posted
I recently tested for lyme through DNA Connexions(urine test) and tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi F7- NSA, and Bartonella henselae- NSA.
When I looked at the bottom it said what NSA meant: Species specific target microbial DNA was detected but amplification product was not of expected size. More commonly detected in individuals with long-term infections. Product size differential possibly due to: degraded DNA, mutation of species, unspecified subspecies, other.
I've read that most tests come back positive from this lab, so just wanted to know if there's a chance this might be a false positive? A little hesitant to start the lyme treatment(antiobiodics) the doc recommended if there's a chance it might be a false positive(I'd shown negative for 2 previous lyme tests, which I heard is common though).
Chances it might be false positive?
Posts: 21 | From Austin, TX | Registered: May 2017
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
What a confusing note to have at the bottom. It is not expected because it occurs more with long-term infections? ... Was the lab provided an opinion (from you or the doc) whether you suspected long-term or short-term infection? The whole message just seems strange.
Hopefully you can get your doc or the lab to explain what the lab really meant by this.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
If you are reluctant to start antibiotics, don't start!
There are other excellent options, herbals like Stephen Buhner's herbs, which do not damage the gut microbiome like antibiotics do. Rife machines. Homeopathic treatments....
According to dr. Rau in Switzerland, most people in the are I live are Westernblot positive for lyme, but the GREAT majority does not develop symptoms.
Lyme still requires clinical diagnosis.
Blood results can be whatever they are, but if you are not symptomatic, why treat?
We all harbor lyme bacteria, once we fought lyme sometime in the past. Probably we'll have some positive values (antibodies...).
I wouldn't treat if I had no symptoms.
I'm 8 years symptom free, treatment free. I don't do lyme tests anymore, as when I was mostly ill, they were borderline or negative and served for nothing (no treatment received due to tests).
Most people have had contact with Borrelia b. but if their immune system is strong enough, they simply do not develop the disease.
Antibiotics will weaken your immune system, add toxicity to the body, destroy part of the good intestinal flora, may cause candida infections that look very much similar to lyme (in terms of symtpoms)...
Plus antibiotics are linked to huge rise in allergies, now in a relation of cause and effect!
quote:Originally posted by MichaelTampa: What a confusing note to have at the bottom. It is not expected because it occurs more with long-term infections? ... Was the lab provided an opinion (from you or the doc) whether you suspected long-term or short-term infection? The whole message just seems strange.
Hopefully you can get your doc or the lab to explain what the lab really meant by this.
I called the lab and they're getting back to me. Doc says while a false positive isn't 100% out of the question, that it'd be unlikely to show up if it was, and says the NSA is likely to show up on longer term infections. Says based on my symptoms he thinks it's conclusive enough.
Posts: 21 | From Austin, TX | Registered: May 2017
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quote:Originally posted by Brussels: if you are not symptomatic, why treat?
i do have symptoms:
extreme fatigue brain fog, dizziness need long naps almost daily to function
have had more in the past but many went away once i got very strict with my diet
quote:Originally posted by Brussels: If you are reluctant to start antibiotics, don't start!
There are other excellent options, herbals like Stephen Buhner's herbs, which do not damage the gut microbiome like antibiotics do. Rife machines. Homeopathic treatments....
How successful are those who don't use any antibiotics vs. those who do in fully recovering? I've heard it's important to include antibiotics based on what I've researched so far but I'm just learning so would love to hear more if I could have the same results(same % of the time) with no antibiotics.
Posts: 21 | From Austin, TX | Registered: May 2017
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
Ops, I didn't know you were symptomatic....
Well, how successful with or without antibiotics? Hard to say.
dr. K. thinks abx (antibiotics) are not anymore in the front line of the battle, specially if you have been infected recently.
We all tried abx, at least, in the beginning.
Google also 'lyme and candida'. Or 'antibiotics and allergy'.
'Antibiotics and gut dysbiosis'.
Lyme is hard to eliminate, no matter which protocol you use. If your body is strong enough, you have no food allergies, no gut issues, you can detox well, why not try abx?
Only after trying it and seeing for yourself, you will know!
The problem for some of us (or many of us) is that abx damage the gut badly.
No matter what people say (that a couple of probiotics will fix the gut), many too many people will suffer from gut problems after abx.
Many lyme sufferers will have terrible allergy problems with food and chemicals.
Sooner or later, all lyme sufferers will fight candida, both acute and chronic.
In my own experience, I have more trouble to put candida dormant than lyme dormant (30 years fighting candida, while lyme went dormant after 4 years of intensive treatment).
Many people will have to fix their guts during and after lyme, and it is harder than lyme, in my opinion (I mean, harder to fix the gut, than it is to put lyme dormant for good).
But each person is different. I just think that my gut is the best ally on the fight against chronic infections, so destroying it with abx is not on my first line of choice.
Herbs do very little damage to the gut, compared. And many herbs will help the gut, in fact. HOmeopathics will do zero damage to the gut, for example.
But as I told you, if you believe the myth that drugs are better than herbs or alternative treatments, because they are man-made and chemical, you got to try drugs, no one will be able to convince you of the opposite.
Some people are lucky to get rid of lyme with abx, but we hear less and less cases nowadays. It was a common thing in the past, so say dr. K.
Until the turn of the millenium, and things got much harder.
Posts: 6200 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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