posted
So I started with the new LLMD in Maryland and he had me order more tests. The Lyme tests are done through Stonybrook which were indetermenent. The blood smear was for babs and bart and they were negative.
Is the blood smear thought to be accurate?
One of the worst symptoms for me is chronic migraine. I know that's a bartonella symptom. I'm really surprised the smear is negative. Thanks for your input.
Posts: 143 | From Pittsburgh | Registered: Jan 2014
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poppy
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posted
Blood smears require a very good tech to read them, and if they don't look at many fields or do more than one smear, the results can come back false negative.
Not to say you have babs or bart, but one smear may not determine it. And really, there ought to be more than one kind of testing used. Have you had antibody tests for babs also?
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Lymedin2010
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A single smear can miss it, especially if you don't spend a long enough time with it. At times it becomes necessary to perform multiple smears and is best done on different times or days.
One can have both ends of the spectrum, where there are very few symptoms and very little bacteria, and also blood that is loaded with bacteria, yet producing very little symptoms.
Posts: 2094 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
uggg! I don't know how good the tech is at the Dr.'s office where it was done.
Poppy, the other test I had was through Labcorp. which was also negative.
I hate that this is all such a guessing game. I may just give up with the LLMD and let the ND guide me. My poor body can't take many more trial and error months of mega drugs. Not yet, though. One month at a time. This sucks.
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poppy
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What test did you have thru Labcorp? Specificially.
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Bartonella antibody panel
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GretaM
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Treat bartonella regardless of smear results.
Treating bartonella is the reason my "migraines" went away.
Galaxy labs has lots of info onn their site about how difficult bartonella is to find.
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poppy
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You should also have an antibody test for Babesia duncani. This is supposedly a west coast bug, but people without any travel history living in other parts of the country have been testing positive for it.
There is a previous thread on how to get this testing, which I will post here when I search the archive.
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poppy
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Thank you all so much. Greta, I went literally years with a headache. Most people can't imagine what it's like to have a headache 24/7 for years but it's a nightmare. Since starting the Lyme treatment it comes and goes which is a huge improvement. But I want them to be gone.
Poppy, thank you. I will check it out later.
I'm so grateful for this site and all of you for the advice!
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