diagnosed with chronic lyme about 5 years back. Was treated for a year. The last 2 years have been GREAT!!
Until April. Things began to creep up again.
Finally went to my primary care dr for annual physical and I said just throw in a lyme test with blood work.
Primary Care Dr claims to be an LLMD. But he isn't
bloodwork from lab corp. so not great.
My results read: Positive 2 of the following bands 23,39, or 41
Negative: No bands or banding patterns which do not meet positive criteria
Criteria for positivity are those recommended by CDC/ASTPHLD
p23=Osp C,
p41= flagellin
I am positive for lyme correct and it is not a new infection, correct?
Thank you.
Posts: 23 | From NJ | Registered: Jan 2012
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I haven't had lyme for 7 1/2 years, but I still test positive through LabCorp for lyme (CDC positive).
Once you have had lyme, you can make antibodies to lyme for YEARS. You will test positive for lyme on a Western Blot test as long as you still have antibodies to it in your blood.
So, your lyme test tells you nothing. A Western Blot is useless in your case.
A true lyme doctor will know tests to find out if your body is currently fighting lyme. Some of these tests are extremely expensive--like the Advanced Labs blood culture test.
I just want to warn you that I went back to the lyme doctor who cured me and he did an expensive test to see if I currently had lyme and it came back positive!
But, I didn't have lyme. I had a sinus infection that took over 9 months to cure. That was over 3 years ago, so I know I do not have lyme. Still, I got a positive test and it was NOT the Western Blot.
So, just know that once you have had lyme, it is very, very hard to test you to see if you have lyme again. Very hard. And, it can be a waste of money, meaning it gives you an inaccurate result.
So, a good lyme doctor will go by your symptoms and perhaps a trial of antibiotics to see how you react.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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