posted
I'm a little confused by the issue of co-infections (still new to this and learning the facts).
How likely is it to ONLY have Lyme and no co-infections? Most of what I've heard and read said co-infections typically exist.
I have Lyme (recent positive test through Igenex...Igenex & CDC positive). However, Igenex reported negative for co-infections.
Some of my symptoms perfectly matched an acquaintance of mine who had the same symptoms caused by Bart. I thought for sure my results would be positive, so when they were negative I was actually a little disappointed (weird, don't ask why).
Is it possible or likely I could have Bart even with a negative test?
My LLMD treats based on symptoms so he doesn't care what the test says, luckily.
Any thoughts on all this?
Posts: 62 | From Chicago, IL | Registered: May 2014
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surprise
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34987
posted
Yes, it's extremely common you won't get a positive on a co-infection out the gate. And sadly, Lyme rarely travels alone anymore.
Sometimes after treating the symptomatic co-infection with the correct treatments, your body could then mount the antibodies for that infection, and if you were to test again, might be there.
Galaxy labs has a Bartonella test, too, but it's 3 blood draws in 1 week and off antibiotics.
Sounds like you have a good LLMD.
-------------------- 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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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Brinkley:
Our daughter took 3.5 years to show a positive bartonella test.
The initial positive was from Quest and at the same time the Igenex was negative. Then 7 months later the Quest was negative but Igenex came back positive.
This comprises 11 tests (there may have been more) with the last 5 times the test done for both labs.
We didn't know bart was present until the spider rashes started to show up.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Agree with both of the above posters.
Galaxy is rumoured to be the best. That lab is primarily bartonella testing for humans and pets.
Bartonella likes endothelial cells. It is not often in the blood stream, and therefore will not show up very often in the blood tests for it.
The 3-draw test is basically trying to increase the odds that maybe there will be some bartonella in the blood on one of those draws.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Thanks guys! I wonder if I kind of wasted my money on the Igenex co-infection test since it didn't really tell me anything.
Oops...
Posts: 62 | From Chicago, IL | Registered: May 2014
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Well, if you had gotten some positives, I doubt you would be feeling that way.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
True, TF. But based on responses, it seems that you can have co-infections and get all negatives on your tests...so I just feel a little like my negative results "may" mean I'm actually negative, and "may" mean I'm not, that the test just didn't detect anything. Ya know? Do I trust it's negative because the test says so, or just not be completely sure either way? That's all I meant... Posts: 62 | From Chicago, IL | Registered: May 2014
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
You can't trust a negative result. You can read that in the Burrascano Guidelines. He explains why that is.
But, you CAN trust a positive result. Maybe you didn't know that going into it.
So, if you don't get a positive result on coinfection testing, you carefully look for symptoms of the coinfections. Treat based on symptoms, called a clinical diagnosis.
Finally, if no symptoms of coinfections and tests are negative, you still treat for babesiosis and bartonella and see what happens. If you have one of these coinfections, you will notice a difference once you start treating them.
I had no symptoms of babs or bart, but I tested positive for both through Igenex. My doc did at least 2 different tests for each coinfection. That is to give a greater chance of one of the tests catching them.
I hope your doctor ordered at least 2 different tests for babs and two for bart.
If you have not studied what Burrascano says about the coinfections, I suggest that you do. See pages 22-27.
That will tell you everything you need to know about testing and reliability of testing.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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