posted
What's the latest thoughts on taking anti biotics Before Lyme blood tests ??
Posts: 408 | From NY | Registered: Jan 2006
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Are you asking for yourself or someone else?
I see you are a longtime member (welcome back) so I’m assuming you have had Lyme before, therefore a Lyme test for you will probably show Lyme antibodies for life.
Here’s what I read from another website. . .
“ Once you have a positive test result, there generally is no need to keep testing. Many people make antibodies for the rest of their lives once they have been infected, even once the infections are under control.
A negative test result is not a way to measure treatment progress, and results that vary from test to test are not uncommon for a chronic infection that is characterized by immune dysfunction. This is why tick-borne diseases are considered clinical diagnoses, meaning they are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms, with tests results being just one factor LLMDs use.
A negative antibody test result (especially when you already know you have an infection) could mean that your immune system is weakened or dysfunctional and therefore unable to produce antibodies.”
There are numerous reports of patients being sero negative until part way through treatment and then converting to seropositive - but no-one knows exactly why this is happening -perhaps because their immune system has recovered some more normal function after treatment. Or perhaps because the antibiotics killed a large number of spirochetes and exposed them to the immune system which then mounts a stronger response.
You could try an antibiotic challenge for a few weeks, wait 6-8 weeks and then test. It is highly variable in individual to individual who produces which antibodies.
Posts: 3221 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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posted
I had a positive test from Vibrant Labs. Re checking with Igenix soon from my llmd. She wants to compare the two as well as the older tests. I think I'll lay off any Doxy before. Thank You for your thoughtful response. Anyone else ?
Posts: 408 | From NY | Registered: Jan 2006
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Bartenderbonnie
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Member # 49177
Phoiph
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Member # 41238
posted
Thanks for this info, Bartenderbonnie.
It is good to know they finally came out with an at-home screening for multiple TBD's.
Some thoughts on the testing...
According to the website, although both IgG and IgM antibodies are tested for, the results will only be reported as a simple positive or negative so you may not be able to speculate on current vs past infection.
And, although the test covers multiple species, it doesn't identify specific species or bands in the results.
Also, as we know, the possibility of false negative results has to be considered as antibody testing relies on an immune system response, which is commonly absent in the case of TBD immunosuppression.
It is advantageous to test the tick, if you have it:
kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
I used to know about timing. I know if you take only one dose of Doxy like they have been doing here in Maine, that you will not test positive.
There was a time that they would not test until you were on antibiotics for 2-3 weeks to catch you in a flare/herx. I don't know if this is still done or not. I am out of the LLMD world.
This is a question for your LLMD. Seems if they are running a second test that they would hold the antibiotics if it impacted the test.
Posts: 1856 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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