and was about to be removed from his home due to his crimes. The boy announced that nobody was taking any blood from him. Dr. J. gave him a choice--either give blood or have a wrestling hold put on him. He put the hold on the child lightly and the child asked for him to stop. Then, he jumped into Dr. J�s lap and hugged him (while Dr. J. patted him down for contraband) and cried profusely for about 2 minutes. When asked why he was crying like this, the little criminal said, �Nobody has ever given me a choice before!� This boy was diagnosed with lyme thanks to the persistence of his mother.
Treating the pregnant mother: There is less than 1% transmission of the illness if the mother is treated with 2 antibiotics during the pregnancy; 25% rate of transmission if she is treated with just one antibiotic; and 50% rate of transmission if she is not given antibiotics at all.
It doesn�t matter what trimester the mother becomes infected. These are the statistics.
A baby born with babesiosis is in really bad shape. He told of one with heart and numerous other serious problems who was given numerous transfusions at birth, plus atovaquone and azithromycin and is now well. It took 1 week to see great improvement.
Some medications he suggests for the pregnant mother include 1,000 mg amoxicillin every 8 hours for months, also mentioned IM (intramuscular injections), ceftriaxone (? not sure of this--something that started with �ceft� but not ceftin), etc.
The mother can only breast feed the child if she is on antibiotics. Then, yes, it is fine to breastfeed.
He mentioned that a lab known as Advanced Laboratories can now culture for the lyme bacteria. Western Blots test only for exposure, so the Advanced Lab test is a much better test.
He said that a father can infect a mother. In in vitro fertilization, a father infected the embryo, but it was not part of a study, just anecdotal.
He quoted Dr. H., �If the mind doesn�t know, the eyes don�t see� to explain how lyme can be missed in these children so that they are misdiagnosed.
One month of amoxi should be given to the mother if she is bitten while breastfeeding.
To treat bartonella in children, give them zith and/or Bactrim, ciprofloxacin in an older child.
Antineuronal antibodies can be found in infected children. If they are found, treat the child with antibiotics. The child can have strep antibodies also. He uses various meds including IV Gamma globulin, if needed.
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surprise
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Thank you TF.
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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nefferdun
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Bands 23 and 41 are also indicative of protomyxzoa. You could be mildly infected with it and not show symptoms. It is a blood parasite so abx do not affect it. Babesia meds help but I found ivermectin most useful.
The CD57 is low when you are infected with borellia and also protomyxzoa.
If you develop PR symptoms they might include, insomnia, headaches behind the eyes, profound fatigue, hot flashes, muscle pain, stabbing nerve pain, joint pain, muscle twitching, dry unproductive cough, froggy voice (last two comes and goes) and brain fog. It can cause auto immune disease as well.
I hope your baby is not infected. Does he seem to be happy and healthy? That is such a cute age.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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He seems very active, happy and content.He's already almost walking and doesn't seem to have any delays that i've noticed..he has an unusual fascination with his hands that everyone comments on..His bowels have hardened and are now back to diarrhea (but i guess that is normal for infants)...it is really hard to tell at this point. I wasn't feeling that 'great' before i got pregnant,...but did not have testing done until later in the pregnancy... I thank you all for your stories advice and information...I guess only tests and time will tell at the moment... tm
Posts: 7 | From Michigan | Registered: Feb 2009
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