posted
On the results i got from the doctor, it says the sed rate (inflammation?) was 2 and in range, less than 20. Then, it says the EIA antibody screening was less than .9, negative with no blots shown. Does this mean there was no western blot test?! Was done from quest.
Should i try to do the igenex testing or just go straight to a doctor? I feel so anxious lately, like i'm losing my mind or something and i am always SO tired. Head feeling weird all the time and walking feeling weird makes me feel like it isn't necessarily anxiety.. I just feel like i'm driving myself crazy.
Posts: 315 | From Allentown | Registered: May 2014
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posted
Sounds like the ELISA was negative, therefore they will not run the Western Blot.
Might as well find a Dr .. you have to have a Dr sign the form to get the Igenex test.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Kaseyyy, you are correct. The Western Blot was not done. Since this doc was not a lyme doctor. he followed the IDSA rule and ordered an ELISA (or EIA) test.
The rule is that if the ELISA is negative, then they stop testing. If it is positive, then they do the Western Blot.
Burrascano says that this procedure is ridiculous since the ELISA misses about half of the people sick with lyme disease.
So, you got a junk test and you still know nothing. You really should get to a lyme doctor.
Here is the quote from Burrascano:
"The suggestion that two-tiered testing, utilizing an ELISA as a screening tool, followed, if positive, by a confirmatory western blot, is illogical in this illness. The ELISA is not sensitive enough to serve as an adequate screen, and there are many patients with Lyme who test negative by ELISA yet have fully diagnostic western blots. I therefore recommend against using the ELISA. Order IgM and IgG western blots" (page 7)
Believe me, a lyme doctor will tell you that it is good you came. He will not treat you like the non-lyme doctors who make us all feel like we are mental cases.
You will be treated very well by a good lyme doctor and you will have a good lyme test done (the Western Blot) by a good lab (Igenex) instead of the junk ELISA by Quest. Be sure to say you want tested by Igenex.
You really need to have a lyme doctor investigate your case. I had the lyme anxiety, and it is horrible!!! It makes life not worth living!
And, the fatigue that comes from lyme disease is indescribable. Actually, "fatigue" is not a good enough word for it. So, you have the classic lyme symptoms girlfriend!
I sent you some names of doctors a while back. You can also contact support groups in your area. See "Support Groups" on the left side of the page. Get more names from them. Be sure you go to someone who is highly recommended by a number of people.
Good for you for getting a copy of your test. Now, you know what was done, and it wasn't any good. It was as good as nothing really.
This is what happens until you get to a lyme specialist.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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